Students exploring animal life cycles at the Nature Center

Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy (BCSVA) braved the chilly spring weather for a day of discovery at the Western North Carolina Nature Center. 

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade explored the animal life cycles and the prehistoric Appalachian mountains. They dug for and identified fossils, and they got to see snow falling at the Nature Center.

“A lot of the animals were more active with the colder temperatures,” said K-2 teacher Julia Doran. “I saw the red pandas more active than I have ever seen them before.”

BCSVA is a unique school option for many families, teachers are always looking for fun ways to bring everyone together. 

“It’s great to utilize the wonderful organizations that we have in our backdoor to enhance what our students are learning,” said Ms. Doran. “The Nature Center is a great place to visit and see animals native to this area. They have great educators there that love to share their knowledge and love of animals and Western NC. This is a great opportunity for our students to connect in person to each other and make our studies authentic and tangible.”