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.

Flutter on over to meet with Master Naturalist Kim Manion to discuss all things butterflies.

Find our ranger on the fishing pier to hear all about our concrete fleet and the history of Kiptopeke State Park.

Fungi are fascinating, mysterious organisms that many believe to be the unsung heroes of the natural world.

Join us for "Tree Topia" as we uncover the magical realm of trees and their incredible role as habitats!

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

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

The Virginia Master Naturalist Historic Southside Chapter will be hosting a guided hike and workshop experience for all experience-levels to attend and enjoy.

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.

The survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

Get in touch with your inner artist and come down to the beach to learn about the bugs and insects that add beauty to our park.

Let’s make animal tracks!

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

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

Have you ever encountered a bear while hiking?

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

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

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

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 all about birds and their homes.

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Come hunt for shark teeth on the shoreline of the Potomac!

Explore the Clinch River by kayak with Rangers Sarah and Diego.

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

🌳🐍 WIDE WATER STATE PARK PRESENTS: "SNAKES ALIVE" 🐍🌳 Join us Saturday at 2:30 pm for an unforgettable experience at Wide Water State Park's "Snakes Alive" program!

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

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

Do you have what it takes to safely and confidently survive in the wilderness?  In times of unexpected emergencies or when seeking a secure place to rest, having the skills to construct a dependable shelter can be crucial.

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.

You never know what critters you will see around Belle Isle, there's dozens to pick from.

Join us for an opportunity to get "a-head" on wildlife knowledge and learn to identify skulls based upon their characteristics.

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.

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

Natural Tunnel is unique for many reasons and one of them is our fossil record.

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?

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

Come out for some toe-tapping live music with Haze & Dacey!

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.

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.

Test your survival skills by learning to build a fire without a match or lighter.

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?

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

Join us in stepping into the boots of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worker and learning about the daily struggles had by the young men who built our state parks.

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

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

Join us for the Community Campfire at Holliday Lake State Park, a delightful evening event where you can gather around a roaring fire, share stories, and enjoy the natural beauty of the park.

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

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.

Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for Saturday Under the Stars.

Who is that calling to you in the night?

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.

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

Enjoy a peaceful morning canoe adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!  Take in the tranquility of this tributary, watch majestic bald eagles and ospreys soar above, a heron hunting along the shore, turtles basking in the morning sunshine, or a river otter retiring for the day to its den .

Enjoy a quiet morning walk along Farmstead Loop.

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

Staunton River State Park is home for many different types of wild animals.

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

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

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

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

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.

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.

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?

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

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

During the spring and summer, osprey dominate the skies over Leesylvania as they build nests and raise their young.

A face only a mother could love?

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

More than just bees, pollinators are butterflies, birds and even bats.  12:00 pm Learn about pollination, native plants, and how to help pollinators thrive in our park and your yard.

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

Time to go on a scavenger hunt in the campground.

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

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

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!

Are you new to fishing and would like to learn the basics?

Take a guided kayak paddle through beautiful Back Bay to look for wildlife and learn about this spectacular freshwater ecosystem.

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

Introduced by the National Parks, B.A.R.K.

What would a tree tell us? Join a ranger to learn how to investigate various tree parts to discover the history of the tree and the forest ecosystem it grows in. We will learn a little about tree anatomy and how to identify trees using reference books and materials.

Surviving as a colonist was drastically different and more complex than the 21st century, but we can still find similarities between them and us.

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

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.

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.