This "crab" is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions.

Kids will dive into the slimy world of amphibians like frogs and salamanders!

Do you have what it takes to be a wildlife detective?  Get ready for a guided mission!

Our park interpreter will be stationed at Cullers Overlook to answer all of your questions.

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

Calling all children from ages 6-10.

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

Join an interpretive ranger on a hike to the Fairy Stone Dam and Spillway.

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

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'.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

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

Get up close and personal with creepy crawlies and slimy sensations from around the world!

Watch park staff feed "Ranger Shelly," our resident pet turtle, and learn fascinating facts about these shelled reptiles.

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce the fall semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program.

This is an easy and fun ride for cyclists of all skill levels that covers 10.6 miles out and back and takes about one hour.

How much Douthat history do you know?

Join a park ranger for some batty banter around a bonfire!

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

Explore the Panhandle Multi-use Trail on this three-mile hike.

Calling all homeschoolers!

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Have you ever heard an owl sing at night?

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.

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'.

Did you know owls don't chew their food?

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

Get creative when you build your very own bug at this ranger-led program.

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

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

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

Join our rangers in discovering the secrets held by the magnificent White-tailed Deer.

Join us for an immersive adventure!

Come make your very own nature bookmark!

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

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.

Come on a short walk and get creative with nature.

The objects left behind by people of the past may say more than you'd think.

Join the Fun at Widewater State Park: Fishing Adventures Await!

Twilight is the perfect time to search for salamanders.

Can you pitch a tent?

This October spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, all by lantern light.

This October spirits from the past will guide you along the trail to the Natural Bridge, all by lantern light.

Join us for a public viewing night during the Fall Staunton River Star Party.

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

Are you ready for an outdoor challenge?

Join a park ranger on a hike to the waterfall and back.

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

Join us for a rewarding morning of gardening with fellow plant lovers.

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 a guided tour of Mulberry Hill, the plantation home of Judge Paul Carrington, Virginian and Founding Father. Mulberry Hill was a working tobacco farm owned by the McPhails during the American Civil War and was used by Union General Wilson as his headquarters during the 1864 cavalry raid into Southside Virginia.

Join us as we celebrate the harvest season.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions of local farming and celebrate the harvest season in the picturesque Crooked Run Valley.

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

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

Imagine a world without fruits and veggies...they could not exist without pollinators!

Enjoy the fall season on an unforgettable canoeing adventure at Occoneechee State Park.

We aren't trying to catch the the trophies or enough to feed a crowd.  This catch-and-release event is to see how many different species of fish can be caught along our living shoreline.  Call and register today.  We have gear to borrow or you may bring your own.  .

Take a closer look at your surroundings in our monthly nature journaling classes.

Discover how the Pocahontas State Park you've grown to know and love got its start as you travel back to the late 1930's to learn what was happening in Chesterfield County and the rest of the nation.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Bring along your partner and friends to embark on a wayfinding adventure through the Interpretive Area to earn a free Adult Adventurer keychain (Pre-registration recommended).

Douthat State Park is home to many mammals, including black bears.

Take a closer look at your surroundings in our monthly nature journaling classes.

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.

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

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'.

Join us at the Discovery Center, where we'll take a short walk to gather natural materials and create your own unique fall-themed craft.

Come join a ranger on an autumn riverside hike!

Join a park ranger on a walk through the beautiful forest and contribute to our local James River Master Naturalist project!

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.

What does fire mean to you?

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.

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

Have you always wanted to try archery but never had the opportunity?

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

Join us at Widewater State Park for a slithery, fun-filled adventure with “Snakes Alive!” Meet our friendly, live, non-venomous snake ambassadors and learn fascinating facts from a park ranger who’s a herpetologist specializing in snake behavior!

Experience the beauty of autumn on our Fall Colors Canoe Tour at Douthat State Park.

During this ranger-led activity, we will get to know a few of our feathered friends that can be found in the park or in your backyard.

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

Peek at the peaks with a ranger as you leaf peep in style on a wagon ride with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the fall color change.

Are you predator or prey?

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park!

Dusk is a magical time at the park.

Ever had homemade peach or apple crisp cooked over a fire, in a Dutch Oven?

Join us by the campfire for a relaxing evening as we welcome you back to the park.

Enjoy a magnificent sunset on the tranquil Potomac River and listen for nocturnal creatures. We'll meet at the Visitor Center to gear up before paddling out to Caledon Marsh in hopes of observing birds and other wildlife.

Explore some of Machicomoco’s best views during golden hour while stopping in to talk with a Ranger about some of their favorite park topics.

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

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

Whoooo goes there?

James River State Park is a designated International Dark Sky park.

Have you ever heard a bird call and wanted to know what bird made that noise?

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

Nature is magic.