See full story at The News & Advance...The James River Association (JRA) has long been dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of Virginia’s iconic waterway. As part of this mission, they’ve recently completed the Upper James River Education Center in Madison Heights at Riveredge Park — a project that owes much of its success to local partnerships, including a $100,000 grant from the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation (GLCF).

The outdoor learning facility, which has been in the works for more than five years, is designed to provide accessible, immersive experiences for students and the community.

Through funding from local foundations and donors, JRA, a nonprofit that serves as an advocate and guardian of the James River, created a campus of facilities that includes a renovated indoor teaching space and offices, multiple outdoor classrooms, a new river access trail and a landing. The new center also includes a historic batteau, a flat-bottomed vessel used during the Colonial period and to transport tobacco on the James River.

“We’ve been operating educational programs in the Lynchburg area for over a decade, but this facility has truly transformed what we can offer,” Charles Johnson, Upper James education manager for the JRA, said. “It’s a fully accessible space with indoor and outdoor learning areas, allowing us to run programs for all students, regardless of physical ability.”

Kathryn Yarzebinski said JRA is a statewide organization based in Richmond, and while its work supports the entire James River, the group wanted to build something that would directly benefit the community in the greater Lynchburg area.

“In 2022, they applied for our Century Fund Grant to help complete the center and we were excited to support a project that brings both environmental education and greater access to the river,” she said.

The Century Fund Grant, which was created in 2019, allows GLCF to make a significant impact by awarding $100,000 annually to a nonprofit with a transformative project.

“Most of our grants are smaller, but this is the largest one we give each year. It’s competitive and nonprofits have to show how the grant will be a game changer for their project,” she said. “JRA’s proposal was incredibly strong, combining education and environmental conservation — two areas we’re deeply committed to supporting.”

The center features three covered learning areas, a rain harvesting system to teach best management practices and indoor-outdoor flexible spaces that can accommodate different group sizes.