By collecting monarch eggs and caterpillars to raise indoors, we are improving their chances of surviving to the butterfly stage; aiding this endangered species.

Looking for a family-friendly way to extend your summer fun?

Are you ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city?

Spend time floating five and a half miles down the Clinch River.

Let's learn all about our friends, THE BEES!

Join a park ranger for a morning bike ride on High Bridge Trail.

Join certified instructor and Hickory Ridge Camp Host, Cheryl Arden, for yoga in the Hickory Ridge Campground Meadow.

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

Would you like to have the chance to explore the trails in Powhatan State Park and meet new people?

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

Come on down to the river for an in-seine-ly good time!

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

Become a prospector as we follow in the footsteps of "Stampmill Sam".

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

From the ashes of the old Fossil Beach has arisen a new, dynamic ecosystem.  The living shoreline between the rip-rap and water’s edge is attracting interesting estuarine and marine creatures and plants.  Discover them and how living shorelines enhance and protect our waterfronts.

Owls, bats and bugs oh my!

Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short walk to discover the basics of tree identification.

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

Join a ranger for a 1.5-mile guided hike through fields and marsh to a splendid beach view of the Rappahannock River.

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail.

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?

The Albert Hash Memorial Festival will feature Old Time Music, dancing, food, crafts, and instrument makers.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to make ink and leaf prints from the husks of the black walnut fruit.

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

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing and expensive?

Embrace your wild side and come play a game of chase that predator and prey have to "play" to survive every day.

Fire safety is one of our park’s top priorities.

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! .

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

Investigate interesting facts about our visiting Ospreys: how do you tell the male from the female?

Go back in time to the historic village of Foster Falls.

Bring your brunch and dine al fresco with Boxie, one of our educational ambassadors.

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.

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.

All of the park's original facilities back in the 1930's were built by hand.

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

There are many amazing critters living in the waters around Belle Isle.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

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

Experience one of the the last paddles of the summer season at Caledon!

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

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

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

Black bears capture human admiration and interest like few other wildlife species.

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

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

Join us as we build a beaver to find out if their teeth, and other body parts, are useful, or just a cruel joke played by Mother Nature.

Take some time to get out of the hot sun and join our park nature interpreter under the tent for some fun crafts. Create your own butterfly, make a picture using the sun, or "scratch-up" some art.

What is paracord and what is it used for?

Learn more about the remarkable and misunderstood world of snakes!

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

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

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

Come "shell-ebrate" some of the coolest animals around and meet Hungry Mother State Park's ambassador turtles.

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

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.

We are on an expedition to have some fun, make a splash, and discover some of the tiny creatures that inhabit the shoreline of the Rappahannock River.

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

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

What would your shell say about you if you were a box turtle?

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

Take a look at the fascinating lives of insects and let your creative juices flow.

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

Explore the life cycle of butterflies. Learn what is special about the monarch butterfly. What do they like to eat?

Join a ranger to create something special from natural elements found around the park.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Can you imagine not having a TV or cell phone?

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

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.

Make them this morning, use them tonight.

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

This is a special event that comes once a year, so don’t miss out. This unique program is presented by the Yapatoko. They will be sharing their culture, stories, drums, and dancing. Be prepared to join in and celebrate Native American history.

Spend an entertaining evening sitting around the campfire with other park visitors.

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.

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

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.

Before settling into your campsite or cabin for the night, come meet a park ranger at the campfire to hear about the park, learn about the critters that share our space, ask questions, or share a story of your own.

Get away from the city lights and gaze at the celestial bodies in the night sky.  Discover how to identify constellations and hear a legend or two of how they came to be.  This program is dependent on the clarity of the viewing sky on the night it occurs.  Reservations with prepayment only.  Canoes $13 per person or $8 per person in a family of 4+.

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

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.

Join us by the campfire for a relaxing evening as we welcome you back to 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.

Are you ready to join the Secret Spider Society?

Once the sun has slipped out of sight let the moon be your guide as we travel the trails looking and listening for the wildlife that can be found in our park.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Hot diggity dog, the Friends of False Cape are having a FUNdraiser!

Nature is magic.