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.

(DC) (Casey Trees) Join naturalist and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Ana Ka’ahanui from Capital Nature, for an introduction to forest bathing among the trees on Theodore Roosevelt Island. “Shinrin-yoku,” or taking in the forest atmosphere with all of your senses, is a way to slow down, unwind and connect to the natural world. Through a series of simple sensory exercises ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) 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. This event is part of an ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader Bethann Siegel 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. Event location, directions, and information ...

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Enjoy Dyke Marsh’s fall colors on our walk  led by Margaret Chatham and Alan Ford. Fall’s colors are unpredictable, but we might see red sumac leaves and fruits, Virginia creeper vines in red and yellow hues and pokeweed’s purple berries and magenta stems. This walk is limited to 20 people so everyone can hear. Rain ...

(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. ...

(DC) (Hillwood) Experience the serene colors, sights, and stories of the fall trees at Hillwood. Join Jessica Bonilla, director of horticulture, as she spotlights the seasonal foliage. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This thirty-minute tour is limited to twelve and meets in the visitor center conservatory.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Get in the Halloween spirit by carving or painting a pumpkin with your friends at Potomac Overlook! We’ll provide tools, paint, and of course, a pumpkin for some holiday fun. You’ll also enjoy candy, a Halloween craft, and visits from several of our spooky nocturnal critters from the nature center!

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join our NextGen group as they bring together bird enthusiasts, board gamers, and cider lovers for a Wingspan Game Night at Lost Boy Cider. We’ll have 4–5 game boxes on hand (enough for 20–25 players), so whether you’re a seasoned Wingspan-er or just curious to learn, there’s a spot for you at the table. New ...

(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) Love Beavers? We at Friends of Huntley Meadows Park sure do. We have them to thank for much of our wonderful park, and you can learn more about them! Join FODM for Alison Zak’s presentation on beavers (Castor canadenis). Zak will provide a brief history of human interactions with beavers over time, an overview of ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join Matt Felperin, NOVA Parks' Roving Naturalist, for a special paddle under the stars during the Orionid Meteor Shower. Learn more about this natural phenomenon while you search for constellations and satellites. Begin with a brief paddling overview before heading out to take in the night sky. Program includes experienced guide, kayak rental, paddle, and Personal Flotation ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This series of classes feature foundational yoga poses that are designed to support better breathing, walking, and space orientation. Yoga movements help build muscle, bone density and core strength while improving balance, posture, and flexibility. Mats are not included. Instructor: Sherry Weber. This class will be held weekly in the Japanese Tea House, located in the Gude ...

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society and the Phillips Collection for a boat tour of the Anacostia River in collaboration with pioneering DC Artist, Rik Freeman as he shares about his exhibition, Wade in the Waters. Rik will present on-land before we embark on the boat to explore the ecological and historical changes that have occurred in the river and in ...

(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Casey Trees and the Historic Congressional Cemetery as we partner for a sunset “Tree Walk Through History.” The tour will feature selected old-growth trees, along with two dozen distinct species planted by Casey Trees over the past two decades. The signature tree collection will be preserved, cared for, and eventually tagged with their scientific and common ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join an instructor-led gentle flow yoga class on Carlyle House’s picturesque Magnolia Terrace. Start by building heat with sun salutations, then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel, and yoga mat.

(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Experience the wonder of nature through the eyes of artists. During the dawn of European natural history in the 16th and 17th centuries, advancements in scientific technology, trade, and colonial expansion allowed naturalists to study previously unknown and overlooked insects, animals, and other beestjes, or “little beasts.” A delight for all ages, this exhibition features ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Sunrise is the perfect time for a peaceful walk, birding, or nature photography. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens will open at 7am for guests to enjoy nature in the early morning hours.

(DC) (Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy) Help DOPC conserve and restore this jewel in the middle of the city in DC.

(VA) (Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) Do you like working outside? Join community volunteers in protecting the local environment from non-native invasive plants and replacing them with native plants.  This is a continuing project typically held every Saturday to reclaim Potomac Overlook Regional Park from non-native invasive plants. Be sure to come dressed for work, wear long pants, long sleeves, and ...

(DC) (Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens) Slow down, awaken your senses, and connect with nature as you experience a forest bathing walk in Hillwood’s gardens and grounds. Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (which translates to “absorbing the forest atmosphere”), forest bathing is a research-based activity designed to promote health and well-being through immersion in natural settings. Participants will ...

(VA) (Norther Virginia Bird Alliance) The greatest cause of decline in bird populations is habitat loss, and an urbanized (and urbanizing) area like northern Virginia is a contributor. But there are steps we can take to help reverse that trend. That is the goal of NVBA’s Stretch Our Parks program. Come help us "stretch a park." We will remove invasive ...

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Help protect native plants by pulling and clipping invasive plants. We will train volunteers to identify the five or so target plants. We kindly ask that you not bring pets. Invasive plants can threaten and outcompete native plants.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Joan Ducore, Botanical illustrator and instructor – This introductory class explores graphite, a fun and forgiving medium, through examining fall seedpods and cones. You’ll learn to observe and capture nature’s intricate details, developing essential skills to create beautiful, textured drawings. Through hands-on exercises, discover the unique forms and structures of autumn’s botanical treasures.

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join us for free boat tours from 12 - 4 pm at Friends of Anacostia Park's October Late Skate! This annual series is co-hosted by Friends of Anacostia Park and the National Park Service offering a FREE, full day of community, resources, music, boating, and skating. We will be offering 4 free back-to-back 1-hour boat tour experiences: ...

(DC) (Friends of Anacostia park) This annual series is co-hosted by Friends of Anacostia Park and the National Park Service offering a FREE, full day of community, resources, music, boating, and skating. Follow us on social media to see each month’s list of activities. No sign up required.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Calling all witches! Pack your potions and dust off your brooms! This Halloween season, two fan-favorite events are brewing into one unforgettable evening! Witchy Paddle is teaming up with Acoustics and Ales to conjure a festive happy hour filled with live music, tasty brews, and spooky lake views. Join us for our costumed paddle of Little Seneca ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) As the sun meets the horizon surrounded by colorful autumn leaves, certified nature and forest therapy guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature invites you to open your senses to life in the gardens. This unique evening offers a gentle way to release the day's tensions, find balance between day and night, and discover the tranquility of twilight ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This Halloween season, two fan-favorite events are brewing into one unforgettable evening! Acoustics and Ales is teaming up with Witchy Paddle to conjure a festive happy hour filled with live music, tasty brews, and spooky lake views. You can choose to join us shoreside to enjoy the music, food, drinks, and the magical sight of witches paddling ...