Learn some of the trade secrets of what it takes to create the perfect "Fairy Stone" that everyone is looking for.

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

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

Historically, trees have provided us with shelter as we've used them to make various structures and enjoyed the warmth they provide as we've built fires from them.

Frogs, turtles, and fish, oh my! Explore the life that exists in the pond while learning about the abundance of animals that call this ecosystem home.

Paddle the lower Potomac River on a fossil finding adventure as we scour the shoreline for clues to the past.

Boulder in the scenic mountains and boulder fields of Grayson Highlands State Park.

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

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Take a short walk with a ranger and explore the history of Douthat State Park.

The survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

Poles and bait will be provided.

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

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic areas and beaches with interesting animal or historical artifacts from the park.

Participants who are interested in the Prowl the Powell nature series should meet volunteers and park staff at the front gate of the museum.

Join us for a short hike full of puns and other nature related dad jokes.

The York River is one of our nation's most historic waterways.  Discover Native American, Colonial, Civil War, and recent history by canoe or kayak.  Cost.

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Did you know that Shenandoah County wasn't always called Shenandoah County?

Join us at the beach for an engaging interpretive program exploring the rich history of our park and the pivotal role of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

Join our amazing volunteer and Master Naturalist, Darin Handy, as he shows us all sorts of amazing live critters from our region.

Mystery of History Hike - Interpretive Area.

Join us for the Westmoreland State Parks one and only Music on the Cliff!

Pack a picnic and come early to pick the best spot on the lawn for one of the highlights of the summer season on Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Turtles have a complex shield covered in a mosaic protein. Join us to look closer at these reptile shells as we recreate natures masterpiece.

Test your survival skills by learning to build a fire without a match or lighter!

Join Yoga Instructor Kelly Blevins to experience a more engaged form of yoga as you strike poses on our stand-up paddle boards out in the lake.

Join us on a ranger-led wagon ride through history. We will take you on a tour of our beautiful park, stopping at multiple places along the way to interpret the amazing history of Staunton River State Park.

Spend a nice summer's evening sitting around the campfire with storyteller Melanie Smith as she spins tales that span Appalachian culture.

Join us at New River Trail State Park for our Foster Falls Music Series!

Join us by the campfire for s’mores as April Martin from the Wilderness Road Regional Museum talks about the early history of our mountains.

Nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sky Meadows' campground provides you with a fantastic place to enjoy peaceful rejuvenation, but how much do you know about this wonderful park?

High Bridge Trail State Park invites you to witness the spectacular sight of nature's fireflies by the thousands in the treetops below High Bridge.

If you would like to hear what music sounded like in the 1840s before the Civil War, then we have a very unique experience for you. We will have a historically accurate live music program with reproduction banjos, fiddles, and more with some great history about the songs they are playing. This only happens once a year! Please bring some chairs or blankets and enjoy a wonderful evening with us.

In celebration of Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day, False Cape State Park will offer a special night tour to Wash Woods.

What do you know about Virginia's native predators?

Explore the marsh at night as you paddle up its placid waters.  Various creatures may be seen in the creek or along the shoreline, while bats fly above in the night sky.  You may even experience owls calling at a distance.  Take it all in as the light of the moon blankets the surroundings with mystery.  Reservations with pre-payment only.  Canoes  - $13/person or $8/person (family of 4+).

What better way to appreciate the dark of night than a moonlit owl prowl! A moonlit night can be a great time to hear and spot some native owl species of the area.

Did you know that coyotes are not naturally native to Virginia?

Join a ranger for an interactive evening by the campfire as we discuss the unique stories and critters of Pocahontas State Park and the Virginia State Park system.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

On Virginia State Parks History and Culture Day, step back in time as we uncover the mysteries of those at rest in the park's historic cemetery.

Experience Douthat State Park's history and evening creatures all under the night stars in the middle of the lake.

Experience life in the early 19th century with live music, blacksmiths, cooking, period camp, boats, and much more. This event will focus on two important parts of history from this area that had a profound influence on transportation and music in America: “batteaux and banjos.” See what it was like to live in the middle of the 19th century.

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

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

Have you ever wondered what owls look like, what they eat, or where they live?

What better way to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the park than by kayak?

Kids’ Activity Book: This free book contains activities for the young (or young at heart).

Have you ever wondered about the birds in your area?

From woodlands to wetlands, fields and pastures, let's investigate the plants, animals and history of farming at Sky Meadows State Park.

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

Overlooking the New River, the Shot Tower was built in the 1800s to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.

Hot diggity dog, the Friends of False Cape are having a FUNdraiser!

Come visit the discovery table to observe some of nature's most amazing treasures!

Explore all about the Northern Flying Squirrel and why they call Grayson Highlands State Park their home.

Get ready to catch gold fever and mosey on over to join our interpretive rangers on a quest for this elusive mineral.

Ahoy Matey!

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

During the spring and summer, osprey dominate the skies over Leesylvania as they build nests and raise their young.

Do you want to learn how to identify the different species of dragonflies found at Mason Neck State Park?

Walk through history by touring historic Mount Bleak House.

Like them or loathe them, snakes are important to our ecosystems.

Enjoy historical interpretation inside the Brick Kitchen to learn more about this ancient, practical, and culinary craft tradition that is at the center of European cuisine.

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.

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

Hungry Mother State Park's interpreters are always finding cool things around the park and thinking up new activities and crafts.

Step inside to learn all about the magic of the Chesapeake Bay and its inhabitants.

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.

Leesylvania makes its own worm compost!  Join rangers as we take a closer look at worms and how they can benefit your kitchen and backyard.

The Bear Creek Lake State Park Archery Club is open to beginner and intermediate level archers 18 years old and older.

Want to learn how to play the outdoorsman’s version of BINGO?

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun a peek at some critters and a cute craft.

Challenge yourself to name various songbirds found around Smith Mountain Lake. Join the park interpreter and see how many of our common birds you can identify.

Find the "roving ranger" as they travel around the waterfront to learn how YOU can save a skunk and the other wildlife that call the park home.

Sunday Funday anyone?  Swing by our interpretive table in the picnic area to add some fun to your Sunday picnic!

Watch park staff feed "Ranger Shelly," our resident pet turtle, and learn fascinating facts about turtles.

Bring home a piece of history from Westmoreland as you learn to create shark tooth necklaces.  All resources are provided, including shark teeth that you can choose from to create your super cool necklace that can be shown off to all your friends.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park will host a special Father’s Day “Lunch on the featuring local father/son duo Joey & Evan O’Quinn This father/son duo first appeared on stage together fifteen years ago at the June Toliver Playhouse with the Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama.

Pottery is one of the oldest forms of decorative but functional art forms and is found in cultures across the world.

10 and 2, 10 and 2, get into the rhythm of fly fishing.

Take a guided kayak paddle through beautiful Back Bay to look for wildlife and learn about this spectacular freshwater ecosystem.

Explore the mighty James River via canoe with your very own guide!

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.

Join certified Forest Therapy volunteer, Tina Hayes, for a relaxing program made to calm the mind.

Frogs, turtles, and fish, oh my! Explore the life that exists in the pond while learning about the abundance of animals that call this ecosystem home.

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.

Explore the life cycle of butterflies.  Learn what is special about the monarch butterfly.  What do they like to eat?

Explore fascinating natural treasures at the Park Office, where a park ranger will showcase intriguing items you can see, touch, and learn about.

Come by the Ranger table near the beach to get a quick lesson on stewardship and learn how you can help keep First Landing clean - it takes a village!

Evenings are a wonderful time in the park to be on the water.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic areas and beaches with interesting animal or historical artifacts from the park.

Join us to learn about insects and the different jobs they do here at Fairy Stone State Park and in your own backyard. Our adventure will continue as we search the area to find examples of these important members of our neighborhood.

Mason Neck State Park is home to many species of turtles. Whether they’re basking by the pond or laying eggs by the road, these animals can be found everywhere! Come touch some real turtle shells and learn about their physical and behavioral characteristics, and make sure to stop by the Visitor Center and see our very own Red-Eared Slider, Myrtle!

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

Are there beavers at Smith Mountain Lake?

Take a short walk with a ranger and explore the history of Douthat State Park.

Children can experience Virginia’s frontier like never before.

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