Explore the beautiful wetlands with us.

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

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

Join us at the Big Water Visitor Center to meet our animal ambassadors and watch them eat a tasty treat!

Toads, Turtles and Snakes- Oh my!

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?

Leesylvania State Park makes its own worm compost!  Join rangers as we take a closer look at worms and how they can benefit your kitchen and backyard.

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

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

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.

Turtles have a complex shield covered in a mosaic pattern. Join us to look closer at these reptile shells as we recreate natures masterpiece.

This land-based, hook-free fishing game is a fun and safe way to learn how to cast, but even those who are fishing fanatics will enjoy trying to beat out the competition in this game of limited resources.

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

Come join a ranger on a fun scavenger hunt, collecting things in nature to make you very own paint brushes!

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.

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

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

Boulder in the scenic mountains and boulder fields of Grayson Highlands State Park.

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. .

Stand in the shade of one of the most 'poplar' trees in the park as you learn about Swift Creek, native wildlife, and more about the park's history.

Learn all about birds and their homes.

Play classic Hide-and-Seek with a modern twist!

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

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

Let's learn all about our friends, THE BEES!

Join us at Prince Edward Lake, the site of historic Prince Edward State Park, in celebration of freedom.

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?

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! .

What would you do if you were stranded in the wilderness?

Join us for an opportunity to get "a-head" on wildlife knowledge and learn to identify skulls based upon their characteristics.

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

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.

Put yourself into the shoes of an Ice Age hunter in this spear-throwing workshop. Long ago, giant beasts roamed the land that we now call Virginia.

What's under that rock?

Autumn is not the only season that is perfect to take a wagon ride. Take a relaxing ride through the park and campground, experiencing the sounds of summertime.

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.

This program serves to educate visitors on the different life cycles of common pollinators by puzzling each stage piece-by-piece.

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

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

Enjoy a magnificent sunset on the tranquil Potomac River and listen for nocturnal creatures.

It's all fun and games at the campfire.

Step back in time as we uncover the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery.

Join us for ranger-led campfire with S'mores!

Where's the best place to fish at the park?

Come join the party!

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. .

Get away from the city lights and gaze at the celestial bodies in the night sky.  Discover how to identify constellations and hear a legend or two of how they came to be.  This program is dependent on the clarity of the viewing sky on the night it occurs.  Reservations with pre-payment only.  Canoes  - $13/person or $8/person (family of 4+).

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.

Learn about Douthat State Park's forest nightlife as we immerse ourselves in the night time world of nature.

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

Are you looking for a light show without the fireworks this Independence Day weekend? Join park rangers for an exploration of our night sky at this International Dark Sky Park.

Paddle through the Catlett Islands on a Ranger led kayak tour which explores the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, and history of the park.

Come learn about the park's turtle species.

Ticks are out there...but what can you do about it? Come visit the discovery table to better understand these infamous little bugs, and learn how to safely explore the great outdoors.

Join us for Branches and Brunch on July 6th at 9 a.m. at Holliday Lake State Park. For $25 per participant, enjoy a guided 6.3-mile hike along the scenic Lakeshore Trail, taking in the beauty of the lake and surrounding nature.

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

Join us for a guided tour of the Overton-Hillsman House (circa 1780) at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park to learn about everyday experiences during the 19th century.

Join our staff for an "Independence Day Special" guided tour of Mulberry Hill, the plantation home of Judge Paul Carrington, Virginian and Founding Father.

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

Enjoy a ranger-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.  This easy hike will take visitors through our park's deciduous woodlands along the river granting an opportunity to see some of the New River’s native wildflowers and trees.

Stop by the nature booth to borrow a Family Learning Adventures adventure pack for the day.

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

How would you stand in competition with the wildlife of Virginia?

Learn to speak Cherokee, see historic Appalachian trail maps, and discover native medicinal plants at the Central Appalachian Summit.

From the ashes of the old Fossil Beach has arisen a new, dynamic ecosystem.  The living shoreline between the rip-rap and water’s edge is attracting interesting estuarine and marine creatures and plants.  Discover them and how living shorelines enhance and protect our waterfronts.

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

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

During the Jim Crow Era, many public spaces in the South were segregated.

Explore the 32-acre Prince Edward Lake, the larger of the park's two lakes, on this guided canoe tour.

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.

How well do you know our native Virginia snakes?

Perfect for families and curious minds of all ages, Solar Saturdays offer a bright way to learn and play under the sun.

Do you have what it takes to be a Jr. Ranger?

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in the fun dip-netting adventure!

X marks the spot!

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

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home or what those shells on the beach are called?

Have you ever seen a tree grow out of a rock?

Join us at Prince Edward Lake, the site of historic Prince Edward State Park, in celebration of freedom.

Join a ranger to learn about the wild animals found at Belle Isle State Park that delight your senses.

Birding is a wonderful hobby.

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

Paddle the lower Potomac River on a fossil finding adventure! Millions of years ago, Virginia was covered in a shallow sea that was teeming with life, leaving behind prolific fossil beds.

Find our ranger on the pier to hear about the history of our concrete fleet!

The forge is fired up and the blacksmiths are hard at work showing off their skills.

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

Enjoy some water field day fun and create your own patriotic craft.

What will we scoop up this time?

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

Come join a ranger for a fun science craft!

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.