Ever wanted to touch the fur of a skunk or an opossum?

The swamps are a thriving ecosystem full of life!

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

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

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

Let's beat the heat by making ice cream the traditional way and learning some cool facts along the way.

Come be inspired by the natural beauty of Machicomoco as one of our Rangers leads you through the creation of your own masterpiece (Pre-registration and additional fees required).

Archery programs are some of the best recreational activities that State Parks have to offer.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

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

Gain new knowledge on the basics of composting with this DIY workshop all about waste, worms, and what you can do to start reducing trash in your home.

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

We will begin “2024 Music in the Park” with a true community event.

Join us at New River Trail State Park for our Foster Falls Music Series!

Spend an entertaining evening sitting around the campfire with an interpreter.

Come join the Clinch River State Park staff for the Lyric Paddling Film Festival and Expo.

Take a wagon ride to the scenic Tye Overlook and enjoy the prettiest view for miles around.

Who-who's there?

Come rock and roll with local band "Candy Machine" live as they perform music from the 1950s through the 1980s on the water's edge at the beach amphitheater.

Take a lantern lit chairlift ride down to the naturally made tunnel.

Enjoy a peaceful evening canoe adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!  View the majestic colors of a Northern Virginia summer sunset on this tranquil tributary of the Potomac River while catching glimpses of the nocturnal wildlife emerging for the evening.  No paddling experience is required; all participants must be of 6 years or older.

Enjoy an evening with local troubadour Wayne Dunford as he sings and plays renditions of songs old and not so old. Wayne has been playing and singing throughout the New River Valley since the 1970s and brings a huge variety of music and great entertainment for all.

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Join us for an original play highlighting the moonshining activity in our local area.

Join a ranger for an interactive evening by the campfire as we discuss the unique stories and critters of Pocahontas State Park and the Virginia State Park system.

Our summer concert series is back, so get ready for some "foot-stomping" fun with an evening of bluegrass music.

'Whooo' will hear 'whooo' first?

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

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Join us for a night time tour of our beautiful park.

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

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

What can we see, hear, smell, and possibly touch in nature? The goal of this guided hike is to stay as quiet as possible to avoid scaring away wildlife and to experience using our senses.

Let’s head over to Edmunds Lake and try to wrangle in some big fish.

Interested in the history of Westmoreland State Park?  Join a ranger to learn about the creation of Westmoreland State Park, and the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Did you know owls get "hairballs?" About once a day, an owl spits up a ball of hair and bones--leftovers from their most recent meals--called an owl pellet.

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Step back in time and participate in games played in the 18th century.

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

Join a ranger to learn how our beautiful lake came to be and the fascinating history of the lake's past inhabitants.

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

We invite you to join us as we commemorate Memorial Day, a day to pay tribute to those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

There's something happening in White Oak Swamp, Beavers!

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

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Pasture Pals is a special program at Chippokes, where guests are introduced to and able to spend quality time with our ambassador farm animals. Have you ever wondered exactly why donkeys have such long ears?

Stop by the Visitor Center and have the opportunity to view the sun through a telescope.

Explore the various ways you can connect with the Earth through keeping a nature journal.

The Indigenous Peoples were well known for being quite clever in their usage of the abundant natural resources found in the woodlands and coastal region, but did you know that these tribes were also compelled to use these same resources for sport and game playing?

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

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.

Walk through history by touring historic Mount Bleak House.

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

What's under that rock?

Hungry Mother State Park's interpreters are always finding cool things around the park and thinking up new activities and crafts.

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun games, crafts, and prizes.

We invite you to join us as we commemorate Memorial Day, a day to pay tribute to those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

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.

Connect with nature on a guided hike with the Rangers!

Every animal has unique features and traits that make them special and suited for their natural environment.

Join Virginia Master Naturalist and entomologist Sarah Reilly as she introduces us to some of the beautiful and fascinating tiny critters you’re likely to find in this part of Virginia during this part of the season. Far from creepy, these many-legged crawlers are bound to amaze you as you learn about some of their mind-blowing adaptations and behaviors. Sarah’s presentation will be followed by an optional bug-themed craft that kids and adults alike can take home.

Turtles!

Enjoy a refreshing cup of lemonade with a ranger and engage in interesting discussions to gain a unique insight into local wildlife and conservation efforts.

Gather at Cullers Overlook to gaze across the river valley as we learn of the winding river and surrounding mountains.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Bring home a piece of history from Westmoreland as you learn to create shark tooth necklaces.  All resources are provided, including shark teeth that you can choose from to create your super cool necklace that can be shown off to all your friends.

Yes, this is an honest-to-goodness game show with buzzers, lights, excitement, and prizes (without the TV cameras). We will put your knowledge to the test about everything from history, animals, plants, and more.

Join the Rangers on the beach for an hour of fun adventures. Build your own river valley in the sand and discover how soil, rocks and water MOVE through an ecosystem.  You can even borrow the park's beach toys and build a sand castle.

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

We invite you to join us as we commemorate Memorial Day, a day to pay tribute to those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

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

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Explore all about the Northern Flying Squirrel and why they call Grayson Highlands State Park their home.

Did you ever wish you could see as well as an eagle?

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 'boom town.' 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.

Ever wonder what it would be like to get up close to a wild animal?

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic areas and beaches with interesting animal or historical artifacts from the park.

Join a ranger in learning the key differences between our native and non-native pollinators and what they do to help the environment.

What's a benthic organism and how do they survive in the creek?

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Like them or loathe them, snakes are important to our ecosystems.

Beautiful blooms are all around us in the late spring!

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

Mosey on over and try your hand at panning.

Scurry on over to investigate the secret life of a bug.

Join us for a wet and wild exploration of the animals living under the water and amidst the salt marshes at First Landing State Park.

Hop on over to learn the calls and search for some of Virginia's native frog species.

Throughout the summer we offer multiple opportunities for you to take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride.

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

Join us at the outdoor stage for an evening program about the soaring predators that hunt from the sky at night, including learning different owl calls, adaptations, and a chance to dissect an owl pellet.

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

Come enjoy an evening with guitar legend and world-famous builder Wayne C.

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

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.

Join a ranger and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park and about the particular fossils you can find here.

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

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

Bring the family by the Discovery Center to play Colonial, Appalachian, Indigenous, and Scottish games played throughout our local history.

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring a different life group every week, and Week 1 is Plants & Fungi! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities! Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a snack and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.