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.

Marshes are more than great spots for fishing, canoeing, and bird-watching.

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

Who made those footprints?

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

This is the only "Wildlife After Dark" program offered this year, so you won't want to miss out! Spotting wild animals is hard.

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

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park is excited to announce their Children’s Summer Music Camp.

Explore the Panhandle Multi-use Trail on this longer hike.

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring a different life group every week, and Week 2 is Insects! 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 snack and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Immerse yourself in nature and experience the calming and health-promoting benefits of the forest.

What some people call creepy crawlies are actually some of the most interesting and beneficial animals in our area.

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

Toads, Turtles, and Snakes- Oh my!

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in the fun dip-netting adventure!

Perched upon a small hill overlooking the old Norfolk & Western railway station sits the old Foster Falls Hotel.

Come be a scientist for the day with our park rangers!

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our on-the-go naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.  Don't be surprised if he has a photo or two to share with you.

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Our surrounding flora is quite remarkable and contains the potential for both harm and healing.

Douthat State Park is home to many mammals including black bears.

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 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.

You walk around trees all the time, but have you ever taken a chance to get to know what you're walking past?

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

Do you love art and nature?

Do you have what it takes to be a wildlife detective?  Get ready for a guided mission!

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

Perched upon a small hill overlooking the old Norfolk & Western railway station sits the old Foster Falls Hotel.

Animals have some amazing feats and hold some amazing records.

Take a half of a hike with a park ranger.

Stop by this Chesapeake Bay display on your way to the beach to hear a short talk about one of the nation’s most valuable waterways.

Hop on over to learn about this ancient insect eater, and discover how you can help preserve its habitat.

Every Monday 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.

Evening is the perfect time to search for salamanders.

How I wonder what you are...

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

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

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

We need your help.

For ages 10+.

Every week the Rangers at First Landing will show off some of our fabulous animal ambassadors to provide an up-close look at the reptiles and amphibians that call First Landing home!

Go back in time to the historic village of Foster Falls.

Bring your creativity and express your individuality and join Leesylvania State Park Rangers throughout the park for a unique crafting experience!  Each session is a one of a kind experience.  See you there!

Join us as we explore the wonders of nature.

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

What can bones tell us about animal characteristics?  Different animals have unique skeletons that are specialized to their way of life.

A face only a mother could love?

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.

Join the Rangers each week to learn a new skill to help you survive in the wild.

Join as at the Visitor Center and let's venture out into ancient times!

Scurry on over to investigate the secret life of bugs and understand how important these tiny creatures are to our ecosystems. We'll catch bugs of all shapes and sizes and then view them under magnification.

Sea glass is a beautiful sight when you walk along the beach, adding a splash of color.

Leesylvania State Park is home to many different turtles!

Are all snakes venomous?

 How can we be more sustainable when practicing our favorite hobbies?

Have you met the animals living at Hungry Mother State Park's Discovery Center?

As animals explore their surroundings they leave us lots of clues.

Get your feet wet investigating the vast array of life in a stream. Catch crawdads, salamanders, frogs and such.

Tie-dye wasn't the brainchild of American hippies during the 1960s.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park to host a “Paint-N-Snack” workshop for its June monthly workshop series.  The “Paint-N-Snack Workshop” is the perfect get-together with friends, date night or a team outing.

Allow the evening to envelop you and enjoy a hay wagon ride with our park guide.

Join a ranger to hike along a section of the Mountain View Trail and cut through the woods for a short distance, seeing the ruins of an old moonshine still along the way.

Join and ranger on a hike along the world-famous Appalachian Trail to the highest peak in Virginia: Mt.

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

Yes, you too can canoe! Canoes are stable and easy to control, despite what you might have heard.

Join a ranger and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park and about the particular fossils you can find here.

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Explore some of the coolest little critters that fly in our amazing world of the night sky above. Join an interpreter on Wednesdays this summer to learn about bats and what they mean for our ecosystem.

Spend time floating five and a half miles down the Clinch River.

Time to go on a scavenger hunt in the campground.

For ages 10+.

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the Civil War.

Come across our Ranger outposts stationed at a lesser-known part of First Landing State Park: the Narrows Beach!

Playing a game of Backyard Bass makes learning to fish so much fun!

Can you recall taking a break on a hot summer day and sitting under the shade of a maple tree, or swinging on a tire swing hung from a giant oak? Trees provide many benefits including food, shelter, and oxygen, to both humans and wildlife.

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

Watch and learn about our ambassador animals, Reba the Corn Snake or Stevie the King Snake, as they feed on a frozen mouse! .

Every animal has unique features and traits that make them special and suited for their natural environment.

It's time for Mother Nature's most creative weavers to crawl out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Let’s go on a fun "History Hike" at Staunton River State Park.

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

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

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

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

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.

Express yourself on the trail with a stylish and unique hiking stick you designed and decorated yourself.

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

Getting out in nature has incredible benefits to our health and wellness.

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep.

*Rescheduled from 6/5 due to weather!* Join our Park Rangers for a unique experience of Aquia Creek as the cloak of twilight descends.

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

After the iron industry moved away from the area, residents of Fayerdale went from mining to 'shining.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side with this monthly series of true nature walks!

Paddle your way around the park’s unique ecosystem.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.