An Evening with Casey Trees
2026-05-13 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Butterfly Gardening
2026-05-14 10:00 - 12:00 | 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

150th Anniversary of the Bartholdi Fountain (Virtual)
2026-05-14 12:00 - 13:00
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Created for America’s 100th anniversary, the 30-foot-tall “Fountain of Light and Water” — aka the Bartholdi Fountain — is turning 150 this year! To celebrate this milestone anniversary, join Devin Dotson for a deep dive into the history of the fountain, how and when it joined the United States Botanic Garden, how we care for this beautiful piece of history, and the story of the sculptor who become internationally famous for another project, the Statue of Liberty.

Welcome Back Birds! (Virtual)
2026-05-14 13:00 - 14:00
(DMV) (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Celebrate your favorite new arrivals and learn answers to common questions about how they made the journey. Today’s webinar theme is Bird Migration in Your Backyard.

Anacostia River Discovery Boat Tour
2026-05-14 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 Workday at Long Branch
2026-05-15 08:30 - 10:30 | Long Branch Recreation Center, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD, 20901, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Barbara, Weed Warrior Supervisor, for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday at Long Branch Stream Valley Unit 2 and Long Branch Local Park. Meet in front of the Long Branch Community Recreation Center. We’ll walk together to the Creekside worksite.
We will focus on non-native, invasive vines and shrubs including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata), English ivy (Hedera helix), and bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). Native Virginia creeper and poison ivy are also present and beneficial, so we will avoid those.

Anacostia River Festival River Clean-up
2026-05-16 08:00 - 12:00
(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the 11th Street Bridge Park and the Anacostia Watershed Society for a community clean-up as part of the Anacostia River Festival! Come make an impact, connect with neighbors, and help keep our park beautiful for everyone. See locations details on AWS registration page.

Invasive Species Removal at Langdon Park
2026-05-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Langdon Park Recreation Center, 2901 20th St NE, Washington DC, 20018, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join CCAN, The Langdon Park Forest Stewards, and Casey Trees to get outside and remove invasive plants! Take part in the exciting Assisted Natural Regeneration efforts happening to restore the forest at Langdon Park in NE DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing invasives. We will focus on non-native invasive plants like Bush (Amur) Honeysuckle.

Expert Is In: Neuro-Botany
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Interested in learning how plants affect our brains and bodies? Drop by the Medicinal House to talk with Dr. Terri Postma, Neurologist and Health Policy Advisor and learn about the intersection of botany and neurology. You’ll hear about the dual nature of plants, how their complex chemistry can serve as both a source of life-saving medicine and a potential neurotoxin, and learn more about how our well-being is deeply rooted in the botanical world.

Forest Bathing at Locust Grove
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This 2-hour session, led by certified forest therapy guide Adria S. Zeldin, will guide you through mindfulness-based sensory invitations to help you slow down, awaken your senses, and reconnect with nature. Please dress comfortably with the weather in mind. We will be outdoors and moving slowly so you may want to bring extra layers. This trail difficulty is moderate.

Anacostia River Festival
2026-05-16 14:00 - 18:00 | Anacostia Park at Good Hope Road, 1100 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, 20020, United States
(DC) (Building Bridges) Join us for this free, family-friendly event at Anacostia Park as we come together to Celebrate DC Herstory honoring the women who shaped our city while uplifting community, culture, and connection. This day will include live musical performances, arts and crafts for all ages, fishing, nature exploration activities, pickleball, mindfulness movement workshops and more!

Youth Birding in the Garden
2026-05-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Take a bird walk with an expert instructor and learn the basics of using binoculars, listening for bird calls, using field guides and digital tools, and looking carefully in all directions. Stop at the spots in the garden that are most attractive for local birds and learn more about them. Borrow a pair of our binoculars or bring your own (optional). Meet in the Visitor Center and dress for the weather. Ages 8 to 16.

Invasive Plant Removal at Little Forest
2026-05-17 09:00 - 11:00 | 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 Leaders Bethann Siegal 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.

Invasive Plant Removal at 630 West
2026-05-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Reservation 630 West, 3031 Sedgwick Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and 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.

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Skies
2026-05-17 10:00 - 17:30, 2026-05-24 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.

Exhibit: Growing Together
2026-05-18 09:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-20 09:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-24 09:00 - 18:00 | National Mall, 1750 Independence Avenue Southwest, Wasington DC, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities.

55+ Kayaking
2026-05-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Kayaking is even more fun that it looks, plus it has numerous health and physical benefits! Come learn how to paddle on flat water in recreational solo kayaks on Little Seneca Lake. Learn basic strokes, entries and exits, boat control, and more, taught by certified American Canoe Association instructors. You may get wet, so dress accordingly. All necessary equipment provided, and adaptive equipment will be available for those needing assistance getting in and out of the kayak.

Invasive Vine Removal at Branch Ave Park
2026-05-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Branch Avenue Park, 3350 Erie St SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN to remove Invasive Vines at Branch Ave Park in DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing invasives. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera helix).

Bats and Beavers Cruise
2026-05-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for a sunset cruise aboard the pontoon boat. We’ll search for beaver lodges and feeding sites, and hopefully see some beavers! As the sun sets, we’ll use our bat detector to help us find feeding bats.

Anacostia River Discovery Boat Tour
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd, Blaidensburg, MD, United States
(MD) (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.

Birds in Watercolor: Downy Woodpecker (Virtual)
2026-05-21 19:00 - 20:30
(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Continuing with our woodpecker series, students will paint a Downy Woodpecker, a familiar backyard species that frequents feeders. This small woodpecker is tough to distiguish from the Hairy Woodpecker, until you learn their small but telling differences! Your instructor, Ronna Fujisawa will be your guide through the step-by-step process of painting.
This is an online class open to all levels of watercolor painters. Beginners are welcome!

Jazz in the Garden
2026-05-22 18:00 - 20:30 | National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20565, United States
(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Travel across the country through music, exploring our many traditions—from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Every Friday through August 14 (except June 5 and July 3). Pre-show dance classes on May 22 and 29, June 12, and July 24.
Event registration through a lottery. The lottery takes place the week before each event, opening on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and closing Friday at noon. Limited day-of passes will be available starting at 5:00 p.m.

Invasive Plant Removal at Carter Barron
2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 4850 Colorado Ave NW, Washington DC, 20011, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Rock Creek Staff, Elena Neyen 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.

Invasive Plant Removal at 630 East
2026-05-23 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.

Adaptive Mountain Biking
2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Blockhouse Point Conservation Park, Maryland 190, Potomac, MD, 20854, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This family-friendly, “party pace” ride is designed to be safe, inclusive, and enjoyable for all participants. Riders will be accompanied by volunteer support riders to ensure a positive experience on rides averaging 5 miles. Participants can sign up to ride our Lasher Recumbent Handcycle or TerraTrike Recumbent Foot-Pedal Trike, depending on which bike best fits their needs. Registration is required. Ages 16 +

Stream Adventures at Black Hill
2026-05-24 08:00 - 17:00 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) What lives in a stream? Wade into the water and use nets to see what insects, fish, frogs, and other animals we can find. Please wear boots or closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting wet (no flip-flops, please!). All children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 2 to 12.

Stream Exploration at Gulf Branch
2026-05-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park, 3608 Military Rd, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Bring the whole family to play in Gulf Branch stream! We’ll learn about local plants and animals on our hike down to the water and we’ll explore under the rocks of the stream for macroinvertebrates. Must wear closed toe shoes in the water and bring clothes that can get wet! Ages 6 to 10.
