Smithsonian Solstice Saturday on the Mall

National Mall 1750 Independence Avenue Southwest, Wasington DC, United States

(DC) (National Mall) The Smithsonian marks the first Saturday of summer—Solstice Saturday—by staying open late and hosting programs and performances throughout the day and night. Many of the museums on the National Mall will have extended hours, with two museums staying open until midnight. View participating museums and details below. Solstice Saturday is held in association with Hofstra University’s Department ...

Expert Is In: Rain Gardens

U.S. Botanic Garden 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC, United States

(DC) (US Botanical Garden) Want to know more about how plants can prevent flooding? Drop by the Terrace in front of the Conservatory to talk with Reshmina. You'll learn how rain gardens can make neighborhoods safer and watersheds cleaner, and dive into how you could plan your own rain garden. Bring your questions and connect with plant science professionals in ...

Smithsonian Family Solstice

National Museum of Asian Art 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, United States

(DC) (Smithsonian) Bring the kids to celebrate summer solstice with sun-themed crafts at the National Museum of Asian Art! In between exploring exhibitions, drop by the ImaginAsia Studio to make a hanging mobile of celestial bodies or hand-printed notecards with stamps of the sun and stars. Our docents will be there to lead you through the crafts and assist you ...

Fireflies in the Meadow

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park 5040 Walney Rd, Chantilly, VA, United States

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (4-Adult) Join us at the park to enjoy an evening of fireflies. Bring a plastic jar with a lid to catch and then release. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

$8

Sketching along the Lakeside

Lake Accotink Park 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA, United States

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (13-Adult) Walk with a naturalist by the lakeside and learn techniques and tips for drawing the natural world. Gain a better understanding of how to utilize different sketching and observational skills. Bring the medium of your choice to the class.

$18

Hike with a Gal Friend

Lake Accotink Park 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA, United States

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (16-Adult) Celebrate the sisterhood of women by grabbing your best gal friend and going on a guided hike with a naturalist. Learn about the flora and fauna found around the lake, and most importantly, spend time with a close friend.

$9

Summer Pond Life

Patuxent Research Refuge 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD, United States

(MD) (Nature Forward) Come join Lisa Shannon and Rob Hilton at Rieves Pond at Patuxent North Tract. We’ll be looking for dragonflies and damselflies, of course, but also warblers, frogs, butterflies, plants, and anything else that catches our eye at this quiet green refuge within a refuge.

$33 – $46

Shinrin-yoku: The Art of Forest Bathing

Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD, United States

(MD) (Brookside Gardens) Connect with nature through a forest bathing walk among the vivid colors and rich fragrances of summer blooms. Stroll the grounds and neighboring forest at a measured pace that allows you to notice the small miracles of nature unfolding.

$35

Ft. Bennett Park Invasive Plant Removal

Dawson Terrace North Taft Street, Arlington, Virginia, United States

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Do you like working outside? Join community volunteers in protecting the local environment from invasive plants. This is a continuing project on the fourth Sunday of each month to reclaim the natural area around Ft. Bennett Park from invasive plants. Please bring your own gloves if you have them. If not, gloves are provided. Training and additional tools ...

Life in the Underworld

Burke Lake Park 7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA, United States

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (4-Adult) Come and explore the "underworld" under fallen logs. Discover the bugs, fungus and salamanders that live under the forest floor. Collect, examine and identify creatures using magnifiers and microscopes. Learn about their important jobs as pollinators and decomposers through projects and scientific investigations.

$8

Invasive Plant Removal at Normanstone Mini-Oasis

Normanstone 2965 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC, United States

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

Free

Music in the Gardens at Meadowlark

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, VA, United States

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Don’t miss the last concert of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra’s seventh season in our Korean Bell Garden.  This concert will not only include music from classical masters, but will also feature “Anatolian Dances,” composed and performed by Osman Kivrak.   Bring your favorite blanket or bag chair and enjoy the sounds of the classics in a beautiful setting! ...

$4 – $8
Capital Nature