Capital Nature

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy premium golden-hour light and exclusive, pre-opening access to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens! This photography session focuses on all things Cherry Blossoms, including landscapes, close-up/macro shots and wildlife. Meadowlark features both beautifully curated gardens and rich natural areas—an ideal setting for wildlife photography. And of course, you are welcome to focus on any subject that inspires you. All ...

(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) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a relaxed bird walk at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, one of the most unique birding spots in Washington, DC. We’ll explore the ponds, boardwalk, and garden trails while looking for waterbirds, songbirds, and seasonal migrants that use this beautiful wetland habitat along the Anacostia River.

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Come hang out with us for a relaxed morning bird sit at Fort C.F. Smith Park in Arlington! We'll spend the morning on cozy picnic blankets watching and listening for birds as they start their day and get up to their morning shenanigans. This bird sit will be led by NVBA bird guide Jeph Simmons ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader Danna McCormick 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.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join integrative therapist Tania Lanning for a guided walk focused on self-care in nature. Among the fragrant blossoms, maple trees, and brightly colored roses of the Formal Gardens, you will be invited to awaken your senses, notice your inner voice, and reflect on how you can bring awareness and compassion to your internal experience. Participants will receive ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome spring with a playful scavenger hunt! Embark on a self-guided adventure through the gardens as you search for giant eggs hidden along the paths: Begin your quest at the Visitor Center, where you’ll receive your egg hunt sheet—your key to unlocking the fun. Hop along the garden paths. When you discover a giant egg, draw its ...

(DC) (National Building Museum) Celebrate spring and the city’s cherry blossoms at the National Building Museum with Japanese-inspired creativity. The program features hands-on activities centered on language exploration, paper craft, and illustration, along with a short koto and shamisen performance showcasing traditional Japanese music.

(DC) (Friends of Oxon Run) Soar into spring at the Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly on March 29, 2026, at Oxon Run Park in Ward 8! Enjoy a day of kites, culture, exciting activities, and community crafts for all ages. Explore the Ward 8 vendor market, connect with neighbors, and experience the joy of spring in a vibrant and ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Come help the Shepherd Park Weed Warriors remove invasives at Shepherd Field (behind Shepherd Elementary School) on Kalmia Rd, NW in ward 4. Tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes with good tread, and weather appropriate clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or snagged. Bring your own water bottle.

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join us for our first Alliance Afternoon of 2026. We will gather to mingle with other bird-lovers while enjoying snacks and drinks. The chapter meeting will be followed by a presentation on Searching for Lost Birds. Around the world, just over 100 species of birds are currently considered “lost” meaning that they are not considered ...

(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) (US Botanic Garden) Join Lilly Andersen, USBG Family Education Specialist as you observe leaves of different shapes and sizes while considering the question: Why do leaves come in so many different forms? Learn to recognize patterns between the shapes and structures of leaves from a wide variety of plants, and then use your new knowledge to explore the Garden ...

(DC) (Tree Stories) Join educational arborist Sam Nelson for a guided walk in D.C's Capitol Hill featuring history, science, and beautiful groves of blossoms Together, we'll discuss tree science, history, and slow down to stroll and reflect under magical blossoms in spring (and take some photos). This walk will not include the beautiful but crowded Tidal Basin. Instead, we'll begin ...

(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. ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Do you want to learn how to identify the birds that flock to your backyard everyday? Or maybe you’re preparing for our annual spring fundraiser, Birdathon. Join this online course to brush up on your bird identification skills with NVBA Vice President, Andreas Seiter! During this program, your instructor will: Review common backyard bird species ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for informal walks through Glencarlyn Park in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcome. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. Adults.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Tai Chi is an ancient, Chinese form of exercise perfect for adults seeking stress reduction while strengthening muscles, improving balance and increasing flexibility. The Forms are repetitive patterns that emphasize slow, flowing motions and controlled movements. Classes will help beginners to learn the Forms while providing regular practitioners the guidance of an experienced instructor. No walk-ins will ...

(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 ...

(DC) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN to remove Invasive Vines at Catholic University. We will spend the first 30 minutes doing a brief training on invasive vines and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 hours removing vines from the trees. We will focus on non-native invasive vines including porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata) and English ivy (Hedera ...

(DC) (Tree Stories) Join educational arborist Sam Nelson for a guided walk in D.C's Capitol Hill featuring history, science, and beautiful groves of blossoms Together, we'll discuss tree science, history, and slow down to stroll and reflect under magical blossoms in spring (and take some photos). This walk will not include the beautiful but crowded Tidal Basin. Instead, we'll begin ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Discover practical ways to transform your yard into a thriving, sustainable landscape. Drawing from the presenter’s own garden, this talk explores phased planning, habitat-rich garden bed design, and how to choose native plants suited to your conditions. Learn actionable strategies that increase ecological value, support wildlife, and help you move confidently toward eco-friendly gardening practices. Drew Asbury, ...

(VA) (Fairfax County) Help document our community's biodiversity by learning how to use the free app iNaturalist! Join VA Master Naturalist and Capital Nature Co-Founder Ana Ka'ahanui for tips on making iNaturalist observations in preparation for the upcoming global bioblitz, the City Nature Challenge. Weather permitting, we will explore the outdoors using the app to identify flora and fauna around the library. Adults. No ...

(MD) (Nature Forward) Join Naturalist and Capital Nature co-founder Ana Ka'ahanui for this 5-week online course to gain practical fluency with digital apps (like iNaturalist, eBird, Merlin Bird ID, and GLOBE Observer) and websites used by naturalists, researchers, and conservationists worldwide. Along the way, you’ll learn how everyday observations contribute to scientific knowledge and conservation efforts. This course is part ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join Roving Naturalist and wildlife photographer Matt Felperin at Bull Run Regional Park to experience and capture the magic of the Virginia Bluebells! At this nature photography workshop, learn how to take stunning photos of this mystical landscape as well as close ups of the fleeting flowers themselves. Digital cameras and appropriate lenses encouraged, but even your ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Butterfly and dragonfly surveys are carried out April-October, normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association's Annual Count. The results of these surveys are made available to the participants and other interested individuals and agencies, including the ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the magic and wonder of the Bluebell Trail in its full glory! Take a relaxing stroll on Bull Run Regional Park's most famous trail while being enveloped by a sea of blue. Learn about spring ephemeral plants such as the Virginia Bluebell and why these fleeting flowers bloom for such a short time. Ages 8+

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome spring with a playful scavenger hunt! Embark on a self-guided adventure through the gardens as you search for giant eggs hidden along the paths: Begin your quest at the Visitor Center, where you’ll receive your egg hunt sheet—your key to unlocking the fun. Hop along the garden paths. When you discover a giant egg, draw its ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join  NVBA for beginner birding at the beautiful Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, “an oasis for migratory birds and busy city residents seeking a quiet escape from development.” On this guided walk, you’ll explore the refuge’s diverse waterfowl species with naturalist Andreas Seiter.

(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 ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for the magic of the full moon for a hike and campfire on each Friday nearest to the full moon. Feel free to bring your own hotdogs to warm over the fire and we’ll provide marshmallows. The program will be mainly outdoors with a hiking component. All hikes will be on natural surface trails.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the magic and wonder of the Bluebell Trail in its full glory! Take a relaxing stroll on Bull Run Regional Park's most famous trail while being enveloped by a sea of blue. Learn about spring ephemeral plants such as the Virginia Bluebell and why these fleeting flowers bloom for such a short time. Ages 8+

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Join DC Bird Alliance for a relaxed, guided bird walk on Kingman Island. We’ll move at an easy pace, pause often to observe birds, and explore the island’s unique habitats together. This walk is open to all experience levels. Bring binoculars if you have them (we have a few to spare), curiosity if you don’t, and ...

(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 ...

(MD) (Casey Trees) Join the Hyattsville Tree Stewards and the City of Hyattsville to remove Invasive Vines around the neighborhood. We will meet at Heurich Park and spend 30 minutes doing training. From there we will break into pairs and head to a list of pre-surveyed residences in the area to offer vine removal for residents. We may also drop ...

(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) Join Ward 8 Woods every first Saturday of the month to restore Suitland Parkway by removing trash and invasive vines that are smothering the trees. Since 2018, Ward 8 Woods Park Stewards and volunteers have removed more than 300 tons of trash from the woods of Suitland Parkway and cut vines from more than 1,000 trees. On ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Immerse yourself in the vibrations of nature, channeled through the ancient instrument of gong. Deep vibrations will resonate with the natural environment and serve as a sonic massage on the body, mind, and spirit. Then, we’ll hop into the expanse of nature to follow the calls of frogs into the park. Ages 9 +.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Are you interested in learning about local wildlife and helping out nature. Then check out our Community Science program at Locust Grove Nature Center. Nighttime is often the best chance to encounter wildlife such as owls, foxes, bats, and frogs. Join a Naturalist for a guided wildlife-monitoring walk and help document the species that make their home ...