LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

The Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center at River Park North

This park with its new nature center is a fun place for students to go and learn about the indigenous species of eastern North Carolina.

http://www.greenvillenc.gov/departments/rec_parks_dept/information/default.aspx?id=295

Learn more

  • Fish and Wildlife Species Information and links regarding Endangered Species, Invasive Species, and Other Species. There is an image library with with copyright-free photographs and illustrations of all sorts of plants and wildlife. The wildlife fact sheets can be accessed using HTML or PDF format.
  • North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Wildlife Species and Habitat Information A North Carolina Wildlife Resources site with detailed information about wildlife resources and management in the state. Information about animals such as the wood duck, white-tailed deer, beaver, wild turkey, quail, sea turtles, and predators such as various owls, osprey, black bear, wild boar and the gray fox is found here.
  • ExplorA-Pond Collaborate with other students around the world, study pond ecology, and create a database of pond descriptions.
  • Lesson plan: Snakes are cool This lesson begins with a reading of Verdi by Janell Cannon. It integrates science with language arts as the students learn about snakes and write about their findings.
  • Lesson plan: Birds by inquiry Students will make observations of bird pictures to note the similarities and differences in one animal group. They will note especially the beaks, feet, wings and feathers of different types of birds. The life cycle of birds will be explored.
  • Lesson plan: Feathers, fin, fur, scales, and skin Using observation, students will identify animal groups by their appearance. The students will move through animal centers looking for similarities and differences of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
  • Tracking animals Large groups of children are likely to scare off mammals, but they can learn to identify tracks to learn more about the animals that left them.

Related pages

  • Jockey's Ridge State Park: Experience a world of the shifting sands and a barren, desert environment as well as an estuarine environment of the tidal waters of the Roanoke Sound at Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, North Carolina.
  • Lake Crabtree County Park: This park includes wetland areas, a floodplain forest, and various creeks. Environmental programs for school groups are available.
  • Tanglewood Park Nature Education Center: In spring and fall, Tanglewood Park offers quality nature education programs which are correlated with the N.C. Standard Course of Study for Science or Social Studies.

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Legal

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In September 1999, Hurricane Floyd flooded the low lying areas of Greenville, North Carolina near the Tar River. The River Park Nature Center sustained great damage and many of the exhibits were destroyed. The Center was torn down and in 2001, Greenville businessman, W.M. “Booger” Scales, Jr. stepped forward and launched a fundraising drive to rebuild this important educational site. In May 2005, the Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center opened its doors to the public. It “ houses a 70 seat theater and a variety of exhibits including a turtle touch tank, waterfowl of the Atlantic Flyway, a 10,000 gallon freshwater aquarium, live snakes, and the North American Diorama, as well as, many other fun and interesting activities throughout the year.”

River Park North is a 324 acre park and has 3 miles of hiking trails where visitors can see deer, birds, fish, and even snakes. Take a virtual tour of the Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center to see what is available for students to see and do. Included are interactives showing shells, native species of fish and turtles, and a quiz on animal tracks. The website also has Nature Activity Sheets for elementary age students.

River Park North is located at 1000 Mumford Road. To schedule a visit call (252)329-4562.

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