Click here to see our full calendar of events below
February - June 2020
Below is a list of events coming up at Paradise Creek Nature Park!
Volunteer Opportunities
Paradise Creek Nature Park offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Over 2,000 adults and children have helped remove invasive plants, planted native trees, weeded garden beds, removed trash from the trails and wetland, and helped maintain education zones throughout the park.
Click Here for volunteer opportunities, dates, and times.
Paradise Creek Nature Park Events
Join us at Paradise Creek Nature Park for events throughout the Fall. We are located at 1141 Victory Boulevard in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Family Nature Walks
Discover the wonders of Paradise Creek Nature Park. Take a leisurely walk and learn about the history of the park, its native plants, and wildlife. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the new eco-friendly Towne Bank River Playground!
Date(s): Saturdays: Feb 29th, Mar 7th, Mar 14th, Apr 4th, Apr 18th, May 2nd, May 16th, and Jun 2nd
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
Click here to register for this event
Power AM Walks
We will be walking a brisk pace for approximately 1 mile on the natural trails at Paradise Creek. Moderate exercise has great benefits for your physical health. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Date(s): Feb 22nd, Feb 29th, and Mar 28th 2020
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
Click here to register for this event
Winter Bird Walks
More than 160 species of Birds have been identified in Paradise Creek Nature Park thanks to the tens of thousands of native plants and trees planted by volunteers and school children since 2012.
Date(s): Saturdays: Feb 29th, and Mar 28th 2020
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
Click here to register for this event
Basics of Pruning
Come join Yolima Carr, the Conservation Landscape Curator at Paradise Creek, to learn the proper way to prune trees, and how pruning is an excellent gardening practice to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides.
Date(s): Saturday: March 21st 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Targeted Ages: Adults
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
Click here to register for this event
Paradise Creek Nature Park Story
Join park educators as they use words and pictures to tell the story of Paradise Creek Nature Park. Guests will learn about the parks role in the Elizabeth River Projects ongoing efforts to clean the river. After the classroom portion of the program attendees will go down to the kayak launch to do actual water quality testing of the parks salt marsh.
Date(s): Saturday: Apr 11th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
Click here to register for this event
Arbor Day/Earth Day Celebration
Join with the city of Portsmouth to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day in a celebration of trees and the earth. Kids’ activities like a bounce house and games will make it a fun day for the family.
Date(s): Saturday: Apr 25th
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required
Click here to register for this event
Spring Bird Walks
More than 160 species of Birds have been identified in Paradise Creek Nature Park thanks to the tens of thousands of native plants and trees planted by volunteers and school children since 2012.
Date(s): Saturday: Apr 25th , May 30th, Jun 27th
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required (one registration per adult please),
Click here to register for this event
Native and Medicinal Plants and their Traditional Uses
Join us to welcome Vickie Shufer, director of Botany for the SHRC Virginia Native Plant society. Vickie is a naturalist, herbalist and forager with a master’s degree in therapeutic herbalism. We will be discussing the native plants of the Tidewater area that were traditionally used for their medicinal properties.
Date(s): Saturday: May 9th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Targeted Ages: All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: FREE – Registration Required (one registration per adult please),
Click here to register for this event
Guided Kayaking in Paradise
Paddle the largest restored wetland in Virginia that’s open for public recreation. Ours is 11 acres, restored in 2012 by the Port of Virginia; now a teeming new ecosystem. Wear a hat, and bring sunscreen, closed toe shoes and plenty of water!
Date: Saturday: May 30th
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Date: Saturday: June 20th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Targeted Ages: 12 and above. 12-16 years with adults.
Cost: Registration Required - $30 pp for ERP Members and $40 pp Non ERP Members.
Click here to register for this event
River Star Homes Workshops
Elizabeth River Project’s River Star Homes program is free to residents of the Elizabeth River area who commit to 7 simple steps (riverstarhomes.org). Join your fellow “stars” to learn the latest on how you can help the river at home.
Composting
Date: Saturday, March 28th, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Target Aged: All ages, children must be accompanied by adults
Location: Paradise Creek Nature Park – 1141 Victory Blvd., Portsmouth, VA
Cost: FREE – Registration required – Contact Barbara Gavin at bgavin@elizabethriver.org or 757-392-7135
Join Paul Allen, a local naturalist, and come learn the basics and how easy it is to compost at home! Discover the environmental benefits of diverting food waste from our landfills and making your own powerful fertilizer!
Click here to register for this event
Growing Native Plants from Seeds
Date: Saturday, June 27th, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Target Aged: All ages, children must be accompanied by adults
Location: Paradise Creek Nature Park – 1141 Victory Blvd., Portsmouth, VA
Cost: FREE – Registration required – Contact Barbara Gavin at bgavin@elizabethriver.org or 757-392-7135
Native plants are terrific for the ecosystem but can be hard to find, not to mention expensive. Mike Barbachem, an environmental engineer and long-time volunteer, will share lessons from growing hundreds of native plants for his yard. This workshop will provide participants the needed information about how to grow native plants from seeds. Details about where to buy seeds, how to germinate them, and then how to plant them will be provided.
Click here to register for this event