Winter Tales and Trails at Winkler

Winkler Botanical Preserve 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria, VA, United States

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join us for the first meeting of Tales and Trails, a book club meeting at Winkler Botanical Preserve. Following the death of his father, Gil sets out on the Joun Muir Trail with Syd, his father's best friend. While hiking, they come to terms with life and death, learn the healing power of nature and unplugging, and ...

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh

Dyke Marsh Alexandria, VA, 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.

Free

Invasive Plant Removal at Reservation 630 West

Reservation 630 West 3031 Sedgwick Street Northwest, Washington, DC, United States

(DC) (Rock Creek Park) 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. Event location, directions, and information will be ...

Free

Search for Santa’s Critters

Potomac Overlook Regional Park 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, VA, United States

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Santa’s animal friends are lost in our park and need rescuing! Go on a scavenger hunt to locate the critters so they can help Santa deliver candy and treats for the holidays! Appropriate for families and children of all ages.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. Event takes place on December 14th and 15th, 21st through ...

$5

Winter Pokemon in Real Life

Potomac Overlook Regional Park 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, VA, United States

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Test your Pokémon knowledge in PokéJeopardy and learn how to use a real life Pokédex! Explore the park with our Roving Naturalist, identify a variety of species, complete challenges, and help collect citizen science data for iNaturalist. Ages 5+

$7

Hike with a Ranger at Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Nature Center 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, United States

(DC) (National Park Service) During this ½ mile excursion, young explorers learn the hiking essentials, such as trail safety, what to wear or bring to a hike, and how to Rrecreate Rresponsibly all while looking at nature and respecting nature found in our woodlands.  This ranger-led hike is intended to create treasured trail experiences for families interested in planning more ...

Free

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows

Huntley Meadows 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA, 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.  

Free

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Sky

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington, DC, United States

(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) What do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? 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? Open ...

Free

Fields, Forests, and Friends at Black Hill

Black Hill Discovery Center 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Come out to the Discovery Center and spend some time outdoors! We will explore the trails, play games in the fields and forests, and make the most of what Black Hill has to offer.

$7

Smoky the Bear New Year’s Eve Countdown

Maydale Nature Classroom 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville, MD, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Smokey Bear! Enjoy various activities, a campfire with s’mores, and of course, a noon countdown to ring in the New Year!

$8

Lunchtime Meditation and Mindfulness (Virtual)

(DC) (Smithsonian Asian Art Museum) Meditation helps us build a relationship to a place of inner quietude. Whether you’re a beginner or a skilled practitioner, join us for free online meditation sessions each week led by DC-based meditation teachers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Friday sessions include inspiration from art in the museum collections, much of which is inspired by nature, ...

New Year’s Eve Forest Bathing at National Arboretum

U.S. National Arboretum 24th & R St NE, Washington DC, United States

(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Join our nature and forest therapy guide in this two-hour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered ...

Free – $35
Capital Nature