The Fall 2024 installment of the Staunton River Star Party will be sponsored by CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) and hosted at Staunton River State Park.

Have you ever heard a bird call and wanted to know what bird made that noise?

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

This special introductory program is designed to provide an in depth look at the fossils that have been found along the Potomac River.  We will explore the world of fossils and the ones that occur here.

Nature is magic.

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

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

Slither on down to the Visitor Center to weave a web of knowledge on the spookier side of nature.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Learn about Kiptopeke’s role as a major migration route for raptors and other species including dragonflies and Monarch butterflies.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our Visitor Center.

Learn about the reptiles that can be spotted in the park!

Over the hills and through the woods we go!  Sit back and relax on a 45-minute scenic wagon ride through the park.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over to join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

Enjoy the stunning views of the awe-inspiring mountains as the leaves begin to change from a deep green to vibrant red, orange and yellow hues.

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'.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Enjoy a pleasant wagon ride through the park as we look for signs of fall. Relax in the splendor of the woods as migrations commence and leaves begin to change.

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!  Learn about different turtles that call Kiptopeke home and why it's important to keep wildlife wild.

In the 18th century, this area was a thriving place for business, people, and transportation.

Join us at our favorite spot in the park during October - Cullers Overlook!

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

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

Join our ranger in searching for and identifying mushrooms on our beautiful Bluebell Trail!

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

Did you know that the tunnel used to be a cave?

Ready, set, crawl, to join General Raphael, our non-releasable rescue eastern box turtle, as we explore more about her and the animal friends she shares her habitat with.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boomtown. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

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.

Discover the fascinating world of creepy crawlies and other unloved animals with a Park Ranger.

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

Dive into the fascinating world of wetland reptiles!

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'.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Autumn brings many seasonal changes to the forest.

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'.

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

Dive into the fascinating world of wetland reptiles.

Would you love to learn how to make your own no-sew holiday ornament?

Join a ranger to hike along a section of the Mountain View Trail and cut through the woods for a short distance, seeing the ruins of an old moonshine still along the way.

The Visitor Center is home to two freshwater Red-Eared Slider turtles, Jennika and Venus, and it is time for them to eat.

It's feeding time for two of our ambassador reptiles, Stevie the King Snake and Reba the Corn Snake, and we welcome you to attend this demonstration and learn about these snakes as they prepare to feed on a frozen mouse! .

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to see the comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, a ball of ice and dust that is only visible from earth once every 80,000 years.

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

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.

A face only a mother could love?

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'.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Calling all homeschoolers and curious kids!

Learn how to make baskets and coasters out of pine needles at this hands-on workshop. All materials are provided.

Watch park staff feed "Ranger Shelly," our resident pet turtle, and learn fascinating facts about these shelled reptiles.

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

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce the fall semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program.

Come along on a hike through Kiptopeke's trails to learn about the nature in our park. Meet at picnic shelter #2. The hike is roughly 1.5 miles long. Great for all ages!

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

Join Us for a Spooktacular Halloween Adventure!  Are you ready for a Halloween experience like no other?

How much Douthat history do you know?

Join the Friends of Kiptopeke State Park for their quarterly meeting and a short presentation from special guest Marina Pierce.  Marina Pierce is a local wildlife photographer and author of “Two Years on the Eastern Shore”.  She exhibits her work at Local-ISH Art in Cape Charles and seeks to use her photography to further conservation efforts by educating people about the amazing world around them here on the Eastern Shore.  She will give a short talk on ways you can improve your photography, whether you shoot with a phone camera or a DSLR, and ways to make the ordinary world around you look extraordinary.

Join us for a lantern-lit walk through the historic town of Fries, VA.

Join a park ranger for some batty banter around a bonfire!

A long summer has given way to autumn.

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

Calling all homeschoolers!

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the American Civil War.

Learn about the reptiles that can be spotted in the park!

Join us as we learn more about the prehistoric history of Chippokes through fossils that can be found right on our beaches!

Come along on a guided trek down College Run Trail to the James River, where we'll find and identify prehistoric fossils!

Calling all homeschoolers!

Join us as we comb the beach to discover what natural treasures await. Great for all ages!  Meet at the South Beach entrance. .

Have you ever heard an owl sing at night?

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.

Join a Ranger at Leesylvania State Park to learn about the neat nature found here.

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'.

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

Calling curious kiddos of all kinds!

Did you know owls don't chew their food?

Did you know 'creepy crawlies' are some of the world's most important recyclers?

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the trail around High Bridge with interesting historical items from the park.

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Come over to picnic shelter #2 and get inspired by the great outdoors.  Create your own masterpiece!  Great for all ages. .

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

Come join us for a fun arts and crafts session.

Every day, the trees around us are working magic with their leaves and sunlight; capture some of that magic by making an art print using sunlight, shadow, and special paper.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Need a break from your long trip and have a little fun? Do you like being creative? We have many things to see at our Visitor Center.

Ever wanted to learn how to crab?  Join us on the fishing pier while we show you just how easy and fun it is.  $2 per person.  Great for all ages! .

Join us to hear about the impacts of fire; from the habitats it touches to how humans have learned to use it to our advantage throughout the ages.

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!