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) (Potomac Riverkeeper) Join us on an all-women’s paddle in support of clean water!  The paddle will launch and head up Four Mile Run, a scenic urban tributary of the Potomac River located just south of Arlington. Spend your morning enjoying an easy out and back flat-water paddle up four-mile run – perfect for soaking up some sunshine, admiring the scenery ...

(DC) (National Park Service) Join insect expert Jenny and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on a guided insect tour of the park! Learn more about the insects that call the gardens home!  

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for an interactive story time followed by an outdoor exploration or activity for children ages 3-7. We will meet in the outdoor classroom area located in the Children’s Garden, weather permitting. Adults must accompany children. Meet in the Outdoor Classroom located in the Children’s Garden area.  

(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) (National Park Service) Join park rangers and expert volunteers on Tuesday mornings from 8:30-10:00am for a weekly bird walk at beautiful Kenilworth. Over 250 different species of birds have been spotted at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and Kenilworth Park! The park manages habitat for ground nesting, aquatic, and woodland birds.  Bring comfortable shoes, water, and binoculars if you have them ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) This course covers the basics of observing the night sky and objects with a telescope and astronomy resources. Class will provide hands-on observation with telescopes weather permitting. Attendees can bring their own telescopes to use and receive assistance. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society. 8 to Adult

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join us every other Thursday for Storytime on the Farm. Hear a farm or nature-related story, then experience the subject up close with an animal meet and greet or short nature walk. We will meet behind the office for storytime. If it's raining, please join us in the Visitor's Center. This program is free and aimed towards ...

(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Explore the Anacostia River while riding in one of our open-air boats as part of the Anacostia River Explorers program. Anacostia Watershed Society staff will take participants on a one hour tour of the river while discussing natural and cultural history along with restoration efforts. You will experience the joy of being out on the water ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and Sarah DeWitt, Certified Forest Therapy Guide for a two-hour gentle walk to help you slow down and reconnect with yourself, nature, and your community. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses. This forest bathing walk will begin with some gentle mindful ...

(DC) (National Park Service) Join a park ranger on Friday mornings through August 30th for a garden tour at beautiful Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The garden tour will begin at the visitors center. Learn more about birds at Kenilworth from NPS here  

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Going on nature walks are not only beneficial for your physical health, but also for your mental health. Clear your mind as you walk with a naturalist through the woods, as you learn what techniques you can use to help repair your mind from the stress of your day-to-day life. Ages 12 to Adult.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience forest bathing to connect more deeply with nature, release stress, and enjoy summer at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens! Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is a way to immerse your senses in the natural world. Slow down, relax, and join certified forest bathing guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature for a guided slow wander ...

(DC) (Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens) Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese, means “bathing in the essence of the forest” and is a scientifically proven therapeutic modality to aid in one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Participate in a 120-minute Forest Bathing saunter guided by certified Nature and Forest Therapy instructor J. Sage Raindancer. Meander through the Kenilworth Aquatic ...

(MD) (Potomac Riverkeeper) Join Potomac Riverkeeper, Atlantic Kayak, and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on a unique guided interpretive paddle through Mallows Bay, the newest National Marine Sanctuary in the United States. Mallows Bay is home to the largest collection of historic shipwrecks in the Western Hemisphere, known as the “Ghost Fleet” of the Potomac.

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Volunteers will help AWS to release about 400 freshwater mussels into the Anacostia River! In 2015, we started surveying the native species of freshwater mussels in the Anacostia River to understand their diversity and abundance. In 2018 we started a mussel propagation project partnering with the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery run by the U.S. Fish ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Weed Warrior Leaders Tere and Susi Baranano 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 ...

(DC) (Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens) Join us for a FREE outdoor Zumba class at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! Zerline teaches Zumba Fitness, a fast-paced, world dance platform featuring Latin, West African, and Eastern movement and music. Unlike the average Zumba instructor, she explains the origin and derivation of the movements, while also making modifications for all levels. Zumba Fitness is an ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Each participant will get to use a compass and map of Glencarlyn Park to navigate the terrain with a park naturalist. We may also see some wild animals while exploring. Ages 8 to 12.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Write a poem while gazing at the night sky to see if you can find a shooting star. The event is free but registration is recommended.