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) (Nature Forward) Our fall birding series visit natural areas under an hour’s drive from DC where a variety of habitats – including field, forest, and wetland – provide good opportunities for the observation and ID of birds in autumn, On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants – including those “confusing fall warblers.” As the season ...

(VA) (Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on a search for birds at the Algonkian Regional Park in eastern Loudoun County. This bird walk takes place each month except December. With extensive frontage along the Potomac River, its rich bottomland forests, extensive wetlands and grassy areas combine to make it Loudoun’s top birding hotspot. Bring binoculars if you have ...

(VA) (Four Mile Run Conservatory) Join us in collecting litter along the streambank of Four Mile Run, during our fall kayak clean-up events. Registration opens 2-3 weeks before each event.

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

(DC) (Oak Hill Cemetery) Join us as we explore Oak Hill’s tree-scape looking at the cemetery’s oldest trees. We will discuss how to recognize them, identify different species, and what the cemetery may have looked like in the early 19th century. Michael Gaige is an independent consulting ecologist based in upstate New York. His work explores the intersection of nature, ...

(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 2 of a 2-part course.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join James, Weed Warrior Supervisor, for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday in Long Branch Stream Valley Unit 1 (between Piney Branch Rd and Carroll Ave), in Takoma Park, MD. We will be focusing on non-native, invasive vines, especially porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata). Native Virginia creeper and poison ivy are also present and beneficial, so we ...

(VA) 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 guided slow wander with simple ...

(MD) (Friends of Sligo Creek) FOSC members John Stith and Kristin Zimmer (FOSC Board member) have long been involved with the "Kestral Meadow" in the Pepco powerline in Sligo Section 1. They will lead the walk. Meet at the metal gate on the 7100 block of 16th Place, Hyattsville. Bring binoculars if you have some. The walk is free and ...

(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) (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 ...

(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 ...

(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) (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) (Virginia Native Plant Society) Join Mary Jane Epps, Ph.D. for a presentation to the John Clayton Chapter: Seeing the Fungi for the Trees. A Hidden World of Plant-Fungal Interaction. Mary Jane Epps is an associate professor of biology at Mary Baldwin University, where she teaches botany, ecology, entomology, and conservation biology. Following a bachelor’s degree at Duke University, she ...

(MD) (Mycological Association of Washington DC) Join naturalists Ana Ka’ahanui, Matt Felprin, and Mycologist Serenella Linares on a magical hike to witness bioluminescence, fluorescence, and the creatures of the night. We will meet at Woodend Nature Sanctuary to start our journey through the forest. Our meeting place will be the white tent across the main parking lot, next to 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) 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.  

(DC) (Smithsonian) The origin of the human lineage ~7 million years ago seems far removed from the Early Miocene (23-16 million years ago), but in fact there are surprising resonances in the anatomy, environment, and adaptations of our earliest ape relatives with interpretations of human origins. Kieran McNulty, Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota, will ...

(DC) (MD) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Please join Rock Creek Conservancy for a virtual training for our Stream Team Leader program. Stream Team Leaders are dedicated volunteers that work with the Conservancy to host their own trash cleanups and stormwater engagement events, increasing stewardship actions within their communities and throughout Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, MD. The training will take place ...

(VA) (Northern Virginia Bird Alliance) This workshop will cover Project FeederWatch history, its purpose, tips for identifying birds, and the protocols to be followed while counting. From the comfort of your home, you simply count the winter birds that visit your feeders and report your data to Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Greg Butcher, formerly on the Board of NVBA, served ...

(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) (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) (Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy) Join us for stewardship of Dumbarton Oaks Park, DC's hidden green oasis and part of Rock Creek Park. Activities may include pulling invasive, cleanup, and planting. Contact info@dopark.org for more information and to RSVP.

(VA) (Kindred Nature and NOVA Parks) Enjoy a reflective forest bathing experience to cultivate gratitude and connection surrounded by Winkler Botanical Preserve's 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 ...

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

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) (7-Adult) Turkeys are native to the Americas and have been everything from decorative to Thanksgiving centerpiece. They’ve been here for 10 million years but how can you make sure they have a place here for a million more? Find out more about the role of turkeys in different cultures and how important habitat restoration will make ...