Capital Nature

Lunchtime Meditation and Mindfulness (Virtual)
2026-01-20 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | VA
(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.

MLK Day of Service at Long Branch
2026-01-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Make a difference in your community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Volunteers are needed to help clear out invasive plants and vines that are keeping our local plants and animals from thriving. Come dressed for the weather, with sturdy footwear, and be prepared to get dirty. Adults.

MLK Day of Service at Oxon Run Park
2026-01-19 13:00 - 15:30 | The Well at Oxon Run, 300 Valley Ave, SE, Washington, DC, 20032, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a day of service at Oxon Run Park, hosted by Chesapeake Climate Action Network, DC Greens, Friends of Oxon Run, and Casey Trees. As a part of a nationwide effort, the MLK Day of Service is a great opportunity to give back to our communities, from helping out our neighbors to uplifting and restoring our green spaces.

Trash Cleanup at Dyke Marsh
2026-01-19 12:00 - 14:00 | Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA, 22307, United States
(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Potomac Riverkeeper Network and Friends of Dyke Marsh will host a clean-up to address trash pollution in Dyke Marsh. Join us! The clean-up will run along the entire Dyke Marsh boardwalk.

Soul Trak's MLK Cleanup at Marvin Gaye
2026-01-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Marvin Gaye Park, 5200 Foote St NE, Washington, DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Soul Trak) Every quarter, Soul Trak hosts a Service Event dedicated to beautifying our local parks and waterways. We are coming back to Marvin Gaye Park where we have hiked, repaired bikes, and led clean ups before, to revisit the park and help divert trash from entering the Anacostia River. We invite community members to join us!

MLK Day of Service at Kingman
2026-01-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Kingman Island _RFK Lot 6, United States
(DC) (Living Classrooms) Join the Kingman Rangers for a community cleanup honoring Dr. King’s legacy and help protect the Anacostia Watershed through collective action!

Weed Warrior Workday at Rachel Carson Conservation Park
2026-01-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Olney, MD, 20833, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service while saving the trees and the meadow. Join Montgomery Parks Vegetation Management Staff for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday. We will focus on non-native, invasive vines and shrubs, including porcelainberry, wintercreeper, English ivy, roundleaf bittersweet, winged burning bush, and bush honeysuckle.

MLK Day: Invasive Plant Removal at Broad Branch
2026-01-19 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) 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. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior to the event.

MLK Day of Service at Pope Branch
2026-01-19 09:30 - 13:00 | Pope Branch Park, 2900 M Place SE, Washington, DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Anacostia Riverkeeper) Ring in the New Year with Anacostia Riverkeeper at our annual MLK Day of Service cleanup! Rain or Shine. All supplies provided. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing you can get dirty that will protect you from the brush.

This cleanup is in partnership with Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance and funded by Washington Gas.

Volunteer Day at Dumbarton Oaks Park
2026-01-19 09:00 - 13:00 | Dumbarton Oaks Park, Lover's Lane and R Street NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
(DC) (Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy) Join the Conservancy for a day of service and stewardship at beautiful Dumbarton Oaks Park.

MLK Day of Service at Kenilworth
2026-01-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (Student Conservation Association) SCA is hosting the MLK Day of Service clean-up event at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Join us for a massive clean-up at one of the most biodiverse natural areas in the nation’s capital.

Weed Warrior Workday at Sligo Creek
2026-01-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park, Silver Spring, MD, 20901, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Save the trees, celebrate celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, and protect the Sligo Creek watershed. Join Weed Warrior Supervisors Greg and Kathryn for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday in Sligo Creek Stream Valley Unit 4.
We will focus on non-native, invasive vines and shrubs, including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata), wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei), English ivy (Hedera helix), Japanese barberry (Berberisthunbergii), and bush honeysuckle (mainly Lonicera maackii). Native Virginia creeper and poison ivy are also present and beneficial, so we will avoid those.

Pop-Up History at Meridian Hill Park
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Meridian Hill Park, 16th Street & W Street NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Meridian Hill Park, colloquially referred to as Malcolm X Park, is known for its beauty, art, recreation, First Amendment space, and illustrious history. Drop by our pop-up table located near the Joan of Arc statue to learn some quick history of the park, or attend the walking tour at 3 pm when you’ll have the chance to converse further with a park ranger. The formal tour meets by the bathrooms near 15th Street and Euclid St.

Winter Weeds and Wildflowers
2026-01-18 13:00 - 15:30 | Woodend Nature Sanctuary, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, United States
(MD) (Nature Forward) Not all herbaceous plants disappear in the winter. Many persist as dried stalks and seed clusters creating lovely, dramatic forms throughout open landscapes. Join a naturalist for an indoor/outdoor introduction to winter weed and wildflower identification at our Woodend Sanctuary. We’ll also investigate seed dispersal strategies and examine plant skeletons for signs of summer insect activity, such as insect galls, chrysalids, cocoons, and egg cases.

MLK Cleanup at Winding Creek Park
2026-01-18 12:00 - 14:00 | Winding Creek Local Park, Dewey Road, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20906, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Individual and family volunteers can join a cleanup hosted by Montgomery Parks and partner organizations! Volunteers will help remove litter from a park, trail, or stream. Volunteers must stay with the group and follow safety guidelines.

Exhibit: In Full Flight
2026-01-18 10:00 - 20:00 | Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Experience breathtaking bird images by DC Bird Alliance photographers at the new La Galerie on K at the Capital Hilton. See local birds and birds captured during travel by DCBA members.
On view through February.

Exhibit: For the Love of Birds
2026-01-18 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.

Invasive Plant Removal on Roosevelt Island
2026-01-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(VA) (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.

MLK Day: Invasive Plant Removal at 630 East
2026-01-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Reservation 630 East, 2801 Quebec Street Northwest, Washington, 20008
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and Weed Warrior leader Rena Subotnik or 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.

MLK Day: Invasive Plant Removal at Peirce Mill
2026-01-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Peirce Mill, 2401 Tilden St NW, Washington DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader Danna McCormick and Friends of Pierce Mill 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.

Birding 101 Workshop
2026-01-18 10:00 - 12:00 | U.S. National Arboretum, 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (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:

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.

Seed Cleaning at Earth Sangha
2026-01-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Earth Sangha, 51011 Backlick Rd, Annandale, VA, 22203, United States
(VA) (Earth Sangha) Help Earth Sangha clean and prepare native seeds for spring planting. Seed cleaning will take place every Sunday through the winter.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-01-18 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. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. We will gather in front of the visitor center. The walk will be conducted at a leisurely pace, covering approximately one mile. We look forward to sharing this delightful experience with you!

Birding Algonkian
2026-01-18 08:00 - 10:00 | Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling, VA, 20165, United States
(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join us on a search for birds at the Algonkian Regional Park in eastern Loudoun County. This bird walk takes place each month. With extensive frontage along the Potomac River, its rich bottomland forests, extensive wetlands and grassy areas combine to make it Loudoun’s top birding hotspot. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh
2026-01-18 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.

The Disappearance and Persistence of Bees (Virtual)
2026-01-17 19:00 - 20:30 | VA
(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) The demise and disappearance of bees is well documented, yet bees still persist. Wildlife biologist Sam Droege shares a more nuanced look at the current state of native bees based on his research. This presentation is co-sponsored by the Loudoun County Public Library.

Campfire Saturday and Stargazing
2026-01-17 17:30 - 19:00 | Lake Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston, VA, 20190, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Enjoy a stroll along the lake shores and learn about the constellations, their stories and other night-sky features. Our astronomical naturalist will identify the stars and will have some telescopes to use. The program concludes with a campfire. S’mores ingredients provided. Ages 3 to Adult.

Winter Crow Watch
2026-01-17 16:30 - 18:00 | Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA, 22206, United States
(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join us and our partners at DC Bird Alliance for a Winter Crow Watch at the Shirlington roost in Arlington, VA. You’re in for a show as the crows gather here in numbers so large it actually appears on radar! Here we’ll have binoculars and scopes for participants to use to view the crows as they gather for a noisy social time before heading to the roost for the night.

Make a Suncatcher
2026-01-17 13:30 - 15:30 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Drop by the Discovery Center and have some fun! We’ll have easy-to-make seasonal crafts that you can make and take home. Today we’ll be making suncatchers.

MLK Day: Invasive Plant Removal at Picnic Grove 1
2026-01-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Rock Creek Picnic Grove #1, 2401 Tilden St NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader Danna McCormick 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.
