Capital Nature

Anacostia River Tree Tour
2026-06-06 15:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Kingman and Heritage Islands Park, 575 Oklahoma Ave NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Casey Trees and the Anacostia Watershed Society for a tree walk and boat tour on the Anacostia River. Starting at the main entrance to Kingman & Heritage Islands, we’ll see and learn to identify the diverse tree species on the island while we make our way to the boat dock. Once on the boat, we will explore the ecological and historical changes in the river and the communities around it.

The entire tour should take around 3 hours. In the case of light rain, we will proceed as planned.

Invasive Plant Removal at Normanstone
2026-06-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Normanstone Trail, 2841 Normanstone Drive NW, Washington DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Rock Creek Staff, Landrum Beard 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.

Lei Making at USBG
2026-06-06 11:00 - 13:00 | U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20515, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Each June, in honor of Kamehameha Day, the local Hawaiian community crafts beautiful lei using plant materials sourced from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. During this drop-in program at the Garden’s Conservatory, learn about Hawaiian culture, and try your hand at lei-making. Then watch as members of the Hawai’i State Society of Washington D.C. prepare lei for the ceremonial draping at the U.S. Capitol.
This drop-in experience will be repeated several times over the course of two hours.

Suitland Parkway Volunteer Day
2026-06-06 10:30 - 13:00 | 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.

Invasive Plant Removal at 630 West
2026-06-06 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.

Invasive Species Removal at Langdon Park
2026-06-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Langdon Park Recreation Center, 2901 20th St NE, Washington DC, 20018, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join CCAN, The Langdon Park Forest Stewards, and Casey Trees to get outside and remove invasive plants! Take part in the exciting Assisted Natural Regeneration efforts happening to restore the forest at Langdon Park in NE DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing invasives. We will focus on non-native invasive plants like Bush (Amur) Honeysuckle.

Saturday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-06-06 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 a National Park Service volunteer birder 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!

Music in the Meadow
2026-06-05 19:00 - 21:00 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Get in the groove at our first Music in the Meadow concert of the year! Experience the soulful melodies and smooth vocals of the Sirius Company band, who will perform a medley of classic R&B and go-go music. Plus, take your pick of delicious offerings from food trucks on site!
This outdoor concert is a celebration of D.C. teachers, who inspire and empower students every day.

Acoustic Ecology at USBG
2026-06-05 10:00 - 12:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Want to know more about how plants shape soundscapes? Drop by the Garden Court to talk with Dr. Heather Spence, Acoustic Ecologist, Musician/Composer. You’ll learn about acoustic ecology, sound-based research, and dive into how a fruit’s water content affects its relationship to sound. Bring your questions and connect with plant science professionals in this Expert Is In program.
This program is offered as part of a partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Alumni Program.

Guided Forest Bathing at Hillwood
2026-06-05 09:30 - 11:00 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) Slow down, awaken your senses, and connect with nature as you experience a forest bathing walk in Hillwood’s gardens and grounds with certified forest bathing guide Ana Ka’ahanui. 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. ​

The Butterfly Experience
2026-06-05 09:00 - 15:00 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(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 important role butterflies play in healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens.
Butterfly Experience runs through September 7th.

An Immersion in Nature: Japanese Forest Bathing in Rock Creek Park
2026-06-05 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-06-04 08:30 - 10:30 | MD
(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.

Yoga on the Magnolia Terrace
2026-06-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join an instructor-led hour-long Yoga Class on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. This is a gentle flow yoga class, where we will build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear.

Anacostia River Discovery Boat Tour
2026-06-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd, Blaidensburg, MD, United States
(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society for a 1-hour Anacostia River Discovery Series boat tour to explore the ecological and historical changes that have occurred in the river and in the communities around the river. We will have the opportunity to witness some of the restoration of river habitats and how it has caused the rebound of the wildlife.

Exhibit: The Art of Truman Low
2026-06-04 10:00 - 17:30 | National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20560
(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.

Therapeutic Kayaking
2026-06-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join our new Therapeutic Recreation Kayaking Program for a fun, inclusive experience on the calm waters of Little Seneca Lake. Participants with disabilities will learn kayaking skills like basic strokes, boat control, and more taught by certified instructors. Our trained staff will ensure a safe and enjoyable program. Each registered participant can bring one guest by answering the custom question during registration. Ages 18+.

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Skies
2026-06-02 10:00 - 17:30 | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington, DC, 20560, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) Artificial lights have become such common nighttime fixtures that we take them for granted. But what do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? The effects of light pollution go beyond our diminishing view of the stars, but the solutions can have an immediate impact.
Through over 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why dark nights matter, rekindle your connection with the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?
On view through December 2026.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-06-02 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!

Bats & Beavers Cruise
2026-06-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for a sunset cruise aboard the pontoon boat. We’ll search for beaver lodges and feeding sites, and hopefully see some beavers! As the sun sets, we’ll use our bat detector to help us find feeding bats. Please register and pay for all participants. You may want to bring a jacket or sweater as it is often cooler on the boat. Meet at the pontoon boat dock, by the boat rentals. Ages 6+.

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2026-06-01 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 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.

Animal Meet & Greet
2026-05-31 14:00 - 15:00 | Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park, 3608 Military Rd, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Meet one of the Animal Ambassadors that live at Gulf Branch Nature Center and learn their histories and how they came to live here with us. Find out fun and interesting facts and stories about these amazing animals. Families.

Exhibit: Growing Together
2026-05-31 09:00 - 18:00 | National Mall, 1750 Independence Avenue Southwest, Wasington DC, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities.

Bark Stories Hike
2026-05-30 11:30 - 12:30 | Long Branch Nature Center & Park, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Step into the forest to explore the history, folklore, and cultural connections of our local trees. This guided hike blends basic tree identification with stories of how trees have provided food, inspiration, and meaning throughout history.

Tree Tour in Marvin Gaye Park
2026-05-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Marvin Gaye Park, 5200 Foote St NE, Washington, DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Take a tour of the trees in the longest continuous city park and creek in the District. On this two-hour walk, DC urban forester Alexander Grieve will highlight diverse tree species in the park — including oak, tulip, and elm — and their unique characteristics and vital contributions to our ecosystem. Along the way, you’ll learn how DC selects and maintains the city’s trees in parks and public spaces throughout the District.
We’ll also discover how these living giants combat pollution, manage stormwater, cool the city, and improve air quality, all while uncovering how your actions can ensure the urban forest’s lasting survival.

Neighborhood Invasive Vine Removal in Hillcrest
2026-05-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Hillcrest Rec Center, 3100 Denver St. SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN to remove Invasive Vines around the Hillcrest neighborhood in Washington DC. We will meet at the Hillcrest Rec Center and spend 30 minutes doing training. From there we will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents. We may also drop off flyers at additional residences.
We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix). Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself and a good attitude!

Invasive Plants Removal at Potomac Overlook
2026-05-30 09:00 - 11:30 | Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) (NOVA Parks) Join us at Potomac Overlook to Improve habitat, meet fellow do-gooders, get exercise, and learn about native plants and wildlife all while making a difference in the great outdoors! Adults, teens, and families ages 8 and up.
If you have your own garden gloves and tools, please bring them along. If not, they will be given to you. Training and additional tools will be provided.

Jazz in the Garden
2026-05-29 18:00 - 20:30 | National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20565, United States
(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Travel across the country through music, exploring our many traditions—from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Every Friday through August 14 (except June 5 and July 3). Pre-show dance classes on May 22 and 29, June 12, and July 24.
Event registration through a lottery. The lottery takes place the week before each event, opening on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and closing Friday at noon. Limited day-of passes will be available starting at 5:00 p.m.

Roots to Rocks Mountain Biking 55+
2026-05-29 17:00 - 19:00 | Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Dr, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join the Roots to Rocks team for a mountain bike ride exclusively for folks 55+. Our instructors will go over the basics of bikes and bike handling skills in a supportive environment. These rides are great for people who have some riding experience, but you don’t need to be a seasoned veteran. This is a perfect way to learn the basics of biking from certified bike coaches. We have a limited number of bikes and helmets available to borrow.

Spring Forest Bathing and Tree Walk at Tregaron
2026-05-29 09:30 - 12:30 | Tregaron Conservancy, 3031 Klingle Road NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Politics & Prose) Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, The Joy of Forest Bathing, A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a magical spring forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006. We will meander under tall trees in autumn glory, cross picturesque bridges over musical streams, and climb stone steps through a century-old cultivated and wild woodland landscape reminiscent of “the secret garden.”
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in the 1980s in Japan and it is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for nature. Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice akin to meditation, yoga and tai chi that involves tuning in to the beauty and wonder of your natural surroundings with all of your senses.
