A volunteer and a group of middle school students stand on a boardwalk and look at birds through binoculars.

Education Programs

Updated October 19, 2026

Each year, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge becomes an outdoor classroom for hundreds of students. Check out some of the educational programs we offer, all at no cost. Please submit all requests to canaanvalley@fws.gov.

Each spring, sixth grade students in Tucker and Randolph Counties participate in Wild School, a wetlands education program focused on the functions of wetlands, their importance, and what students can do to help protect them. The program is broken down into two classroom visits where refuge staff and volunteers bring wetlands to the classroom, followed by a field trip to the refuge where students rotate through educational stations set in the largest wetlands in West Virginia.

If you would like your class to take part in the Wild School program, please send us an email at canaanvalley@fws.gov before January each year. We would love to incorporate your class as staff and volunteers are available. Please note, your school must be within an hour drive of Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to sign up for classroom visits.

A park ranger guides a group of middle school students through a wetland soil activity. — As part of the Wild School program at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, sixth grade students rotate through different stations that include hands-on activities about wetlands. Here, students investigate the characteristics of wetland soils.

The refuge offers opportunities for students to explore local habitats, experience local wildlife, and learn about the natural world. Field trips are designed to support the learning goals of each visiting group, and we have something for all school age groups. The refuge is a popular place and reservations for educational groups are required.

All groups are limited in size to a maximum of 100 students; and no more than 100 students from any number of groups may visit on any given date. This is done to reduce impact on other visitors using the same trail system. All groups must reserve their date with us in advance.

Requests may be made for any combination of the following:

Independent trips - Teacher-led field trips. Refuge staff provide pre-trip planning assistance.
Orientation talks - Refuge staff meet with your group to provide a welcome and orientation.
Guided trail explorations - Refuge staff and volunteers lead indoor programming in our Visitor Center. At this time, we must limit indoor activities to no more than 30 students.

Requesting a Field Trip

If refuge staff and volunteers are available, we would love to welcome your group to the refuge for a field trip program. When making a request, we will need the following information:

The number of students, teachers, and chaperones.
The grade level(s) of the students, pre-K to college. We also accommodate home school and multi-age student groups.
Learning goals and objectives.
A first and second choice date for the field trip.

Please send this information to canaanvalley@fws.gov and we will be happy to review the request.

Middle school students sit around a picnic table and closely inspect parts of a cattail plant. — As part of the Wild School program at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, sixth grade students rotate through different stations that include hands-on activities about wetlands. Here, a volunteer leads students through a cattail dissection activity to explore wetland plant adaptations.

If you would like the refuge to come speak to your group at your site, we would be happy to accommodate your request if we are able. We've visited classrooms, after school programs, summer reading programs, scout groups, church groups, and more. When making a request, we will need the following information:

The number of students/participants in your group.
The grade level of the students/participants if applicable.
Learning goals or requested topic of interest.
A date for the site visit and a backup date.

Please note that submitting a request does not guarantee that we will be able to accommodate it as it is based on staff and volunteer capacity. But we would love to visit with your group if we are able.

A volunteer in a classroom helps a young child find supplies for a craft while other students put it together. — Volunteers at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge go to local kindergarten classrooms to read a story and do a nature-related craft.

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