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. Meet in the Belle Haven Park south parking lot.

(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Join our nature and forest therapy guide for a special Autumn Equinox Forest Bathing session. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure, and improved attention and mood. Our forest bathing walks are around two hours ...

(DC) (National Park Service) Does a chilly, rainy day in Washington have you picturing furtive meetings between shadowy characters under overcast skies? Running along Embassy Row, Rock Creek Park has been the site of spy stories and neighbor to many spies. Join a Park Ranger for a hike through Rock Creek and learn the story of spies in America’s Back ...

(DC) (National Park Service) Join us in celebration of National Public Lands Day by removing invasives! We will be focusing our efforts on Fletcher's Cove, working to remove Kudzu, an invasive vine.

(MD) (DC Bird Alliance) Welcome the changing season with a different kind of nature experience. Our friends at Willow Street Yoga invite the community to gather for a special Fall Equinox Sound Bath, with proceeds benefiting the chapter. Sound baths use resonant tones, vibrations, and layered sound to support deep relaxation and meditation. No bird identification. No binoculars. No miles ...

(MD) (Friends of Sligo Creek) During the Spring and Fall Sweep the Creek events, hundreds of people come out to help rid the park of trash, keep the water clean for wildlife and plants and experience the wonders of Sligo Creek in a new way. FOSC volunteers don gloves, boots, even waders, to collect an amazing variety of plastic, metal, ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Conservation Trust) Help NVCT and the Potomac Conservancy clean up the Hunting Creek watershed adjacent to Interstate 495! The trash and debris that pile in from the Potomac River and Cameron Run harms the environment and hinders outdoor activity around the area. We hope you'll jump in a single or double kayak and join us for our ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) With Fairfax County schools closed, why not be an early bird and join NOVA Parks' Roving Naturalist to search for migrating warblers, a family of small insect-eating birds that often display striking plumage! September is the peak month for fall migration. Learn the stories of these lightning fast little beauties, and where they explore when they're not ...

(VA) (Earth Sangha) Earth Sangha's Wild Plant Nursery is the region's most comprehensive effort to propagate native plants directly from local forests and meadows. Volunteers help collect native plant seeds in forests and meadows, clean seeds in preparation for planting, help maintain the nursery, and remove invasives. Our goal is for each volunteer, whether they regularly join our work or ...

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) You will help AWS with a wild freshwater mussel survey in Kingman Lake! We will be walking in mud that can be very mucky in waders (AWS can provide you with a pair if you don’t have your own). If you’re not comfortable walking in mud using waders, we recommend joining us at a different event. ...

(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) (Anacostia Watershed Society) You will help AWS with a wild freshwater mussel survey in Kenilworth Lake! We will be walking in mud that can be very mucky in waders (AWS can provide you with a pair if you don’t have your own). If you’re not comfortable walking in mud using waders, we recommend joining us at a different event. ...

(MD) (Casey Trees) (Montgomery Parks) Learn from industry-leading experts on their research and contributions at the Urban Tree Summit. All arborists, landscape industry professionals, environmental/green industry professionals, engineers, designers, housing developers, students, and interested citizens are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from experts, experienced peers, and local, tree-focused, and mission-driven organizations. This is an all-day conference ...

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join our volunteer team once a month, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and  help count butterflies and dragonflies in Dyke Marsh on September 23rd and October 21st.  Surveyors do not need experience or specialized knowledge. Meet in the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, sun and insect protection and a snack. Binoculars, ...

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) You will help AWS with a wild freshwater mussel survey in Heritage Marsh! We will be walking in mud that can be very mucky in waders (AWS can provide you with a pair if you don’t have your own). If you’re not comfortable walking in mud using waders, we recommend joining us at a different event. ...

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society for a 1-hour Anacostia River boat tour to explore the ecological and historical changes that have occurred in the river and in the communities around the river. We will have the opportunity to witness some of the restoration of river habitats and how it has caused the rebound of the wildlife.

(DC) (National Park Service) Bring your little ones to learn about the forest and how to explore nature! This program includes books, animal puppets, magnifying glasses, and a very short hike. During the walk, children are encouraged to search for shapes and colors and use their senses to explore the forest. Recommended for families with children 6 and under.  

(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 meet at the parking lot of the Langdon Park Rec Cente. We will start with a brief training ...

(DC) (National Park Service) Join us for a morning of stewardship volunteering at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! Participate in a variety of park stewardship activities including invasive plant removal, litter collection, flower bed weeding, trail maintenance and more. All necessary tools and supplies will be provided.

(DC) (Casey Trees) Join naturalist and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a guided walk through the rich landscapes of Rock Creek Park. This Field Session is a part of the 2026 Urban Tree Summit, hosted by Casey Trees and Montgomery Parks. The immersive tour invites participants to slow down and observe the intricate relationships between native trees, understory plants, and wildlife. ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Please join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service, for a cleanup of the Carter Barron amphitheater. We will remove debris, paint, clear leaf litter, weed, sweep, and trim back invasive plants, helping preserve the amphitheater while it awaits future restoration. This is a unique opportunity to get a 'behind the scenes' look at the ...

(VA) (EcoAction Arlington) Help protect Arlington’s waterways! We’ll document every piece of litter collected with the CleanSwell app (we’ll also have sheets on site) to support local stormwater efforts and reduce pollution in our streams. It’s a hands‑on way to make a real impact, learn about watershed health, and connect with neighbors who care about the environment. Be part of ...

(DC) (Friends of Anacostia Park) Come get your skate on! Join Friends of Anacostia Park, the National Park Service, and our community partners for a day of music, recreation and kinship in DC's most storied skating venue.

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Volunteers will help AWS to release freshwater mussels into the Anacostia River! In 2018 we started a mussel propagation project partnering with the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Virginia collecting local broodstock from the Anacostia River. Volunteers are critical to keep this project going and to meet ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and fellow Weed Warriors 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 area-wide volunteer-powered effort to ...

(DC) (Friends of Peirce Mill) Bring a picnic supper to Peirce Mill, enjoy a free concert, and savor the waning days of summer in Rock Creek Park.