Capital Nature

(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 ...

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

(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) Using watercolors and graphite, capture the nuances of the light and flora at the beautiful United States Botanic Garden. This intensive landscape painting experience focuses on helping you see the gardens through Cézanne’s eyes and then develop your own Post-Impressionist interpretation. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit) This is Part 1 of a 2-part course.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Do you dream of building forts in the woods, or climbing a tree? Maybe you want to learn about woodland critters or create some art in the woods. Join us for a time to explore the woods how you want to. We’ll supply some materials and a space to create and explore, you supply the imagination and ...

(VA) (Arlington Parks) Stretch your legs in Glencaryln Park along a mostly flat paved trail as we follow Long Branch Creek as it flows into Four Mile Run. We'll follow the water over rocks and under bridges all the way to Huffman's Falls. Family.

(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) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Join our nature and forest therapy guides Sage and Paul 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: ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Let’s read stories, sing songs, and take mini-hikes meant for the littlest legs! Please note: The Little Explorers programs scheduled in the same month will have the same topic and activities. Register each child, a guardian must attend. Inclement weather could cancel this program.

(DC) (Tregaron Conservancy) Join David Harold for Tai Chi practice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. We will gather west of the Lily Pond near the entrance at Klingle Road NW. David is passionate about making Taiji and Qigong practice and principles accessible. For 15 years, he led a free, weekly public outdoor practice in Winston-Salem, NC. That practice continues to be led ...

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (Adults) Join us for a walk through the park. These accessible walks are designed for individuals with physical disabilities. Students must be able to walk for the duration of class with minimal breaks. More Fairfax County nature programs can be found here.

(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, ...

(DC) (MD) (VA) (Capital Nature) Join us for the November edition of iNaturalist Virtual ID Night. The topic this month is: Lauraceae, Solanaceae and Alliums ID for National Spicy Guacamole Day! We will have a fascinating presentation on the topic, and you will then have an opportunity to hone your identification skills using iNaturalist. Cosponsored with The Nature Conservancy (MD/DC ...

(VA) (Audubon Society of Northern Virginia) Many know Northern Virginia for its economic dynamism, cultural development and ever-changing landscape.  Less well known are the places sheltering remnants of an earlier, vital, natural history.  If you would like to discover native birds, other fauna and flora — in the company of dedicated citizen scientists — then consider joining one or more ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) Butterfly and dragonfly surveys are carried out in temperate months (April-October), normally on Friday mornings, at one of four sites around Occoquan Bay, all within the 15-mile diameter circle established for the annual North American Butterfly Association's Annual Count. The results of these surveys are made available to the participants and other interested individuals and ...

(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 ...

(DC) (Smithsonian) From deserts to rainforests, what makes a habitat a suitable animal home? What Makes a Habitat a Home explores habitats around the world and some of the animals that live in these habitats. This virtual school program is part of Conservation Classroom, a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder (video), engage ...

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Get your head in the game! Join fellow bird, beer, & board games enthusiasts for our monthly Wingspan Wednesday hang at Valor Brewpub.

(DC) (Potomac Riverkeeper) Join Potomac Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks, and your fellow PRKN members for an evening of celebration, discussing our work in 2024 and our plans for 2025! Additionally, we will be recognizing two exemplary volunteers from 2024, one from our Water Quality Monitoring Program, and one from our Trash Free Campaign. We hope you will join us in highlighting ...

(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Interested in where crops, heirlooms and weeds come from? In this talk, ethnobotanist Nan McCarry will tell you the story of how we transitioned into an age of agriculture starting 10,000 years ago, and some of the unintended consequences that arose. Through this presentation, we can gain fresh insights into the human connection with the natural ...

(DC) (Building Bridges) Volunteer to harvest from the garden on the roof of a concession stand inside Nationals Stadium. The schedule at this site can change at the last minute.  To sign up, please send an email to JJ .  Send us your name, phone number, home zip code, and the date you would like to work with us.

(DC) (National Park Service) You can find autumn color everywhere in Rock Creek Park. Stop by the Nature Center before your hike and create a craft. Discover the science behind the changes of leaf pigments. Learn how to identify species of trees just by looking at the shape of a leaf. After your hike, make sure to tell a ranger ...

(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) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) In this class, students will paint a fun close-up of a Northern Flicker, a multi-colored woodpecker, learning how to mix neutral colors, as well as techniques of layering colors to create various feather patterns. Your instructor, Ronna Fujisawa of Salty Water Art, will be your guide through the step-by-step process of painting. This is an ...

(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 harvesting vegetables, fruits and herbs for our food giveaway in the afternoon. Adults of all skill levels are welcome. Kids under 16 should be accompanied by an adult. ...

(DC) (Melanie Choukas-Bradley) (Politics and Prose) Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a fall forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006. We ...

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join Arrin Sutliff, Owner of Tint Floral, to create a seasonal garland using local plant materials. In this drop-in demonstration, you'll be guided through selecting material and learn wiring techniques to ensure your garland maintains its integrity. Garlands can be used as table runners, on mantles, or on stair railings, making this a perfect skill to ...

(DC) (Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative) Learn more about how climate change impacts the mental well being of children and adults. The heat & poor indoor air quality will greatly impact the disfavored who may not be prepared for this crisis.

(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 ...

(DC) (Friends of the National Arboretum) Spend the evening taking in the November full moon as you explore the National Arboretum's moonlit gardens, meadows, and woods. Your guide will share specially chosen points of interest and seasonal highlights. The two-hour walk will cover about 3 miles over hilly and uneven terrain. It is a brisk walk, not a garden tour, ...

(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 ...

(DC) (Friends of Mount Vernon Trail) Join the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail , WalkArlington, and George Washington Memorial Parkway for a nature walk under the glow of the Beaver Moon. We'll meet at the Theodore Roosevelt Island Parking lot. Once people have gathered we will walk south on the Mount Vernon Trail while taking in views from the ...

(DC) (Casey Trees) Welcome to our fall season of Community Tree Plantings! Join us in planting trees at Suitland Metro Station with WMATA. 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 ...

(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 ...

(DC) (National Zoo) Take a hike and join us for creative, drop-in play at the zoo! This week we learn about camping and trees to celebrate National Take a Hike Day on November 17th. Explore the wonders of the great outdoors through sensory play and art activities to help our young friends feel more at home outside in the natural ...

(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 native plants to thrive in the understory. Event location, directions, and information will be sent from the event leader 48 ...

(DC) (National Park Service) If the Mall is America’s Front Yard, then Rock Creek Park is America’s Back Yard. From before the park was founded, presidents have spent time on Rock Creek Park land. Come join a ranger for a 2¾ mile hike and learn the ways that presidential history flows through Rock Creek. More stewardship events with Rock Creek ...

(MD) (Casey Trees) Join us as we care for young trees at Hyattsville Duck Pond! 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. Also, learn more about tree maintenance and pruning. We provide all the necessary tools and supplies to care for ...

(DC) (Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail) We will be improving the trail near Trollheim Bridge/Theodore Roosevelt Island. This may include: Using pruners and loppers to cut vegetation Using hand saws to cut tree branches Sweeping or using a leaf blower Hauling away vegetation Picking up trash The work area is on the Mount Vernon Trail north of the wooden ...

(DC) (City Blossoms) Join City Blossoms in the Eastern garden! Tasks for this workday will include garden maintenance activities such as washing pots, weeding, and spreading soil and pathway mulch. Eastern is home to half our year-round, garden-based Youth Entrepreneurship Cooperative program. At the core of the program is a youth-led business called Mighty Greens. Through this business, Youth Staff ...

(DC) (Touchstone Gallery) Explore the November exhibitions at Touchstone Gallery with live music, wine, and art! In their solo exhibitions, Anne Stine and Gale Wallar both present bodies of work that relate nature and their connection to humanity. Stine's Call for Sweet Water reflects on local waterways and their rejuvenation and conservation, while Wallar's Ex Montibus Salus focuses on the altering ...