Capital Nature

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join us as we participate in the longest-running citizen science program in the world—the Christmas Bird Count! We will be counting birds at Battery Kemble Park and hope to see lots of woodland species, including woodpeckers, kinglets, and sparrows. We are limiting the number of participants for this citizen science effort; you must register to attend.

(VA) (Earth Sangha) Help Earth Sangha clean and prepare native seeds for spring planting. Seed cleaning will take place every Sunday through the winter.

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join us for this very special bird walk at Rock Creek Park as we discover, or rediscover, what is means for us to be a birder. What connects in your mind, body and soul when you hear a tiny soprano in perfect pitch singing to you? Together Susan West Montgomery, we will enjoy a practice inviting ...

(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 ...

(MD) (Virginia Native Plant Society) Celebrate the beginning of the winter season at the old-age Travilah Serpentine Barrens (Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park-North Unit) with its spectacular scenery and diversity of native plants, wildlife, and natural communities! Sponsored by the Maryland Native Plant Society, Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, and Botanical Society of Washington.  

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) To many people, the winter season is often seen as cold and dark and foreboding. But to the earth, this is a vital time of rest, beauty and restoration. Join us for a short lecture about the joys of winter from the perspective of nature and venture out on a hike in the woods to see ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Santa’s animal friends are lost in the park and need rescuing! Join this festive scavenger hunt to locate the critters so they can help Santa deliver candy and treats in time for the holidays! This event is appropriate for families and children of all ages.

(VA) (Earthwalk Ways) Join earth guide Darlene Rollins for a restorative program: Light in the Darkness: The Power of Singing for Health and Well-Being at Earthwork nature retreat center.

(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) Join Ward 8 Woods Conservancy staff, Board members, volunteers, supporters and community in marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. We'll attune ourselves to natural cycles, while exploring the hilly upland woods of Shepherd Parkway. Through the bare trees we'll take in views of the city below, reflect on the year past, and ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Celebrate the first day of winter and shortest day of the year with a Park Naturalist for an outing into the forest and wetland at sunset on this December evening. We will look and listen for signs of nocturnal wildlife. Ages 5+.

(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.  

(DC) (Department of Parks and Recreation) Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Participants will enjoy group walking around the neighborhood, around the park, or just ...

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Experience breathtaking bird images by DC Bird Alliance photographers at the new La Galerie on K at the Capital Hilton. See local birds and birds captured during travel by DCBA members. On view through February.    

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Santa’s animal friends are lost in the park and need rescuing! Join this festive scavenger hunt to locate the critters so they can help Santa deliver candy and treats in time for the holidays! This event is appropriate for families and children of all ages.

(DC) (Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena) Join the Winter fun at Canal Park Ice Rink! Public skating sessions are available seven days a week during the winter. Sessions are 90 minutes long, with a break at the half-way point to resurface the ice. The rink is open through March 2nd. Daily hours vary.

(DC) (National Gallery of Art) The beloved winter tradition returns to the National Gallery of Art! Enjoy the beauty of the Sculpture Garden, festive displays and winter refreshments through March 2nd. The ice rink is open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Skating sessions begin on the hour and ...

(DC) (Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena) Join the Winter fun at Canal Park Ice Rink! Public skating sessions are available seven days a week during the winter. Sessions are 90 minutes long, with a break at the half-way point to resurface the ice. The rink is open through March 2nd. Daily hours vary.

(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 ...

(DC) (National Gallery of Art) The beloved winter tradition returns to the National Gallery of Art! Enjoy the beauty of the Sculpture Garden, festive displays and winter refreshments through March 2nd. The ice rink is open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Skating sessions begin on the hour and ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Park) Come and enjoy a ranger-led program in the only planetarium in the National Park Service! The Stellar Star Show will be a 30-minute ranger-led program about the planets and the night sky.   

(VA) (Sierra Club Potomac) Join us on a hike along a portion of the former boundary line between the nation’s capital and Virginia. Discover why this area was included in the Federal City and why it was retroceded to Virginia in 1846. See stones placed every mile along the boundary survey line in 1791; all except one on this hike ...

(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.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Santa’s animal friends are lost in the park and need rescuing! Join this festive scavenger hunt to locate the critters so they can help Santa deliver candy and treats in time for the holidays! This event is appropriate for families and children of all ages.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Have you ever wanted to learn how to start a campfire? Join a Park Naturalist and learn different ways to stack your logs, different lighting techniques, and fire safety. Participants are encouraged to bring a campfire snack for roasting. Inclement weather could cancel this program. Be sure to check Brooksidenature.org for day-of event status.