The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is now accepting entries for the “Stitch in Time” Quilt Show.

Are you ready to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city?

Rise and shine!

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Learn about birds of the woods and fields and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

Have you ever thought about what an animal eats?

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Archery programs are some of the best recreational activities that State Parks have to offer.

How do we make sure that the soil is ready for planting?

Discover the wonders of Phenology, the study of the seasonal and cyclical changes in nature, and create your own work of art.

Join a ranger on a guided hike to learn more about different ecosystems found in the park.

Come join us for the Clinch River Days Festival.

Become a steward of nature while building your local community and connecting with the people near you that share a passion for the outdoors. Meet with rangers at the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center for a short talk about conservation and to get supplies to clean up the trash that washes onto the shoreline or is left and scattered along the trails and recreational areas. Clean-Up days are self-paced, so come clean our shoreline for as much time as you can spare to make a difference at the park.

Stand in the shade of one of the most 'poplar' trees in the park as you learn about Swift Creek, native wildlife, and more about the park's history.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Bring your canine companion and join the B.A.R.K.

Become an owl pellet detective as we dissect the clues an owl leaves behind.

Owls, bats and bugs oh my!

Lichens are some of First Landings most important organisms, and yet they are a mystery to so many people.

Come explore aquatic life in the James River!

It's feeding time for our ambassador reptiles.  How do we feed our animals?

Join us for a guided tour of the Visitor Center at High Bridge Trail State Park, where history and nature come together!

Our friends Hisstopher and Harrold planned a lunch date, and they want you to join.

Join us for a fun-filled Family Learning Adventure as we celebrate Virginia’s incredible pollinators!

Who made those footprints?

Nature journaling is the intersection of art, science, and curiosity.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations, and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will travel to the site.

Step back in time and experience the power and precision of Civil War-era firepower during this ranger-led musket demonstration, held within the historic grounds of Camp Paradise.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Come team up with park rangers as we refresh and restore our playgrounds, just in time for summer fun!

This historical building tour is designed to highlight the architecture of the time, designs, furnishings, special touches, ornate decor, and stories within the walls of the Jones-Stewart Mansion.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boomtown. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Spring sometimes brings unpredictable weather and you may ask, what is up with the weather? Join us to learn weather lore, what ROY G BIV means and talk about what you should do during severe weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Holliday Lake State Park is buzzing with life this time of year.

Stop by our table outside the Visitor Center to learn about some of the common mammals you can see at the park.

Have you ever heard the sound of a pack of coyotes howling in the middle of the night?

Have you ever wondered what lies under your feet?

Come on out to the park and test your paddling skills.

Want to learn how to go geocaching? Join one of our rangers on a guided program on how to start your geocache adventure. Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure.

Have you ever wondered how snakes can swallow something as big as their own heads?

This "crab" is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions!

What will we scoop up this time?

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

Scurry on over to investigate the secret life of a bug.

Pan for gold in the James River while learning about Virginia’s unique geology, the rocks and minerals of the park, and the magnetic sand on the banks of the river.

Learn about the history of Westmoreland State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as you walk to Rock Springs Pond accompanied by a ranger.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

There's something happening in White Oak Swamp, Beavers!

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like, or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

You don't need a boat or fishing license to learn how to fish with the rangers at Holliday Lake State Park.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Use all your senses to learn something new about the environment.

Let’s head over to Edmunds Lake and try to wrangle in some big fish.

Did you know people were tie-dyeing clothes over a thousand years before it became a 1960s fashion trend?

Bring a picnic and lawn chair for a family friendly evening of live music at the Park's Interpretive Area! The Tidewinders, a local band, will be performing bluegrass music with a modern flare.  Local singer/songwriter Ami Baker will be performing the opening act.

Join our friends from Whitetop Yoga to experience a more engaged form of yoga as you strike poses on our standup paddleboards out in the lake.

Take a wagon ride to the scenic Tye Overlook and enjoy the prettiest view for miles around.

Each night when the sun goes down, the owls of First Landing come out to hunt!

Who says bears can’t brush their teeth?

Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for a night of awe and wonder.

A nearly century-long tradition continues as the Natural Bridge is bathed in light the last Saturday night of every month, April through October. Experience the 200-foot-tall arch as it is lit from above and below by dozens of lights, with the only sound being the murmuring of Cedar Creek running below.

Secrets and spiders and campfires?

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

Enjoy a movie under the stars.

The surface of the water might seem calm, but down under there is an exciting world filled with all kinds of life.

Whooo’s out there in the dark?

Have you ever seen or heard an actual owl call in the night?

Looking for a fun way to explore the park at your own pace?

Take a 4-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park!

Join a ranger, enjoy Big Meadow Trail, and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park.

On the first Sunday of every month, our Self-care Sunday Series invites you to join in on various activities specially created to help us engage with the beautiful surroundings of Powhatan State Park.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Get down and dirty with this two-hour wild cave tour.

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our Visitor Center.

Read a tale as you walk the trail. Begin at the CCC Museum to begin your exploration and story time at your own pace.

Join us for a guided hike through Goodwin Lake Trail as we explore the trees that make up our local ecosystem.

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

The trash and litter we leave behind can damage the environment.

Practice your detective skills by uncovering snakes hidden in images of their habitat, and discover how best to avoid those with venom.

What is a seed bomb?

Stop by and investigate the variety of flora and fauna found around Smith Mountain Lake.

Have you ever thought about where the railroad at Natural Tunnel goes and what it has been used for through the years?

Murders over moonshine rocked the town of Fayerdale in the 1920s and 30s, leaving a dying town remembered for tragedy rather than the mining operations that once made it a boom town. Moonshining (illegal whiskey making) was quite prevalent in and around the Fairy Stone State Park area in the early 1900s. Jealousy, greed, and competition often led to feuds, brawls, and even killings.

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

What bird lives most of its life on the ground, can fly as fast as a car, and was almost our national bird?

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Virginia is home to a healthy population of black bears; do you know what to do if you encounter one?

Is your little one interested in becoming an official Seven Bends State Park Junior Ranger?

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 1 is Wetlands! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities. Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

The brackish waters of the York River has a unique variety of fish and shellfish.  Follow the Woodstock Pond Trail to the river access point past shelter #3 to the left of the pond, Rangers will be using 2-man seine and other nets to discover what is in the water.

Have you ever wondered what secrets the natural world holds? This drop-in program offers a unique opportunity to meet with Virginia Master Naturalists who will be available to answer all your nature-related questions.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

Learn the legend behind the naturally occurring stone cross formations and travel to the special location in the park to search for your own "fairy stone." After a short presentation on what you will be looking for, we will head to the site.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Do you enjoy coffee, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables?