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

The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is an above average meteor shower with about 30 meteors per hour at its peak in the Northern Hemisphere.

Discover new birds at the Salt Fields during our Saltville field trip for the Life's Extras Birding Celebration.

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.

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

Have you ever wondered about the birds in your area?

Are you participating in No Meat May?

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

Master the art of fire making using a flint and steel in this fired up workshop!

Mason Neck is home to many Ospreys during the spring and summer months.

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a very unique historical building tour experience to explore one of the oldest dwellings on property.

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.

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

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.

Yes, this is an honest-to-goodness game show with buzzers, lights, excitement, and prizes (without the TV cameras). We will put your knowledge to the test about everything from history, animals, plants, and more.

Pollinators are important and must “bee” protected!

Westmoreland State Park invites you to learn about the different fossil types that you can find here along the shoreline, and why, as you create your very own shark tooth necklace keepsake.

Stop by Mason Neck’s visitor center and meet our friendly animal ambassadors!

Come meet and greet Ranger Myrtle (our Red-Eared Slider turtle), Ranger Scout (our Western Hognose snake), and Ranger Brutus (our Copperhead snake) to discover what makes these rangers so special to Twin Lakes State Park.  Parks are for everyone.

Did you know Eastern Box Turtles can live to be 100 years old?

Join a ranger in learning the key differences between our native and non-native pollinators and what they do to help the environment.

Ready, set, crawl, to join General Raphael, our non-releasable rescue eastern box turtle, as we explore more about her and the animal friends she shares her habitat with.

Want to know a secret?

April showers have brought May flowers to Sweet Run State Park!

The mission of the Friends of Fairy Stone State Parks is to act as a Citizen Support Organization to assist in conserving, enhancing, and interpreting the cultural, natural, and historic resources of Fairy Stone State Park; to assist in providing a variety of recreational and educational opportunities; and to assist in promoting environmental stewardship of the largest of the original six Virginia State Parks.

Did you know there was once a thriving "boom town" located where our lake is today?

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Of all the mammals, opossums are the most misunderstood. They are fascinating creatures with very unique characteristics.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone State Park and your own backyard.

Join rangers at the Prince William Public Libraries this Spring for a fun nature reading session.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Every Monday evening from May to the first week of September you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

The Fairfield Foundation opens the Timberneck house for free walk-in tours every Tuesday.

Join us for our fourth annual Women In Nature (WIN) program, the Backcountry Series!

Are you age 55+ with an interest in spending time in nature?

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.

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

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

Using our senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, we can come to appreciate unique qualities of plants and trees that have made them partners in our survival.

Just as caterpillars grow and change, our Caterpillar Club programs are designed to help your little one grow and change.

The peepers are peepin', and Spring has sprung; come enjoy the park while the season is young!

Are all snakes venomous?

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced afternoon walk in Galax.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce the Spring semester of the WiseJAMS Music Program.

This is a fantastic time of year to take-in the beautiful scenery of Southwest Virginia along Chestnut Creek.  Gravel tires work best on New River Trail crushed stone trail surface.

Come explore the historic town of Fries.

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

In the spring of 1775, men, women, and children head west, deep into the untamed wilderness.

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

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.

Come discover the world of self-publishing!

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

When a tree falls in the forest, what happens next?

The Bay can hold many secrets.

Come join a ranger for a fun arts and crafts session making bee hotels!

Have you ever wondered why this park has two lakes?

Slither and splash into the world of reptiles.

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.

Let us keep the kids entertained while the adults set up or take a break from setting up and stop by for a quick craft; discussion of Belle Isle's history; or a lesson on critters.

Slip on your closed-toe shoes and get ready to explore the creek.

Ever wonder what a ranger does from day to day?

Every program description needs a hook, but this program already has plenty of them.

Explore an enchanting evening amidst the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains as the sun sets and the world transitions from day to night!

Humans have lived with fire for a very long time.

Kick off your stay at our ranger-led campfire.

The Judd's Music in the Park proudly presents SML Boomer Band in a special Mother's Day Weekend concert at Smith Mountain Lake State Park Beach Pavilion.

Welcome to the park, kick off your stay with an evening by the fire at water's edge.

Ever wonder what goes on at night in a park?

Leesylvania State Park needs your help to get the playground reopened before summer.

Support and elevate the women of Afghanistan and Pakistan with a beautiful hike hosted by Ascend.

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

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will offer a monthly "Birding in the Gap" program on the second Saturday of each month (with the exception of October and December).

Each month, volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to work together on a project that helps improve and maintain our beautiful park.

Come out to Kid's Fishing Day at Natural Tunnel.

Make a one-of-a-kind souvenir by learning wood turning techniques to create your own pen.

Give Mom a real treat this Mother's Day. Ride with a ranger on our 30-foot pontoon boat and learn the history of how the lake was created and the origin of the state park. Keep a lookout for an abundance of wildlife which makes Smith Mountain Lake its home. Watch to see the ospreys that have returned to the lake from their winter home in the Caribbean.

Join us every second Saturday at the Mayo River Trails to explore the future Mayo River State Park. You will also discover some interesting facts about local wildlife, and about the exploration of the area by William Byrd.

Spring is in the air; this is prime time for bird watching!

In the spring of 1775, men, women, and children head west, deep into the untamed wilderness.

Join us for a full day of live animal shows, hands on educational opportunities, and outdoor recreation clinics that all aim to highlight the rich natural history of Northern Virginia and foster stewardship of our environment.

Mom does everything for you.

Explore the park's expansive wetlands with us as we search for and identify the plants and animals that call this unique habitat their home.

Hear the tale of star-crossed lovers that the trail is named after and view the tunnel from above.

Come walk the park's bluebird trail with a Virginia Master Naturalist as she checks the nestboxes and records data for the Virginia Bluebird Society.

Curious about how the light green house looks from the inside and its restoration process?

Step back in time and discover the rich history of Virginia's Eastern Shore and Kiptopeke State Park.

Experience the anticipation of seeing what lies around each "bend" of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River from a kayaker's point of view.

Have you heard of Geocaching?  It’s using satellites to find Tupperware in the woods. It’s a great way to get outdoors and find new trails and parks.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Come celebrate the bounty of spring as the stunning pink and white mountain laurel blooms take center stage-hosted by the Friends of York River State Park, with proceeds benefiting the park!

On this Mother's Day weekend, we'll take a little "Advice from a Tree" (Ilan Shamir) and you can make your own recycled paper craft with your own special message to Mom. .

Grow some good and lend a hand.

Owls, bats and bugs oh my!

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

Enjoy a naturalist-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you.  This easy hike will take visitors through our park's deciduous woodlands along the river granting an opportunity to see some of the New River’s native wildflowers and trees in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! Please wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water and snacks.