Facility Activities
National Outdoor Classroom
In 2007, the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery was selected by the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to serve as a pilot location for their National Outdoor Classroom Initiative. Studies show that when children go outside and connect with nature, the incidence of health problems like ADD, ADHD and childhood obesity decline significantly. The Outdoor Classroom at the hatchery provides local school teachers and their students with a chance to get out of the classroom and connect with nature. The Amphitheater is available for use by educators and youth group leaders as an outdoor classroom; the hatchery also provides educational tours upon request, and provides a safe, park-like walking environment, away from the vehicular traffic on Route 60, for the children and families of White Sulphur Springs.
Freshwater Folk Festival
The Freshwater Folk Festival is hosted by the Friends of the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery and falls on the second Saturday in September. The annual Freshwater Folk Festival is a wonderful family-friendly day of splendid music, tasty food, local crafts, and fun hands-on educational activities, brought together around the Festival mission to promote understanding, appreciation, and conservation of freshwater resources; and to celebrate the local natural history and culture of White Sulphur Springs and Greenbrier County. This coming year marks the 15th annual Festival on September 14, 2019. Our festivals have entertained thousands of people from West Virginia and beyond.
Annual Fishing Derby
The White Sulphur Springs Annual Fishing Derby falls on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend and provides an opportunity for children and their families to spend the day fishing for rainbow trout and enjoying the great outdoors. The Annual Fishing Derby has been an annual event at the hatchery for over 20 years and is co-hosted by the White Sulphur Springs Rotary Club.