Capital Nature

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (4-Adult) Learn about common pollinators and their importance with native gardens and woodlands. Pollinators are more than just a pretty face. Children under age ten must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered in this program.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (12-Adult) Have you seen those twisty-turny wild grape vines in the Huntley forest that would make Tarzan proud? How about our abundant poison ivy? Have you heard of Hog Peanut? Join artist and naturalist Margaret Wohler to learn about Huntley's many vine species while learning to draw and identify them. All art materials provided.

(DC) (Tregaron Conservancy) Join us for nature-themed story-time with Beth Fotheringill, the beloved librarian of John Eaton Elementary School for over 20 years. Beth will read beautifully illustrated books to pre-K through 2nd grade students. (Older and younger siblings are welcome to attend!)

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Take a guided tour of the gardens and forest of Fort CF Smith Park. We will learn about members of Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family, see the trees and plants in the formal gardens, and follow a woodland path. Smell the sweet magnolia flowers and learn the history of the gardens as we take in the beauty of ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) A string quartet from the Virginia Chamber Orchestra will fill our Korean Bell Garden with the sounds of Mozart, Vivaldi, Dvorak and Shostakovich.  Bring your favorite blanket or bag chair and enjoy the sounds of the classics in a beautiful setting! Music in the Gardens concerts are free with regular garden admission ($4-$8) or garden membership.  On ...

(DC) (Profs & Pints) “Man or bear?” asks a recent viral meme intended to draw attention to the risks that women face. Coming to the Profs and Pints stage to offer American black bears’ perspective is Dr. Jennifer Mullinax, who has spent more than 25 years trapping, collaring, and tracking black bears and other large animals. In a talk that ...

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Come and go as you please. Get to know the 1,364 trees that may be removed. Get to know the birds that call these trees home. Every Tuesday morning, 8-11am.

(DC) (DC Trail Rangers) Join DC Trail Rangers and fellow volunteers for this monthly cleanup of three beautiful parks East of the River and the trails that connect them. 8:30 am - Anacostia River Trail 10:00 am - Marvin Gaye Trail 11:00 am - Oxon Run Trail This is a project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. We'll provide the ...

(DC) (Rare) Join us for a day of science, surprises, and inspiration as we explore the evidence that supports applying behavioral and social sciences to the world’s greatest environmental challenges. BE Hive: Behavioral Insights to Environmental Impacts is a one-day summit that will explore the role of behavioral insights in environmental interventions and conservation outcomes that have been achieved as ...

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy free garden admission and a guided walk around Meadowlark's 95 acres.  Each one-hour walk will be over 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) Join us each Tuesday evening in June for a series of free musical performances set in the beauty of the Gardens! Bring your friends and family, and don’t forget your chairs, blankets, and picnics (allowed in the Gardens on concert evenings only). Food trucks will be available for your dining pleasure. Kona Ice truck will also be ...

(DC) (MD) (VA) (Capital Nature) Join us for this special iNaturalist Virtual ID Night with none other than the CapitalNaturalist, Alonso Abugattas! Learn about the natural history of the caterpillars crawling in your backyard this summer, their ecological importance, and resources to continue learning about your winged friends. Cosponsored with The Nature Conservancy (MD/DC Chapter) and Prince George’s County Dept. ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Take a deep dive to discover wild plants you can eat! Join us for a virtual presentation on which Virginia mushrooms, fruits, nuts, and plants are edible. We will learn how to forage and give identification help. Meet on Microsoft Teams. Adults.

(DC) (THEARC Farm) Want time in a peaceful, outdoor space? Are you hoping to learn more about gardening? Would you like to help grow food for the neighbors? Join us! We'll be planting, weeding, watering, trellising, mulching, and other garden tasks. Adults of all skill levels are welcome. Kids under 16 should be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers may take ...

(MD) (Nature Forward) Join Habitat Manager Bradley Simpson to track the seasonal flow as Spring warms the landscape and invites trees into bud, bloom, and full-leaf. By visiting the same location multiple times throughout the season, we’ll be primed to observe the changes over time, and to cultivate a keener understanding of the dynamic forest ecosystem–and the trees within. The ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Have you ever wanted to learn the names of the birds that visit your backyard, the wildflowers along the trail, or even which animal left that footprint in the mud? Montgomery Parks is pleased to offer a new online learning series for adults that teaches you to recognize the most common species of Montgomery County. Led by ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Take a tour of the vibrant summer demonstration gardens with an Extension Master Gardener docent. Find inspiration in our horticulturists’ plant choices and garden bed designs. Hear about our 18th century origins and our mission today, then step inside for afternoon tea. Garden tours run rain or shine. A traditional British afternoon tea served in the ...

(DC) (City Blossoms) Join us for free staff-led activities for children, families, neighbors, volunteers, and anyone who wants to drop by. Open Times are a chance for visitors (especially kids) to experience the garden through a variety of activities, such as cooking, art, and maintenance. Anyone who comes to lend a hand is welcome to take home some garden goodies as ...

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

(DC) (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 ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Paddle with a naturalist to learn about the flora and fauna that call the lake its home. Find out what’s growing along the lake’s edge, who likes to wade in the water and what might be swimming underneath you. Single kayaks and all equipment provided. Ages 12-Adult

(DC) (Hillwood) Explore the gardens and collection at Hillwood before taking in Mamma Mia!, a film based on the ABBA-inspired musical. Help set a festive atmosphere in our best picnic spread competition. Our judges are charmed by: themed spreads with connections to the film; early 2000s fashion and character look-alikes; props including tablecloths, flameless candelabras, and centerpieces. The winner will ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) The Washington, D.C., area is becoming a greener urban environment. Bill Keene, a lecturer in urban studies, architecture, and history, spotlights innovative approaches to the environment and sustainability that have taken root—sometimes literally—in many types of buildings around town. Begin the day in the Navy Yard neighborhood at the rooftop garden of the office building at 55 ...

(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. Learn about sustainability ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Asian Art Museum) 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 which is inspired by nature, ...

(VA) (Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation) Paddle Four Mile Run and help keep our waterways litter-free. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets provided, or bring your own. Although our first volunteer kayak clean-up of the summer is already at capacity, there are plenty of additional opportunities during the long days of June. Join us for time on the water while keeping ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Eat, dance, learn! A celebration of food, culture, and our native landscape. This is a family friendly, social event co-sponsored by Defensores de la Cuenca. ¡Come, baila, aprende! Esta será una celebración de comida, cultura y la pachamama. Este es un evento social para toda la familia y realizado en colaboración con Defensores de la Cuenca. Family.

(DC) (Tregaron Conservancy) Join birding expert Sam Krause on a walk to look and listen for Tregaron’s resident and visiting birds. Bring binoculars if you would like. The event is free of charge, but registration is required via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-birds-of-tregaron-registration-895344588767?aff=oddtdtcreator The group will gather at 8:00 am sharp at our street-side entrance at 3100 Macomb Street NW.

(MD) ( Nature Forward) Join this transformative outdoor program to navigate life's challenges. which often induce feelings of being alone and overwhelmed, leading to self-neglect while prioritizing others' well-being. Through practical guidance, participants learn to prioritize self-care and find solace in nature, recovering strength and resilience amidst external turmoil. Cultivate mature compassion within a supportive community, empowering you to understand ...

(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. You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to care for trees. Participants will receive a short, hands-on training on ...

(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Join our nature and forest therapy guide in this two-hour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Park) (16-Adults) Take a 30 minute stroll on shaded paths to learn how to identify some lovely local ferns. Then spend some time drawing ferns in our shelter (using cuttings from staff gardens) or borrow a portable chair and find a nearby fern to sketch. Tips for simplifying fern drawings and sketching key features will be discussed. Your ...

(DC) (Hillwood) Slow down, awaken your senses, and connect with nature as you experience a forest bathing walk in Hillwood’s gardens and grounds. Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (which translates to “absorbing the forest atmosphere”), forest bathing is a research-based activity designed to promote health and well-being through immersion in natural settings. Participants will be guided on a ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Park) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service 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 for a thriving native understory. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 hours prior ...

(DC) (Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens) Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is celebrating 16 years as an official 501(c)3, and we hope you’ll join us at the park as we kick off our celebration with a free day of fun, wellness classes, outdoor activities for all ages, music, and more. Please keep an eye out as we plan to celebrate ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Dawson, Weed Warrior Supervisor and Parks Staff Member, for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday in North Gate Local Park in Aspen Hill, MD. We will focus on non-native, invasive vines including English ivy (Hedera helix). Please wear long pants that cover your ankles, long sleeves, and sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Bring gloves, pruners, small folding hand ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) Join us for an early celebration of Pollinator Week! See pollinator specimens up close, meet scientists and horticulturists studying and providing habitats for our local pollinators, create your own print inspired by pollinators, and more! Smithsonian Gardens will be joining us to share about the Smithsonian's many gardens and how insects spread pollen. We also ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (4-Adult) Walk with a naturalist to learn about how animal parents help keep their babies safe during the summer. Discover the various adaptations these babies have to keep them hidden from predators and other dangers in the wild. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) The whole family is invited to join us at Long Branch Nature Center for lots of old-fashioned fun. This engaging program will be filled with entertaining activities which may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, S’mores. (We will provide the marshmallows, chocolate & graham crackers). Families.

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Join us for an evening campfire the whole family can enjoy. During the program we will explore the wonders of our natural world. Our programs may include nature walks, interactive activities, animal presentations, or other opportunities to learn about nature and our place in it. Includes s’mores. Topics vary by date. Children must be accompanied by ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (4-Adult) Join a naturalist for a night of learning about the beauty of our local bats. It's time to clear these flying mammals' good name and understand how helpful they are to humans. The program will involve not only talking about bats, but also looking and listening for nearby bats.