School of Environmental Education
Learn More: Download Our Program Planning GuideSEE
Green River Preserve’s School of Environmental Education (SEE), offers 3 to 5-day residential outdoor education programs for public and private schools and homeschool groups. Our curriculum is designed for rising 5th grade through middle school and is easily adaptable for older and younger students. Participants spend their days exploring the preserve’s waterfalls, caves, and mountain overlooks in small field groups of 10-12 students. SEE programs are available in the fall and spring. We can serve up to 120 participants each week.
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Please email to schedule your trip.
We will open registration for all 2025 dates on September 1st, 2024.
Days & Rates
| Length | Students | Adults |
|---|---|---|
| 3 day program | $265 | $140 |
| 4 day program | $335 | $165 |
| 5 day program | $400 | $200 |
2025 Spring Dates
| Dates Available | School Served |
|---|---|
| April 23 - April 25 | Davidson Green School, Charlotte Jewish Day School, Emerson Waldorf School, Rainbow Community School |
| April 28 - May 1 | The Lexington School, The Cooper School |
| May 5 - May 9 | Summit School, Holy Name of Jesus School, Hursey Montessori |
| May 13 - May 16 | University School of the Lowcountry, Porter-Gaud School |
Our Spring season calendar is currently FULL.
2025 Fall Dates
| Dates Available | School Served |
|---|---|
| September 8 - September 12 | Ashley Hall & Episcopal Day School |
| September 15 - September 19 | Hickory Day School & East Cooper Montessori Charter School |
| September 22 - September 26 | St. Mary Magdalene + Opening for group less than 30 |
| September 29 - October 3 | Trinity Episcopal School + Opening for group less than 50 |
Our 2025 Fall SEE calendar is open for reservations. Please contact Programs Director, Lauren Betz, at lauren@greenriverpreserve.org to inquire.
Environmental Education Curriculum
SEE focuses on three basic themes: cultural heritage, ecological respect, and stewardship. We explore these themes through an inquiry-based learning approach. We believe understanding the interconnectedness between humans and nature among these themes brings respect and knowledge for one’s self, each other, and all living things.
During the visit, students and teachers are exposed to a multitude of Southern Blue Ridge Mountains aspects while hiking the preserve with our naturalists in the morning and afternoon. Topics may include but are not limited to the diverse Appalachian ecosystem, primitive arts and crafts, and mountain culture. The integration of the interdisciplinary unit with GRP’s hands-on field trip experience gives students a profound understanding of the three basic themes: cultural heritage, ecological respect, and stewardship.
Activities might include:
- Hiking throughout the 3,400-acre private wildlife preserve
- Hands-on experiences in field ecology
- Animal tracking
- Wildlife observation
- Field journaling and sketching
- Practicing Leave-No-Trace guidelines
- Medicinal and edible plants
- Stream ecology
- Appalachian geology, including cave dwellings
The Classroom
Green River Preserve’s 3,400 acres offers the perfect learning, exploration environment for all ages. Rich in ecological and cultural history, the stories from this land will bond you to a larger community of learners, those from centuries past. Participants may spend the day climbing to one of our waterfalls, spelunking in an old Cave, discovering rare pitcher plants in a bog, or looking out over the green river valley at one of our bald outlooks.
DIRECTIONS FOR BUSES
- From I-26, take Exit 40 for the Asheville Regional Airport. Head west towards Brevard, NC, on NC-280 W. Go approximately 15.3 miles.
- At the Wal-Mart intersection, turn left onto US-64 E (Hendersonville Hwy.)
- Go 3.7 miles to Crab Creek Road. There is a Marathon gas station/convenience store at this corner.
- Turn right onto Crab Creek Road. Drive 4.3 miles to Dupont Road.
- Turn right onto Dupont Road (follow signs for Dupont State Forest). Dupont Road becomes Staton Road.
- Continue on this road until it dead-ends into Cascade Lake Road.
- Turn left onto Cascade Lake Road. Go 2.4 miles
- Turn left onto Reasonover Road (right before Cedar Mountain Fire Station).
- Go 4 miles. At the end of the pavement, bear right onto Green River Road. Go 1/4 mile on the gravel, then take the second driveway on the left. There will be a sign for GRP that says “Opening and Closing Day Entrance.” (There is a big parking lot to turn the bus around.) Reminder: DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR GPS. IT WILL BE WRONG AND YOU WILL LOSE CELL SERVICE ON DUPONT ROAD.