Capital Nature

Community Tree Planting at Armed Forces Retirement Home
2026-04-18 08:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Armed Forces Retirement Home, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd NW, Washington, DC, 20011
(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Casey Trees for an exciting day of tree planting, made possible by partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and United.
You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to plant the trees. Participants will receive a hands-on training on site. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will be split up into groups supervised by a trained volunteer Team Leader and begin planting trees throughout the space.

Invasive Plant Removal at Picnic Grove 6
2026-04-17 10:00 - 12:00 | VA
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Park to remove invasive plant species from Picnic Grove 6! We will be removing invasive shrubs and vines to make room for native flora and fauna in the park.

Anacostia River Discovery Boat Tour
2026-04-16 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.

Invasive Vine Removal at Publick Playhouse
2026-04-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd, Hyattsville, 20784, United States
(MD) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN and Community Native Planting Project to remove invasive vines and transform a two-acre site next to Publick Playhouse into a welcoming natural area. We will start with a brief training on invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about two hours removing invasives.

The Butterfly Experience
2026-04-14 09:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-05 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.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk at Kenilworth
2026-04-14 08:30 - 10:00, 2026-04-07 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 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!

Tree Planting at Linnean Park
2026-04-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Linnean Park
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Kathy Sykes, DOEE Conservation Steward, for an afternoon of planting at Linnean Park in Ward 3. Tools and instructions provided. Please wear sturdy shoes with good tread, and weather appropriate clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or snagged. Bring your own water bottle, sun protection, etc.
The meet up location is at Broad Branch Terrace, NW and Fessenden Street, NW.

Monday Morning Birdwalk at Huntley Meadows
2026-04-13 07:00 - 09:00, 2026-04-06 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.

Spring Break Naturefest at Anacostia Park
2026-04-13 - 2026-04-17 | Anacostia Park Skating Pavillion, 1500 Anacostia Dr SE, Washington, DC, 20020, United States
(DC) (Friends of Anacostia Park) Join us for a week full of family fun and activities in Anacostia Park. Events include Yay Nature Day, Live Animals, Art in the Park, fishing, skating and boat trips! And skating!

Wings Over Wolf Trap
2026-04-12 09:30 - 10:30 | Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (Friends of Wolf Trap National Park)

Join Larry Meade for a fun and educational nature walk around the grounds of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. April is prime time for bird migration as colorful birds such as warblers sing and show off their breeding plumage. While we are enjoying the birds, we will also be looking for other interesting creatures such as butterflies and dragonflies.With over 300 species of birds migrating over our area, we should spot quite a few species of birds.Larry works with various conservation groups in our area and will share his deep expertise in a fun and educational manner. Appropriate for all ages. Explore and learn more about the nature side of this gem of a National Park.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh
2026-04-12 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-05 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.

Film: Becoming Wild
2026-04-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Alexandria History Museum, 201 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
(VA) (Four Mile Run Conservancy) Join the Alexandria Film Festival and Four Mile Run Conservancy for the world premiere of “Becoming Wild, a meditation on beauty in the natural world,” a documentary by award-winning, local filmmaker Jane Pittman. In an Alexandria neighborhood transformed by gentrification and loss of green space, a backyard becomes a sanctuary and a teacher – alive with creatures who ask for nothing more than a place to live. Through seasons of change, “Becoming Wild, a meditation on beauty in the natural world” explores how beauty survives – when we choose to nurture it – and how ordinary people can help rebuild the natural world right where they live.

Seed Swap Festival
2026-04-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Mount Rainier Nature Center, 4701 31st Pl, Mount Rainier, MD, 20712, United States
(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Anacostia Watershed Society, & Mount Rainier Public Library to celebrate a belated National Seed Swap Day. Exchange seeds with your neighbors and meet local organizations as you prepare for spring and diversify your garden!

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
2026-04-11 11:00 - 13:30 | VA
(DC) (National Cherry Blossom Festival) One of DC’s largest spectator events, the energy-filled National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® presented by Events DC runs for 10 blocks along iconic Constitution Avenue. Giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a grand spectacle of music and showmanship seen only once a year during the Festival.

Shepherd Parkway Community Cleanup
2026-04-11 10:30 - 13:00 | Shepherd Parkway, 555 Newcomb Street SE, Washington, DC, 20032, United States
(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) Join Ward 8 Woods every second Saturday of the month to restore Shepherd Parkway by removing trash and invasive vines that are smothering the trees. Since 2011, over 2,000 volunteers have removed over 200 tons of trash from the woods and cut invasive vines from over 500 trees, but much work remains to be done.
Give back to the earth, exercise your body, spend time in nature and meet cool people with the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy.

Blossom Soirée
2026-04-10 18:00 - 20:30 | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join us for an exclusive after-hours evening of jazz, drinks, and blooms celebrating the opening night of the U.S. Botanic Garden’s new exhibit “America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration.” Admission includes all activities and one drink ticket to get the party started. Additional drinks and bites are available for purchase. All proceeds from this event support the Friends of the US Botanic Garden.

Slitherin' Salamanders
2026-04-10 08:30 - 10:30 | Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Slither on over to Bull Run Regional Park for an amphibian adventure! Early March is an incredibly active time of year for local amphibians as they look–and sing–for a mate. The flooded forests at Bull Run, known as vernal pools, are highly prized by these animals because they lack aquatic predators and are therefore safe nurseries for their young. Learn more about the behaviors of these incredible amphibians and get ready see some up close! Ages 8+

Florals: Art, Memory, and Meaning (Virtual)
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | VA
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Garden historian and author Abra Lee joins native Washingtonian floral artist and author Teresa Speight, whose celebrated book “Black Flora: Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture’s New Vanguard” features as one of Abra’s favorite books. Together Abra and Teresa will explore the connective power of orchids and florals through both storytelling and lived creative practice.

Spring Garden Tour at Hillwood
2026-04-09 14:30 - 15:15, 2026-04-07 14:30 - 15:15 | Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
(DC) (Hillwood) Explore Hillwood’s magnificent spring displays featuring tens of thousands of cheerful bulbs. Learn about the design process that led to this year’s unique display and first-hand stories of practical gardening lessons. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This forty-five-minute tour is limited to twenty and meets in the visitor center conservatory.

The Hummingbirds are Coming!
2026-04-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville, MD, 20905, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) The ruby-throats are on their way north! Learn more about these hummers as we track their progress into our area. We’ll learn how to attract them into your yard, and make a feeder to take home. Ages 3 to 5.

Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island (Wait List)
2026-04-09 08:30 - 11:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington DC, United States
(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Enjoy a morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.
Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city.

Our Watershed
2026-04-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Checy Chase Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, 20015, 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.

Baby and Me Nature Walk
2026-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Studies show that babies as young as a few weeks old thrive with daily outside time. Join us for a guided nature walk on the trails of Cabin John Park. Get to know other local parents and caregivers while enjoying the fresh and spending quality time with baby. Trails are not stroller accessible so baby must be in a carrier.
Six Wednesdays, April 8 – May 13, 2026

Beauty of Bluebells Walk
2026-04-05 07:00 - 09:30 | Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA, 20121, United States
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the magic and wonder of the Bluebell Trail in its full glory! Take a relaxing stroll on Bull Run Regional Park’s most famous trail while being enveloped by a sea of blue. Learn about spring ephemeral plants such as the Virginia Bluebell and why these fleeting flowers bloom for such a short time. Ages 8+

Community Science Night
2026-04-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you interested in learning about local wildlife and helping out nature. Then check out our Community Science program at Locust Grove Nature Center. Nighttime is often the best chance to encounter wildlife such as owls, foxes, bats, and frogs. Join a Naturalist for a guided wildlife-monitoring walk and help document the species that make their home here. Each session introduces participants to the iNaturalist app (please download ahead of time), which we’ll use to record photos and sounds of the plants and animals we discover. Ages 16 +.
