Capital Nature

(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.

(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a search for birds at this large, popular park in eastern Loudoun with extensive frontage along the Potomac River. Its rich bottomland forests, extensive wetlands and grassy areas are home to numerous species of birds. We’ll comb the park searching for winter visitors, residents and waterfowl. Find more Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy ...

(DC) (Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy) Join us for stewardship of Dumbarton Oaks Park, DC's hidden green oasis and part of Rock Creek Park. Activities may include pulling invasive, cleanup, and planting. Contact info@dopark.org for more information and to RSVP.

(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 ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Spring is the time for new life, especially with our budding plants and trees. Come explore our earliest sprouting plants on this wild park hike. Families. Find more Arlington Parks nature programs here.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join James, Weed Warrior Supervisor, for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday in Long Branch Stream Valley Unit 1 (between Piney Branch Rd and Carroll Ave), in Takoma Park. We will focus on non-native, invasive vines, especially porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata). Native Virginia creeper and poison ivy are also present and beneficial, so we will avoid ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Weed Warrior Supervisor Maria and Weed Warrior Jill for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday. We will focus on non-native, invasive vines and shrubs, including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata), wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei), English ivy (Hedera helix), roundleaf bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), winged burning bush (Euonymus alatus), and bush honeysuckle (mainly Lonicera maackii).

(VA) (NOVA Parks) From author Lucy Jones, we’ll be covering the book “Losing Eden: Our Fundamental Need for the Natural World and Its Ability to Heal Body and Soul”, a look at how humans scientifically need the great outdoors to be healthy. This book is an amazing body of research that tells you why you should bring your family outside ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the beauty of spring woodlands on a guided walk through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens' Potomac Valley Collection! Led by Keith Tomlinson, former Meadowlark Garden Manager who developed and curated our native plant collection, this walk offers a unique opportunity to explore the region’s rich botanical diversity. With 45 years of experience in botanical gardens, museums, environmental education, ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Adults, teens and families ages 8 and up. Want to restore habitat and increase species diversity right here in Arlington? Work parties are held every month at over a dozen parks. We are making a real difference, with the return of ferns and wildflowers, and the animals that depend on them, in areas once covered in destructive ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) 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 ...

(DC) (Tregaron Conservancy) Join David Harold for Tai Chi practice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. We will gather west of the Lily Pond near the entrance at Klingle Road NW. David is passionate about making Taiji and Qigong practice and principles accessible. For 15 years, he led a free, weekly public outdoor practice in Winston-Salem, NC. That practice continues to be led ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) These classes are designed to teach young children and their caregivers more about wildlife and nature right in their own backyards through activities, explorations, games, hikes, and take-home crafts.

(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, ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join our new 55+ Nature Book Club and become part of a community that celebrates the beauty of literature and the outdoors! Explore a range of books centered around nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental issues. Our in-person meetings take place every third Tuesday of the month at a Montgomery Parks Activity Building. Meetings are held from 6pm-7:30pm. ...

(MD) (Smithsonian) Join us to learn about ospreys, the often-seen “fish hawk” of local rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, with Patuxent River Park's senior naturalist Greg Kearns. Roughly one-fourth of the ospreys in the continental U.S. nest in Chesapeake Bay. But the birds suffered massive declines in the 1950s and 60s due to widespread use of the pesticide DDT. In ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with your favorite canine on our special Pup Days on select Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm. More NOVA Parks events can be found here.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you fascinated by nature? Do you love being creative? Drop in for an unstructured time of creativity! Relax and de-stress with doodling, drawing, painting, collage and more. Materials will be provided along with a few project ideas. All attendees must register. Inclement weather could cancel this program. Be sure to check BrooksideNature.org for day-of event status. ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Please join the National Park Service and Rock Creek Conservancy for a virtual Event Leadership training! This training is for anyone who would like to lead volunteer events in Rock Creek Park, including Weed Warrior Leaders. The training will take place on zoom. A link will be sent to all registered participants on the day of ...

(VA) (EcoAction Arlington) Learn how to become an EcoAction Arlington Volunteer Leader! During this 2 hour hands-on training, you will build the skills needed to become leaders and stewards of our land, water, and community. This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to make an impact and support our efforts right here in Arlington! This training will ...

(DC) (Sierra Club) Join Sierra Club's DC chapter to address natural places and water issues in the District of Columbia.

(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Michael Sciortino, John Denice, and Bruce Hill for an early evening walk on this special property looking for birds; then as dusk settles in, we’ll hope to hear the “peent” of American Woodcock and see their incredible courtship display flight. Parking/meeting information will be emailed to registered participants. Find more Loudoun Wildlife ...

(DC) (National Zoo) Bring your little zoogoer for a wild time as we explore animals and nature through creative, drop-in play! Little Critters Nature Play is designed for ages 0-5 and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Find more Smithsonian cultural and nature ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome spring's awakening with a mindful forest bathing experience on the Spring Equinox morning! As day and night find balance, join certified forest bathing guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature to reconnect with nature’s growth after winter rest - from leaves starting to unfurl to early spring flowers emerging from the warming earth. Forest bathing (nature therapy) ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Strengthen family bonds and foster emotional well-being with this immersive workshop focused on mindfulness and nature exploration. Engage in fun, mindful activities designed to deepen connection, communication, and presence within your family. Children of all ages with their family are welcome.

(DC) (Nature Forward) The Vernal Equinox is the moment in which day and night are of equal length. This is the tipping point between astronomical winter and spring: from here on out, spring is full steam ahead. On this walk, we will experience this transition with the 2.5 mile Rapids Bridge Loop in Rock Creek Park. We will begin walking ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Spring beauties, bloodroot, trout lilies! Even before the last frost, some of our spring wildflowers brave the cold to put on a show. Come take a walk and we’ll discuss the fascinating lifestyle and ecology of these plants. Teens ages 12 and up welcome to attend with a registered adult. Adults.

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join us for an exciting Backyard Bird Identification Workshop, where we’ll dive into the fascinating world of local birds and seasonal visitors! Whether you’re watching from your window, patio, or garden, you’ll gain the confidence to identify and appreciate the birds around you. We’ll cover: Common backyard bird species you’re likely to see year-round Migratory ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Traditional turfgrass lawns offer no native biodiversity, are sources of air and water pollution, and require significant maintenance. Bittner will discuss a visionary lawn paradigm shift – one where lush, low-growing native grasses and forbs take center stage. We will explore the journey behind Cornell Botanic Gardens’ native lawn, from its inception to the multitude of benefits ...

(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, ...

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join us for a bird walk at this beautiful hotspot, home to an impressive number of resident and migrating species.

(DC) (Casey Trees) Welcome back to our spring season of Community Tree Plantings. Join us in planting trees at Catholic University of America! 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 ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join us as we work to keep our park healthy and beautiful!  Assist with invasive plant removal, habitat restoration, and other projects as needed.  Come dressed for and prepared to work outdoors. Gloves and snippers are recommended, but extras may be provided if needed.  Meet at the picnic shelter (located in main parking lot). Ages 9 + ...

(DC) (National Zoo) Bring your little zoogoer for a wild time as we explore animals and nature through creative, drop-in play! Little Critters Nature Play is designed for ages 0-5 and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Find more Smithsonian cultural and nature ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome spring growth and balance with nature therapy at Winkler, where you'll experience deeper connections with nature, yourself, and community during this special spring equinox weekend gathering! Also known as "forest bathing," this mindful practice, with certified nature therapy guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature, invites you to immerse your senses in the natural world, release stress, and ...

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join your friends  in a trash cleanup in Dyke Marsh and along the Potomac River shoreline. Check in at Belle Haven Park or the Dyke Marsh Haul Road entrance.  Sponsors will provide gloves, bags and tools.

(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 ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) Join us to celebrate the beginning of the growing season with garden activities, healthy snacks, and more. Learn how to recover your garden from a colder than normal winter and begin prepping for a successful season.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Let’s read stories, sing songs, and take mini-hikes meant for the littlest legs! Please note: The Little Explorers programs scheduled in the same month will have the same topic and activities. Register each child, a guardian must attend. Be sure to check BrooksideNature.org for day-of event status. More Montgomery Parks nature events can be found here.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Though roses haven't started to emerge, spring wildflowers are popping up all over Bon Air Park and they have some amazing stories to tell. Medicines, food, folklore and tales of life, love and survival. We'll start at the Rose Garden and explore the whole park. Teens ages 12 and up are welcome to attend with a registered ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Take a closer look at the natural world through the lens of a camera in this beginner-friendly program. Learn tips and strategies for getting the most out of your outdoor photos and learn about nature along the way. Bring your camera (phone cameras count) or borrow one of ours. Meet in the Visitor Center and dress for ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Make and decorate a bird house from up-cycled materials and get ready for the nesting spring birds! Feel free to bring your own recyclables from home. Families. Find more Arlington Parks nature programs here.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join us for an evening nature hike when the leaves aren’t out and the owls may be easier to spot. Give a hoot… literally as we learn about and try to call to our native nocturnal raptors. Dress for the weather.