Capital Nature

Butterfly Gardening
2026-05-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Butterflies are declining worldwide, but gardeners can help. This lecture introduces key strategies for supporting Mid-Atlantic species, including understanding butterfly life cycles, recognizing species of concern, choosing appropriate host and nectar plants, integrating natives into existing gardens, and using design elements that create effective habitat. Learn practical steps to sustain butterflies at every life stage.
Carlos Rodriguez, Brookside Gardens Horticulturist

An Evening with Casey Trees
2026-05-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, 20008, United States
(DC) (Capital Nature) Join us as we host Casey Trees, the region’s leading nonprofit tree organization for a conversation in Cleveland Park. Their staff is usually out in the field planting trees, creating conservation easements, and advocating, but tonight we’ll hear directly from them about their transformative work, and see how we can tap into it to promote stewardship close to home;

Hear how Casey Trees, civic groups—and residents like us—are helping restore DC’s tree canopy throughout the city and in our neighborhoods.
Learn how best practices for watering and mulching can extend a tree’s life.
Tune in to tree volunteer opportunities.
Find out how to get a free tree.
See how homeowners are creating rain gardens and tree oases in their yards.
Ask a gnarly question about caring for your trees!

This is the second in a three-part series on trees and their care hosted by Cleveland Park Library in collaboration with Capital Nature.The event includes a raffle for two free books on tree species.

State of the Canopy Webinar
2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:00
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Andrew Schichtel, Executive Director of Casey Trees, and members of our leadership team for our inaugural State of the Canopy webinar. Together, we’ll explore key accomplishments and recommendations from this year’s Tree Report Card and share an insider’s look at the priorities guiding our work to restore, enhance, and protect the tree canopy across the national capital region.

Stream Team Leader Training (Virtual)
2026-05-12 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.

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Skies
2026-05-10 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.

Weed Warrior Training - Part 2
2026-05-09 09:00 - 12:00
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) oin Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service for our Weed Warrior training. Please note that this is a two-part training. Part 2 will take place in-person at an outdoor location in Rock Creek Park on May 9th. The exact location for Part 2 will be shared once finalized. Please ensure that you register for both parts of the training.

Our Watershed
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | West End Neighborhood Library, 2301 L St NW, Washington, 20037, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Stream Team Leaders Kathy Sykes and Andrea Contreras for an engaging presentation on the Lower Rock Creek watershed and why its health matters to our community. This talk will explore what a watershed is, how everyday activities impact local streams, and the key indicators of a healthy watershed—from salt and bacteria levels to biodiversity and aquatic life.

Invasive Plant Removal at Little Forest
2026-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Little Forest Park, Military Road & 28th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20015, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader Bethann Siegel and John Burwell 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.

Sligo Creek Fest
2026-05-02 11:00 - 15:00
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This annual celebration transforms the Sligo Creek Open Parkway into a lively street festival. Enjoy multiple performance stages, kid-friendly activities like tree climbing, roving entertainers, delicious food and drink vendors, and hands-on activities and demonstrations from Montgomery Parks groups.

Spring Tree Walk in Rock Creek Park
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Peirce Mill, 2401 Tilden St NW, Washington DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join us and nature book author Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a three-hour tree walk along scenic Rock Creek and through the upland woods of the Western Ridge Trail. Melanie will show you how to identify American hornbeam, American elm, river birch, American sycamore, boxelder, black walnut and other stalwarts of the floodplain forest. She’ll then lead us into the upland woods where several species of oak, including DC’s official tree, the scarlet oak and a large spreading post oak, mockernut and pignut hickories, American beeches, and sugar and red maples flourish.

Invasive Plant Removal at Glenmont Park
2026-05-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Glenmont Local Park, 3201 Randolph Rd, Silver Spring, MD, 20906, United States
(MD) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and Montgomery Parks for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Glenmont Local 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.

Birding on Sligo Creek
2026-05-02 08:00 - 10:00 | Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park, Silver Spring, MD, 20901, United States
(MD) (Friends of Sligo Creek) Join us in mid-Sligo to see local birds and birds migrating northward from their wintering grounds. Led by 3 expert birders: David Blockstein, Mary Singer, and Dave Wood. This popular event fills up quickly and will be limited to 20 participants. Details will provided to people who register.

Tree Walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island
2026-05-01 09:30 - 12:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(DC) (Nature Forward) Usher in the merry month of May with a springtime nature stroll on the trails and boardwalk of DC’s Theodore Roosevelt Island with naturalist and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley. This springtime tree walk will take you deep into the island, where swamp and tidal inlet can be explored by boardwalk as willow, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of the city beyond it. In addition to sharing her knowledge and love of the island’s trees, Melanie will share details of this National Park’s fascinating history.

The Butterfly Experience
2026-05-01 09:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-26 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.

Anacostia River Discovery Boat Tour
2026-04-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Diamond Teague Pier, 1520 First St. SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
(DC) (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.

Weed Warrior Training - Part 1 (Hybrid)
2026-04-29 18:00 - 21:00 | University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) This training equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and techniques to support the management of invasive plants in our region. For Part 1, you have the option of attending in person at the University of the District of Columbia or virtually via Zoom. Part 2 will take place in-person at an outdoor location in Rock Creek Park on May 9th.

Meet Your Neighborhood Arborist
2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, 20008, United States
(DC) (Capital Nature) Did you know that every neighborhood in the District has a city Arborist who manages its public trees? Join us for a discussion with Aaron Rowe, the DC Arborist who looks out for the street and park trees in Cleveland Park and Woodley Park, two of Northwest DC’s greenest neighborhoods. Aaron will give an overview of the city’s Urban Forestry Division and his work as a public Arborist, then join Capital Nature’s co-founder Stella Tarnay for a discussion. We’ll talk about the health of the area’s trees, how the city is protecting them, the challenges they are facing, and how residents can contribute to the health of our public canopy.
This is the first in a three-part series on trees and their care hosted by Cleveland Park Library in collaboration with Capital Nature.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-04-28 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!

City Nature Challenge: Nocturnal Naturalists at Bull Run Regional Park
2026-04-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Atlantis Water Park at Bull Run, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) (Capital Nature) (MNCPPC)
Join us for this global community science event by making observations on the free app iNaturalist. We’ll set out to observe as many nocturnal critters as we can. We will also be setting up a mothing station and using a UV lights to locate critters that glow in the dark. It shapes up to be a great way to wrap up the City Nature Challenge and we hope to see you there!

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2026-04-27 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.

CNC Observation with DC Master Naturalists
2026-04-26 16:00 - 17:30 | Fort Dupont Park, Minnesota Ave SE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(VA) (Capital Nature) Join DC Master Naturalists and Capital Nature for our annual City Nature Challenge observation at Fort Dupont Park. Fort Dupont hosts some of DC’s most abundant biodiversity of birds, fungi, and plants (as well as invasive plant challenges), but they often go unnoticed. Help us put this green gem on the map while you enjoy a restorative walk with naturalists. The walk will be led by wildlife biologist Carrie Seltzer from iNaturalist.
The late afternoon starting time will increase our opportunities to hear local and migratory birds!

Extreme Cleanup at Carter Barron
2026-04-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 4850 Colorado Ave NW, Washington DC, 20011, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Please join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service, and for our cleanup of the Carter Barron amphitheater. We will remove debris, paint, clear leaf litter, weed, sweep, and trim back invasive plants, helping preserve the amphitheater while it awaits future restoration. This is a unique opportunity to get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the amphitheater and help take care of an important community resource. Event location directions and information will be sent from the event leader 24 hours before the event.

Native Plant Walk at Meadowlark
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the beauty of spring woodlands on a guided walk through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ Potomac Valley Collection! Led by Keith Tomlinson, former Garden Manager who developed and curated Meadowlark’s native plant collection, this walk offers a unique opportunity to explore the region’s rich botanical diversity.
With 45 years of experience in botanical gardens, museums, environmental education, and plant conservation, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this immersive tour. His expertise and passion for native plants will deepen your appreciation for the beauty and ecological importance of our local flora and fauna, information that will be helpful to those who are interested in adding native plants to their own yards.

CNC Observation with Arlington Master Naturalists
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Madison Manor Park, 6225 12th Rd N, Arlington, VA, 22205, United States
(VA) (Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) Bring curiosity and a camera (mobile phone cameras are great!) to explore the hill and hollows of Brandymore Castle for the City Nature Challenge. Photograph wild plants and critters to upload to iNtauralist to help the greater DC area excell in this friendly worldwide competition. After the guided trek, feel free to explore on your own. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants to protect from prickles and poison ivy.
For more information, click https://citynaturechallengedc.org/

Earth Day at Brookside Gardens
2026-04-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Celebrate Earth Day at Brookside with activities and performances entirely geared toward families. Little ones can try out being a naturalist and learn how to pot a plant — and take said potted plant home, while supplies last. Watch live science experiments with the Science Guys of Baltimore during the first half of the event, and then a set from children’s music band L-M-N-O-People. Join the Science Guys to make science fun, cool, and easy with bubbling potions, chemical reactions, and explosions! Explore the science and art of sustainability through child-driven projects, plantings, and crafts.

CNC iNaturalist Bioblitz on Mount Vernon Trail
2026-04-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Daingerfield Island Marina, Washington Sailing Marina 1 Marina Dr, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
(VA) (Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail) Help document and learn more about animal and plant species on the Mount Vernon Trail. Join us to find and document plants and animals for the City Nature Challenge! A Bioblitz is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible. Bioblitzes are also an excuse for naturalists, scientists, and curious members of the public to meet in person in the great outdoors and are a lot of fun!

See the registration page for exact event location.

Bird Walk + City Nature Challenge Walk at Theodore Roosevelt Is.
2026-04-26 08:30 - 10:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(Capital Nature) (DC Bird Alliance) (Northern VA Bird Alliance)
We’ll be looking for birds and making nature observations using the iNaturalist app as part of the global City Nature Challenge—an annual effort to document local biodiversity. From songbirds to insects and plant life, every observation contributes to a broader understanding of the ecosystems around us.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh
2026-04-26 08:00 - 10:00 | Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA, 22307, United States
(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.

Earth and Arbor Day Celebration at Anacostia Park
2026-04-25 13:30 - 15:30 | Anacostia Park Skating Pavillion, 1500 Anacostia Dr SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society, Friends of Anacostia Park, and Casey Trees for a fun afternoon of community fellowship, celebrating Earth and the trees that help take care of us in Anacostia Park (by the Aquatic Resources Education Center & Skating Pavilion)!
There will be free food, live music, skating, boating, dancing, and more!
