Berryville, VA – The Clarke County Education Foundation (CCEF), in collaboration with the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) and Casey Trees, is thrilled to announce the launch of Clarke County Living Laboratories, a new initiative dedicated to creating high-impact, hands-on learning experiences across Clarke County Public Schools (CCPS).
PEC provided a $10,000 grant through its Clarke County Conservation Fund to help make this collaboration possible. CCEF, Casey Trees, and CCPS are grateful for their generous support.
The first initiative under this new banner is a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) for all CCPS third-grade students, made possible through a grant-funded partnership between PEC, Casey Trees, and CCEF. This collaborative effort represents a significant expansion of high-quality, hands-on environmental literacy lessons for local youth and reflects a shared commitment to fostering place-based learning and environmental stewardship within the community.
The MWEE is composed of standards-aligned environmental literacy lessons designed to engage third-grade students in scientific inquiry, outdoor learning, and critical thinking. The curriculum includes environmental issue definition, outdoor field investigations involving data collection and observation, synthesis and conclusions, and a culminating stewardship action project. The core driving question for the program is: “What human actions impact the health of our ecosystems, and how can we protect these ecosystems?”
“This partnership brings together the strengths of three dedicated organizations to provide an essential, place-based learning experience for our young students,” said Dr. Camrynn Fausey, CCEF’s Director of STEM Education and Innovation. “The MWEE approach is vital for helping third graders connect classroom science to their local environment, inspiring them to become the next generation of conservation leaders.”
Throughout the spring of 2026, students will participate in instruction and site visits with Casey Trees, learning about the local watershed, habitat, and the effects of human impacts. The third graders’ culminating Action Project, which addresses a community- or school-based need, will be completed and showcased in May 2026. The Foundation is excited to support this collaborative effort, which deepens its commitment to public education and environmental literacy in Clarke County.
The Clarke County Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to generating and distributing resources to enrich teaching, inspire learning, and enhance opportunities for all students and educators in Clarke County Public Schools. The Piedmont Environmental Council is a nonprofit organization that works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Casey Trees is a nonprofit organization committed to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital and surrounding region; its tree farm is located in Berryville, Virginia.
To learn more about the partnering organizations, visit:
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Clarke County Education Foundation: https://ccefinc.org
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Piedmont Environmental Council: https://www.pecva.org
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Casey Trees: https://caseytrees.org/farm/
Clarke County Education Foundation
Post Office Box 1252
Berryville, VA 22611
(540) 955-6103
www.ccefinc.org
Thank you to the Winchester Star for featuring information on January 6, 2026 about our Clarke County Living Laboratories Initiative.