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) (Montgomery Parks) Connect with nature through a forest bathing walk among the beautiful fall colors. Stroll the grounds and neighboring forest at a measured pace that allows you to notice the small miracles of nature unfolding. We’ll close the walk by enjoying hot tea and healthy snacks. Ages 18+ Instructor: Ana Ka’ahanui, certified Forest Therapy Guide  

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (6-Adult) Learn ancient techniques of starting a fire, working on a dug out canoe and using a bow and arrow.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Regardless of the weather or season, there are always neat plants, mosses, lichens, and fungi to see if you look closely! Each participant will be given a magnifying hand lens to use during the walk, and we'll explore the incredible micro-worlds of mosses and other plants, fungi, even invertebrates! Teens ages 12 and up welcome to attend ...

(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.  

(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) We are a group of 5 women who photograph wildlife nationally and internationally. Some of us are professional photographers, others are amateurs. Among us we have won major photography awards and have been widely published and exhibited. It is a pleasure to exhibit at Huntley Meadows, which is a major source of inspiration and photographic ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) When MCPS is out of school, why not have your teen join us for an outdoor adventure! In this series, we’ll hike, kayak, and bike our way through some of the most interesting nature locales in our area! All programs begin and end at Maydale Nature Classroom and transportation is provided to and from each location. Sign ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (7-Adult) Walk the meadows and forest edges to see bats feeding on insects. Use a bat detector to hear echolocation. Learn about our native bats and their habits. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. More Fairfax County nature events here.

(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 ...

(MD) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Artist Sophia McCrocklin’s larger-than-life botanical fiber sculptures explore art’s crucial role in enhancing human relationships with the environment. By spotlighting the grandeur of leaves, seed pods, and ferns from Rock Creek Park’s understory, McCrocklin documents the beauty and reverence of the species at the frontline of climate change. The exhibit is available to view during Writer's ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Connect with and care for your inner self through the Strolls for Well-Being, an evidence based program that promotes emotional healing and wellness through connection to nature. Over the course of eight weeks, you will complete twelve walks individually in Brookside Gardens, on your own schedule and with a beautiful full-color, 110-page journal as your guide. Each ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for informal walks through Glencarlyn Park in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcome. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. Adults.

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy and Rock Creek Park for a virtual tour of the park through the lens of African American History. We'll explore the archaeology and history of sites recently added to a National Register listing that preserve the history of Charles Dickson, Jane Dickson, and Sarah Whitby, as part of the Multiple Property Survey ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Join us for a bird walk at Algonkian Regional Park! Your birding guide is Elton Morel. Newer and seasoned birders welcome. More NVBA bird walks here.

(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? Open ...

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join a USBG volunteer to explore the Regional Garden! You'll learn about Mid-Atlantic native plants and how to incorporate them into a garden. Note: This tour is dependent both on weather and volunteer availability.  

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (8-Adult) Binoculars offer a fine introduction to the sights that lie in our night sky. Learn about different types of binoculars and how to use them to find planets, galaxies, star clusters, nebulae and to visually stroll through the beautiful star fields of the Milky Way. Program includes an observing session to help you find objects ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Girls belong in nature, enjoying outdoor adventures! Join us for a girl-centered Nature Girls Club. There are three in-person sessions with a Park Naturalist that will focus on exploring nature, trying out outdoor skills, and nature journaling. Meetings are monthly. Ages 9 to 12.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) We'll visit our classroom to learn about nocturnal animals then walk the trails to see if we can find them in the dark. Bundle up, it can become very cold. Families.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Shop for your next woodworking, home building, furniture repair, or craft project. The sale features cedar, pine, poplar, oak, beech, ash, and more. This year, customers can find kiln-dried, planed, and air-dried wood. Slabs are available in different sizes, thicknesses (ranging from 3/4” to 3”), and prices (ranging from $5- $400). All sales benefit Montgomery Parks’ Urban ...

(MD) (Casey Trees) Welcome to our fall season of Community Tree Plantings! Join us in planting trees at Liberty Place Apartments. You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to plant the trees. Participants will receive a hands-on training on site. After learning the tools and techniques, participants will be split up into groups supervised by ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Enjoy yoga held in a peaceful setting under the cover of the Japanese Tea House. Designed to increase flexibility and physical strength and to cultivate mental focus, these classes are a beautiful and relaxing way to begin your weekend. Mats are not included. This class will be held in the Japanese Tea House, located in the Gude ...

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

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) This is a no rider left behind group ride – think “party pace.” This is a perfect way to meet other riders and build skills on your bike. We do have a limited number of bikes and Helmets available free of charge in case you don’t have one (we will ask to hold something as collateral during ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Have you ever walked past a beautiful tree and wished you knew its name? Join us and see our native trees with new eyes. We will explore the trails of Wheaton Regional Park and learn to identify some of our native trees using bark and buds. Ages 18+.

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Join members of the Washington Area Butterfly Club for a flying season review. Come with a butterfly experience to share one-on-one or with the larger group, or just come to listen. You may also bring photos, plants, seeds, specimens, or one or more books to swap or give away. Registration Required. Adults.

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) 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 before ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service, and Rock Creek Weed Warriors 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 ...

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Firsthand Experiences bring contemporary artists together with learners ages 13 and up for hands-on programs that combine making, gallery conversations, and discovery. In this workshop, Amy Lamb, scientist turned photographer, teaches how she cultivates and captures the souls of plants in her images and helps you to create your own photographs. The workshop begins at the ...

(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) Join Ward 8 Woods every second Saturday of the month to restore Shepherd Parkway by removing trash and invasive vines that are smothering the trees. Since 2011, over 2,000 volunteers have removed over 200 tons of trash from the woods and cut invasive vines from over 500 trees, but much work remains to be done. Give back ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (3-Adult) November is National Gratitude Month. Learn why we appreciate trees, forests, streams and the wildlife they contain. Join us for a hike to enjoy the fall foliage and observe our waterways. Make a craft to take home to remember to be thankful for nature. More Fairfax County nature programs can be found here.

(VA) (Kindred Nature and NOVA Parks) Enjoy a reflective forest bathing experience to cultivate gratitude and connection amidst Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ late autumn beauty! 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 ...

(DC) (American University) Curator Carolyn Kinder Carr will discuss the exhibition "A Sight to Behold" in a gallery walk-through. Explore one hundred years of history and the stylistic range of American landscape painting from the University Museum’s Corcoran Legacy Collection, this exhibition examines the long-held tradition of capturing the emotional impact of nature. A variety of both recognizable and lesser-known ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Which animals depend on what plants? And vice versa? Walk the trails as a naturalist explains relationships between native plants and the animals that depend on them. Registration Required. Adults.

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