Paris Mountain
State Park
2401
State Park Road
Greenville, SC 29609
864.244.5565
We
invite you and your students to visit our park and participate in an
educational program.
Formerly a watershed for the city of Greenville, the 1,540-acre Paris
Mountain features four stream-fed lakes, Mountain Creek, large stands of old growth hardwood forests that canopy
over hiking and biking trails, a family campground, picnic areas and Camp
Buckhorn, a group-camp complex.
The hardwoods are even more spectacular in the fall, when they produce the
golds, reds and oranges of autumn.
Developed from 1935-1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park continues to
display CCC craftsmanship in several buildings and structures.
Park Interpreter Led Programs:
Life Cycling In and Around the Lake
Students investigate life cycles in
and around Lake Placid, and
or/Mountain Creek. In the park lab,
they discuss the life cycles of a
variety of lake and stream animals,
and the needs of animals at various
points in their life cycle. They
compare those that resemble their
parents right after birth to those
that go through metamorphosis. They
collect animals at the lake,
including dragonfly nymphs, fish,
and other aquatic animals, including
possibly tadpoles and salamanders.
They also take temperature
measurements and measure the length
of animals found. Back in the lab,
students observe the animals
collected under the microscope,
noticing adaptations to their
environment, such as gills. Finally,
students classify them according to
their life cycle stage. The
importance of good habitat with
clean water is emphasized..
This program can accommodate up to 2
classes per day, with one class going to this program, and the other going
on the lake hike, then switching after lunch.
Grade Level: 2
Length Time:
2 hours (plus 2 more hours if having
lunch and the lake hike)
Standards:
2-1.1, 2-1.2, 2-1.3, 2-1.4, 2-2.1,
2-2.4 and 2-2.5
Setting: traditional park
Aquatic
Ecology
As “Aquatic Ecologists,” students
will conduct field investigations of
biotic and abiotic factors at both a
stream and a lake at Paris Mountain
State Park, including actually
getting in Mountain Creek with
rubber boots. Students collect
organisms, measure temperature and
pH, then view their finds under the
microscope, and assess the water
quality at the park.
This
program can accommodate up to 2
classes per day, with one class
going to this program, and the other
going on the lake hike, then
switching after lunch.
Grade Level: 5
Length Time:
2 hours (if two classes, an additional 2
hours on Nature Hike around lake and
lunch)
Standards:
5-1.1, 5-1.4, 5-1.6, 5-2.2, 5-2.3,
5-2.4 and 5-2.5
Setting:
traditional park
Forest
Ecology
During a walk around Lake Placid,
students will conduct field
investigations to observe and
explore the natural forest ecosystem
of Paris Mountain State Park. The
focus will be on understanding
relationships between biotic and
abiotic factors. They will identify
populations, roles of organisms,
limiting factors, and take
measurements of abiotic factors,
while investigating the role of
forests in protecting the Paris
Mountain watershed. The final
investigation will be a detailed
survey of one square meter in the
forest.
This program can accommodate up to 2
classes per day, with one class going to this program, and the other going
on the lake hike, then switching after lunch.
Grade Level: 5
Length Time:
1.5 hours
Standards:
5-2.2, 5-2.3, 5-2.4
and 5-2.5
Setting:
traditional park
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