Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will travel to the site.

Join us and Mount Rogers Community Services and immerse yourself in nature's grandeur while fueling your body, mind, and soul every Friday at noon.

During this one-mile trek, a ranger will guide you through this journey through time on Goodwin Lake Trail. Although rated easy, this trail may not be suitable for those with strollers or severe mobility issues.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect "Fairy Stone" that everyone is looking for.

Discover the world of pollinators from Monarchs to beetles to bats!

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Discover the magical realm of trees and their incredible role as habitats for a diverse array of creatures.

Honoring the life of educator, coach, naturalist, and birder Randy Smith (1951-2023).

Vultures are a critical component of the ecosystem yet are frequently misunderstood and maligned.

Pollinator populations everywhere are in a steady decline, but why all the buzz about it?

Come experience the beautiful James River on this guided kayak tour. The trip includes a brief overview of paddling safety and techniques, as well as on-the-water interpretations of natural and cultural features.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Enjoy a morning of family fun, fish, learn about the Potomac River, and maybe win a trophy!  Sponsored by the Friends of Leesylvania State Park, these fishing tournaments throughout the summer are suitable for all ability levels, ages 3-15.  No rod and reel?  No problem!  The Friends have suitable tackle on hand to loan.  We hope to see you there!

The Central Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists is hosting a Wildflower Symposium at Bear Creek Hall on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. Cynthia Wood is our featured speaker. After introducing the plants of the area, she will lead a wildflower walk over moderately level terrain. Attendees will receive a copy of the bloom calendar for native plants in our area.

Spring has SPRUNG, and with it comes the much-anticipated arrival of candy-colored visitors from the tropics!

Come join Clinch River State Park Rangers at the Pine Mountain Naturalist Rally for a fun talk and show of the Clinch River's native animal pelts and furs.

From woodlands to wetlands, fields and pastures, let's investigate the plants, animals and history of farming at Sky Meadows State Park.

Learn about birds of the woods and fields and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting.

Join our staff for a guided tour of Mulberry Hill, the plantation home of Judge Paul Carrington, Virginian and Founding Father. Mulberry Hill was a working tobacco farm owned by the McPhails during the American Civil War and was used by Union General Wilson as his headquarters during the 1864 cavalry raid into Southside Virginia.

Do your kids enjoy gardening?

Join us on a walk around Seven Bends State Park as we identify the “First Flowers of Spring” under the guidance of a volunteer from the Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Association in Northern Virginia.

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

Join a ranger on a guided hike to learn more about different ecosystems found in the park.

How healthy is our soil?

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail.

This is your chance to learn the sport of archery under the watchful eye of a certified instructor.

Join us for an exciting journey into the world of butterflies with our Citizen Science Series, "Exploring Nature with eButterfly." We will explore how to utilize eButterfly, a cutting-edge citizen science platform, to identify, document, and contribute to butterfly research. Discover the rich diversity of butterflies in their local ecosystems and gain valuable skills in butterfly identification, observation, and data collection.

Who was Elizabeth Hartwell?

Join us at Holliday Lake State Park for an immersive journey into the fascinating world of pollinators!

Help us tend a whole new type of garden - an oyster garden. Discover this easy past time, learn about the history of oysters in our region and how this humble bivalve takes care of our tidal waters.

A face only a mother could love?

Follow your nose to the Log Cabin to see what is cooking on the hearth.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will travel to the site.

Nature journaling is the intersection of art, science, and curiosity.

Who goes there?

Families join us on an nature adventure through our most popular trail, The Potomac Trail.

In nearly every community across the country, cemeteries stand as places of reverence and serve to hold in memory those who came before.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail.

Do you love art and nature?

Discover what tiny creatures call the edge of Goodwin Lake home at this dip netting activity.

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing and expensive?

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect "Fairy Stone" that everyone is looking for.

Learn how Mother Nature can both inspire and help you create your next masterpiece.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Prepare to be mesmerized by the mysterious world of snakes at Holliday Lake State Park's "Sssensational Snakes" program!

Watch and learn about our ambassador animals, Reba the Corn Snake or Stevie the King Snake, as they feed on a frozen mouse! .

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic areas and beaches with interesting animal or historical artifacts from the park.

Think you can identify a coyote track from a domestic dog?

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Do you have what it takes to be a wildlife detective?  Get ready for a guided mission!

Join a ranger to paint Spring-themed sun catchers to brighten your home.

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Discover how fire was used by Virginia’s First Peoples to fell trees and build canoes, followed by a tasty treat *Pre-registration recommended.

What's under that rock?

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

Hoo-hoo-hooooo's calling?

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Take a stroll along our lake shore as you visit several mesmerizing lights that have been placed in or along the lake.

If you ever wanted to see a shooting star, come join our meteor shower watch! Join park rangers for an exploration of our night sky at this International Dark Sky Park.

Join Naturalist Patty Elton on a spring birding hike at beautiful New River Trail State Park. Peak songbird migration along the New River is mid-April to mid-May.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Join a ranger and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park and about the particular fossils you can find here.

From woodlands to wetlands, fields and pastures, let's investigate the plants, animals and history of farming at Sky Meadows State Park.

Nature is magic.

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Looking for that perfect selfie spot?

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail.

During the spring and summer, osprey dominate the skies over Leesylvania as they build nests and raise their young.

The Bear Creek Lake State Park Archery Club is open to beginner and intermediate level archers 18 years old and older.

Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

Every animal has unique features and traits that make them special and suited for their natural environment.

Learn about oysters and their importance as keystone species as you create a holiday ornament, keychain, or charm using a real oyster shell.

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

Discover the wonders beneath the waves while keeping your feet dry.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic areas and beaches with interesting animal or historical artifacts from the park.

Do you have what it takes to be a wildlife detective?  Get ready for a guided mission!

Bring home a piece of history from Westmoreland as you learn to create shark tooth necklaces.  All resources are provided, including shark teeth that you can choose from to create your super cool necklace that can be shown off to all your friends.

Care to improve a play space?

It's time to truly explore nature today!

Calling all homeschoolers and curious kiddos of all kinds!

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

Come learn about the life of hunters and what goes into protecting our ecosystems!

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will travel to the site.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

Through history, people have utilized plants to survive out of which can come special relationships.          On this walk we will use our senses to relate to and appreciate the textures and aromas of three forest species native to this part of Virginia - Sassafras, Sourwood, and Spice Bush - and their impact on human culture.

Join us to learn about insects and the different jobs they do here at Fairy Stone State Park and in your own backyard. Our adventure will continue as we search the area to find examples of these important members of our neighborhood.

Are all snakes venomous?

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

The 250-acre Hoover Mountain Bike Area is located on a reclaimed 20th century mine site.

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!