Eco-Heritage Hikes in Tappahannock
Half-Day Kayak Tours in the Tappahannock Region
Custom Group Tours for Naturalists and History Buffs: Birding, Native American History, and Ecology
Half-Day Hiking Tours of Hutchinson Unit: Rappahannock National Wildlife Refuge
Warm weather means kayak tours of the Rappahannock River and its tributaries Exploring the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock is a fun opportunity to discuss wildlife and history. Here at Rappahannock Adventures, we customize outings to fit your goals. Our half day tours are great for young people, especially home-schoolers, scouts, and church groups.
Here are some fun facts:
"The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), aka the duck hawk, is the fastest animal in the world. Known as “the living missile,” these falcons live everywhere, except in extreme polar areas and New Zealand, and reach diving speeds of 200 miles per hour. To date, the highest measured descent for a peregrine falcon is 242 miles per hour."
The most successful breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons in Virginia lives in Tappahannock. Our falcons are year-round residents, and their babies are often translocated to other sites in Virginia, part of a long-term plan to reintroduce falcons to their former territory.
Learn more about falcons in Virginia HERE.
The cost? Age restrictions? It depends on the duration and activities of your visit. We believe that 2-4 hours is perfect for youth groups.
Contact info@rappadventure.com for more information.
Half-Day Hiking Tours of Hutchinson Unit: Rappahannock National Wildlife Refuge
Custom Group Tours for Naturalists and History Buffs: Birding, Native American History, and Ecology
Half-Day Hiking Tours of Hutchinson Unit: Rappahannock National Wildlife Refuge
There is a never a bad time to explore the Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge, which is managed as wildlife habitat and recreational space by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Each season on the Middle Peninsula brings new things to see and experience. The Hutchinson Unit, located just north of Tappahannock, features many unique opportunities to discuss wildlife and history. Here at Rappahannock Adventures, we customize outings to fit your goals. Our half day tours are great for young people, especially home-schoolers, scouts, and church groups.
We begin the tour on a magical forest trail, with interpretive signs installed by the Essex County Library. These signs are just right for beginning readers and tell about the plants and animals young people might see along the trail. We see lots of cool birds here, including Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, and lots more woodland species.
The trail leads to an overlook of the adjacent marsh, where we often see Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons, and discuss marsh habitat and modern threats to our precious ecosystem. Kids Quickly grasp concepts like invasive species and water pollution, but we don't end the story there.
We feel it is important to end our refuge visit with a hopeful story describing the things young people can do to help solve environmental issues and threats. We gather at the pier on Mount Landing Creek and discuss littering, recycling, pollinators and their host plants, and how young people can become the next scientists caring for wild places like the refuge.
The cost? Age restrictions? It depends on the duration and activities of your visit. We believe that 2-4 hours is perfect for youth groups. Toddlers can handle the short hikes too!
Contact info@rappadventure.com for more information.
Custom Group Tours for Naturalists and History Buffs: Birding, Native American History, and Ecology
Custom Group Tours for Naturalists and History Buffs: Birding, Native American History, and Ecology
Custom Group Tours for Naturalists and History Buffs: Birding, Native American History, and Ecology
At Rappahannock Adventures, we have 25 years of experience in environmental education and teaching history. The Hutchinson Unit is a phenomenal location to explore Native American history and local ecology. It is located adjacent to Mount Landing Creek, is part of the contemporary Rappahannock Tribe's ancestral homeland, and a tributary of the Rappahannock River.
The central theme to our refuge hikes is environmental history: an exciting field of scholarship that explores the interaction between people and the environment. Yes, it's a two-way street. People impact their environment, and the environment in turn impacts people. A warming climate and the developing Chesapeake Bay brought people into this watershed more than 10,000 years ago.
The Hutchinson Unit's diverse habitat is great for birding, plant and animal identification, and paddling (during the right time of year). We coordinate with your group before your visit to ensure you are seeing and discussing what matters most to you.
What to bring:
Personal gear such as raincoat and warm layers, water, snacks, binoculars, field guides, hat, camera, and sunscreen in a daypack.
Cost:
It depends on the duration and agenda of your visit - talk with us!
Kayaking is also an option in season.
Contact info@rappadventure.com for further details.