The Roanoke/Cashie River Center is an ideal field trip for classes studying North Carolina environment, geography and history. The center has exhibits about the unique ecology of the Roanoke River basin, regional plants and wildlife, important fisheries, people who live and work with natural resources, and the dynamic water flow of the Roanoke system. There is also a detailed diorama of a river shoreline with specimens of many of the birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians that inhabit the bottomlands along the Roanoke and Cashie Rivers.
Educational Materials
We offer worksheets to reinforce the educational process.
Scavenger Hunt
Watershed Word Match
Environmental Education Programs
Complement your visit with one of our entertaining programs. Programs offered at the RCRC focus on specific groups of animals, their habitat, characteristics, and their place in the river system. Students and teachers are encouraged to learn more about these topics, and to practice good stewardship of our natural resources by such simple measures as picking up litter, recycling, and conserving water. All programs can be modified for ability and age of the students. Programs can be correlated to the North Carolina standard course of study. The following programs are available, and others can be developed on request:
- Birds. What makes a bird a bird? Students learn the answer when we "Build a Bird" using a volunteer from the audience. We dress him up with bird attributes, such as beaks, wings, and air sacs, and the students enjoy the fun and learn about birds. Birds' habitat, nesting, migration, songs, special adaptations and extinction are also included.
- Black Bears. This program provides a good basis for learning about the black bear's habitat, physical features, and relationship with man. As the human and black bear populations continue to grow, more contact is inevitable. The subjects of safety and self-defense are discussed.
- Red Wolves. Red wolves are a highly endangered animal that lives in the wild only in northeastern NC. Learn about this smaller cousin of the better-known gray wolf and the program that is trying to help it survive as a species.
- Native Americans. Native American life flourished in the Bertie County area hundreds of years before Europeans arrived. Find out about their cultures and how they lived with the resources of this region.
- Plants. We'd be lost without them! Our newest program focuses on the habitat plants require to flourish, specialized plant parts, pollination, and human and animal dependence on plants. Different categories such as "weeds" and "native plants" are explained. Live plant specimens provide opportunities for "hands-on" experience.
- Reptiles and Amphibians. These animals abound in eastern North Carolina because of the abundant wetlands. The life cycle and unique physical characteristics of turtles, snakes, lizards and alligators are discussed. The differences between reptiles and amphibians are pointed out.
- Wetlands and Wonderful! Children learn about the many benefits of wetlands. Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife, act as a sponge to aid in flood control, and help filter pollution. A wetland area and boardwalk are on the RCRC grounds and offer excellent opportunity to see plants and birds that populate the wetlands.
Program Fees
Add a $2 program fee per group member for a total of $3 per student and $4 per adult for program and admission. Adult guests accompanying school groups pay only the $2 admission fee. Home School Days
Coleman Elementary
Rental and Waiver Forms
Roanoke/Cashie River Center Rental Agreement
Roanoke/Cashie River Center Waiver
Contact Us
For more information about programs or arranging a group visit, call 252.794.2001 or contact us at roanoke_cashierc@embarqmail.com
River Rambling runs April through October. Scheduled each Saturday at 10:30 AM unless otherwise noted.