Capital Nature

Exhibit: America's State Flowers
2026-08-29 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, 20001, United States
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Botanic Garden will bloom with the flowers each U.S. state and territory has chosen as their official flower. Explore the display throughout the Garden that will showcase the state and territory flowers with living plants, artistic displays, botanical illustrations, and herbarium specimens.
Associated educational programs will be offered throughout the run, including workshops by botanical paper artist Emily Paluska, drop-in demonstrations, online talks, and more.

Invasive Plant Removal at Piney Branch
2026-08-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Piney Branch Oasis, 3499 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, 20010, United States
(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader, Keith Krosinsky 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.

Underground Railroad Guided Hike
2026-08-29 10:00 - 11:30 | Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Learn about the experience of 19th century freedom seekers and Montgomery County residents in a guided hike of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. Discover techniques used for navigation, eluding detection, and finding food/shelter on the perilous journey. Hike covers 2 miles on a natural surface hiking trail. Ages 7 +

Weed Warrior Workday at Sligo Creek
2026-08-29 08:00 - 10:00 | Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park, Silver Spring, MD, 20901, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Montgomery Parks & Friends of Sligo Creek at a volunteer park cleanup & weed warrior workday! Help beautify your community green spaces and save the trees! Ages 16 +

Ranger Tour at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
2026-08-28 10:00 - 19:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Join a Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Ranger for a talk about the park! The talk will cover the history of the park, the waterlillies and lotuses that are grown in the ponds, and the importance of the marshes that are connected to the ponds. Meet the ranger in front of the visitor center where the talk will begin.
Ranger led garden tours are held every week on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 6:00 PM through September 2nd.

Hidden History of the Georgetown Waterfront
2026-08-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Georgetown Waterfront Park, 3303 Water St NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Join us for a ranger-led program that dives deep into the fascinating story of the Georgetown Waterfront. Explore how this vibrant area has transformed over the centuries, shaping the heart of the city as we know it today. Bring your curiosity and get ready to experience history with views of the Potomac as your backdrop. This is a perfect event for history buffs, families, and anyone looking to connect with the stories that built our city!

Capital Area Natural Resource Management Symposium
2026-08-28 08:30 - 17:00 | Reservoir Center, 301 Water Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
(DC) (Reservoir Center) Join local natural resource managers and environmental professionals for this annual meeting to share and meet others in the region with similar scopes of work. During the day there will be a series of attendee-submitted talks focused on local natural resource management restoration projects, socioecological work, and applied policy.

Sturgeon Full Moon
2026-08-28 00:00 - 01:00
August’s full Moon will crest on Friday, August 28, reaching peak illumination at 12:18 am. The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac have different origins, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred.
The name Sturgeon Moon comes from the giant lake and river sturgeons, a native freshwater fish readily caught during this part of summer and an important food staple for Native Americans. At one time, the lake sturgeon was quite abundant in late summer, though they are rarer today. These prehistoric-looking fish have been traced back to around 136 million years ago, and many people call them “living fossils.” Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can reproduce only every 4 years. However, they can live up to 150 years!

Anacostia River Discovery Boat Tour
2026-08-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Diamond Teague Pier, 1520 First St. SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society for a 1-hour Anacostia River 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.

Youth Mountain Bike Ride
2026-08-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus, 20872, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This is a no rider left behind group ride – think “party pace. ”There will likely be some “session-ing” and skills instruction along the way. This is a perfect way to meet other riders and build skills on your bike. We have a limited number of bikes and helmets available free of charge in case you don’t have one (we will ask to hold something as collateral during the program – cell phone/credit card/etc.). Ages 6+ Must know how to ride a bicycle.

Exhibit: The Viewing Stone
2026-08-27 10:00 - 16:00 | US National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (US National Arboretum) Viewing stone lovers find inspiration in the traditional stones found and displayed in China and Japan. These small natural objects encourage contemplation of larger landscape scenes, objects in nature, and abstract images. Challenge your imagination by comparing the variety of stones on view in this exhibition. Members of the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation, will display viewing stones from their private collections.
On view 10 am – 4:00 pm daily through Sept. 7th.

Late Roses and Wildflowers of Bon Air
2026-08-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Bon Air Park, 850 N Lexington St, Arlington, VA, 22205, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Late summer is a great time to explore wildflowers and garden flowers in our park. Come see what a summer of sunshine and rainstorms has produced. Learn about the history of Bon Air Park and its flowers. Teens 16+ welcome to attend with a registered adult.

The Butterfly Experience
2026-08-27 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.

Urban Foraging, Cider Tasting and Cyanotype Printing
2026-08-26 18:00 - 20:00 | ANXO Cidery, 711 Kennedy St. NW, Washington, DC, 20011, United States
(DC) Join forager, author and instructor April Thompson at ANXO, DC’s award-winning cidery, for a workshop blending urban foraging, botanical art and cider tasting. Begin with an introduction to foraging, then explore Brightwood on a short walk to discover edible plants growing in unexpected places. April will share tips for identifying, preparing and using your finds.
Enjoy a welcome pour of limited-edition cider made with locally grown fruit; additional drinks and foraged foods will be available for purchase. Back at ANXO, learn cyanotyping (solar printing), one of the earliest photographic processes, and create a botanical print using plants gathered along the way. If weather prevents printing, you’ll receive materials to finish at home.

Rachel Carson's Wonder, Wisdom, and Local legacy (Virtual)
2026-08-25 19:00 - 21:00
(MD) (Maryland Native Plant Society) Rachel Carson was a world-renowned writer and biologist who is considered by many as the mother of the modern environmental movement. She lived her adult life in Maryland, first as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins and then moving to Montgomery County for closer proximity to her civil service work in College Park and Washington, DC. This talk by Springsong founder Rebecca Henson will provide an overview of Carson’s life and written works, discussing her courage, ecological philosophy, and clear-eyed wonder in the natural world around us, including the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, Rock Creek Park, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Sound Mapping at Rock Creek Park
2026-08-23 14:00 - 14:30 | Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, 20015, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Slow down and experience the park in a whole new way! In this fun, hands-on activity for kids and adults, participants will create a sound map by using their sense of hearing to explore the natural world. Listen for birds, insects, rustling leaves, flowing water, and other sounds that reveal what’s happening around you. By focusing on listening instead of looking, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for nature and discover the park from a fresh perspective.

Junior Ranger Day
2026-08-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (National Parks Service) Join the National Park Service at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for Junior Ranger Day! The event will be filled with fun activities and hands on Junior Ranger activities that explore the garden in honor of National Park Week and Junior Ranger Day.

Invasive Plant Removal at 630 East
2026-08-23 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.

Wildflower Walk at Locust Grove
2026-08-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Fall is a rainbow of wildflowers, from goldenrods to asters in every shade of purple. Take a leisurely stroll through the park with our Master Naturalists who will interpret this last spectacular show of color before the changing of the seasons. Now a three part series, you may join us for one class or sign up for all three to watch the season unfold before your eyes. Participants should be able to walk on natural surface trails, which may have some steep inclines. Ages 16 +

Ecology Walk on Kingman Island
2026-08-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Kingman Island _RFK Lot 6, United States
(DC) (DC Master Naturalists) Enjoy a walking tour and learn about forest and wetland ecology and other aspects of Kingman and Heritage Islands with DC Master Naturalists and the Kingman Rangers.

Potomac Ecology by Kayak
2026-08-23 09:30 - 11:00 | Key Bridge Boathouse, 3500 Water Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Join a Park Ranger for a relaxed 1.5-hour relaxed kayak tour just north of the Georgetown Waterfront

Discover hidden stories of the Potomac River

Explore the river’s unique ecology

Keep an eye out for turtles, herons, and maybe even a bald eagle

Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or just in it for the views, this is your chance to see the city from a new perspective.

Evening Campfire: Crickets and Katydids
2026-08-22 19:30 - 21:00 | Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20902, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Meet your neighbors around the campfire! Learn a bit about living with local wildlife, roast a marshmallow, play some games, and take a guided evening hike (optional). Marshmallows and roasting sticks provided, bring other treats if you’d like!

Invasive Plant Removal at Normanstone
2026-08-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Normanstone Trail, 2841 Normanstone Drive NW, Washington DC, 20008, 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.

Invasive Species Removal at Langdon Park
2026-08-22 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 meet at the parking lot of the Langdon Park Rec Cente.
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, English Ivy, and Porcelain Berry.

Volunteer Day at Kenilworth
2026-08-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, 20019, United States
(DC) (National Park Service) Join us for a morning of stewardship volunteering at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! Participate in a variety of park stewardship activities including invasive plant removal, litter collection, flower bed weeding, trail maintenance and more. All necessary tools and supplies will be provided.

Woodland Nature Therapy: Calm & Connection Under the Canopy
2026-08-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, 22182, United States
(VA) (Kindred Nature) (NOVA Parks) Step into calm on a gentle wander of wonder through the woodlands of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. During this rejuvenating morning of nature therapy, we’ll slow down with sensory invitations to reconnect with ourselves and the forest, and share in warm-hearted moments under the forest canopy. Guided by certified nature therapy guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature, this experience includes mindful slow walking, quiet reflection, facilitated sharing, and a closing tea. All adults are welcome. Registration is required.

Forest Bathing at the Arboretum
2026-08-22 09:00 - 11:00 | US National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington DC, 20002, United States
(DC) (Friends of the Arboretum) Join our nature and forest therapy guide for a forest bathing session at the National Arboretum. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure, and improved attention and mood.
Our forest bathing walks are around two hours long and consist of three ‘invitations’. Each time the guide will prompt you to reflect on a particular aspect of the natural world around you, give you time to wander and meditate throughout the garden collection, then reconvene the group to share reflections.

Fungi Foray
2026-08-22 09:00 - 10:00 | Long Branch Nature Center & Park, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Come join us for a light walk through the woods to explore the diversity of the fungus kingdom, from the littlest mushrooms to giant shelf fungi, to bizarre lichens. We’ll discuss the secret lives of our fungal friends, including their ecology and identification. Teens ages 12 and up welcome to attend with a registered adult.

Nature Fun Facts Campfire
2026-08-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Gulf Branch Nature Center & Park, 3608 Military Rd, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
(VA) (Arlington Parks) The whole family is invited to join us at the Long Branch or Gulf Branch fire ring for lots of old-fashioned fun. This engaging program will be filled with entertaining activities that may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, S’mores! (We will provide the marshmallows, chocolate & graham crackers).

Sprinklers, Bubbles & Rainbows!
2026-08-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, 20841, United States
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Come play in our backyard! Dance and run through sprinklers. Make bubbles with giant bubble wands. Splash in water play stations designed for the littlest of revelers. This is what summer is all about! Bring sunscreen, a towel and a change of clothes
