Search for Santa's Critters
2025-12-14 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-20 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Santa’s animal friends are lost in the park and need rescuing! Join this festive scavenger hunt to locate the critters so they can help Santa deliver candy and treats in time for the holidays! This event is appropriate for families and children of all ages.

Wild Forest Time
2025-12-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Do you dream of building forts in the woods or climbing a tree? Maybe you want to learn about woodland critters or create some art in the woods. Join us for a time to explore the woods how you want to. We’ll supply some materials and a space to create and explore, you supply the imagination and sense of adventure! Drop in at our campfire circle area any time during the program to join in on the fun. Ages 3+.

Native Seed Cleaning & Viewing Party
2025-12-14 18:30 - 19:30 | Long Branch Nature Center & Park, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Sort, sift, pick and socialize! Join us to help us sort and clean native seeds while checking out some nature videos. Clean seeds will be shared for free in the spring.

Flying Squirrel Campfire
2025-12-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce St, Annandale, VA, 22003, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Enjoy an evening around the campfire, toasting marshmallows over the embers and learn about flying squirrels that live in our area. Cancelled in case of inclement weather. Children must attend with an adult and all attendees must register. Ages 4 to Adult.

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2025-12-15 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.

Senior Wellness Walk: Arboretum
2025-12-15 10:30 - 11:30 | Arboretum Community Center, 2412 Rand Pl NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Department of Parks and Recreation) Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Participants will enjoy group walking around the neighborhood, around the park, or just around.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through June 2026.

Birding at Blue Mash (Waitlist)
2025-12-16 08:00 - 10:00 | Blue Mash Nature Trail, 20600 Zion Rd,, Laytonsville, MD, 20882, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Bird Club) Join members of the Montgomery Bird Club at one of the county’s top birding hotspots! We’ll be looking for raptors and overwintering sparrows and waterfowl. The path can be muddy and overgrown, so waterproof boots are recommended. The walk will be led by a knowledgable birder who knows local birds and their habitats. Contact the organizer to get on the waitlist.
The club organizes several walks each month throughout the seasons.

Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2025-12-16 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.

Little Critters: Nature Play at the Bird House
2025-12-16 09:30 - 13:30 | Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian National Zoo) Waddle, jump, or hop on down to the Zoo! Join us for creative, drop-in play at the Zoo as we explore different plants and animals that live in and near ponds. Little Critters: Nature Play is designed for ages 0-5 and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children.

Guided Walk at Meadowlark
2025-12-16 10:15 - 11:15 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy free garden admission and a guided walk around Meadowlark’s 95 acres on Tuesdays. Each one-hour 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 and up.

The Science Behind Houseplants (Virtual)
2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:30 | MD
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) By understanding how plants work, you can be more successful at caring for them, since knowledge of basic plant biology can be a valuable tool for indoor gardeners fascinated by plants and their unique characteristics. Virginia Velez Thaxton, a horticulturist with the Interiors Section of Smithsonian Gardens, explores the essential factors plants need from their environment and offers an overview of the physiological processes at play.

Hillwood Tour: Bones of the Winter Garden
2025-12-16 12:30 - 13:00, 2025-12-19 12:30 - 13:00 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) Explore the bones of Hillwood’s peaceful winter gardens with Jessica Bonilla, director of horticulture. Evergreen plants take center stage, deciduous woody plants become architectural, and hardscapes become more important. Winter’s cool light shapes the experience, and we can sense more subtle shades of green and brown. The few flowers in bloom are very special, and the texture of conifer needles and tree bark seem richer in the winter sunlight.
Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This thirty-minute tour is limited to twenty and meets in the visitor center conservatory.

55+ Nature Book Club
2025-12-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Sligo-Dennis Local Park – Activity Building, 10200 Sligo Creek Parkway, Silver Spring, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Become part of a community that celebrates the beauty of literature and the outdoors! Explore a range of books centered around nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental issues. Our meetings take place every third Tuesday of the month at a Montgomery Parks locations, mostly in-person. This month’s meeting is a holiday book swap!

Tai Chi at Brookside
2025-12-17 09:00 - 10:30 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Tai Chi is an ancient, Chinese form of exercise perfect for adults seeking stress reduction while strengthening muscles, improving balance and increasing ﬂexibility. The Forms are repetitive patterns that emphasize slow, ﬂowing motions and controlled movements. Classes will help beginners to learn the Forms while providing regular practitioners the guidance of an experienced instructor. No walk-ins will be accepted. Ages 18+.
Instructor: Charles Votaw

Winter's Colors: A Reflective Writing Workshop (Virtual)
2025-12-17 10:00 - 11:30 | MD
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Experience new ways to contemplate the gifts of winter inspired by the vibrant Winter Landscape by Wassily Kandinsky, an artist who embraced the transcendent power of color. Designed for writers of all levels, and for the curious, the workshop invites participants to look outwardly at art and to look inwardly through writing.

Senior Wellness Walk: Deanwood
2025-12-17 10:30 - 11:30 | Deanwood Recreation Center, 1350 49th St NE, Washington, DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Department of Parks and Recreation) Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Participants will enjoy group walking around the neighborhood, around the park, or just around. Seniors will enjoy outdoor neighborhood walking as a group while listening to oldies but goodies to keep active and help stay fit.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through June 2026.

Watersheds in Winter (Virtual)
2025-12-17 19:00 - 20:00 | MD
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join us for a virtual talk to explore how snow, ice, and road salt impact water quality—and learn simple actions you can take to protect your watershed during the colder months. Adults.

Late Fall Birding at Kenilworth
2025-12-18 08:30 - 11:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Nature Forward) Our fall birding series visit natural areas under an hour’s drive from DC where a variety of habitats – including field, forest, and wetland – provide good opportunities for the observation and ID of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants – including those “confusing fall warblers.” As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds, both resident and overwintering in the region. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome.

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Skies
2025-12-18 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.

Winter Sparrows (Virtual)
2025-12-18 18:00 - 19:00 | MD
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Get ready for winter by brushing up on sparrow identification! Every season brings its own challenges for birdwatching. In winter, similar-looking sparrows can be hard to tell apart, and they are singing less and calling more. Join expert birder Bert Harris to learn tips for identifying winter sparrows. Intended for beginning and intermediate birders. Adults.

Solstice Celebration Hike
2025-12-19 12:00 - 16:30 | Widewater State Park, 101 Widewater State Park Road, Stafford, MD, 22554, United States
(VA) (Nature Forward) The first day of winter is arriving. Whether you call this astronomical event the shortest day – or the longest night – of the year, it’s a good occasion to pause the bustle of daily life and join fellow nature lovers on a hike in a beautiful place! Our outing starts at the Widewater area along the C&O Canal Towpath and will move upriver to Great Falls. Here we’ll traverse the bridges out to the Great Falls Overlook – and after enjoying the drama and din of the Falls, we’ll retrace our steps back to Widewater. As daylight fades on our return walk downriver, we’ll look and listen for wildlife activity – primarily birds – as they settle in for the longest night of the year.

Nocturnal Animal Hike
2025-12-19 18:30 - 19:30 | Long Branch Nature Center & Park, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Learn about the animals active at night (nocturnal) and try to find some! There will be a short introductory presentation in the nature center followed by a hike outside around the park. We will stay on the walking paths; dress for the weather. Families.

Invasive Plant Removal at Carter Barron
2025-12-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 4850 Colorado Ave NW, Washington DC, 20011, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy 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. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior to the event.

Holly Day at Temperance Alley
2025-12-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Temperance Alley, 1909 13th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
(DC) (U Street Neighborhood Association) ‘Tis the season to gather in recognition of all end-of-year festivities! Come celebrate the Winter Solstice & help decorate our Holly Tree at Temperance Alley Garden with bird-friendly treats. We’ll sing some carols and stay warm with hot cocoa. Warm drinks and light snacks will be served – BYO thermos if you can in addition to any ornaments, trinkets, or knick knacks you’d like to hang.

Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake
2025-12-20 11:00 - 17:00 | Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA, 22039, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) All aboard the Holiday Express! Climb on for a train ride, spin around the Carolers Carousel, play a round of Gingerbread Man Golf or cozy up by the fire to make s’mores. Celebrate the season with family fun, a visit with Santa, hot chocolate and candy canes.

Winter Solstice Nature Therapy
2025-12-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy a grounding and revitalizing experience among the serene landscape of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens as the earth settles into winter. This restorative journey blends mindful movement with nature therapy to support both stability and renewal. Through gentle movement, guided forest immersion, and sensory awareness, connect with the steady presence of the earth below us while embracing the energy of the winter solstice. Ages 18+.

Going Green Workshop - Modeling Nature
2025-12-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St, Great Falls, VA, 22066, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Explore the fascinating concept of biomimicry and how we can model natural systems and structures to solve complex problems and create a greener world. We will compare our current “take-make-waste” system to an updated model known as the circular economy. Get inspired by businesses and products that are committed to reducing, repurposing and repairing. We will end the class with 3 unique upcycling projects that you can gift to your friends and families just in time for the holidays. 14 to Adult.

Stellar Star Show at Rock Creek
2025-12-20 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.
