Capital Nature

(MD) (Montgomery Bird Club) Join us for a morning at and around Riley’s Lock where we will first spend some time scanning the river for waterfowl. After that, we’ll head upstream on the towpath checking the turning basin for any elusive waterfowl and then continue on looking for winter woodland birds. Bring a scope if you have one.

(MD) (Nature Forward) These broad-based nature explorations are an invitation to stuff your pockets full of heat-producing calories and head out to visit some of the DMV’s close-in parks. Winter is often called the quiet season, but there is still lots to look at and listen for in the natural world despite the cold temperatures. As we enjoy the beauty ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Save the trees, protect the Long Branch watershed, and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the MLK Weekend of Service Join Barbara, Weed Warrior Supervisor, for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday at Long Branch Stream Valley Unit 2 and Long Branch Local Park. We will focus on non-native, invasive vines and shrubs including ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Want to restore habitat and increase native species diversity right here in Arlington? Work parties are held every month and are making a difference with the return of ferns, wildflowers and the animals that depend on them to areas once covered in destructive invasive plants. Help make it happen! Adults, teens and families ages 8 and up.

(VA) (Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) Are you an Arlington, Alexandria, or Falls Church resident interested to become a Master Naturalist? Applications for the Spring 2024 class are open and due on Jan. 22nd. Arlington Regional Master Naturalists are trained volunteers who work to restore and maintain healthy ecosystems in our fragmented public lands. These lands provide vital habitat for resident ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) What do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? Through over 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why dark nights matter, rekindle your connection with the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?

(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Capacitación en ciencias comunitarias y mantenimiento de árboles más un taller de productos de limpieza ecológicos (totalmente en español). Tree Care & Community Science Training Plus Green Cleaning Products Workshop (event is entirely in Spanish)

(DC) (National Portrait Gallery) “Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism” presents some of the key people—scientists, politicians, activists, writers and artists—whose work has influenced attitudes toward the environment in the United States from the late 19th century until today. The exhibition traces a history of the movement from turn-of-the-20th-century conservationism to mid-20th-century environmentalism and its backlash. It also addresses ...

(MD) (Nature Forward) Tuesdays 6-8 pm, January 23–April 2 Field Trips: Soldier’s Delight Serpentine Wildlands, February 24 (10 am–1 pm); Sugarloaf Citizens Association Barn, March 16 (10 am–1 pm) Instructor: Alison Pearce, Nature Forward Deputy Director for Programs Members $360; nonmembers $410 Human Ecology is primarily concerned with how ecosystems and social systems inform and influence each other. That is, ...

(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.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Stay active with friendly walking companions. We’ll explore nearby trails and neighborhoods in a safe, socially distant manner. Adults 55+.

(MD) (Nature Forward) Bundle up and join us for these general nature walks along the flat C&O Canal. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for over-wintering birds and other wildlife, practice winter botany skills, and enjoy the expansive views along the Potomac River that this season provides. These walks will move at a bit faster pace than our usual ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us for a post-sunset stroll where we’ll look and listen for creatures that are most active at night. Hikes are approximately one mile or less. Dress warmly and please, no flashlights. Meet at the gravel parking lot by the boat launch on Black Hill Road.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Flying squirrels are found throughout the wooded neighborhoods of Arlington, but are seldom seen. Join us to learn about these nocturnal rodents in our classroom, then see wild flying squirrels outdoors. Dress for the weather, it can become very cold. Families.

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and Rock Creek Park for a conversation between acting superintendent Brian Joyner and Joan Zenzen, historian and author of 'An Urban Oasis: Rock Creek Park's History and Management.' Zenzen will describe the park's establishment and management over time in the context of public use, park management, and the field of preservation, as ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This series of classes feature foundational yoga poses that are designed to support better breathing, walking, and space orientation. Yoga movements help build muscle, bone density and core strength while improving balance, posture, and flexibility. Mats are not included. Instructor: Sherry Weber. Held in the Visitor Center auditorium. This class meets weekly.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join us at Locust Grove Nature Center for Project FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch is a seasonal community science project, where participants count the different species of birds that flock to a bird feeder. All levels of birders are welcome. Registration is encouraged, just so we can notify participants of cancellations. If you have any questions, please feel free ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Arlington County is full of beautiful trees, but have you ever wondered what it takes to maintain them? Join Urban Forest Manager Vincent Verweij to take a tree-top view of Arlington County and learn how the trees and forests are managed. Adults 55+.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Discover the forest at Fort C.F. Smith! Hike at night while the moon is full. The trail is uneven and we will walk about a mile. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight or headlamp. Families.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Take time to set intentions for the next month while engaging in mindfulness practices under the full moon along the Potomac River. A variety of techniques such as breathwork, gentle stretches and purposeful movement will be used. Please bring your own yoga mat or camping chair. Appropriate for all skill levels. Adults.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Enjoy nature's tranquil beauty and the night sky under a full moon. Your naturalist guide points out signs of creatures that glide, fly and tiptoe through the woods in the dark. Enjoy a campfire after the hike with s'mores provided. Ages 6 to Adult.

(VA) (Audubon Society of Northern Virginia) Join Greg Butcher, ASNV board member and retired migratory species coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service International Programs, for an introduction to waterfowl identification. Get to know many of the species that winter in the open waters of our region. You’ll learn how to tell a Bufflehead from a Hooded Merganser, and, you’ll learn ...

(DMV) (Capital Nature) Winter reveals the forms and details of trees that often go unnoticed during nature's busy seasons. There is magic in the air, and sometimes even snow! Join Capital Nature and reknown local naturalist Alonso Abugattas, the Capital Naturalist, for a fascinating talk on Washington DC-area trees during the winter months. Evergreens like American Hollies and Eastern Cedars ...

(DC) (Casey Trees) Help Casey Trees care for young trees! Your help with weeding, mulching and watering these vulnerable trees will give them a leg up in becoming an important part of our growing tree canopy. Participants will receive a short, hands-on training on site. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will split up into groups and begin caring ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) Meditation helps us build a relationship to a place of inner quietude. Whether you’re a beginner or a skilled practitioner, join us for free online meditation sessions each week led by DC-based meditation teachers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Friday sessions include inspiration from art in the museum collections, much of it inspired by nature.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Winter brings a different dimension to the gardens that is sometimes overlooked by visitors. Walk and talk with a garden expert to uncover the “bones of the garden” without the distraction of leaves or flowers. Explore the architectural elements that shape the gardens including woody plants, hardscape, and other components of design. Led by Kristin Davey, Brookside ...

(DC) (National Zoo) Join us for a wild time as we explore animals and the natural world through creative, free-choice activity stations in our brand-new indoor/outdoor classroom! Dig for horseshoe crabs in the sand table, make lunch for a bird in the mud kitchens, or just join us for a story or two!

(MD) (Nature Forward) These broad-based nature explorations are an invitation to stuff your pockets full of heat-producing calories and head out to visit some of the DMV’s close-in parks. Winter is often called the quiet season, but there is still lots to look at and listen for in the natural world despite the cold temperatures. As we enjoy the beauty ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Learn how to create a phenology wheel for the 12 months of the year. Then decorate each month with nature highlights. Hike to search for January highlights on the trail. Can be done in watercolor or colored pencil. 16 to Adult.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join park naturalists on a winter stroll through the Nature Center trails to learn about our local ecology while sipping on some delicious hot cocoa! Families.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Winter brings a different dimension to the gardens that is sometimes overlooked by visitors. Walk and talk with a garden expert to uncover the “bones of the garden” without the distraction of leaves or flowers. Explore the architectural elements that shape the gardens including woody plants, hardscape, and other components of design. Led by Kristin Davey, Brookside ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Save the trees and the Cabin John Stream Valley ecosystem . Join Weed Warrior Supervisor Yvonne and Locust Grove Nature Center Naturalists for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday in Cabin John Regional Park at Locust Grove Nature Center. We will be focusing on non-native, invasive vines, especially porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata). Native Virginia creeper and ...

(DC) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) and National Links Trust (NLT) for a Habitat Restoration Workday! During this workday you will help AWS with our invasive plant control and revegetation efforts along the riverside area of Kingman Island at Langston Golf Course. This is part of a natural resources management plan for the golf course in ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Tiny Tot programs provide opportunities to interact one-on-one with your child while discovering the wonders of nature. Each program will engage your child with hands-on learning and may include a variety of activities like songs, crafts, finger plays and mini-hikes. Tiny Tot programs are offered throughout the year at Gulf and Long Branch Nature Centers. Ages 18 ...

(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) Join park naturalists for a relaxing stroll through the park's forest and wetland paths. Look and listen for wildlife settling down or waking up during the transition of day to night. Adults.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Enjoy nature's tranquil beauty and the night sky under a full moon. Your naturalist guide points out signs of creatures that glide, fly and tiptoe through the woods in the dark. Enjoy a campfire after the hike with s'mores provided. 6 to Adult.