New Hope Creek Project
In the fall of 2005, the third grade teachers and specialists, embarked on a year-long study of the nearby New Hope Creek. Community members, working together with local governments of Orange County, Durham County, the city of Chapel Hill, and the city of Durham, had recently secured this area for the development of a future park.
The project continues to involve Forest View faculty, students, community leaders, and naturalists from across the Triangle. Students are engaged in active exploration of the natural world. They have created a New Hope Creek Museum at Forest View, to display some of their artwork, journals, and discoveries. The school hopes to donate this collection to the park when it is formally opened.
This project draws upon the work of Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder.
“When you go outside and explore nature, and then come back to learn about it, it’s like you get to write the book, or make the book yourself, instead of having to read one written by other people.”
--- Zach, FV 3rd grader
“We are continuing to preserve New Hope Creek, continuing to honor the efforts of our community and local government, by teaching our children to be stewards of this land”
--- J Heffernan, FV teacher
