Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Join the Division of Natural Heritage in celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2026! We are offering special events throughout the year to highlight who we are, what we do, and what we are passionate about. Events from guided hikes, short lectures, and work-day opportunities will be held from far Southwest Virginia to the Eastern Shore.
Finalized events are open for registration and are listed below in chronological order. They are shown on the map in blue. Trip details and sign-up instructions are provided for each event under ‘view details.’
Events still under development are also listed below after the finalized list. They are shown on the map in yellow. Check back often as new opportunities will be added throughout the year.
Date: May 30, 2026 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Quarry Gardens at Schuyler, Virginia
Join dragonfly experts for a scientific exploration of the Odonates of Virginia, including a guest lecture by Dr. Steve Roble, the Virginia Natural Heritage Program's Senior Zoologist, followed by the opportunity for great field trips.
Date: June 2, 2026 - For experienced boaters with their own kayaks.
Location: Northwest River Natural Area Preserve, Chesapeake, Virginia
Visit one of Natural Heritage's most iconic and earliest Natural Area Preserves, home to Virginia's best example of a Wind-Tidal Tupelo - Bald Cypress Swamp, only accessible by water.
Date: June 2, 2026
Location: Ogdens Cave Natural Area Preserve, Middletown, Virginia
Explore and learn about the subterranean environment of Frederick County in a cave not normally open to the public, led by an experienced cave and karst specialist from Natural Heritage.
Date: June 13, 2026
Location: Raleigh Court Library, Roanoke, VA
Learn about invasive plants in Southwest Virginia, what they look like, their impacts and how to manage them in a full day invasive plant training led by the DCR Natural Heritage Program in partnership with the Department of Forestry.
Date: June 16, 2026
Location: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Visit JMU's certified Pollinator Smart facility, an exemplar of the Natural Heritage Program's new program to integrate pollinator habitat into solar arrays.
Date: June 20, 2026
Location: Varina Land Lab, Richmond, VA
Budding field zoologists will join a Natural Heritage field zoologist to learn common field techniques and animals of Virginia.
Date: June 27, 2026
Location: Unthanks Cave Natural Area Preserve, Jonesville, Virginia
Experience the subterranean environment of Lee County in a cave not normally open to the public, led by an experienced caver from Natural Heritage.
Date: July 21, 2026 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hayfields State Park, McDowell, VA
Discover the bumble bees of western Virginia and help field zoologist Ellison Orcutt hunt for new locations of the Endangered Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.
Date: September 2026 - For beginners, boats will be provided
Date: July 2026
Location: Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve, Mathews Co. Virginia
Look for the elusive and federally-threatened Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle and learn about ongoing threats and Natural Heritage's conservation programs to protect this species.
Date: August 2026
Location: Southside Savanna Natural Area Preserve, Halifax Co. Virginia
Visit one of Natural Heritage's newest and largest preserves, not yet formally open to the public, for a night sky program led by a former night sky interpreter from the National Park Service, followed by an introduction and viewing of moths by a Natural Heritage expert.
Date: September 2026
Location: Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve, York Co. Virginia
Join a guided tour led by a Natural Heritage steward with intimate knowledge of the seasonal depression pond habitats and one of the rarest plant species present and its ongoing recovery.
Date: summer 2026
Location: Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve, Stafford Co. Virginia
Go on a morning paddle through a freshwater tidal marsh when the characteristic and charismatic American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea) should be fully peaking.
Date: fall 2026
Location: Cypress Bridge Natural Area Preserve, Southampton Co. Virginia
A rare chance to view some of the oldest and most unusual trees in eastern Virginia with Byron Carmean, one of VA's most accomplished and dedicated champion tree documentors.
Date: fall 2026
Location: Cherry Orchard Bog Natural Area Preserve, Sussex/Prince Geroge Co. Virginia
Virginia's largest patch of flowering Turtleheads (Chelone cuthbertii) will be on display on this field trip led by a Natural Heritage steward and regional expert.
