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

Join Master Naturalist Kim Manion for a short walk to discover the basics of tree identification.

Help us celebrate the 25th Anniversary of James River State Park!

'Family Learning Adventures,' formally known as 'Arks for Parks,' is back this year at Twin Lakes State Park.

Where do toads live?

In our park's nature center, you can see many different native animals of Virginia.

Learn the essentials of basic target archery, a skill that, thanks to artifacts found at the park, we know humans have been practicing here for thousands of years.

The objects left behinds by people of the past may say more than you'd think.

Become a prospector as we follow in the footsteps of "Stampmill Sam".

Can you shout out BINGO first?  Join us for birding bingo, a guided birding hike along the Bluebell Trail.

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

Explore the beautiful wetlands with us.

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

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home or what those shells on the beach are called?

 Join park staff, volunteers and  community partners for a series of events celebrating African-American culture, resilience, and joy.

Have you ever seen a tree grow out of a rock?

Discover some of the beautiful fish that make their homes in the Potomac River with a Park Ranger using a seine net, one of humankind's oldest fishing tools. This is also a great chance to appreciate the important role that the Potomac River and its watershed has in our community.  Be prepared to have fun and get wet.  Be sure to bring water shoes and comfortable clothing.  For questions or inquiries, please call (703)583-6904 or send an e-mail to leesylvaniavc@dcr.virginia.gov.

Explore the shoreline of the Potomac by kayak! Enjoy a daytime paddle on the lower Potomac River as we look and listen for bald eagles.

Have you ever wondered what owls live in Hungry Mother State Park?

Take a peak into a ranger's bag!

It is National Pollinator Week! Join a ranger to learn about a special group of animals that help flowers and people and make a craft to take home and share with friends and family.

Flutter on over to meet with Master Naturalist Kim Manion to discuss all things butterflies.

Don't miss your chance to camp out in the beautiful Historic Mount Bleak backyard.

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.

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

Enjoy a refreshing cup of lemonade with a ranger and engage in interesting discussions to gain a unique insight into local wildlife and conservation efforts.

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

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

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.

Experience the wonders of the Tutelo trail with our park interpreter.

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!

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

What's a benthic organism and how do they survive in the creek?

Don't judge a book by its cover!

Splash a hand line in the water and see if you pull up a jimmy or a sook.

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.

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

What's under that rock?

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

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

Imagine a world without fruits and veggies...this could exist without pollinators! Join us for "Buzzy Gardens" as we explore the needs of our pollinators and create our own Buzzy Gardens that keep bees and our native pollinators happy and healthy.  Parks are for everyone.

Camping can be an enjoyable experience for everyone when you know what to do.

Slither on down and join the Park Ranger for an in depth look into the fascinating lives of some local reptiles.

Did you know that water in our beautiful Shenandoah River eventually flows into the ocean?

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

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

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

All of the park's original facilities back in the 1930's were built by hand.

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

Ever wanted to touch the fur of a skunk or an opossum?

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

Trees have magical qualities which give us many important everyday items and the oxygen we breathe.

Experience Occoneechee State Park from a different perspective, as you paddle around the shoreline of Buggs Island Lake.

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.

Did you know you can make paper from paper?

What does fire mean to you?

Fly through the gardens of Twins Lakes State Park on your quest to find resources and claim your flower before it's gone! Join us for this "musical chairs" based program competing to keep your resources before habitat loss ensues.  Parks are for everyone.

What's that big net used for?  Join us as we teach you how to use a seine net and see what we can discover below the surface of the Chesapeake Bay.  We will meet at the Wood Warbler Boardwalk, across from the Camp Store, and enjoy a short walk out to the beach.  Great for all ages! .

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Have you ever wanted to try camping, but didn't because it all seems so confusing and expensive?

Come out to Chestnut Creek, get your feet wet, and explore life underwater.

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

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.

Can you imagine not having a TV or cell phone?

Ever wondered how a small piece of plastic can impact an entire ecosystem? Join the rangers for an interactive talk about pollution and how we can learn to Leave No Trace!

Explore the marshes of Back Bay by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

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

Come create your own fire starter for your next camping adventure.

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.

Practice your netting skills to find out what lives in the Bay using techniques dating back to ancient times!

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?

Drop by the campfire to relax, meet your camping neighbors, enjoy time sharing stories, and learn about critters that call New River Trail home.

Enjoy a beautiful full moon paddle on the lower Potomac River.

Are you predator or prey?

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

Who-who's there?

Twilight Paddle Adventures are a great way to spend an evening away from the hustle and bustle of work, traffic and the cares of life.

Enjoy a peaceful evening canoe adventure at Leesylvania State Park on Powell's Creek!  View the majestic colors of a Northern Virginia summer sunset on this tranquil tributary of the Potomac River while catching glimpses of the nocturnal wildlife emerging for the evening.  No paddling experience is required; all participants must be of 6 years or older.

Enjoy a cool fall evening with a short, moderate hike to the highest point in the park, Little Pinnacle, to witness one of the most stunning sunsets in Virginia.

Spend an entertaining evening sitting around the campfire with an interpreter.

Join us at picnic shelter #1 for a late-night hike as we search for owls and other nocturnal animals that call Kiptopeke home.  Hike is roughly 1 mile and better suited for older kids and adults.

Did you know that the firefly glow is more than just a pretty summer evening show?

Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of great music with "Common Ground".

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.

Bring your family and friends and join a park ranger for a campfire on the water’s edge at the beach amphitheater.

Explore some of Machicomoco’s best views during golden hour while stopping in to talk with a Ranger about some of their favorite park topics.

We will start with a campfire and, of course, making S’mores.

Fireflies of this area have unique light patterns that give us clues to “who” they are. Enjoy a relaxing summer evening to view Nature's very own light show put on by the fireflies.

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

Experience the park at night with a ranger guide pointing out stars and planets, nocturnal wildlife, and the joys of a natural night with low light pollution.

Join us for a night time tour of our beautiful park.

Did you know that James River State Park is a member of the International Dark Sky Association?

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

Take your first steps on the path to adventure.

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

It's time to truly explore nature today!

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

Enjoy a ranger-led hike learning all about what's blooming and growing around you, as well as the unique way Galax got its name.  This intermediate 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.

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