Early Birders, Stream Exploration, and Bugs and Blooms Backpacks are now available to check out from libraries in the New River region. This program serves as an environmental education resource for families tailored to meet standards of learning for grades 4-7. 

Early birder backpacks include binoculars, bird guides and activities. Stream Exploration backpacks contain lessons about local watersheds, storm water management practices, and the equipment and instructions needed to perform benthic macroinvertebrate or “stream bug” sampling in local streams. Bugs and Blooms backpacks contain tools and guides to catch terrestrial insects and identify native plants.

This program is supported by the 2020 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia and The Town of Blacksburg.