Hop on over to learn about this ancient insect eater, and discover how you can help preserve its habitat.

Every Monday you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

Evening is the perfect time to search for salamanders.

How I wonder what you are...

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

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

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

We need your help.

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Every week the Rangers at First Landing will show off some of our fabulous animal ambassadors to provide an up-close look at the reptiles and amphibians that call First Landing home!

For ages 10+.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Join us for Toddler Adventure Time at Holliday Lake State Park!

Join us as we explore the wonders of nature.

Discover the world of pollinators from Monarchs to beetles to bats!

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 while they eat.  Learn how to identify the different animals and what they all like to eat.  Great for all ages!   .

A face only a mother could love?

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." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will travel to the site.

Join the Rangers each week to learn a new skill to help you survive in the wild.

Join as at the Visitor Center and let's venture out into ancient times!

Scurry on over to investigate the secret life of bugs and understand how important these tiny creatures are to our ecosystems. We'll catch bugs of all shapes and sizes and then view them under magnification.

Sea glass is a beautiful sight when you walk along the beach, adding a splash of color.

Are all snakes venomous?

 How can we be more sustainable when practicing our favorite hobbies?

Join us as we comb the beach to discover what natural treasures await.  Great for all ages!  Meet at the south beach entrance. .

As animals explore their surroundings they leave us lots of clues.

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

Are you trying to secure the tarp over your tent, or interested in how to keep your boat or canoe tied up so that it won't float away? If so, then come on down and our ranger will teach you the correct knot to use.

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

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

Allow the evening to envelop you and enjoy a hay wagon ride with our park guide.

Join a ranger to hike along a section of the Mountain View Trail and cut through the woods for a short distance, seeing the ruins of an old moonshine still along the way.

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

This three-hour class will cover the basics of paddling skills including how to select and fit a person flotation device (PFD), different types of kayaks, planning and safety, and proper paddling strokes.

Join and ranger on a hike along the world-famous Appalachian Trail to the highest peak in Virginia: Mt.

Yes, you too can canoe! Canoes are stable and easy to control, despite what you might have heard.

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

Take your first steps on the path to adventure.

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

Time to go on a scavenger hunt in the campground.

For ages 10+.

Explore some of the coolest little critters that fly in our amazing world of the night sky above. Join an interpreter on Wednesdays this summer to learn about bats and what they mean for our ecosystem.

This nature walk and talk is about the textures and aromas of three native forest species and their role in developing special relationships between plants and humans.

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the Civil War.

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

Designed to introduce young participants to the wonders of the natural world and foster an appreciation for the environment.

Join a Virginia Master Naturalist and enjoy a one hour stroll on easy terrain looking for wildlife and plant life.

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 while they eat.  Learn how to identify the different animals and what they all like to eat.  Great for all ages!   .

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

Watch and learn about our ambassador animals, Reba the Corn Snake or Stevie the King Snake, as they feed on a frozen mouse! .

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing and expensive?

Let’s go on a fun "History Hike" at Staunton River State Park.

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

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

It's time for Mother Nature's most creative weavers to crawl out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

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

Find out what it takes to be an avid birder!

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

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

Come along on a hike through Kiptopeke's trails to learn about the nature in our park.  Meet at picnic shelter #2.  The hike is roughly 2 miles long.  Great for all ages!

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.

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

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

Getting out in nature has incredible benefits to our health and wellness.

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

Who made those footprints?

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunting on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 hours. This program is limited to 10 spots.

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

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

Experience an enjoyable ride on the lake while we watch the sun slip below the horizon.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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).

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

This week's theme for Junior Rangers is Weather.

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

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

Want to learn how to play the outdoorsman’s version of BINGO?

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

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

Join the Rangers on a guided hike through our most popular trail!

The park is rich with historical sights, many of which are structures that were built when the park was opened.  We'll be taking a modest walk around the day use area of the park to observe the unique buildings and discuss how the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) used them while building the park.

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

This is an easy and fun ride for cyclists of all skill levels that covers 8.6 miles out and back and will take about one hour.

Join us as we explore the wonders of nature.

Have you ever heard an owl sing at night?

What's under that rock?

Join the Rangers each week to create a new nature-themed craft.

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

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

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

Come discover the world of self publishing!

Did you know owls don't chew their food?

Don't judge a book by its cover!

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.

What can bones tell us about animal characteristics?  Different animals have unique skeletons that are specialized to their way of life.

Want to test your knowledge and learn about one of our most fascinating local animals?

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