Field Trips
Check back in early 2020 for field trip listings. Below are 2019 field trips.
Monday, April 8, 2019
A. Shockoe Valley Bike Trip
Experienced cyclists: Discover the Cannon Creek greenway, the Shockoe Valley Streets Improvement Project, urban agriculture, and other revitalization efforts underway in Richmond.
| Monday, April 8, 2019 | 1:00–4:00 pm | Limit 12 |
Description: This bike tour for experienced cyclists, led by Richmond’s pedestrian, bicycle and trail coordinator, will last 2-3 hours. The ride will introduce participants to the urban Cannon Creek greenway, the Shockoe Valley Streets Improvement Project, several urban agriculture ventures, and other revitalization efforts that have been undertaken in the City of Richmond. Tour leaders will describe how projects were accomplished along the route, which includes on-road portions. Bring your own helmet. Electric bikes provided by the City of Richmond.
- Leader: Jakob Helmboldt-City of Richmond pedestrian, bicycle and trails coordinator
- Assistant: Brantley Tyndall-BikeWalk RVA
- Transportation: Bring your bike or rent electric bike from Kul Wheels, 9 W Grace
Download Cannon Creek Bike Tour EEC (PDF)
B. Hike T-Pot/Belle Isle
This casual 4-mile hike crosses the river on the footbridge over the rapids, and heads to Belle Isle Park. Learn about the Civil War and industrial history along the James; enjoy the river up close.
| Monday, April 8, 2019 | 1:00–4:00 pm | Limit 9 |
Description: This out-and-back-hike (estimated 4 miles) will head south to the James River and cross a bike/ped bridge over rapids, a designated section of the East Coast Greenway. The group will head over to Belle Isle Park, where Northern soldiers were imprisoned during the Civil War. See the ruins of 19th and 20th-century industries that inhabited the island. A 21st century pump track teaches youngsters how to mountain bike (who said exercise can’t be fun!) Staff from James River Park system will guide this adventure and provide the latest information on the park and City’s master plan.
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Leader: Nathan Burrell, City of Richmond
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Assistant: Lynn Crump, DCR
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Transportation: Walk
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Supplies to bring: Water
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Meeting location: Hotel
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Duration: 3 hours
Download TPot and Bell Isle Hiking Trip EEC (PDF)
C. Route 5 Bus Tour
Journey along scenic Route 5 and Osbourne Turnpike to learn about the significance of these roads and surrounding landscape, and efforts underway to preserve the special qualities of this Virginia Scenic Byway. Stops at the Four Mile Creek Trailhead of the Virginia Capital Trail, Malvern Hill, and Osborne Park Boat Landing. We have five knowledgeable speakers. Thanks to Riverside Outfitters for sponsoring this trip.
| Monday, April 8, 2019 | 1:00–4:00 pm | Limit 25 |
Description: During this interpretive bus tour, participants will journey along scenic Route 5 and Osbourne Turnpike to learn about the significance of these roads and surrounding historic landscape. The Department of Historic Resources (DHR) will interpret the abundant historic highway markers along the route during the ride, the Henrico County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC) will discuss their partnership in working to protect large and small properties. The trip will culminate with a visit to Malvern Hill Farm, the only place in America that U.S. troops experienced activity during the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. It was protected by CRLC in 2018 with the support of many local, state, and national partners. The Route 5 Corridor Coalition will discuss their efforts to preserve the special qualities of this significant byway.
- Leader: Parker Agelasto, Capital Region Land Conservancy
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Assistant: Nicole Anderson Ellis, Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District and Jen Loux, DHR
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Transportation: Bus, sponsored by Riverside Outfitters
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Supplies to bring: Water
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Meeting location: Hotel
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Duration: 3 hours
Download Route 5 Bus Tour EEC (PDF)
D. Evergreen Cemetery Service Project
Tour a historic cemetery significant to local African American history, which over time fell into disrepair. You are invited to clear brush and debris, or record grave information, to help reclaim this historic site. Thanks to Virginia Outdoors Foundation for providing vans for this trip.
| Monday, April 8, 2019 | 1:00–4:00 pm | Limit 20 |
Description: This African-American cemetery was created in 1891 and was exempted from a 1919 law that required perpetual care to be included in the price of a lot. Leaders of Richmond’s African-American community are buried here, including Maggie Walker, but the graves are in disrepair. The Enrichmond Foundation acquired the property in 2017 and is partnering with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to protect and restore it. Join Enrichmond, VOF, and the Department of Historic Resources for this tour of the cemetery. Following the tour, participants can give back by helping to clear brush and debris or by recording grave info
- Leader: Jason McGarvey, VOF
- Assistants: Joanna Green, DHR; Ted Maris-Wolf, Enrichmond; Brett Glymph, VOF
- Transportation: Hotel shuttle
- Supplies to bring: Clean-up gear, water
- Meeting location: Hotel
- Duration: 3 hours
Download Evergreen Cemetery Trip EEC (PDF)
E. Low Line Walking Tour
Explore an oasis along the waterfront following the James River and Kanawha Canal that uses native plants and green infrastructure to mitigate stormwater. Travel to Low Line by bus; walk back along the Canal.
| Monday, April 8, 2019 | 1:00–2:30 pm | Limit 14 |
Description: Participants will visit the Low Line, a 5.5-acre green oasis along the historic waterfront following the Virginia Capital Trail. This urban park along the James River and Kanawha Canal utilizes native plants and green infrastructure to mitigate storm water runoff. Participants will travel to the Low Line by bus and back by foot along the Canal Walk, which stretches 1.25 miles along the James River and the Kanawha and Haxall Canals
- Leader: Frazier Armstrong, Capital Trees
- Assistant: Bill Conkle, DCR
- Transportation: Hotel shuttle, walk back
- Supplies to bring: Water
- Meeting location: Hotel
- Duration: 1.5 hours
Download Low Line Walking Tour EEC (PDF)
F. Ware Creek WMA Van Tour
Enjoy scenic bluff-top views overlooking the York River and neo-tropical bird migration watching on this trip to the recently acquired Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area in New Kent County.
| Monday, April 8, 2019 | 1:00–4:00 pm | Limit 20 |
Description: Join a field trip to the recently acquired Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area in New Kent County and learn about DGIF’s WMA habitat and wildlife management practices. Enjoy scenic bluff-top views overlooking the York River and neo-tropical bird migration watching. Located on the York River and bound by Philbates and Ware Creeks, the Ware Creek WMA offers extensive wetlands, mixed hardwood, pine forests, open fields and two miles of frontage on the York River. The uplands of Ware Creek WMA are comprised primarily of variously aged mixed pine and hardwood forests with some pine plantation. Agricultural fields offer upland habitat variety along with small wildlife clearings. Wetlands include rich saltmarshes as well as tidal freshwater marshes and small interior ponds and beaver wetlands.
- Leader: Joe Howren-DGIF
- Assistants: Stephen Living and David Norris, DGIF
- Transportation: Van
- Supplies to bring: Water
- Meeting location: Hotel
- Duration: 3 hours
Download Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area EEC (PDF)
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
G. Capital Trail Bike
Take a one-hour, easy bike tour of the amazing Virginia Capital Trail that links Richmond to Jamestown, an urban greenway that weaves through revitalization efforts undertaken in the City of Richmond.
| Tuesday, April 9, 2019 | 1:30 – 3:00 pm | Limit 12 |
Description: Join Cat Anthony, director of the Capital Trail Foundation, for a one-hour, easy bike tour of the amazing Virginia Capital Trail that links Richmond to Jamestown. The ride will introduce you to an urban greenway and various revitalization efforts that have been undertaken in the City of Richmond. Tour leaders will describe how projects were accomplished along the route, which is all off-road. Experience riding an electric bicycle, which allows you to decide how much effort to put into the trip.
- Leader: Cat Anthony, VA Capital Trail Foundation
- Assistant: Louise Lockett Gordon, BikeWalk RVA
- Transportation: Rent electric bikes
- Supplies to Bring: water
- Meeting location: Rocketts Landing
- Duration: 1.5 hours
Download Virginia Capital Trail Mobile Bike Trip EEC (PDF)
H. Footprints of the Slave Trade
Walk along a footprint of the slave trading businesses that coincided with Richmond’s evolution from a village on Shockoe Creek to the nation’s epicenter of the domestic slave trade to the end of the civil war.
| Tuesday, April 9, 2019 | 1:30 – 3:00 pm | Limit 15 |
Description: During this discussion tour, participants will walk along a footprint of the slave trading businesses that existed east of the railroad tracks to 19th Street between E. Broad and E. Main streets, with a narrative thread running from Richmond’s evolution from a village on Shockoe Creek to the nation’s epicenter of the domestic slave trade and the end of the civil war; its social and civic structures as a “slave society”, and the pervasive and everyday experience of living amidst the trade in human beings for profit.
- Leader: Ana Edwards, Sacred Ground Project
- Assistant: Jennifer Wampler, DCR
- Transportation: Pulse to 15th and Main
- Supplies to bring: Water
- Meeting location: Hotel
- Duration: 1.5 hours
Download Slave Trail Walking Field Trip (PDF)