The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

Calling all young anglers; kids aged 12 and younger get free admission and can fish for free during this annual event.

Join a ranger 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.

Step back in time with us on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park for a powerful commemoration of what the South grimly called “Black Thursday," the decisive battle that helped seal the fate of the Confederacy.

Become a member, volunteer, and a citizen scientist for the Hungry Mother Chapter of FrogWatch USA.

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

Step back in time and experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

Join us for a rewarding morning of gardening alongside fellow plant enthusiasts.

Celebrate the beauty of spring at Shenandoah River State Park!  Each spring, Virginia Bluebells blossom along our winding riverbank, creating a beautiful carpet of blue and purple hues.

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

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

Join us on the first Saturday of the month to experience the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of history at Sky Meadows.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of vernal pools.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

Take a closer look at your surroundings in our monthly nature journaling classes.

Spring is in the air; this is prime time for bird watching!

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

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

The Survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Hot diggity dog, the Friends of False Cape are having a FUNdraiser!

Fly into the life of a pollinator!

Now that spring and warm weather is finally here, many bird species will begin slowly making their journey back north to Virginia.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

What will we scoop up this time?

Meet a Ranger at the Visitor Center for a guided hike to see if you can spot any of our springtime birds.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

Go back in time in the historic village of Foster Falls.

As spring unfolds at Natural Tunnel State Park, the forest floor begins to come to life with the vibrant colors that Mother Nature offers.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

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.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

As the forest and meadows awaken from winter, we’ll explore the trails in search of delicate spring ephemerals like trillium, bloodroot, and trout lilies.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Join us in discovering the hidden wonders of these temporary seasonal ponds.

A breeding colony of great blue herons is not a rookery, it is a heronry.

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

Adventure into the outdoors and discover wildlife along the Trail with a ranger. All tiny participants will be given helpful hands-on bug finding tools for investigating nature signs.   Let's try to use all of our senses to see, smell, touch, track and observe.

Join a ranger to see what critters live amongst the oysters and learn how these important bi-valves help clean the waters in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Oysters not only filter water, but create habitat and provide food for both humans and other animals.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Enjoy a scenic guided walk along the New River Trail. This easy one-mile round trip tour will take visitors outside one of the oldest mining operations in North America, the Austinville lead mines.

As temperatures warm and flowers start to bloom, butterflies begin to return to our gardens.

Slither on down and join the Park Ranger for an in depth look into the fascinating lives of some local reptiles.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'fairy stone' that everyone is looking for.

Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short walk to discover the basics of tree identification.

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?

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.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

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.

Take into your heart the peace of wild things.

Step back into a tumultuous moment in American history with "Their War is Over: Prisoners, Casualties, and Their Unknown Destinations," a lantern-lit self-guided tour at the historic Hillsman House on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Immerse yourself in the raw aftermath of the Civil War as you move through an authentic re-creation of a working field hospital, complete with makeshift cots and the hushed urgency of battlefield medicine.

'Whooo' will hear 'whooo' first?

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

From a vantage point high above the Appomattox River's floodplain, visitors can explore the cosmos from High Bridge with our local Crewe Astronomy Club.

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

Step back in time and experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier at High Bridge Trail State Park.

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

On the first Sunday of every month, our Self-care Sunday Series invites you to join in on various activities specially created to help us engage with the beautiful surroundings of Powhatan State Park.

Fun-ji, fun-gi, fun-gee?

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

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

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

Looking for that perfect selfie spot?

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Join professional outdoor instructor Tim MacWelch to learn about the remarkable springtime wild edible and medicinal plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Mason Neck is home to many Ospreys during the spring and summer months.

Grab your journal and come on down to the park and try your hand at a new skill - Nature Journaling!

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore the oldest dwelling on the grounds.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

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.

Do you know how many common "weeds" have historic use as food and medicine?

Of all the mammals, opossums are the most misunderstood. They are fascinating creatures with very unique characteristics.

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

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

Celebrate National Beaver Day a day early on Mason Neck’s Bay View Trail where you will be able to observe multiple beaver dams and a beaver lodge.

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.

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect 'fairy stone' that everyone is looking for.

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

Did you know there was once a thriving Boom Town located where our lake is today?

Step back in time under the flicker of firelight as we explore the intertwined stories of two soldiers whose lives converged outside the town of Farmville during the Appomattox Campaign.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.

Got a little explorer who’s beyond crawling, but isn’t ready to hike with the Kindergarten siblings?

Join us for a special guided battle walk commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Battles of High Bridge and the fighting around Farmville.

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

Are all snakes venomous?

Are you age 55+ with an interest in spending time in nature?

 Come along on a guided walk to imagine life as a tree. Is it time to draw on your reserves of sugars and starches and begin to bud?

Join us in solving a murder mystery through animal tracks.

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

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. .

Often overlooked as just a simple plant, lichen (which isn't even a plant) is one of nature's best examples of different organisms coming together to form a mutualistic relationship.

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced afternoon walk at Cliffview.

The forests are full of things both delicious and dangerous, but can you tell which is which?

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

This is a fantastic time of year to take-in the beautiful spring ephemeral wildflowers of Southwest Virginia.

Come explore the historic town of Fries.

Let's go fishing with friends and family!