Capital Nature

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Take a bird walk with an expert instructor and learn the basics of using binoculars, listening for bird calls, using field guides and digital tools, and looking carefully in all directions. Stop at the spots in the garden that are most attractive for local birds and learn more about them. Borrow a pair of our binoculars or ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) View the first major retrospective of the acclaimed Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) artist: Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Lowe’s elegant, minimalist sculptures made of willow branches, feathers, and other organic materials evoke the rivers, streams, and waterfalls of the Wisconsin woodlands where he was raised and the canoes used to traverse them.

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Stream Team Leader Kathy Sykes for a litter removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park. Trash is the visible form of stormwater pollution, a major threat to water quality and park health and its removal makes the parklands cleaner, safer, and more beautiful for all.

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leader, Keith Krosinsky 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) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 7 a.m. April through September. 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.  

(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.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Create a miniature boat using natural and upcycled materials, take a Naturalist led hike down to Meadowside’s bubbling creek, and watch your boat float its way downstream! Ages 6 and up.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join an instructor-led hour-long Yoga Class on Carlyle House’s Magnolia Terrace. This is a gentle flow yoga class, where we will build heat with sun salutations then progress to balance, deep stretching and finally relaxation. Please bring water, a towel, and a yoga mat. Wear comfortable yoga wear.

(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 ...

(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) (Casey Trees) Join Meredith from CCAN and Community Native Planting Project to remove invasive vines and transform a two-acre site next to Publick Playhouse into a welcoming natural area. We will start with a brief training on invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about two hours removing invasives.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Experience a fun, accessible evening on the water with our Adaptive Paddling Program! We offer adaptive kayaking equipment such as transfer benches, hand and wrist supports, stabilizing outriggers, and supportive seating systems for individuals who benefit from physical support. Our trained staff ensures a safe and enjoyable adventure on calm, flat water. Ages 16 and up.

(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Connect your mind, body, and spirit with nature through guided mindfulness programs on Wednesdays during summer evening hours. Save the date — registrations are coming soon!

(DMV) (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) Set up your yard, pick up on signs that birds are nesting near you, and keep your eyes peeled for special summer bird sights!

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy a nice sunset on the water and experience the natural beauty of the Occoquan Reservoir, while learning about natural and historical features unique to the area. This program will be led by NOVA Parks' Roving Naturalist, Matt Felperin. We will begin with a brief paddling instruction overview before heading out. Previous kayak experience suggested, but not ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults. Have a little more time? Take a moment to slow down, use your senses, and explore the Enid A. Haupt Garden through nature journaling. Bring your own journal or decorate one for your garden observations. And be ...

(DC) (Hillwood) Experience the serenity and beauty of the Japanese-style garden, just as Marjorie Post and so many of her guests did. Join Michael Rollinson, gardener, as he shares a behind-the-scenes look at the intricately manicured, yet “naturally wild,” Japanese-style garden. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This thirty-minute tour is limited ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Discover how the gardens around the National Museum of Natural History create habitats that support birds, insects, and even people! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History.

(DC) (Hillwood) Marjorie Merriweather Post loved displaying fresh cut flowers throughout her home. This tradition continues today as the cutting garden produces nearly one thousand stems a week during the height of summer. From sunflowers and zinnias to eucalyptus and lisianthus, a weekly harvest supplies a bounty of flowers which are used in arrangements throughout the property. Tour the garden ...

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Interested in learning about the connection between science and art? Drop by the Garden Court to talk with Dr. Jennifer Riehl, Forest Molecular Geneticist, and learn how drawing, writing stories, and close observation can be gateways to understanding the natural world and each other. Explore the beauty and diversity of plant forms and learn how to create ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Savor the beauty of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in the soft glow of twilight. During these special extended hours, the gardens remain open until 8:45 PM, offering a peaceful and picturesque setting to unwind, take an evening stroll, or simply enjoy the changing light as day turns to dusk.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome the Summer Solstice as the sun sets over the serene Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with an evening of deep relaxation, an immersive sound journey, and nature therapy (forest bathing). This restorative experience blends nature therapy to reconnect with nature and awaken your senses, along with immersive sound meditation to quiet the mind and attune to the rhythms ...

(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Travel across the country through music, exploring our many traditions—from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Every Friday through August 14 (except June 5 and July 3). Pre-show dance classes on May 22 and 29, June 12, and July 24. Event registration through ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Nine exhibits across Smithsonian Gardens around the National Mall hold history and memories, tell American stories, and carry culture through food growing and seed saving. The exhibition also introduces gardens as places of wellbeing, connection, and innovation—from horticultural therapy to the powerful role trees play in ecosystems and in cities.

(DC) (Casey Trees) Join CCAN, The Langdon Park Forest Stewards, and Casey Trees to get outside and remove invasive plants! Take part in the exciting Assisted Natural Regeneration efforts happening to restore the forest at Langdon Park in NE DC. We will start with a brief training on non-native invasive species and best practices for removal, and spend about 2 ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Montgomery Parks & Neighbors of Northwest Branch at a volunteer park cleanup! Help beautify your community green spaces, keep litter out of our streams, and protect wildlife! Children under 14 years old must volunteer with a parent/guardian.

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and Weed Warrior leader Rena Subotnik or 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 ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Forest bathing promotes wellness through deepening our connection to natural environments. Based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates as “taking in the atmosphere of the forest,””. This 2-hour session, led by certified forest therapy guide Adria S. Zeldin, will guide you through mindfulness-based sensory invitations to help you slow down, awaken your senses, and reconnect ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Montgomery Parks at a volunteer park cleanup! Help beautify your community green spaces, keep litter out of our streams, and protect wildlife! Children under 14 years old must volunteer with a parent/guardian.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Love, disguise, and redemption collide in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Driven from court by sibling rivalry and ruthless ambition, Orlando and Rosalind escape into the Forest of Arden, where identities blur and hearts awaken. Witty, romantic, and full of heart, As You Like It celebrates love in all its unexpected forms. Bring a lawn chair, and a picnic and enjoy the bard ...