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

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

"Nature creates similarities; one need only think of mimicry." - Walter Benjamin Have you ever seen a stick walk or a leaf fly?

Celebrate Bindi the Corn Snake’s 4th birthday with a snake-themed craft.

Are all snakes venomous?

Imagine a cougar and a woodland bison walking through a chestnut forest, this is something you could have seen on park property about 500 years ago.

 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?

This series of homeschool programs for students aged 8-12 will meet at the Visitor Center at Lake Anna State Park from 10am - 1pm on multiple dates.

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

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

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

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.

Did you know that 11 to 3 million years ago Chippokes, the James River, and most of the Tidewater area of Virginia was all under water and at the bottom of the Claremont Manor Sea? Join an interpreter on an adventure through the Fossil Beds of Chippokes to see what we can find...

"The science of fossil shells is the first step towards the study of the Earth." - Giovanni Battista Brocchi Come learn about the history of fossils in Virginia with Chief Ranger Hillborn at Widewater State Park!

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.

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.

Let's go fishing with friends and family!

Have you ever wondered about the pivotal command decisions made in the spring of 1865 that helped bring the fighting in Virginia to an end?

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

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

Celebrate International Beaver Day early with a fun peak into the adaptations of beavers.

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.

Did you know that 11 to 3 million years ago Chippokes, the James River, and most of the Tidewater area of Virginia was all under water and at the bottom of the Claremont Manor Sea? Join an interpreter on an adventure through the Fossil Beds of Chippokes to see what we can find...

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

Have you ever wondered what snakes eat, why they shed, and which are venomous?

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

Have you met the animals living at Hungry Mother State Park's Discovery Center?

Foraging can foster a special connection with the land as well as with fellow foragers.

Have you ever heard of a timberdoodle?

The surface of the water might seem calm, but down under there is an exciting world filled with all kinds of life.

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.

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.

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.

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'.