Capital Nature

Bird Walk at Kingman
2026-02-21 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Kingman Island, United States
(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a winter bird walk through Kingman and Heritage Islands!

Winter Birding at Lake Audubon
2026-02-21 08:00 - 10:00 | Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA, 20191, United States
(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join Northern Virginia Bird Alliance guides Robin and Luke for a winter birding outing at Lake Audubon! Birders of all experience levels are welcome. The planned walking route includes a mix of woodland trail and paved surfaces, with both flat and hilly sections.

Winter Birdwalk at Riverbend
2026-02-21 08:00 - 09:30 | Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St, Great Falls, VA, 22066, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Take a hike through the woods with a naturalist to listen and look for the park’s winter avian residents and migrants. Find out what birds do to survive the winter weather. Feel free to bring your own guides, binoculars and spotting scopes. Site will have a limited number of supplies for participants to borrow for the duration of the program. Ages 4 to Adult.

CCAN Annual Polar Bear Plunge
2026-02-21 | National Harbor, 802 National Harbor Blvd, Fort Washington, MD, 20744, United States
(MD) (Chesapeake Climate Action Network) We’re freezing for a reason! CCAN’s Polar Bear Plunge is a day full of laughter and camaraderie as hundreds of climate activists come together in support of our climate campaigns. Through peer-to-peer fundraising, Plungers help raise over 30 percent of the individual donations that power our work in the year ahead. Sign up now to plunge or donate!

Campfire Friday
2026-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd, West Springfield, VA, 22152, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Join us for an evening campfire the whole family can enjoy. Explore the wonders of our natural world through nature walks, interactive activities and animal presentations. Includes s’mores. Topics vary by date. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Not intended for children under 5.

Lunchtime Meditation and Mindfulness (Virtual)
2026-02-20 12:00 - 12:30
(DC) (Smithsonian Asian Art Museum) Join our free online guided meditation on Tuesdays and Fridays. In these 30-minute sessions, DC-based meditation teachers lead a variety of mindfulness practices. Friday sessions take inspiration from art in our museum’s collections. Many of the art pieces are inspired by nature. All are welcome! No previous experience is required.

Hillwood Tour: Preparing for Spring
2026-02-20 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-02-18 10:30 - 11:00 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) Jarett Currin, greenhouse grower, shares a preview of Hillwood’s fabulous spring and summer blooms on this thirty-minute behind-the-scenes tour of Hillwood’s production greenhouse. Enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse while getting a sneak peek of plants being grown for Hillwood’s beautiful spring and summer garden displays.

Caterpillars in Winter (Virtual)
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:00
(MD) (Natural History Society of Maryland) Insects are exothermic. External forces control their internal temperatures. So what happens in winter? How do insects make it through to spring? In this very special Must Learn Thursday, we learn from two experts, Dr. Mike Raupp and Dr. Max Ferlauto. Each will share information on the strategies insects employ and what we can do to ensure they survive.

Beyond Earth and Sky
2026-02-19 17:30 - 19:30 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) In this third program in the Great Homes and Gardens lecture series, Douglas Hamilton Jr. and Norman Barker will give a lecture on their book: Tashiding: Beyond Earth and Sky, The Gardens of Douglas & Tsognie Hamilton. The lecture will give an exquisite tour of the Hamilton property and gardens, exploring its varied influences, including the family histories and cultures of its owners.

Film: In Our Nature
2026-02-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Miracle Theater, 535 8th Street, SE, Washington, 20003, United States
(DC) (Synchronous Pictures) Be among the first to experience In Our Nature, a powerful new documentary exploring how environmental education – and the people who teach with it – can help bridge some of our deepest divides and foster resilience, belonging, and community. This special Washington, D.C. premiere brings together educators, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, and community members for an evening of film, conversation, and connection – honoring the communities at the heart of the film and the growing national movement it represents.

Project Feederwatch
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you interested in birding? Do you want to be part of a national community science project? Then, join us for Project FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch is a seasonal community science project, where participants count the different species of birds that flock to a bird feeder. All levels of birders are welcome. This project meets weekly on Thursdays through February. Ages 5+.

Pup Stroll Day at Meadowlark
2026-02-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) GREAT NEWS! Now garden guests may enjoy Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with their favorite canines every Wednesday for Pup Stroll Wednesdays. On Wednesdays, during regular daytime hours, leashed dogs are welcome in the gardens. (Only service dogs are permitted on other days.) Please note: Garden admission ends at 6:30pm.

Restoring the Chesapeake Bay (Virtual)
2026-02-17 19:00 - 20:30
(MD) (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center) Former Senator Gerald Winegrad has devoted himself to environmental causes for 56 years, including Chesapeake Bay restoration. He represented the SERC area in the Maryland legislature for 16 years. In this talk, he will examine the results of 42 years of formal efforts to restore the Bay in which he was intricately involved, winning many awards for his environmental advocacy.

Winter Walk at Meadowlark
2026-02-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(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. Ages 18 +
This is a drop-in program.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-02-17 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!

Invasive Plant Removal at 630 West
2026-02-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Reservation 630 West, 3031 Sedgwick Street Northwest, 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 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.

Documenting Birds and Biodiversity Workshop
2026-02-16 09:00 - 11:00 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Join us for a birding workshop led by the DC Bird Alliance! This engaging session is ideal for nature enthusiasts of all levels, designed to enrich your birdwatching experience with a special focus on photography. Highlights:

Wildlife Photography Tips:
Learn to capture stunning images of wildlife using cell phones and cameras.

Biodiversity Documentation:
Discover how to edit and submit photos to platforms like iNaturalist and eBird.

Photo Management:
Get tips on organizing your photo library without cloud storage.

Community Science Round-table Discussion:
Join our collaborative discussion on the ethics of sharing photos for science. Together, we’ll explore how birdwatchers contribute valuable data and support conservation efforts.

Winter Bird Walk at the Arboretum
2026-02-16 09:00 - 11:00 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join Us This President’s Day for a Bird Walk with DC Bird Alliance! We are back for another round of winter birding. Learn about bird behavior, identification tips, and local bird populations from experienced guides. Last month, we saw woodpeckers, phoebes, and even a resident eagle! With bare trees and clear sightlines, we’re sure to spot many feathered friends this time around as well.

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2026-02-16 08:00 - 10:00 | 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.

Botanical Gardens of the World (Virtual)
2026-02-15 16:00 - 17:30
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural expert Keith Tomlinson leads a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as varied as Singapore, the Arizona desert, and the American Midwest. In vibrant visuals he explores how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they all celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom:
February 8 Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
February 15 Boyce Thompson Arboretum and the Desert Botanical Garden, Arizona
February 22 Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

Ice Skating at the Sculpture Garden
2026-02-15 11:00 - 23:00 | National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20565, United States
(DC) (National Gallery of Art) The beloved winter tradition returns to the National Gallery of Art! Enjoy the beauty of the Sculpture Garden, festive displays and winter refreshments through March 2nd. The ice rink is open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Skating sessions begin on the hour and last 45 minutes, leaving a 15-minute break for ice maintenance.

Winter Woods Hike and Craft
2026-02-15 11:00 - 12:30 | Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA, 22039, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Hike through the winter woods to learn some useful tips for identifying winter trees. Afterwards, appreciate season’s beauty with a fun winter-themed craft. Ages 4 to Adult.

Exhibit: For the Love of Birds
2026-02-15 10:00 - 17:00 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Garrett County Arts Council)“For the Love of Birds” is an installation piece that incorporates The National Audubon Society’s climate report: Survival by Degrees: 389 Birds on the Brink and artwork curated by curated by Caroline Blizzard and Julie Turrentine. The art exhibit tells the story of how birds will be affected by climate change, with different habitats illustrated through canvas photography and supported by interpretive signage and glass birds.
Exhibit is open during Discovery Center hours Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, from January 10th through March 1st.

Mushroom DNA Lab Day
2026-02-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Mount Rainier Nature Center, 4701 31st Pl, Mount Rainier, MD, 20712, United States
(MD) (Mycological Association of Washington DC) Join us at Mount Rainier Nature Center to bring your mushroom samples at 10:00 am or at 1:00 pm to ask questions about our process or anything fungi. The experts are excited to answer your questions!
If you are bringing samples to us, please ensure that the samples have been properly documented on iNaturalist, and that each of your samples has a unique iNaturalist observation number by the time of your arrival.

Winter Soul Stroll
2026-02-15 09:30 - 12:00 | Kingman Island _RFK Lot 6, United States
(DC) (Goombay DC) This urban hike blends storytelling, interactive art & photography as we learn the value of DC’s green spaces and waterways that keep our river ecosystems healthy.

RunJuneteenth Winter Trail Series: Greenbelt Park
2026-02-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Washington DC REI, 201 M Street NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(MD) (RunJuneteenth) The Winter Trail Series is an annual event comprised of a rotating set of trail-running meetups held throughout the DC–Maryland–Virginia region. Powered by REI Co-op, the weekly trail runs will feature trail-shoe demos from several top brands–giving participants the opportunity to test gear directly on different local trails, while also offering a mix of terrain, elevation, and mileage options to keep runners challenged and engaged.
We’ll meet at REI DC.

A Gentle Walk with Birds & Nature
2026-02-15 09:00 - 10:30
(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a very special bird walk in Rock Creek Park that invites us to discover — or rediscover — what it means to be a birder. Together with Susan West Montgomery, certified forest bathing guide, we’ll slow down, cultivate curiosity, and experience birds and nature more fully. This walk blends gentle bird observation with the practice of forest bathing, which invites participants to use all of their senses to take in the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest. We’ll move at a relaxed pace, observe our surroundings, and reflect. No prior birding experience is needed, just openness and curiosity.

Couples Evening at the Nature Center
2026-02-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce St, Annandale, VA, 22003, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Enjoy a peaceful adults only visit to the nature center for Valentine’s Day. Meet animals and learn about their dating and mating habits. A fun activity and a special treat complete your nature-themed holiday celebration. Each attendee must register individually. Adults.

Valentine's Stargazing Stroll
2026-02-14 16:00 - 17:30 | Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA, 22150, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Share the wonder of winter stars with someone special during our romantic Valentine’s stargazing adventure. This enchanting evening stroll combines astronomy education with Valentine’s Day Magic. Create lasting memories as families explore the night sky together, learning about the cosmos while enjoying quality time under the stars. This evening adventure concludes with hot cocoa and Valentine’s treats. Ages 8 to Adult.
