The Amazing World of Vernal Pools (Virtual)
2026-03-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | DC
(Capital Nature) (DC) Join Capital Nature and vernal pool champions Mike Hayslett and Steven David Johnson for this special presentation on the temporary freshwater wetlands that emerge after snowmelt. Often overlooked as habitats because of their small size, they are essential spawning grounds for spotted salamanders, wood frogs, fairy shrimp, and many other creatures! Mike will discuss the ecology and conservation needs of these unique ecosystems. Steven will share his spectacular photographs of vernal pool life.

Blossoms in America's Backyard
2026-03-21 13:30 - 15:00 | Peirce Mill, 2401 Tilden St NW, Washington DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) This time of year in Washington, DC is all about the Cherry Blossoms, but before the cherry trees on the Tidal Basin were a thing, the roots of DC’s cherry blossom history got planted in the Rock Creek Valley. Come for a short ranger talk about the history of cherry trees in Washington away from the bustle of the Tidal Basin and then enjoy a walk up to 2 miles through some of our trails to see what’s blooming this spring in Rock Creek Park.

Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island (Wait List)
2026-04-09 08:30 - 11:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Enjoy a morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.
Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city.

An Immersion in Nature: Japanese Forest Bathing in Rock Creek Park
2026-06-04 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-06-05 08:30 - 10:30 | DC
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide and author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons and A Year in Rock Creek Park, leads a 2-hour walk along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek in the nation’s oldest urban national park. Move slowly to soak up the beauty of the flowing creek and the lush June greens of the bountiful trees. Focus on the sights, sounds, and woodsy fragrances of Rock Creek Park, letting go of cares while slowly exploring the surroundings through all senses. This restorative celebration of the beauty of late spring in the wooded heart of the nation’s capital is the perfect way to learn why forest bathing is becoming popular all over the world.
Participants receive a signed copy of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons.
