Come on out to the park and test your paddling skills.

This week's theme for Junior Rangers is Animals and their Habitats.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

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

Been itching to go fishing?

Have you ever wondered what lies under your feet?

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Come across our Ranger outposts stationed at a lesser-known part of First Landing State Park: the Narrows Beach!

Do you think you have what it takes to build a shelter that will withstand the wind and the rain?

View the park from the best vantage point - a canoe or kayak.

Are all snakes venomous?

Join us as we explore the wonders of nature.

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

Have you ever heard an owl sing at night?

Tree species can be identified by looking at several different features: leaves, bark, twigs, flowers, fruit, and seeds.

Staunton River State Park is home for many different types of wild animals.

Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train.

Christmas has come early at the park!

Did you know owls don't chew their food?

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.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

Ahoy Matey!

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun a peek at some critters and a cute craft.

When it comes to carrying survival materials with you on the trail, every little bit of space counts, so hikers come up with creative ways to carry their gear.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

There are many different wildlife that call Leesylvania State Park their home.

Not all bees live in hives.

Get your feet wet investigating the vast array of life in a stream.

What's under that rock?

Have you ever wanted to see one of the park’s many reptile residents up close?

Explore the marshes of Back Bay by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

The rich story of Virginia’s First Peoples has many twists and turns that are steeped in mystery and controversy as their oral histories were scattered by European arrival, leaving the written and published accounts of those same foreigners to be some of the only well-known accounts that remain today.

See one of the crown jewels within the park.

The Chesapeake Bay provides visitors with some of the most stunning views of the sunset and sounds of the waves.

Join our ranger in some night fishing!

Shine a light on days gone by with a lantern-lit history tour of the Natural Bridge.

The one and only mammal on the planet capable of true flight absolutely loves Hungry Mother.

Silent and spooky, the owl is a magnificent animal.

Become a Junior Ranger at James River State Park!

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

Join Yoga instructor, Kelly Blevins, to experience the calming benefits of yoga in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Let us teach you all the basics you'll need to know to get yourself started with one of our most popular outdoor activities, from tying on your hook and tackle to casting your line.

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Mussels play a huge part in our watershed.

Calling all homeschoolers and curious kiddos of all kinds!

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.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own interpretive guide!

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.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

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

Become a prospector as we follow in the footsteps of "Stampmill Sam".

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center for a feeding frenzy!  You will be able to observe a variety of animals in our saltwater fish tank along with our resident Eastern box turtle.  Learn how to identify the different species and what they all like to eat. Great for all ages! .

Do you know the differences between wasps and bees?

Plastic, a wonder material with many forms and uses but is it a blessing or a curse?

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

Second only to humans in the ability to change their environment to fit their needs, learn just how smart a beaver can be.

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.

Step inside to learn all about the magic of the Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants.

What would your shell say about you if you were a box turtle?

What even are watersheds?

Meet local 'shellebrity', Ranger Shelly, our Red-eared Slider turtle as she suns herself and enjoys some enrichment at the beach area.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

You can learn a lot about the health of a stream by seeing what lives beneath its surface.

Forest Trails are not just for bikers.

Join us at the Discovery Center as we create unique nature-based bird feeders that you may take home with you and hang up for the backyard birds near you.

Meet Natural Tunnel's wildlife ambassador, Popcorn the corn snake.

Get hooked on fishing at False Cape State Park.

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

Learn all about birds and their homes.

What is a gundalow?  These long wooden flatboats were used to haul merchandise down the Shenandoah River.

Hop on over and enjoy a short walk around Old Pond Trail as we look and listen for these amazing amphibians.

If you have completed our Archery 101 program or have archery experience, you are invited to participate in this Archery 102 program.

Express yourself on the trail with a stylish and unique hiking stick you designed and decorated yourself.

Stop by the beach to see some cool critters, hold some interesting artifacts, and have your nature and history questions about Douthat State Park answered.

Want to know more about how our animal friends parented their young?

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Take your camping skills to the next level in this camping workshop!

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 a person.  Great for all ages! .

Can not seem to get your campfire lit?

This program is all about learning how to identify wild animals by the tracks that they leave behind.

Let us keep the kids entertained while the adults set up or take a break from setting up and stop by for a quick craft; discussion of Belle Isle's history; or a lesson on critters.

Tie-dye wasn't the brainchild of American hippies during the 1960s.

Discover how fire affects our world and how we attempt to harness its power.

The blue crab is one of the most iconic species of the Chesapeake Bay.

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

End your week with a relaxing paddle along Swift Creek Lake.

Enjoy the sounds of local musicians as you take in our beautiful park.

It's all fun and games at the campfire.

You are invited to participate in a guided hike with an interpretive ranger to learn about the medicinal plants of central Virginia.

Come join the party!

Enjoy a peaceful wagon ride through the park while listening to the relaxing sounds of Caledon's night life.  We'll identify some of the many frogs, insects, and nocturnal creatures that call the park home, and keep an eye out for glow worms in the woods.

Join us at the amphitheater for a warm welcome to the park, camping tips, and fun activities.  Marshmallow's will be provided for roasting.  Great for all ages. .

Fire has been a part of human history since cavemen roamed Earth, with many different uses. Learn how to build a campfire using different methods or enjoy a game of trivia by the glow of the fire.

Welcome to Staunton River State Park.

Bring your family and friends and join a park ranger for a campfire on the water’s edge at the beach amphitheater.

As dusk draws near, lightning bugs appear!

What do you hear in the woods at night?

Come for the s’mores, stay for the fun!

Celebrate Hisstopher Holliday's birthday at Holliday Lake State Park on July 13th from noon to 2 p.m. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon in honor of our favorite snake.

Spend time floating five and a half miles down the Clinch River.