Have you ever wondered what type of trees you might find here at Belle Isle?

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in the fun dip-netting adventure!

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

Learn about red-eared slider turtles as you watch them chow down on lunch!

Ever wondered what you can and can't eat out in the wild?

It's feeding time, watch and learn about a few of our ambassador animals, Reba the Corn Snake or Stevie the King Snake, as they prepare to feed on a frozen mouse! .

Discover some of the beautiful fish that make their homes in the Potomac River.

It starts with an "s" and ends with a "t." It comes out of you, it comes out of me.

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.

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.

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

Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train.

Put away your smartphone and plot a course for adventure with this introduction to the sport of orienteering.

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.

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

Join a ranger to learn about many of the birds you see soaring the skies at Belle Isle.

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

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.

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

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

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

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

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

Most living things have five senses that they use to navigate through the world around them.

Who knew you could make beautiful art featuring flowers from nature with bubbles?

Owls are known as silent fliers, impeccable listeners, and skilled hunters.

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

Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect "Fairy Stone" that everyone is looking for.

Are all snakes venomous?

Become a Junior Ranger today at Westmoreland State Park.

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

Join us for a special guided tour uncovering the untold histories of High Bridge Trail State Park, conducted aboard a stretch golf cart.

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

Join us to learn the history of this ancient form of dying cloth and create your own unique tie-dye shirt.

The batteau was a historically significant boat used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

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

What does fire mean to you?

There’s duck calls and elk calls, but have you ever heard a squirrel call?

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.

Join the Ranger on an exploration of the Old Pond Trail.

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

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Can you imagine not having a TV or cell phone?

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.  Meet at the South Beach entrance and wear clothes that can get wet.  Great for all ages! .

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

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

The Tobacco Road Band features four Southside Virginia musicians with roots deep in the popular tunes of our times.  Their music blends old soul & blues, country and some good southern rock & roll to give an audience the rhythms and lyrics sure to bring a smile.

Join Yoga Instructor Kelly Blevins to experience a more engaged form of yoga as you strike poses on our stand-up paddle boards out in the lake.

Come create your own fire starter for your next camping adventure.

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

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

Who-who's there?

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

Relax and have a s'more by the campfire as we learn about one of our most common nocturnal animals: bats!

August 24th is International Bat Day!

Join us at picnic shelter #1 for a late-night hike as we search for owls and other nocturnal animals that call Kiptopeke home.  Hike is roughly 1 mile and better suited for older kids and adults.

From a vantage point high above the Appomattox River's floodplain, visitors can explore the cosmos from High Bridge with our local Crewe Astronomy Club.

What hides in the Appalachian wilderness after dark?

Bring the whole family for foot-stomping' music with "The Friday Nite Band". The band will be accompanied by the "Old Dominion Cloggers" dance group, comprised of young and old from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

Did you know that the firefly glow is more than just a pretty summer evening show?

Are you ready to join the Secret Spider Society?

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.

Silent and spooky, the owl is a magnificent animal.

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.

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

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

Time to go on a scavenger hunt in the campground.

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

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River. This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and scenic 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 8 spots.

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

Let's Go on an Archery Adventure: Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

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

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

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

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

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

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

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

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!

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

There are many ways to combine love of nature and craftiness.

This special introductory program is designed to provide an in depth look at the fossils that have been found along the Potomac River.  We will explore the world of fossils and the ones that occur here.

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

Examining the natural world shows how humans use resources and that the choices we make impact the air, water, land and living things around us.

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.

Curious about the wonders of Holliday Lake State Park?

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

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 an Archery Adventure: Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye, fictional archers with real world skills.

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.

Want to go on a scavenger hunt in the wilderness?

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

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun a peek at some critters and a cute craft.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

The natural world around us is like a game of Jenga, and when species are removed, the balance becomes increasingly unstable.

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.

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.