Merchandise sales locations will be closed for the required annual inventory beginning Tuesday, April 15 and will reopen when completed on April 16.
Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m., now through April 30. Learn more.
National Kids to Parks Day - May 17, 2025
Kids to Parks Day is a nationally coordinated day designed to connect kids and families with their local, state, and national parks. By discovering our public lands, kids across the country are learning about park stewardship, outdoor recreation, STEM, and history.
Virginia State Parks have special events planned to celebrate this day of outdoor play. The programs include walks and hikes, arts and crafts, learning about wildlife and the natural world, and outdoor activities like fishing, paddling, and archery. Programs vary by park so check out what each park is offering below.
Visit a Virginia State Park to join in the fun.
May 17, 2025. 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May.
May 17, 2025. 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Widewater State Park
Do you want your kids to learn how to kayak?
May 17, 2025. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Ready to learn the ins and outs of kayaking?
May 17, 2025. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Pocahontas State Park
Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day by discovering more about Pocahontas State Park.
May 17, 2025. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
Nature journaling is the intersection of art, science, and curiosity.
May 17, 2025. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Westmoreland State Park
Come and join us for our volunteer-based beach clean up.
May 17, 2025. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Holliday Lake State Park
Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide celebration connecting families with the beauty and wonder of our public lands.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
High Bridge Trail State Park
Bring your family and join us for National Kids to Parks Day!
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Westmoreland State Park
Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Leesylvania State Park
What can we hear, see, smell, and touch?
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
James River State Park
What better way to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day than an all-day fair!
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sky Meadows State Park
Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day with a fun-filled day in nature!
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Kiptopeke State Park
Join us for National Kids to Parks Day! Celebrate the importance of pollinators with a fun, hands-on craft designed for kids of all ages. Learn about bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while creating your own nature-inspired craft to take home. Crafts will be set up at the Big Water Visitor Center from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
York River State Park
Kids, put down your devices and explore the wonders of the great outdoors. Begin the day with the popular Fossil Frenzy Hike at 10:00 am (please call for reservations). In the afternoon, check out the creatures of the estuary in our aquarium display. You can even throw a line and catch a big one in our Backyard Bassin' game. Self guided adventurers are more than welcome.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Landing State Park
Kids to Parks Day at First Landing is a time for fun and exploration in your local slice of nature.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Natural Bridge State Park
This is your chance to become an official junior ranger at Natural Bridge State Park!
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Hey, kids: turn off the television, put away the video games, and head over to the park for some real fun in the great outdoors. Come participate in exciting programs that connect kids with the outdoors.
This event has been canceled.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Grayson Highlands State Park
Have you ever thought about what an animal eats?
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Machicomoco State Park
Join Machicomoco and the Fairfield Foundation as we team up to offer prospective Junior Rangers hands-on archaeological dig opportunities at the Timberneck House in order to earn a Junior Ranger patch.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Chippokes State Park
Adventure into the outdoors and discover wildlife along the Trail with a ranger. All tiny participants will be given helpful hands-on bug finding tools for investigating nature signs. Let's try to use all of our senses to see, smell, touch, track and observe.
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Caledon State Park
Can you spot a bald eagle?
May 17, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Mason Neck State Park
Embark on a day of aquatic adventure "going up the food chain" through educational explorations and outdoor games.
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wilderness Road State Park
Explore Virginia’s frontier through the eyes of a child.
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Connect your family to nature with our special programming for Kids to Parks Day.
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
What will we scoop up this time?
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Join a ranger to create something special from natural elements found around the park.
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Seven Bends State Park
Celebrate Nationals Kids to Parks Day with us as we Launch into Summer!
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
Learn how Mother Nature can both inspire and help you create your next masterpiece.
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lake Anna State Park
Join the Ranger on the Fishing Pavilion at the Old Pond to learn to fish!
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
Stop by from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. to explore the amazing variety of Virginia's RAPTORS with hands-on activities and touchable models.
May 17, 2025. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sweet Run State Park
Connect with others as we officially open our Nature Play area.
May 17, 2025. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fairy Stone State Park
Join us for an afternoon of fun, crafts, and nature exploration for kids and families.
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
Meet local 'shellebrity' Ranger Myrtle, the Red-eared Slider turtle, as she suns herself in her enclosure behind the concession building.
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Embrace your wild side and come play a game of chase that predator and prey have to "play" to survive every day.
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Museum
Families can join rangers for fun nature activities on Kids to Park Day!
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
How would you stand in competition with the wildlife of Virginia?
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bear Creek Lake State Park
Celebrate National Kids to Parks Day our little park that's close to home.
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Belle Isle State Park
It's National Kids to Parks Day!
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Chippokes State Park
Join a ranger on this guided hike and learn about the fascinating world of fungi.
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Powhatan State Park
Come young and young-at-heart on National Kids to Parks Day to meet some incredible predators of the sky!
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Westmoreland State Park
It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles. How do we feed our animals?
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Caledon State Park
Can you spot a bald eagle?
May 17, 2025. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Clinch River State Park
Come join a ranger for Kids to Parks Day!
May 17, 2025. 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Widewater State Park
This program is designed as introductory lesson for first time participants.
May 17, 2025. 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Raymond R. "Andy" Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park
What better way to spend time with your friends than fishing? On National Kids to Parks Day, join a ranger and bring a friend to fish along the Shenandoah River.
May 17, 2025. 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Staunton River State Park
Kick your summer off with a bang at Staunton River State Park on National Kids to Parks Day.
May 17, 2025. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Twin Lakes State Park
This land-based, hook-free fishing game is a fun and safe way to learn how to cast, but even those who are fishing fanatics will enjoy trying to beat out the competition in this game of limited resources.
May 17, 2025. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Natural Tunnel State Park
What's under that rock?
May 17, 2025. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hungry Mother State Park
Join our amazing volunteer Darin Handy as he shows us all sorts of amazing critters, live!
May 17, 2025. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
New River Trail State Park
Kids to Parks Day is a national day that encourages kids and families to explore parks and public lands.
May 17, 2025. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Join us by the campfire for a relaxing evening as we welcome you back to the park.
May 17, 2025. 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Staunton River Battlefield State Park
Fortifications throughout the Civil War came in many shapes and designs, using a small sand table and a few plastic figures, a ranger will demonstrate how a few select forts were constructed, the various terms and techniques that were used to describe defenses and how the forts themselves could be defended using plastic figures.
May 17, 2025. 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
What do you know about our scaly friends?
June 7, 2025. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park
Come and join us at the Hillsman House at Sailor's Creek Battlefield to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day.
Find a Job at
Virginia State Parks
Order your Virginia State Parks
license plate
