Megan Davis Reed, Refuge Manger, Chris Freeman, President of Back Bay NWR Society, Puddles the Blue Gooseand guest speakers participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the outdoor classroom
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations whose donations helped to make the outdoor classroom a reality! And a special thank you to Hampton Roads Community Foundation, COX Communications, Virginia Natural Gas Foundation and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. As well as a very special thank you to architect Chris Elam and RBA Architects their volunteers and their student interns for designing the Outdoor Classroom.
Crafts, Puddles the Blue Goose, cake, rain barrel paining and ribbon cutting spectators
Past and present refuge staff and Back Bay NWR Society board members
Storage shed completed
Storage shed completed. Special thanks to volunteers Mike K and Barry E
Benches are being built
Benches being built offsite. Special thanks to volunteers Chris F, Chris E, Mike K and Barry E
Seating construction continues
Trex added to seating, stairs being built and shed built. Special thanks to volunteers Doug Miller, Chris Elam, Tallis Elam, Mike Kwiatkowski, Barry Erdejon, Chris Freeman and others
Completed seating frame installed onsite. Special thanks to volunteers Mike K and Barry E and students from the Virginia Beach Public Schools Environmental Studies Program helped to carry the framing and materials to the classroom.
Roof installed and seating underway
Outdoor classroom roof is installed. Seating construction is under way in the refuge tram building. Thank you to all who have given generously to make this project a reality!
Construction continues
Framing is underway
Framing of the outdoor classroom is underway. And the roof has been raised. Thank you to all who have given generously to make this project a reality!
Columns have been poured
Screw piles have been successfully installed
Screw piles have been successfully installed. With minimal noise and no vibration during installation, protecting nearby structures and the environment. And with minimal excavation and site preparation, leaving the surrounding landscape largely undisturbed. Screw pilers are adaptable for diverse soil types, including soft, loose, and high-water-table areas.
Required torque was reached at a depth of about 14’ below grade.
Outdoor classroom excavation is completed
Chris Elam, board member of Back Bay NWR Society and volunteer project architect, RBA Architects at the outdoor classroom excavation.
Outdoor classroom construction is in progress
The outdoor classroom will be used for environmental education programs and the enjoyment of the visiting public.
Construction on the Outdoor Classroom has begun! The society has raised the necessary funds to construct the classroom. Permits have been granted and archaeological approval received. Construction bids have been reviewed, and a builder has been contracted. There is a possibility that some construction materials will be donated freeing up some funding. This is all very exciting!
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations whose donations helped to make this possible! And a special thank you to Hampton Roads Community Foundation, COX Communications and Virginia Natural Gas Foundation. As well as a very special thank you to RBA Architects their volunteers and their student interns for designing the Outdoor Classroom.
Outdoor classroom construction fundraising goal has been met. Construction starts by end of August of this year 2025. Peak Building Corporation has been awarded the construction bid. Fundraising will continue for storage units, and possible cistern water system and wind or solar power. Check back regularly for construction updates.
Proposed outdoor classroom seating designs for by RBA Architects’ student interns.
Plans have been finalized, core samples completed, indigenous people have approved and wetlands analysis and plans completed. Outdoor classroom construction is ready to start. Outdoor Classroom construction plans. Your help is needed to fund the construction. Please donate.
Back Bay NWR Society kicked off the next phase of our Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Classroom project. New interns from the VBCPS Environmental Studies Program joined Chris Elam from RBA Architects, refuge staff and members of the BBNWR Society on site along with two members of MSA consulting engineers.
After the proposed location of The Outdoor Classroom was staked out, Charles Hall and Taylor Pomposini from MSA demonstrated soil boring and analysis methods using a truck mounted boring rig. They also walked us through topographic surveying of the area.
The information from these two exercises is be instrumental in finalizing foundation designs for The Outdoor Classroom.
From left to right: student interns Erin Peck, Cayden Johnson, Rion Webre and RBA architect Chris Elam
On May 16th at the refuge, Virginia Beach Environmental Studies Program high school student interns and intern director Chris Elam from RBA Architects presented design developments for The Outdoor Classroom project.
Refuge staff and BBNWR Society Board members were in attendance to review the design work to date and to discuss next steps in the design, planning, and construction process. Dialogue took place regarding construction detailing, volunteer build means and methods, construction phasing, and cost estimating.
A two phase construction process is planned, starting with the main roof structure. Phase 2 will be the design and construction of the platform, seating, and fixture elements.
Construction details are currently being refined. Before the sourcing of materials and planning construction events. Chris Elam said, “We are hopeful that we can break ground with this first phase of construction this summer and complete it in the fall.”
The outdoor classroom is a project of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society, the primary partner and Friends group of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
This project is being funded by donations, sponsorships, grants and fundraising.
Outdoor Classroom Updates
Posted: January 27, 2026 by Back Bay NWR Society
Outdoor classroom in use
Virginia Beach City Public Schools 4th grade field trip to the refuge.
Outdoor classroom in the news
New outdoor classroom in Virginia Beach is a learning center in the middle of nature
Virginia Beach’s Back Bay outdoor classroom gives new perspective
to a generation of budding ecologists
Ribbon cutting
Megan Davis Reed, Refuge Manger, Chris Freeman, President of Back Bay NWR Society, Puddles the Blue Goose and guest speakers participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the outdoor classroom
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations whose donations helped to make the outdoor classroom a reality! And a special thank you to Hampton Roads Community Foundation, COX Communications, Virginia Natural Gas Foundation and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. As well as a very special thank you to architect Chris Elam and RBA Architects their volunteers and their student interns for designing the Outdoor Classroom.
Crafts, Puddles the Blue Goose, cake, rain barrel paining and ribbon cutting spectators
Past and present refuge staff and Back Bay NWR Society board members
Storage shed completed
Storage shed completed. Special thanks to volunteers Mike K and Barry E
Benches are being built
Benches being built offsite. Special thanks to volunteers Chris F, Chris E, Mike K and Barry E
Seating construction continues
Trex added to seating, stairs being built and shed built. Special thanks to volunteers Doug Miller, Chris Elam, Tallis Elam, Mike Kwiatkowski, Barry Erdejon, Chris Freeman and others
Completed seating frame installed onsite. Special thanks to volunteers Mike K and Barry E and students from the Virginia Beach Public Schools Environmental Studies Program helped to carry the framing and materials to the classroom.
Roof installed and seating underway
Outdoor classroom roof is installed. Seating construction is under way in the refuge tram building. Thank you to all who have given generously to make this project a reality!
Construction continues
Framing is underway
Framing of the outdoor classroom is underway. And the roof has been raised. Thank you to all who have given generously to make this project a reality!
Columns have been poured
Screw piles have been successfully installed
Screw piles have been successfully installed. With minimal noise and no vibration during installation, protecting nearby structures and the environment. And with minimal excavation and site preparation, leaving the surrounding landscape largely undisturbed. Screw pilers are adaptable for diverse soil types, including soft, loose, and high-water-table areas.
Required torque was reached at a depth of about 14’ below grade.
Outdoor classroom excavation is completed
Chris Elam, board member of Back Bay NWR Society and volunteer project architect, RBA Architects at the outdoor classroom excavation.
Outdoor classroom construction is in progress
The outdoor classroom will be used for environmental education programs and the enjoyment of the visiting public.
Construction on the Outdoor Classroom has begun! The society has raised the necessary funds to construct the classroom. Permits have been granted and archaeological approval received. Construction bids have been reviewed, and a builder has been contracted. There is a possibility that some construction materials will be donated freeing up some funding. This is all very exciting!
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations whose donations helped to make this possible! And a special thank you to Hampton Roads Community Foundation, COX Communications and Virginia Natural Gas Foundation. As well as a very special thank you to RBA Architects their volunteers and their student interns for designing the Outdoor Classroom.
Outdoor classroom construction fundraising goal has been met. Construction starts by end of August of this year 2025. Peak Building Corporation has been awarded the construction bid. Fundraising will continue for storage units, and possible cistern water system and wind or solar power. Check back regularly for construction updates.
Proposed outdoor classroom seating designs for by RBA Architects’ student interns.
Plans have been finalized, core samples completed, indigenous people have approved and wetlands analysis and plans completed. Outdoor classroom construction is ready to start. Outdoor Classroom construction plans. Your help is needed to fund the construction. Please donate.
Outdoor Classroom flyer
Back Bay NWR Society kicked off the next phase of our Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Outdoor Classroom project. New interns from the VBCPS Environmental Studies Program joined Chris Elam from RBA Architects, refuge staff and members of the BBNWR Society on site along with two members of MSA consulting engineers.
After the proposed location of The Outdoor Classroom was staked out, Charles Hall and Taylor Pomposini from MSA demonstrated soil boring and analysis methods using a truck mounted boring rig. They also walked us through topographic surveying of the area.
The information from these two exercises is be instrumental in finalizing foundation designs for The Outdoor Classroom.
On May 16th at the refuge, Virginia Beach Environmental Studies Program high school student interns and intern director Chris Elam from RBA Architects presented design developments for The Outdoor Classroom project.
Refuge staff and BBNWR Society Board members were in attendance to review the design work to date and to discuss next steps in the design, planning, and construction process. Dialogue took place regarding construction detailing, volunteer build means and methods, construction phasing, and cost estimating.
A two phase construction process is planned, starting with the main roof structure. Phase 2 will be the design and construction of the platform, seating, and fixture elements.
Construction details are currently being refined. Before the sourcing of materials and planning construction events. Chris Elam said, “We are hopeful that we can break ground with this first phase of construction this summer and complete it in the fall.”
The outdoor classroom is a project of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society, the primary partner and Friends group of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
This project is being funded by donations, sponsorships, grants and fundraising.
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Category: News & Articles