757-672-4728 backbaynwrsociety@gmail.com 1324 Sandbridge Road Virginia Beach, VA 23456

DWR Wildlife Viewing Grant

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is implementing the awarded Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) grant received for “Wildlife Viewing Through A Community Framework”. This grant focuses on inclusion of underserved, underinvested, and underrepresented populations related to wildlife viewing.

Project Synopsis: 

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge despite having over 9,200 acres of beach, marsh, managed water impoundments, dunes and woodlands is geographically isolated making it harder for school groups in our region to visit and experience. With the help of a DWR Wildlife Viewing Grant The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society has connected Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge with Virginia Beach City Public Schools that would not normally be able to take part in wildlife viewing.  Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society was able to create on site school outreach with hands-on outdoor school learning opportunities at each school utilizing equipment from the DWR grant and was also able to create field trips that bring each school to the refuge for a once in a lifetime wildlife viewing experience.  671 4th grade students participated in the program and each student that participated was given a free national parks pass. As a result of this program Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge handed out more park passes than any other refuge in the nation. 

DWR Wildlife Viewing Grant allowed Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society to obtain 

  • Two Vortex Spotting Scopes with Tripods
  • Ten Vortex Viper 10×42 HD Binoculars
  • Ten Skylight Digital Frames with email for sharing wildlife images
  • One All Beach Wheelchair for needs access to the beach
  • And materials for classroom platform and ADA compliant ramp that is the base of an outdoor classroom project that Back Bay NNWR Society is buildingAnd materials for classroom platform and ADA compliant ramp that is the base of an outdoor classroom project that Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is building