Virginia Museum of Natural History Receives Gift from Dominion for Education Collaborative

Virginia Museum of Natural History Receives Gift from Dominion for Education Collaborative

The Virginia Museum of Natural History recently received a gift of $10,000 from Dominion Materials Company for an education collaborative that will include a combination of outreach education programs in schools and field trips to Dominion quarries. The “From the Ground Up: Exploring Earth Science” program will include lesson options for teachers based on Virginia Standards of Learning, with the overall collaborative to focus on environmental stewardship and protection. This collaborative and its scholarship program will focus on schools in the Lynchburg, Roanoke and Martinsville areas.

“We are pleased to partner with Dominion to increase awareness of the Virginia Museum of Natural History and its unique educational resources for educators, families and the wider population,” said Ryan Barber, deputy director of VMNH. “Through this collaborative, we will be able to reach hundreds of students across the region through standards-based, engaging education programs.”

“Dominion is proud to partner with the Virginia Museum of Natural History to bring the wonders of Earth Science to life for Virginia’s students,” said Jeff Perkins, president, Dominion. “This unique program combines classroom-based and experiential learning to engage students.”

The museum will begin booking programs through this collaborative immediately for the spring 2019 school semester, with additional program offerings to be carried over to fall 2019 as available. For information about booking an outreach education program or quarry field trip, educators in participating areas should contact the museum at 276-634-4185 or discover@vmnh.virginia.gov.

About the Virginia Museum of Natural History
The Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville seeks to increase understanding of, and appreciation for, the natural history of the Commonwealth through education, research, collections, publications and exhibits. The museum – an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution – is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction earned by fewer than 10 percent of museums in the United States. The museum is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, Virginia Association of Museums, Heritage Preservation, and is an agency of the Secretary of Natural Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, the museum is open on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed all other Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Admission is $7 for ages 19-59; $5 for children and youth ages 3-18, seniors 60+ and college students; members and children under 3 receive free admission. Visit www.vmnh.net to learn more.