Capital Nature

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Take a bird walk with an expert instructor and learn the basics of using binoculars, listening for bird calls, using field guides and digital tools, and looking carefully in all directions. Stop at the spots in the garden that are most attractive for local birds and learn more about them. Borrow a pair of our binoculars or ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) View the first major retrospective of the acclaimed Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) artist: Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Lowe’s elegant, minimalist sculptures made of willow branches, feathers, and other organic materials evoke the rivers, streams, and waterfalls of the Wisconsin woodlands where he was raised and the canoes used to traverse them.

(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 7 a.m. April through September. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.  

(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy free garden admission and a guided walk around Meadowlark Botanical Gardens' 95 acres on Tuesdays. Each 75-minute walk will be over uneven, hilly terrain, have a positive focus, and include a silent, meditative portion and a few interesting facts from our docent along the way.

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join our volunteer team once a month, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and  help count butterflies and dragonflies in Dyke Marsh on: June 17, July 22, August 19, September 23 and October 21.  Surveyors do not need experience or specialized knowledge. Meet in the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, sun and ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) June is the best month to find young owls in our forests. Come for a short owl talk and hike to see whoooo shows up.

(DC) (National Park Service) Join a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Ranger for a talk about the park! The talk will cover the history of the park, the waterlillies and lotuses that are grown in the ponds, and the importance of the marshes that are connected to the ponds. Meet at the Visitors Center.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy a nice sunset on the water and experience the natural beauty of the Occoquan Reservoir, while learning about natural and historical features unique to the area. This program will be led by NOVA Parks' Roving Naturalist, Matt Felperin. We will begin with a brief paddling instruction overview before heading out. Previous kayak experience suggested, but not ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults. Have a little more time? Take a moment to slow down, use your senses, and explore the Enid A. Haupt Garden through nature journaling. Bring your own journal or decorate one for your garden observations. And be ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome the Summer Solstice as the sun sets over the serene Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with an evening of deep relaxation, an immersive sound journey, and nature therapy (forest bathing). This restorative experience blends nature therapy to reconnect with nature and awaken your senses, along with immersive sound meditation to quiet the mind and attune to the rhythms ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Forest bathing promotes wellness through deepening our connection to natural environments. Based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates as “taking in the atmosphere of the forest,””. This 2-hour session, led by certified forest therapy guide Adria S. Zeldin, will guide you through mindfulness-based sensory invitations to help you slow down, awaken your senses, and reconnect ...

(DC) (National Park Service) Join a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Ranger for a talk about the park! The talk will cover the history of the park, the waterlillies and lotuses that are grown in the ponds, and the importance of the marshes that are connected to the ponds. Meet at the Visitors Center.