Public Works and Environmental Services

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administrative offices are open to the public by appointment only at this time. Please call or email 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday

703-324-5500
TTY 711

watersheds@fairfaxcounty.gov

12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 449, Fairfax, Va 22035

Shannon Curtis,
Chief, Watershed Assessment Branch

Department Resources

Related Resources

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Watershed Education and Outreach

Before coming to a DPWES facility

At this time, in-person Watershed Education and Outreach programs are available to middle and high school students only. Virtual options are available to everyone.

Fairfax County ecologists provide free high-quality, innovative educational programs and teaching tools to audiences ranging from K-12.

Revitalize, Restore, Replant!

Ages: Grades 4-12. Program Length: 40 minutes per class.

The Revitalize, Restore, Replant! (R3) program transforms existing stormwater facilities (like bioretentions and dry ponds or yard inlets) on Fairfax County Public School FCPS campuses into outdoor classrooms. At no cost to schools, county ecologists introduce students to stormwater and watershed ecosystem management and lead a hands-on native plant installation. Plant species are chosen to complement existing programs of study, allowing plantings to be used as outdoor teaching tools for all grade levels. Fairfax County provides native plants, plant ID signs, and all other necessary materials for this event.

Due to the popularity of this program, the earliest available slot for R3 plantings may be a year or two out.

Interested in an R3 Program?

Stream Crime Investigation Lab

Ages: High School. Program Length: 90 minute lab.

In the Stream Crime Investigation (SCI) Lab, students join a stream crime prevention unit to track and stop common pollutants from entering our waterways. This lab couples the informative nature of presentations with the hands-on experience of lab exercises, illustrating the connection between residents’ behaviors on land and their impact on local waters. SCI lab materials are available for free for other jurisdictions.

Book an SCI Lab

Live! Stream Critter Lab

Ages: High School. Program Length: 45 minutes.

Program availability contingent on season and weather. Students learn how to identify live stream organisms using a key and how to determine the health of a stream based on the critters they find. While some critters can tolerate pollution, others need clean water to survive. Based on the number of sensitive, moderate and tolerant organisms in the sample, students give their stream a grade. Will your stream be an A+ or an F? The school is responsible for finding an appropriate stream site for the event.

Alternatively, staff are available to “stream from a stream” where students participate virtually in a stream monitoring event.

Book a Stream Critter Lab

Stream Critter Cube Lab

Ages: Grades 4-12. Program Length: 40 minutes.

Students learn how to identify different stream organisms using a stream critter cube and a key to determine the health of a stream. While some critters can tolerate pollution, others need clean water to survive. Based on the number of sensitive, moderate, and tolerant organisms in the sample, students give their stream a grade. Will your stream be an A+ or an F? This program is a good alternative to the Live! Stream Critter Lab for younger students or when the weather does not permit students to travel to a stream.

The At Home Stream Critter Cube Lab allows students to monitor local streams without leaving the house!

Book a Stream Critter Cube Lab

Geomorphology Lab

Ages: High School. Program Length: 45 minutes.

Fluvial geomorphology is the study of the form and function of streams and their interaction with the surrounding landscape. In this lab, students will learn about physical characteristics of streams, how they can change over time, and how they are monitored. This lab can be held outdoors at a stream or in your classroom. It can also be paired with the Stream Critter Lab for a full 90-minute lab.

Book a Geomorphlogy Lab

Create a Caddisfly

Ages: Elementary School. Program Length: 30 minutes.

This activity combines art and science to explore the life of one of our local stream insects – the caddisfly! In this activity, students learn about caddisflies, the houses they make, and how they relate to stream health. Students then make their own caddisfly and house out of craft supplies.

The Create a Caddisfly program is a great STEM or STEAM night activity and fulfills requirements for the Bug Badge (Girl Scouts) or the Insect Study (Boy Scouts).

Book a Create a Caddisfly Program

What's A Food Web?

Ages: Elementary School. Program Length: 40 minutes.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when trying to teach food webs. In this program, students learn about producers, consumers, and decomposers in the Chesapeake Bay.  In the interactive portion of the program, students become part of the food web and learn how each species plays an integral role in our environment and what happens when human interactions throw off a balanced ecosystem.

Book a Food Web Program

Meet An Ecologist

Our team of freshwater ecologists are available to virtually present to your students. Staff are available to discuss a wide range of topics, including watersheds, assessing the health of our streams and lakes, Chesapeake Bay, food webs, stormwater management, influences of human activity on ecosystems, science fair projects, and more! For large classes, it is helpful to send a list of questions ahead of time.

Book a Scientist

Fairfax County Field Journal

Welcome to the amazing world of field journals! This journal provides a mix of activities to help you discover more about your neighborhood, school, and the outdoors. It also has blank journaling pages for you to record what you see in the natural world. The field guide below can help with some of the activities.

View the field journal

Enviroscape

The enviroscape is a three-dimensional interactive model of a watershed that can be used to show how point and non-point source pollution enters our waterways. The enviroscape can be checked out by local teachers and other non-traditional educators. WEO staff is available to help train how to use the enviroscape model should you need assistance.

Book the Enviroscape

Department Resources

Related Resources

SUBSCRIBE TO DEPARTMENT

Watershed Education and Outreach

On This Page

ECO VIDEOS

Educational Programs

Revitalize, Restore, Replant!

Stream Crime Investigation Lab

Live! Stream Critter Lab

Stream Critter Cube Lab

Geomorphology Lab

Create a Caddisfly

What's A Food Web?

Meet An Ecologist

Educational Tools

Stormy the Raindrop Educational Campaign

Fairfax County Field Journal

A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife

Enviroscape

Which Fish did I Fish? Fish ID Key

Water's Journey

You Can Help Prevent Pollution

Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for?

More About Stormwater Management

Topics

Services

Resources

Related Resources

SUBSCRIBE TO DEPARTMENT

Translate
Awards
Site Feedback

Main Address

Site Tools

Support

Additional Resources

Department Resources

Related Resources

SUBSCRIBE TO DEPARTMENT

Watershed Education and Outreach

On This Page

ECO VIDEOS

Educational Programs

Revitalize, Restore, Replant!

Stream Crime Investigation Lab

Live! Stream Critter Lab

Stream Critter Cube Lab

Geomorphology Lab

Create a Caddisfly

What's A Food Web?

Meet An Ecologist

Educational Tools

Stormy the Raindrop Educational Campaign

Fairfax County Field Journal

A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife

Enviroscape

Which Fish did I Fish? Fish ID Key

Water's Journey

You Can Help Prevent Pollution

Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for?

More About Stormwater Management

Topics

Services

Resources

Related Resources

SUBSCRIBE TO DEPARTMENT

Translate Awards Site Feedback

Main Address

Site Tools

Support

Additional Resources

Translate
Awards
Site Feedback