What is a gundalow?  These long wooden flatboats were used to haul merchandise down the Shenandoah River.

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

Don't judge a book by its cover!

Did you know that we have a American Civil War fort here at Staunton River Battlefield?

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

What does fire mean to you?

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

Pan for gold in the James River while learning about Virginia’s unique geology, the rocks and minerals of the park, and the magnetic sand on the banks of the river.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!  Learn about different turtles that call Kiptopeke home and why it's important to keep wildlife wild.

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

Are you quick enough to catch a butterfly?

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.

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.

Join us for a hands-on fire building workshop, reminiscent of the outdoor skills sessions once held at Group Camp 7.

Find the "roving ranger" as they travel around the waterfront to learn how YOU can save a skunk and the other wildlife that call the park home.

Join us for a week-long celebration honoring the vibrant history of Pocahontas State Park, specifically highlighting the activities and programs once offered at its formerly segregated side, Group Camp 7, which was opened for use for the first time on July 15th, 1939.

Get your feet wet investigating the vast array of life in a stream. Catch crawdads, salamanders, frogs and such.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Come out to Chestnut Creek, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater.

What's that big net used for?  Join us as we teach you how to use a seine net and see what we can discover below the surface of the Chesapeake Bay.  We will meet at the Wood Warbler Boardwalk, across from the Camp Store, and enjoy a short walk out to the beach.  Great for all ages! .

Can you imagine not having a TV or cell phone?

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

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.

Join us for the Westmoreland State Parks one and only Music on the Cliff!

Pack a picnic and come early to pick the best spot on the lawn for one of the highlights of the summer season on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Practice your netting skills to find out what lives in the Bay using techniques dating back to ancient times!

Would you choose a skunk for supper?

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

Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sky Meadows' campground provides you with a fantastic place to enjoy peaceful rejuvenation, but how much do you know about this wonderful park?

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

The English Channel performs the extraordinary British hits of the mid 1960's and 1970's.

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.

Come with us to experience the beginnings of Bluegrass music and follow its evolution as it traveled across the ocean and settled in the Appalachian Mountains.

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.

What do you know about our scaly friends?

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

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.

Explore the marsh at night as you paddle up its placid waters.  Various creatures may be seen in the creek or along the shoreline, while bats fly above in the night sky.  You may even experience owls calling at a distance.  Take it all in as the light of the moon blankets the surroundings with mystery.  Reservations with pre-payment only.  Canoes  - $13/person or $8/person (family of 4+).

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

Join us for a sunset/moonlight bike ride on High Bridge Trail.

Ride with a ranger as we explore the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park on a beautiful summer evening.

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

Join us for a sunset/moonlight bike ride on High Bridge Trail.

Experience Douthat State Park's history and evening creatures all under the night stars in the middle of the lake.

When the sun takes its daily dive below the horizon and delivers night time to your doorstep, there’s no rule saying you have to stay in for the evening.

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

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

The Hungry Mother Arts and Crafts Festival is attended by over 20,000 people each year.

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

Have you ever wondered what owls look like, what they eat, or where they live?

The joy of nature journaling is not about being a perfect artist, it’s about curiosity and wonder.

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

Dig fossils and shipwrecks?

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

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Come visit the discovery table to behold some of nature's most amazing treasures!

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

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

Are you looking to get better acquainted with the outdoors?

Beneath fallen tree branches and layers of fallen leaves exists an abundance of exciting mushrooms and other organisms!

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

Read a tale as you walk the trail. Begin at the CCC Museum to find out which trail will have the story and then begin your exploration and storytime at your own pace.

Create your own Bear Creek Lake State Park souvenir while making memories.

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

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

Become a Junior Ranger today at Westmoreland State Park.

Learn about the reptiles that can be spotted in the park!

What does a mushroom sit on...a toadstool!

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

Turtle shells and feathers and fur oh my! You may have seen the turtles, foxes, deer, and other animals that live at the park, but have you ever felt their fur, or shells? Join a ranger to touch animal pelts, shells, feathers and learn about predator-prey relationships and the adaptations each species uses to survive.

Discover some of the beautiful fish that make their homes in the Potomac River with a Park Ranger using a seine net, one of humankind's oldest fishing tools. This is also a great chance to appreciate the important role that the Potomac River and its watershed has in our community.  Be prepared to have fun and get wet.  Be sure to bring water shoes and comfortable clothing.  For questions or inquiries, please call (703)583-6904 or send an e-mail to leesylvaniavc@dcr.virginia.gov.

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

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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.

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

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

Learn about the culinary history of Chippokes as costumed interpreters share stories from the Jones-Stewart Mansion's brick kitchen.

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.

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

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

What is a seed bomb?

Sunday Funday anyone?  Swing by our interpretive table in the picnic area to add some fun to your Sunday picnic!

Can you hear the park talking?  There are many tales and tails throughout Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some are tactile, most don’t use words, so how does the park share its stories?  Park Interpreters will help you discover the park through hands on activities, artifacts and even some stories.

Take a break from the heat and come cool off with the rangers.

Westmoreland State Park invites you to learn about the different fossil types that you can find here along the shoreline, and why, as you create your very own shark tooth necklace keepsake.

The Bear Creek Lake State Park Archery Club is open to beginner and intermediate level archers 18 years old and older.

The trash and litter we leave behind can hurt the environment.

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

What's the difference between a frog and a toad and why do they look the way they do?

Tour a replica of the Anderson Blockhouse as rangers provide information about the history of the building and area.

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.

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

The Bay can hold many secrets.

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.

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun!  Learn about different turtles that call Kiptopeke home and why it's important to keep wildlife wild.

Explore fascinating natural treasures at the Park Office, where a park ranger will showcase intriguing items you can see, touch, and learn about.

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