Capital Nature

Winter Crow Watch
2026-02-08 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Botanical Gardens of the World (Virtual)
2026-02-08 16:00 - 17:30 | VA
(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

Winter Tree ID Walk
2026-02-08 15:30 - 16:30 | Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, 20015, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Without leaves, trees suddenly become much harder to identify. Learn some tips and tricks on how to ID a tree without leaves with a ranger on this walk through the park and practice identifying some of your favorite tree species. Meet at the Nature Center and be prepared with warm clothing, layers, comfortable and sturdy shoes, and a hunger for learning.
Walk may be cancelled in the event of bad weather at the discretion of park staff. Feel free to call the Nature Center (202-895-6070) the day of to confirm.

Lep Club Winter Cocoon Hike
2026-02-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Bee Tree Preserve, Parkton, MD, 21120, United States
(MD) (Natural History Society of Maryland) Join us for a walk in the woods led by Lep Club member Eric Warner, learn how to find cocoons in nature and how to identify the moth based on the cocoon. Tips for identifying host plants in winter will also be covered, specifically for cecropia, promethea and polyphemus moths as we explore the woods. Hike will take place on Sunday Feb. 8th or Sunday Feb. 15th depending on weather.
This walk is for Lep Club members only; we encourage you to become a member of NHSM and the Lep club. The NHSM Lepidoptery Club meets the fourth Wednesday of every month from March-October at 6908 Belair Rd or over Zoom.

Winter Tree Identification
2026-02-08 10:30 - 14:30 | Rhizome, 6950 Maple St NW, Washington, DC, 20012, United States
(DC) (Rhizome) Need a reason to get outdoors this winter? Are you wondering what trees do in the cold? This class will explore the biology and identification of trees in winter. Class is divided into two sections: 10:30am to noon will be held indoors (in-person) to learn about the characteristics that are useful for winter tree ID. We’ll look at samples and photographs during this portion, then move outdoors to apply the skills to wild and cultivated trees from 12:30 to 2:30.
The focus will be on trees that are common in the DC area, with the hope that participants will later be able to identify some of the same trees around the city and watch them transition into spring.

Exhibit: Dazzling Diversity
2026-02-08 10:00 - 17:30, 2026-02-04 10:00 - 17:30 | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington, DC, 20560, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) Celebrate the vast and varied insect world through the pages of early natural history books from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. Dazzling Diversity provides a glimpse into the wealth of recorded scientific knowledge in these books, and the continuing relevance of historical science to contemporary biodiversity research. It offers a snapshot of different classes of insects and their habitats, while showcasing the careful artistry of scientific illustration.
On view through May 11th, 2026.

Discover Orchids
2026-02-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560
(DC) (Smithsonian) Stop by the Smithsonian Gardens Discovery Station and explore the connective power of orchids! Take a closer look at the amazing traits that orchids share, uncover the history of vanilla, and get inspired by the Smithsonian Gardens’ orchid collection. Our knowledgeable volunteers are happy to answer your orchid care questions.
Find the Discovery Station in the exhibition The Connective Power of Orchids during the following times through April 26, 2026.

Mondays: 1–4 p.m.
Tuesdays–Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 4p.m.

Volunteer Day at Dumbarton Oaks Park
2026-02-08 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.

RunJuneteenth Winter Trail Series: Difficult Run
2026-02-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Fairfax REI, 11950 Grand Commons Ave, Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States
(VA) (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 Fairfax.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh
2026-02-08 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.

Won't You be My Owlentine?
2026-02-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Love is in the air… and literally for these beautiful birds of prey! See live raptors, learn about their mating habits during breeding season, and have your picture taken with a live bird of prey. Age 6+.

Winter Native Plant Sowing
2026-02-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you interested in starting your own native plants, even if you don’t have a greenhouse? Then join us to make your own native seed winter sowing containers. We will provide the materials, and you choose the seeds to try. Stop in any time during the program.

Suitland Parkway Volunteer Day
2026-02-07 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 Management at Kingman
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:30 | Kingman Island _RFK Lot 6, United States
(DC) (District Department of Energy and the Environment) Join DOEE staff to remove invasive plants on and near Kingman + Heritage Islands and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. DOEE will provide tools, gloves, and instruction. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray.

Litter Cleanup at Glenmont Park
2026-02-07 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 a litter removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park. Trash is the visible form of stormwater pollution, a major threat to water quality and park health and its removal makes the parklands cleaner, safer, and more beautiful for all. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior to the event.

Invasive Plant Removal at Piney Branch
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Piney Branch Oasis, 3499 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, 20010, 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. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior to the event.

First Saturday Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-02-07 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!

Bird Walk at Kingman
2026-02-07 08:00 - 10:00 | Kingman Island, United States
(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a winter bird walk through Kingman and Heritage Islands!

Exploring Blackwater Wildlife Refuge through Photography
2026-02-07 06:30 - 09:30 | VA
(MD) (Capital Photography Center) Join us on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with Kim Kelly as we explore Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. This sanctuary has over 32,000 acres of diverse habitats attracting waterfowl and other birds along the Atlantic Flyway. Winter months can be awesome for photographing birds and wildlife in the DMV area. At this time of year, the eagles are plentiful as pairs match up and begin nest building.
We will be honing our skills at photographing birds and other potential wildlife as we move around the refuge.

Full Moon Friday
2026-02-06 17:30 - 19:00 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for the magic of the full moon for a hike and campfire on each Friday nearest to the full moon. Feel free to bring your own hotdogs to warm over the fire and we’ll provide marshmallows. The program will be mainly outdoors with a hiking component. All hikes will be on natural surface trails.

Hot Cocoa Wetland Night Hike
2026-02-06 16:30 - 18:30 | Huntley Meadows, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA, 22306, United States
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Sip hot cocoa and join a naturalist for a special winter wonder wetland tour after dark. We will look for signs and listen for sounds of beavers, owls, deer and other nocturnal winter animals. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mug to help us reduce waste. Ages 4 to Adult.

Lunchtime Meditation and Mindfulness (Virtual)
2026-02-06 12:00 - 12:30 | 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.

Ice Skating at the Sculpture Garden
2026-02-06 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.

Project Feederwatch
2026-02-05 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+.
We will not be meeting on December 25 and 26. We will also not be meeting on January 1 and 2.

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Skies
2026-02-04 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.

Pup Stroll Day at Meadowlark
2026-02-04 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.

Rooted in Our Community
2026-02-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Busboys and Poets Arlington, 4251 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA, 22206, United States
(VA) (EcoAction Arlington) Please join EcoAction Arlington for an intimate luncheon to raise money for our tree canopy equity initiative. At this luncheon, we will celebrate our first three years increasing tree canopy in Arlington in 13 target neighborhoods and our goal to make green spaces accessible to every community member, regardless of where they live. This event will bring together partners, supporters, and community leaders to champion and enhance our tree planting and community engagement efforts.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-02-03 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!

Identification and Ecology of Bark (Virtual)
2026-02-02 19:00 - 21:00 | VA
(MD) (Natural History Society of Maryland) Many people know how to identify trees by their leaves, but what about when those leaves have fallen or are out of reach? In this two-part course with Michael Wojtech, you will learn about a system for noticing the beautiful variety of bark characteristics and for using these traits to identify tree species in any season. We will practice using the identification key in our Michael’s text, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. You will also discover the function and ecological role of bark.
The second session will take place on Feb. 9th.
