Get ready to see nature like never before when you borrow an Adventure Backpack from the Visitors Center for free.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, or is that a bat?

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

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

Many animals migrate.

Did you know owls get "hairballs?" About once a day, an owl spits up a ball of hair and bones--leftovers from their most recent meals--called an owl pellet.

This all-ages program provides participants the opportunity to experience live birds of prey up close while learning about their natural history and vital ecological roles.     .

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

Explore Caledon Marsh by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

Once the sun has slipped out of sight let the moon be your guide as we travel the trails looking and listening for the wildlife that can be found in our park.

Art is one of the most exciting ways to use your own creativity to explore nature. Join artist and Virginia Master Naturalist, Renee Wienecke, as she helps you to look for inspiration in nature and encourages your creative side to create a piece of art around Hungry Mother's salamanders and birds.

Hit the trail with one of our rangers to see which birds of Fairy Stone State Park are hiding in plain sight along Oak Hickory Trail.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone and your own back yard!

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep. Hang it up at your campsite, or take it home with you. Discover a wide variety of birds as they fly in to enjoy your "buffet".

End the weekend with a scenic trip on the York River (or Taskinas Creek depending on water conditions) in the evening.  Discover the birds and creatures that are active in the gentle light of sunset.  Cost.

Your next adventure is HERE!  Join us for a week-long day camp as we explore Mason Neck State Park.  Each day we will find new adventures and learn more about the ecology of the park, while we play and challenge ourselves to try something new. Each camp will run Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 1:00 pm.

Many animals migrate.

In the bird world, wingspan means everything.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone and your own back yard!

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunt on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 1/2 hours. This program is limited to 10 spots.

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

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

You’ll decide what makes the best building material as you construct your own nest.

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

Join a Park Ranger as we observe the birds and animals that call the Chesapeake Bay home.  Bring binoculars and cameras, you never know what you will see.  Meet at the Fishing Pier.  Great for all ages!

Join us to develop an appreciation for birds and birding as a means to explore, understand, and protect our natural resources.

Get ready to see nature like never before when you borrow an Adventure Backpack from the Visitors Center for free.

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

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

Come by the program area next to the Riverbend Campground to pick up an Arks for Parks adventure pack.

Many animals migrate.

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

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep. Hang it up at your campsite, or take it home with you. Discover a wide variety of birds as they fly in to enjoy your "buffet".

Hit the trail with one of our rangers to see which birds of Fairy Stone State Park are hiding in plain sight along Oak Hickory Trail.

Your next adventure is HERE!  Join us for a week-long day camp as we explore Mason Neck State Park.  Each day we will find new adventures and learn more about the ecology of the park, while we play and challenge ourselves to try something new. Each camp will run Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 1:00 pm.

Many animals migrate.

In the bird world, wingspan means everything.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone and your own back yard!

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunt on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 1/2 hours. This program is limited to 10 spots.

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

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

You’ll decide what makes the best building material as you construct your own nest.

Hike with a ranger down to Beaver Lake to learn the basics of birding.

Join a Park Ranger as we observe the birds and animals that call the Chesapeake Bay home.  Bring binoculars and cameras, you never know what you will see.  Meet at the Fishing Pier.  Great for all ages!

Get ready to see nature like never before when you borrow an Adventure Backpack from the Visitors Center for free.

What do chopsticks, tweezers, strainers, and spoons all have in common?

Did you know owls get "hairballs?" About once a day, an owl spits up a ball of hair and bones--leftovers from their most recent meals--called an owl pellet.

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

Grab your binoculars and get outside.  Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will lead these monthly hikes to discover and identify birds at Sweet Run State Park.   We will explore parts of this beautiful 900 acre preserve and see what lives in and visits its diverse habitats.

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

Introduction to Birds of Prey at the Ivanhoe Birding Trail How does an owl hear a mouse under a foot of snow?

Want to learn how to bird as a beginner, brush up on your skills as a seasoned birder, or are simply interested in the birds we have at the lake?

Many animals migrate.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a bird?

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

It's a hard life evading bears, bats, and birds.

Get to know the Dark Skies of Belle Isle State Park!

Once the sun has slipped out of sight let the moon be your guide as we travel the trails looking and listening for the wildlife that can be found in our park.

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

Hit the trail with one of our rangers to see which birds of Fairy Stone State Park are hiding in plain sight along Oak Hickory Trail.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone and your own back yard!

Your next adventure is HERE!  Join us for a week-long day camp as we explore Mason Neck State Park.  Each day we will find new adventures and learn more about the ecology of the park, while we play and challenge ourselves to try something new. Each camp will run Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 1:00 pm.

Many animals migrate.

Find out what it takes to be an avid birder!

In the bird world, wingspan means everything.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone and your own back yard!

Art is one of the most exciting ways to use your own creativity to explore nature. Join artist and Virginia Master Naturalist, Renee Wienecke, as she helps you to look for inspiration in nature and encourages your creative side to create a piece of art around Hungry Mother's salamanders and birds.

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep. Hang it up at your campsite, or take it home with you. Discover a wide variety of birds as they fly in to enjoy your "buffet".

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunt on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 1/2 hours. This program is limited to 10 spots.

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

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

You’ll decide what makes the best building material as you construct your own nest.

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

Join a Park Ranger as we observe the birds and animals that call the Chesapeake Bay home.  Bring binoculars and cameras, you never know what you will see.  Meet at the Fishing Pier.  Great for all ages!

Join us to develop an appreciation for birds and birding as a means to explore, understand, and protect our natural resources.

Get ready to see nature like never before when you borrow an Adventure Backpack from the Visitors Center for free.

Join a ranger on a guided hike to learn more about different ecosystems found in the park.

Which bird of prey are you?

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

Enjoy a relaxing morning by taking a guided kayak paddle through the marshes of Back Bay.

Join the Colonial Soil & Water District and other nature enthusiast for a day of closely observing the world around us.  Bioblitz is a counting of every organism in a local area.  Help us discover the many varieties of birds, bugs, flowering plants, mammals, reptiles, and trees in the park.  Such information helps conservation and research efforts in our backyard.  For more information, please contact Amanda Whispell by email or phone:  Amanda.Whispell@ColonialSWCD.org, (757) 778-5348  .

Many animals migrate.

What do chopsticks, tweezers, strainers, and spoons all have in common?

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

Explore Caledon Marsh by kayak while observing birds and other wildlife.

Do you know when the best time to hang a bird feeder is?

Hit the trail with one of our rangers to see which birds of Fairy Stone State Park are hiding in plain sight along Oak Hickory Trail.

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep. Hang it up at your campsite, or take it home with you. Discover a wide variety of birds as they fly in to enjoy your "buffet".

End the weekend with a scenic trip on the York River (or Taskinas Creek depending on water conditions) in the evening.  Discover the birds and creatures that are active in the gentle light of sunset.  Cost.

Your next adventure is HERE!  Join us for a week-long day camp as we explore Mason Neck State Park.  Each day we will find new adventures and learn more about the ecology of the park, while we play and challenge ourselves to try something new. Each camp will run Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 1:00 pm.

Many animals migrate.

In the bird world, wingspan means everything.

Invaders are taking over Fairy Stone and your own back yard!

Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Potomac River! This paddle tour is designed to show you the ecosystem, wildlife, and views from the river as we look back to the shoreline of Westmoreland State Park.  This paddle provides excellent views and wildlife sighting opportunities to include, the Horsehead Cliffs (from a safe distance),stratigraphy of the Cliffs, erosion and water as a true natural force, a brief fossil hunt on fossil beach, and significant bird watching opportunities to include special and unscheduled appearances by Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great Blue Herons, and more!  Please sign up and pay in advance for this program at the Visitor Center. Guests should meet at the day-use beach and boathouse area. All equipment is provided however participants should wear closed-toed shoes. All children participating should be over 35lbs. Participants should wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and bring water and snacks with them.  This paddle begins at the scheduled time and can run for roughly 2 1/2 hours. This program is limited to 10 spots.

Join the Park Ranger for our homeschool programming.

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

Take the arts outdoors and bring a fun new project home from Kiptopeke.  Art projects range from nature journals to bird houses and more.  Meet at Picnic Shelter #2.  Great for all ages!

Our park is known for its biodiversity and is home to many species of birds.

Join a Park Ranger as we observe the birds and animals that call the Chesapeake Bay home.  Bring binoculars and cameras, you never know what you will see.  Meet at the Fishing Pier.  Great for all ages!