Capital Nature

Weed Wrangle at Theodore Roosevelt Island
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(DC) (Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) ARMN Park Stewards and National Park Service Weed Warriors welcome volunteers to help us restore native habitat and stamp out invasive non-native plants on Theodore Roosevelt Island. This work is vitally important to protecting the island’s natural areas, including plants that have co-evolved with birds and other local wildlife over thousands of years that are being overwhelmed by fast-growing introduced species that strangle trees and eliminate food sources.

Invasive Plant Removal Behind the National Zoo
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park behind the National Zoo. Invasive plants are a major threat to our fragile forests, and stopping their spread helps allow native plants to thrive in the understory. This event is part of an area-wide volunteer-powered effort to help rescue our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior to the event.

Invasive Plant Workday at Kingman Island
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:30 | Kingman Island _RFK Lot 6, United States
(DC) (District Department of the Environment) Join DOEE staff to remove invasive plants near the entrance of Kingman + Heritage Islands and the Anacostia River Trail. DOEE will provide tools, gloves, and instruction. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray.
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Farrah at mary.farrah@dc.gov​.

Rock Creek Park Birthday at the Nature Center
2025-09-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, 20015, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Join us for our annual Rock Creek Park Day – this year over four days – on September 20-21 and 27-28, 2025. This event celebrates the founding of our national park. For the 135th Anniversary, we’re having a one-of-a-kind celebration: Punk Rocks! that blends DC’s legendary punk rock spirit with the park’s geologic, cultural, and cosmic stories. Visitors of all ages will discover why nature and green spaces matter – especially in cities like Washington, DC – through hands-on programs, live activies, and creative workshops.

Acorn Collection at Arlington Cemetery
2025-09-27 10:30 - 12:30 | Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Ave, Arlington, VA, 22211, United States
(VA) (Potomac Conservancy) Calling all tree friends! Join Potomac Conservancy’s Tomorrow’s Trees program for a fun, 100-person acorn collection all around the grounds of Arlington Cemetery. The Virgina state tree nursery needs more local seeds collected to grow out millions of trees for our communities – and you can help! These future trees lead to a healthier and more resilient Potomac River!
We’ll provide all the event supplies and guidance on how to collect quality acorns.

Punk Rocks Hike to Boulder Bridge and Pulpit Rock
2025-09-27 10:30 - 13:30 | Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, 20015, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Take a walk on the wild side of Rock Creek! Our Punk Rocks Hike starts at Boulder Bridge, cranking up the volume on history and style. Built in 1902, this stone arch is Rock Creek’s ultimate stage piece—rugged, loud, and impossible to ignore. After exploring the bridge, the hike continues to Pulpit Rock, a natural stone outcrop that has been a landmark and gathering spot for generations. You’ll see how stone has rocked the park’s story, then join our “Bridge Through the Lens” photo challenge. The hike is approximately 4.5 miles and will be on a mix of dirt and asphalt trails.

History Through the Eyes of Trees
2025-09-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 24th St N, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) History and nature crossover during this exploration of the surprising roles played by Arlington’s trees during the Civil War. By looking at history through their eyes, you’ll discover that just because trees don’t have mouths does not mean they cannot speak!

Kingman Island Friends & Family Day
2025-09-27 11:00 - 15:00 | Kingman and Heritage Islands Park, 575 Oklahoma Ave NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (District Department of Energy and the Environment) Join DOEE and partners for the 5th Annual Kingman Island Friends and Family Day! This family-friendly event is a celebration of everything the islands have to offer as a unique space in the District dedicated to conservation, environmental education, and recreation. Activities will include paddling, music, nature-themed arts and crafts. More information about the activities will be shared closer to the event.

Exhibit: Woodlands
2025-09-27 12:00 - 18:00, 2025-09-30 12:00 - 18:00 | Amy Kaslow Gallery, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
(MD) (Amy Kaslow Gallery) Enter Mother Earth’s majestic wooded world where thick velvet moss carpet thrives between massive tree roots anchoring towering trees. From the ferns along the forest floor to the lichen attached to the tallest growth, woodlands give us exquisite color and form. Indiana’s Meg Lagodzki commands the room with striking hues of paper layered on board. Martina Dalla Stella, from a rural village outside Venice, divines the tree’s powerful, almost ballet-body base and bathes it in indigo. Looming large from pop artist Don Kennell and team are birds assembled of scrap metal. These and other artists will take you for an aesthetic walk in the woods. It might make you want to take a walk in the wild.
Exhibit ongoing through October 5th. Gallery open 12 to 6 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.

Stellar Star Show at Rock Creek
2025-09-27 14:00 - 14:30 | Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, 20015, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Park) Come and enjoy a ranger-led program in the only planetarium in the National Park Service! The Stellar Star Show will be a 30-minute ranger-led program about the planets and the night sky.

Sunday Serenade at Cabin John
2025-09-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This Fall, Montgomery Parks will host its Sunday Serenade Series, featuring easy-listening music outdoors. Each Sunday will feature a different local musician or music group, with varying music genres. Today: The Eric Byrd Trio. For more than two decades, The Eric Byrd Trio has toured the globe as passionate ambassadors of jazz. Grounded in swing and bebop, their dynamic style also weaves in gospel and blues influences.

Invasive Plant Removal at 630 West
2025-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Reservation 630 West, 3031 Sedgwick Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Park) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Rock Creek Weed Warrior Leader Kathy Sykes for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park. Invasive plants are a major threat to our fragile forests, and stopping their spread helps allow native plants to thrive in the understory. This event is part of an area-wide volunteer-powered effort to help rescue our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species.

B.A.R.K Ranger at the Nature Center
2025-09-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, 20015, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Calling all dog owners! If you enjoy adventuring in Rock Creek Park with your furry friend, consider coming to one of our B.A.R.K. Ranger events! This is a national initiative to encourage responsible recreation and a positive experience for you, your dog, and all visitors to the park.
Learn about the principles of being a B.A.R.K. Ranger and earn a B.A.R.K. Ranger badge! A ranger will be present to induct the new B.A.R.K. Rangers and distribute some fun doggie giveaways! A photo op will also be available to commemorate this great achievement!

Fete the Forest
2025-09-28 17:00 - 19:30 | Anacostia Coordinating Council, 1916 13th St SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) You, like us, want to build a better DC. A small but mighty nonprofit, we work to increase the health, beauty and public enjoyment of DC’s urban forests east of the Anacostia River while offering a living wage to locals. We save trees and restore ecological health by clearing trash by the ton and invasive plants from more than 500 acres of neglected urban woods. We are taking a moment to celebrate! Fête for the Forest will recognize past progress and raise vital funds to carry it into the future as we rededicate ourselves to the work of environment justice.

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2025-09-29 07:00 - 09:00 | Huntley Meadows, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA, 22306, United States
(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 8 a.m. 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.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2025-09-30 08:30 - 10:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(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.
The walk will be conducted at a leisurely pace, covering approximately one mile. We will gather in front of the visitor center, and the duration of the walk will typically range from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on our observations. We look forward to sharing this delightful experience with you!
Tuesday morning bird walks at Kenilworth run every week to December 29th.

Stream Team Leader Training (Virtual)
2025-09-30 18:00 - 19:00
(DC) (MD) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Please join Rock Creek Conservancy for a virtual training for our Stream Team Leader program. Stream Team Leaders are dedicated volunteers that work with the Conservancy to host their own trash cleanups and stormwater engagement events, increasing stewardship actions within their communities and throughout Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, MD. The training will take place on zoom. A link will be sent to all registered participants on the day of the training.
More Rock Creek Conservancy events here.

Going Green: Conservation in Urban Landscapes
2025-09-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Amy Kaslow Gallery, 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 20814, United States
(MD) (Amy Kaslow Gallery) To learn how we can protect our greatest warriors against climate change, join us for a conversation about trees. Our urban and suburban forests capture and store carbon dioxide, prevent flooding, cool down the temperature and throw essential shade. Hear from Kasey Yturralde of the Urban Forestry Division of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Francis Grant-Suttie of the C&O Canal Trust who will lead us through practical solutions. Stop by our ongoing Woodlands exhibition, enjoy a libation, see the artwork, and learn about green initiatives in our city.

Book Talk: Saving Nature with Your Yard
2025-09-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Doug Tallamy, author and Professor of Agriculture, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware – Don’t miss this opportunity to see Doug Tallamy, a national leader of the native plant movement, speak in person. He’ll discuss his new book on ecological landscaping and share insights on biodiversity, native plants, conservation, and how we can help restore ecosystems at home. Tallamy’s new book will be available in the gift shop, with a signing to follow the talk.

Walk Maryland Day at Wheaton Park
2025-10-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for Walk Maryland Day, a celebration of Maryland’s official exercise: walking! Our All Explorers Walk is for walkers ages 55+ and begins at Wheaton Regional Park, where participants will embark on a 3 mile hike along the park’s paved and natural trails. Following the walk, walkers will enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with a DJ, games, and food! The event is free; however, advanced registration is required for planning purposes.
During the walk, you will also have the option to walk with Dr. Marsha Seidelman, who is board certified in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Seidelman practiced in Montgomery County for 34 years, with a focus on preventing and treating chronic illnesses such as heart disease and adult-onset diabetes through nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, personal relationships and avoidance of toxins.

Fall Hike to the Potomac
2025-10-02 13:00 - 14:30 | Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park, 3608 Military Rd, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join us for a fun hike down Gulf Branch stream to the Potomac River and check out the waterfall! Wear close-toed shoes that can get wet and be prepared for rock hopping across the stream!

Forest Bathing at Hillwood
2025-10-03 09:30 - 11:30 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) Slow down, awaken your senses, and connect with nature as you experience a forest bathing walk in Hillwood’s gardens and grounds.
Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (which translates to “absorbing the forest atmosphere”), forest bathing is a research-based activity designed to promote health and well-being through immersion in natural settings. Participants will be guided on a soothing stroll through the spring gardens at a slow pace. They will be invited to participate in gentle activities designed to engage their senses and tune into the sounds, smells, textures, and sights of nature around them.

Acorn Collection at Meadowlark
2025-10-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (Potomac Conservancy) Calling all tree friends! Join Tomorrow’s Trees and Potomac Conservancy for a fun, scavenger hunt style acorn collection at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. The Virgina state tree nursery needs more local seeds collected to grow out millions of trees for our communities – and you can help! These future trees lead to a healthier and more resilient Potomac River!
We’ll provide all the event supplies and guidance on how to collect quality acorns.

Moth Mania! at Algongkian Regional Park
2025-10-03 21:00 - 23:00 | Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling, VA, 20165, United States
(VA) (Capital Nature and NOVA Parks)
Join NOVA Parks Roving Naturalist Matt Felperin and Ana Ka’ahanui of Capital Nature on a quest to attract and identify these nocturnal fliers using bedsheets and blacklights. While butterflies usually get most of the attention as beautiful flying insects and key pollinators, moths are more critical to the ecosystem than most realize! There are ten times as many moths in the world than butterflies, and they are a major food source for many different animals.

Yoga at the Arboretum
2025-10-04 09:00 - 10:00 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Join us for an invigorating morning of yoga and connection in the beauty of the arboretum with certified instructors from Bikram Yoga Works. This outdoor morning yoga class invites individuals of all levels to unlock the potential of their bodies through the FLEX’T™ workshop offered by Bikram Yoga Works. The class is meant to help you understand how you can stretch for strength. You’ll marry breath with dynamic stretching to open the body, improve mobility and reduce pain in movement.

Autumn Nature Therapy: Colors of Change
2025-10-04 09:30 - 12:00 | Winkler Botanical Preserve, 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria, VA, 22311, United States
(VA) Welcome fall foliage color and find calm in the changing season with nature therapy (also known as “forest bathing”) at Winkler Botanical Preserve. Join us to release stress and deepen your connections with nature, yourself, and community. This mindful practice led by certified nature therapy guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature invites you to immerse your senses in the natural world, release stress, and enjoy the changing colors of autumn trees in a hidden gem oasis of nature. This guided experience includes mindful slow walking, quiet seated reflection, facilitated sharing, light snacks, and tea. Open to ages 18 and up. Registration is required.

Invasive Plant Removal at Trail 9
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Trail 9, Broad Branch Rd & Beach Dr NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park. Invasive plants are a major threat to our fragile forests, and stopping their spread helps allow for a thriving native understory. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours before the event.

Litter Cleanup at Meridian Hill
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Meridian Hill Park, 16th Street & W Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Stream Team Leader Zoë Abrahm for this litter removal restoration event. Trash is the visible form of stormwater pollution, a major threat to water quality and park health and its removal makes the parklands cleaner, safer, and more beautiful for all. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior to the event.

Suitland Parkway Volunteer Day
2025-10-04 10:30 - 13:30 | Suitland Parkway, 2401 Alabama Ave SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) Join Ward 8 Woods every first Saturday of the month to restore Suitland Parkway by removing trash and invasive vines that are smothering the trees. Since 2018, Ward 8 Woods Park Stewards and volunteers have removed more than 300 tons of trash from the woods of Suitland Parkway and cut vines from more than 1,000 trees. On the first Saturday of each month, we deploy to a different part of the parkway to clean up trash and save trees from being smothered by invasive vines.
Give back to the earth, exercise your body, spend time in nature and meet cool people with the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy.
