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

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

If you are interested in making a difference at Holliday Lake State Park, learn about our Friends Group by attending a meeting.

Find the "roving rangers" as they travel the park to find out what cool things they brought with them from our Visitor Center.

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

Plop, plop, splash.

Join a park interpreter on a hike to the Fairy Stone Dam and Spillway.

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

Learn all about trees and what they do for us.

Learn about Kiptopeke State Park's natural history and the animals that live here.

Find the "roving rangers" as they travel the park to find out what cool things they brought with them from our Visitor Center.

Join an interpreter for a canoe tour of the lake at its most scenic.

Throughout the week we field questions about whether there are any fish in the lake, where they are, what species, and other questions about the aquatic life in the lake.

CVWO (Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory) volunteers staff the hawkwatch from sunrise to sunset everyday from September 1 to November 30 - weather permitting.

If your dream is to be a Park Ranger then start here!

Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life. Take a walk and discover life in four different aquatic ecosystems.  We will hike to a small woodland and marsh stream, freshwater pond, and brackish/saltwater river.  With nets, we will capture and identify different crustaceans, fish, and take note of plant life.  Discover creatures in various habitats.

Meet with a ranger by the beach to learn about some of our local critters.

Ever wondered what the concrete ships look like up close?

Can you tell the difference between an amphibian and a reptile?

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

Find the "roving rangers" as they travel the park to find out what cool things they brought with them from our Visitor Center.

Get a glimpse into the cultures of the Native American groups who lived in this area by joining us as we dive into the exciting past.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to use a bow and arrow to stalk game like early Native Americans or hit your target with a well placed arrow like Robin Hood?

Watch for a roaming ranger with something interesting for show and tell.

Our rangers have rounded up some cool items from around the park to learn about at this interactive touch table and will be available to answer any other questions you may have.

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

Ever wonder what creatures live in the dark depths of a freshwater marsh?

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

The park is home to three different species of owls.

Friends, family, and fun can be found at our weekly ranger-led campfire.

Join us by the campfire to meet your camping neighbors, ask questions of the rangers, or just to relax.

Join us on this hike through a maritime forest out to the bluffs at sunset.

Tour a replica of the Anderson Blockhouse as members of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association provide information about the history of the building and area.

During Fall Farm Days' Nature Weekend, get in touch with nature and explore a managed landscape rich in biodiversity.

Join a volunteer from CVWO for a guided hike through the trails of Kiptopeke looking for and discussing various birds!

The Howlin' Coyote 10k race starts at 9:30am.

Join us for a Guided Forest Therapy Walk at Seven Bends State Park and experience the health and wellness benefits of Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese practice of “forest bathing.” Your experience will include a two-hour walk, that will typically be less than a mile in length, responding to different invitations to experience aspects of natural world.

Do you enjoy bird watching?

Bring friends and family to discover why biodiversity is so important to our area. After that, we will scour the park in search of plants, trees, birds, insects, mammals, etc.

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

Try to catch different species of fish in the Shenandoah River.

Let us teach you all the basics you'll need to know to get yourself started with one of our most popular outdoor activities, from tying on your hook and tackle to casting your line.

Join rangers as they share facts and stories from a kayak.

Journey back in time on the Lee's Woods Trail to discover hundreds of years of human history. Follow a ranger on this guided hike to learn about the people, places, and events that make Leesylvania State Park unique.

This is classic hide-and-seek with a modern twist.

Enjoy the beauty of the season in your own backyard from the water.

Tour the Shot Tower that overlooks the beautiful New River and learn about the history and process of making lead shot.

History and life along the James River go back thousands of years.

Float by this touch table all about the Bald Cypress Swamps of FLSP.

The boat ramp at the park offers the incredible opportunity to explore a small area with various habitats that we can find in the Appalachian Mountains.

The forge is fired up and the blacksmiths are hard at work in the Historic Area.

Walkthrough history by touring historic Mount Bleak House.

Enjoy a morning stroll around the Howe House grounds while learning the history of this land and its inhabitants.

Slime is survival.

Meet a ranger roving the trails of the wildlife refuge and discover what wildlife may be making the Great Marsh their home.

Fall is here and the leaves are changing.

Do you know what animals live in the park?

What do you know about bats?

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

Stop by the visitor center to grab a photo scavenger hunt to complete with your favorite pooch.  Please remember to keep all dogs on a leash for their safety.

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

Join CVWO, DWR, and Kiptopeke State Park for a talk by a butterfly educator on the butterflies of Kiptopeke.

Enjoy a paddle inside Caledon Marsh.

Begin your journey along the Wilderness Road towards Cumberland Gap as a volunteer takes you on a guided tour of the museum.

Take a short walk with a ranger and learn about the history of Douthat.

Are you fascinated with rocks, like gem stones, quartz, arrowheads, meteorites, etc.?  Have you wondered about the giant boulders, that are the size of cars, located in the middle of green pastures?  Or, how the Appalachian Mountains came to be, or the Blue Ridge, or even the gravel in your driveway?  Have you ever found a really cool looking rock but have no idea what it is?

Everyone attending will receive a copy of Claytor Lake State Park's Survival Guide and a wide variety of survival skills can be discussed.

Have you ever wondered what type of trees you might find here at Belle Isle?

Ever wonder what kind of furry creatures call Mason Neck home?

How did African slavery begin in the Virginia Colony and did they seek freedom from their condition?  Did any European indentured servants and Native Americans resist their lot as well?  Walking with us you will discover stories of rebellious conspiracies and courageous runaways and how they overcame the challenging terrain of Tidewater Virginia to elude their oppressors.

How many animal inhabitants of First Landing can you identify?

Join Kiptopeke, CVWO, and DWR for a guided hike on the fishing birds of Kiptopeke!

Watch as our ambassador animals feed on a frozen mouse!

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

People have been fascinated by bears for a long time.

Stop by the picnic area canoe launch to get a closer look at the skulls, tracks and scat of some of Shenandoah’s native animals.

Stop by the Visitor Center and grab a self guided activity aimed at increasing your tree identification skills.  Suitable for all ages.  .

Have you ever wondered what animals have been walking along our trails?

Smith Mountain Lake, the second largest lake in Virginia, has a wide variety of freshwater fish, many of which are on display in our 700 gallon aquarium located at the park's Visitor Center.

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

While we sleep a whole new set of nocturnal animals come out to begin their "daily" activities.

Happy Trails!

Want to learn some cooking skills to use both at home and while camping?

Watch for a roaming ranger with something interesting for show and tell.

Bee Hotels This fun workshop will use recycled materials to build habitats for the docile mason bees that will help your garden at home.  Meet at Canoe Landing.  Free  .

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

Join a Ranger at the campfire circle to enjoy night programs, learn campfire basics, storytelling, and the opportunity to make s'mores.

Have you ever wondered what equipment Rangers carry to do their jobs?

Learn how to build a fire, campfire safety, and how to make the perfect s'more.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with the Latin Ballet of Virginia's presentation of 'Alma Latina' at the Amphitheater at Pocahontas State Park.

Meet with a ranger and go on a guided hike along the Oak Hickory Trail.

Travel through time to the late 18th century, when the western frontier was finally beginning to stretch beyond the Appalachian mountains and the Revolutionary War was soon to erupt.

Did you know that the five-string banjo was invented in this area?  The banjo has played an important part in American history and mountain life.  Join us for an educational and fun program telling the life of the banjo.

The Rappahannock Astronomy Club presents their monthly evening of deep space viewing.

Fall music at the museum.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories of the stars above.

Join us by the campfire to relax and learn a bit about the owls commonly found in our park.

To help you get oriented to the park, join the interpretive staff for our Welcome Campfire.

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

Enjoy a hay wagon ride at Skyline Trail as we look to the stars.