Since 1936, Virginia State Parks have served to preserve the Commonwealth's natural and historic resources and to provide opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about those resources. Several of Virginia's State Parks' and Natural Areas - Caledon, Chippokes, Leesylvania, Mason Neck, First Landing/Seashore, Westmoreland and York River - are intimately linked with one of the region's most precious and most threatened resources, the Chesapeake Bay. Increasingly, these parks have a vital role in the future the Bay.

   Because only a tiny fraction of the Chesapeake Bay region falls within the bounds of these parks and natural areas, they can provide only minimal direct protection to the Bay. However, through education--especially the education of Virginia's young people--these parks and natural areas can play a major part in protecting and restoring the Bay.

   Your Backyard Classroms makes it easy, fun and rewarding for classes, grades K-12, to use these seven parks for learning about the Chesapeake Bay and the region's natural and cultural heritage. Included are 40 activities that address an array of subjects and important Bay issues and concepts while satisfying State Standards of Learning objectives. The activites are designed to involve students before, during and after field trips, and encourage them to make hypotheses, observations and inferences. Although each activity includes a concise step-by-step procedure, group leaders are encouraged to mix, match and adapt activities to customize field trips to meet their own instructional goals.

   Please use Your Backyard Classrooms often and join in the fight to save the Chesapeake Bay.

      Sincerely yours,

      Ronald D. Sutton