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?

From eagles to owls, raptors are everywhere at Mason Neck State Park!

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

Discover the art of journaling in the wild with a ranger.

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

What does fire mean to you?

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

Take your first steps on the path to adventure.

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

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.

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

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

Experience Occoneechee State Park from a different perspective, as you paddle around the shoreline of Buggs Island Lake.

Who made those footprints?

Use all your senses to learn something new about the environment.

Help us tend a whole new type of garden - an oyster garden. Discover this easy past time, learn about the history of oysters in our region and how this humble bivalve takes care of our tidal waters.

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

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.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the trail around High Bridge with interesting historical items from the park.

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.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

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

Put yourself into the shoes of an Ice Age hunter in this spear-throwing workshop. Long ago, giant beasts roamed the land that we now call Virginia.

What's under that rock?

Can you imagine not having a TV or cell phone?

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

This five-member band, founded in 2023, is local to Clarksville, VA.

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.

It's a hard life evading bears, bats, and birds.

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?

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. Once the fire is built, let’s enjoy it by making s’mores.

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.

Take a lantern lit chairlift ride down to the naturally made tunnel.

You are invited to participate in a guided hike with an interpretive ranger to learn about the medicinal plants of central Virginia.

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

Stop by and learn about the animals that live all around Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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.

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

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?

Join a ranger for an interactive evening by the campfire as we discuss the unique stories and critters of Pocahontas State Park and the Virginia State Park system.

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 the rangers for a unique hiking experience.

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

Join a ranger on a thrilling and educational evening under the stars!

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?

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

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

The Let's Go Adventures staff will introduce you to the basics like, how to select a rod and reel combo, knot tying, and selecting the right fly for conditions and species.

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?

Butterflies are self-propelled flowers - Robert A.

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

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.

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.

Come explore aquatic life in the James River!

Invasive species are taking over our trees, causing them to slowly dying out.

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

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

Every animal has unique features and traits that make them special and suited for their natural environment.

Join a ranger, explore the forest floor for natural materials, and construct a honeybee.  All additional craft materials and paint are provided.

Think you know the difference between toads and frogs?

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.

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

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.

Bug out with us at Caledon!

Sometimes the best way to make new discoveries in nature is to play a game. I spy something round on the ground. I spy something blue up high. Can you guess what “I Spy” as we hike the River Bank Trail?  Come find out and play along.

Come as a family, with friends, or fly solo on this seasonal scavenger hunt.

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?

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.

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

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.