Getting Outside with Blue Sky Fund: An Afternoon with Richmond's Young Explorers

Curt Reichstetter

Oct 4

2 min read

Updated: Oct 8

In spring 2026, I spent an afternoon volunteering with Blue Sky Fund's Explorers program, helping Richmond Public Schools third through fifth graders learn how rainwater runoff moves through a watershed. I joined through our local REALTOR® association, and it was one of the best afternoons of my year.

What Is Blue Sky Fund?

Blue Sky Fund is a Richmond nonprofit that connects local youth to the outdoors. Its Explorers program takes Richmond Public Schools elementary students outside for hands-on learning, and the organization reaches more than 2,000 Richmond-area young people every year. If you've seen a brightly painted Blue Sky bus around town, that's them.

The brightly painted Blue Sky Fund bus parked under a blue sky in Richmond, Virginia — The Blue Sky Fund bus, ready for an afternoon outdoors.

A Lesson on Runoff, Taught Outdoors

Our lesson was about runoff: where rain goes after it hits a roof, a driveway or a parking lot, and how it carries whatever it picks up into our local streams and, eventually, the James River. It's the kind of thing that's easy to read about and hard to really understand until you're standing outside looking at where the water actually goes.

That's what Blue Sky does well. It turns the outdoors into the classroom.

Why It Matters to Us as Realtors

Runoff isn't just a science lesson. It shows up in our work all the time: grading and drainage around a house, a wet basement, a yard that floods every time it storms. Those are some of the most common issues we help Richmond buyers and sellers sort out, and they usually start with understanding where the water wants to go. If you're buying, it's one of the things worth paying attention to during your home inspection.

More than that, Heather and I believe in giving back to the community that has supported us for so many years. Getting kids outside and curious about the place they live is a good investment in Richmond's future.

Want to Get Involved?

Blue Sky Fund welcomes volunteers and donors, and it hosts community events like its annual Hike for Kids. You can learn more at blueskyfund.org.

Questions About Blue Sky Fund

What is Blue Sky Fund?

Blue Sky Fund is a Richmond, Virginia nonprofit that connects local youth to the outdoors through outdoor education, leadership development and resilience building. It reaches more than 2,000 Richmond-area young people each year.

Who does Blue Sky Fund's Explorers program serve?

The Explorers program brings Richmond Public Schools elementary students outside for hands-on outdoor learning. Our afternoon was with third through fifth graders.

How can I support Blue Sky Fund?

Blue Sky Fund welcomes volunteers and donors, and it is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It also hosts community events such as its annual Hike for Kids. Learn more at blueskyfund.org.