Author: Katy Dowe

Great Outdoors Learning Dome

Meet our staff

What is the Great Outdoors Learning Dome?
A place where the community can come to further their knowledge by having hands on experience with different aspects of the environment.
Working Locally With:
Washington Co. Public Schools
City of Bristol, VA Public Schools
VA Master Naturalist
River’s Way

L-R: Azia, Jorel, Christine, Tevin, Stephanie, Rashaad
Not pictured: Lafe
All of the students, who are volunteers at GOLD, are Emory & Henry College students working to fulfill community service hours for their Bonner Scholarship.

Great
Outdoors
Learning
Dome

Directions:
Follow the main road to the back of the park
Fork to the right, before the ranger station
GOLD is located beside Waldo Miles
21361 Sugar Hollow Road
Bristol,VA24202

To contact volunteers:
Email: sugarhollowgold@gmail.com
Website: http://sugarhollowgold.weebly.com

Great
Outdoors
Learning
Dome

Located inside

Funding Assistance from:
Alpha Natural Resources
Educational Assistance from:
Holston River SWCD

21361 Sugar Hollow Road
Bristol,VA24202

Educational Programs

AQUATICS
Who Polluted Beaver Creek?
Using a model to represent Beaver Creek, students participate in an interactive story dramatizing, how as populations increase and resource use changes, a water body is affected. This example demonstrates that we are all part of the pollution problem, and that we all must be part of the solution.
The Incredible Journey
When children think of the water cycle, they often imagine a circle of water, flowing from a stream to an ocean, evaporating to the clouds, raining down on mountaintop, and flowing back into a stream. Role playing a water molecule helps them to conceptualize the water cycle as more than a predictable two dimensional path.
Beaver Creek Observations
Participants will use provided nets and waders to go into Beaver Creek and using what they have to test the water quality. The participants will bring back their live specimens and take note on how sensitive that particular bug/insect is, allowing us to know how good the water quality is at this particular creek.

Educational Programs Cont’d
WILDLIFE
The Great Migration
It’s time to fly south for the winter, but watch out for the power lines jets, and bad weather. Participants will define migration and summarize factors affecting migration for many bird species.
Wildlife Track Mold
(make and take activity)
Participants will make replicas of familiar wildlife tracks to assist with exploration within the park and further study at home.
FORESTRY
Every Tree for Itself
Students will understand that trees, like all living things, have to have sunlight, water, & nutrients to live. Participants will pick a tree and be given a handful of ‘essentials’ it must get without moving from the tree.
SOILS
Soil as a Filter
Students will discover that soils physically and chemically filter impurities out of water. Students will also discover the role of soil in having good drinking water.
** We do offer special field trips throughout the park, if we are notified in advance.

Special Programs
Enviroscape
Through an Enviroscape model demonstration, students will learn how point and non-point source pollution moves through a watershed and what management strategies can be implemented to prevent or minimize negative effects on water resources.
Park Clean-Up
Gloves, bags and vests provided, come out to the park and make a difference!
Children’s Festival
Join us at GOLD for crafts, stories and tours throughout Sugar Hollow Park.
Rain Barrel Workshop
Learn how to create a barrel for rainwater harvesting and how it should be properly assembled.
Eco-friendly Calendar Making
Create your own calendar from paint chips and a glass frame.
Sugar Hollow Safari
Take a hike through the diverse areas that Sugar Hollow park has to offer. Listed activities can be utilized throughout this hike.
Low Impact Development Tour
Students will learn how to construct rain gardens using topsoil, sand and clay along with what plants utilize this as a good habitat. After learning about rain gardens there will be a hike down to the Low Impact Development, at the front of the park, to see a rain garden first hand.

Great
Outdoors
Learning
Dome