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.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Hike with a naturalist to the maple tree grove and learn how sugar maple sap is collected and transformed into maple syrup! This is an indoor and outdoor program on natural surface trails. All attendees must register. Inclement weather could cancel this program. Be sure to check Brooksidenature.org for day-of event status.

(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural expert Keith Tomlinson leads a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as varied as Singapore, the Arizona desert, and the American Midwest. In vibrant visuals he explores how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they ...

(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) (Smithsonian National Zoo) Join us for creative, drop-in play at the Zoo as we explore the different plants and animals that live in the Amazon rainforest. 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.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy free garden admission and a guided walk around Meadowlark Botanical Gardens' 95 acres on Tuesdays. Each 75-minute walk will be over uneven, hilly terrain, have a positive focus, and include a silent, meditative portion and a few interesting facts from our docent along the way. Ages 18 + This is a drop-in program.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join Arlington Park Naturalist Itzamar Duran Cruz to learn about local conservation efforts through an exploration of ongoing projects in our watershed. Discover how our community is protecting natural resources and how you can get involved in making a difference. 55+ program.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) You don’t need a large yard to make a big impact for wildlife. Join Laurie Dodd to learn how planting native plants can support pollinators while creating a beautiful, low-maintenance garden—whether you’re working with a backyard, patio, or balcony. This talk introduces easy-to-grow native plants that thrive in a variety of habitats and benefit bees, butterflies, ...

(DC) (DC EcoWomen) DC EcoWomen invites you to our February Eco Book Club, a welcoming space to connect with fellow environmentally minded women and allies over a meaningful environmental read. Our selected book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World byRobin Wall Kimmerer, explores themes of reciprocity, gift economies, gratitude, and our relationship with the natural world. Through ...

(MD) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Community Native Planting Project to remove Invasive Vines. We will start with a brief training on invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing invasives.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) GREAT NEWS! Now garden guests may enjoy Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with their favorite canines every Wednesday for Pup Stroll Wednesdays. On Wednesdays, during regular daytime hours, leashed dogs are welcome in the gardens. (Only service dogs are permitted on other days.) Please note: Garden admission ends at 6:30pm.

(DC) (Smithsonian) Stop by the Smithsonian Gardens Discovery Station and explore the connective power of orchids!  Take a closer look at the amazing traits that orchids share, uncover the history of vanilla, and get inspired by the Smithsonian Gardens’ orchid collection. Our knowledgeable volunteers are happy to answer your orchid care questions. Find the Discovery Station in the exhibition The Connective ...

(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) (Climate DC) Tired of the cold and looking for something to do inside? Or have the Olympics woken up a competitive spirit in you?Join Climate DC for our February event - Board Game Night. Take the night to relax, have fun, and get to know fellow climate enthusiasts over some nature and climate-inspired games.

(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) 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 ...

(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) (US Botanic Garden) Join us at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory for the 19th annual D.C. Teachers' Night. Connect with D.C. area environmental education organizations and find ways to get your students learning about the natural world and how to bring the environment into the classroom! Learn from an amazing community about field trip experiences, professional development opportunities, and resources. ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) New to the area or just want to get out for a hike? Explore different parks in Montgomery County with an experienced naturalist. Length of hike and trail difficulty varies from site to site. Today we’ll explore Rachel Carson Conservation Park, one of the county’s premier conservation areas, walking through meadows, forest and along the Hawlings River. ...

(DC) (Smithsonian National Zoo) Let’s learn how animals change as they grow- just like us! Join us for creative, drop-in play at the Zoo as we learn about the different ways animals care for their young. 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 ...

(DC) (Hillwood) Jarett Currin, greenhouse grower, shares a preview of Hillwood's fabulous spring and summer blooms on this thirty-minute behind-the-scenes tour of Hillwood's production greenhouse. Enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse while getting a sneak peek of plants being grown for Hillwood's beautiful spring and summer garden displays.

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a winter bird walk through Kingman and Heritage Islands!

(VA) (Northern Virginia Regional Commission) Rain gardens are attractive landscape features that allow rain water and snow melt to absorb into the ground, slowing runoff and removing pollutants before the water reaches local creeks and streams. You will learn how to design, construct, and maintain a rain garden for your property that can absorb rain water, improve wildlife habitat, and ...

(MD) (Garrett County Arts Council)“For the Love of Birds” is an installation piece that incorporates The National Audubon Society’s climate report: Survival by Degrees: 389 Birds on the Brink and artwork curated by curated by Caroline Blizzard and Julie Turrentine. The art exhibit tells the story of how birds will be affected by climate change, with different habitats illustrated through ...

(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. Bring gloves, hand clippers and water. We will supply instructions, examples and trash bags.

(MD) (Casey Trees) Join Chesapeake Climate Action Network volunteer leaders from the Riverdale Park Green Team to remove Invasive Vines around around the Riverdale Park neighborhood.. This event will be a fun mix of door-to-door canvassing and invasive vine removal.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) In this series, we’ll complete STEM challenges while learning about our local ecosystems. Discover how our local watersheds support wildlife and explore how our everyday actions affect these vital ecosystems. Then, dive into a hands-on STEM activity by building your own water filter!

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for an interactive story time followed by an outdoor exploration or activity for children ages 3-7. This is an outdoor story time, weather permitting. Adults must accompany children.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Take a hike through the woods with a naturalist to listen and look for the park’s winter avian residents and migrants. Find out what birds do to survive the winter weather. Feel free to bring your own guides, binoculars and spotting scopes. Site will have a limited number of supplies for participants to borrow for the ...

(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 ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Explore the remarkable adaptations and behaviors of these specialized predators through hands-on encounters with non-venomous snake ambassadors. Discover the sophisticated hunting strategies, sensory capabilities and ecological roles that makes this reptiles masters of evolutionary design. Ages 5 to Adult.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) What’s that sound? Wood frogs abound! These woodland amphibians are a welcoming sign that spring is just around the corner. See (and hear) some of these ribbeting animals at Potomac Overlook’s frog pond, and learn about a fascinating adaptation that helps them survive the cold winter. Ages 5 +