Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

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

Take nothing but pictures, leave only footprints, and kill only time.

Is there still a chimney in the lake?

We all enjoy a yummy meal and that’s the same for our resident snake that lives here in our visitor center.

Ever wonder what animals call Kiptopeke home, or what those shells on the beach are called?  Ask a Park Ranger as they set up touch tables at the beach.  Set up near North Beach entrance.  Great for all ages!

Explore this interactive exhibit and aquarium space in order to discover the creatures that inhabit the bay, what makes a watershed, why the Bay is so important and so much more!

Have you ever wondered why donkeys have such long ears or why they make so much noise, or why pot belly pigs like to roll in the mud?  Have you ever learned about heritage breeds, before?

Have you ever wondered what Leesylvania would have looked like 20,000 years ago, or who lived here in the 1700's?

Snakes are ssstupendous!

Stop by the Visitor Center and have the opportunity to view the sun through a telescope.

Unwind by the lake with a restorative yoga session! We will be guiding several yin poses and relaxation techniques that can be practiced anywhere afterwards.

Plants come in a variety of colors.

Join the Rangers on the beach for an hour of fun adventures. Build your own river valley in the sand and discover how soil, rocks and water MOVE through an ecosystem.  You can even borrow the park's beach toys and build a sand castle.

What animals call First Landing State Park home?

As the sun slips past the horizon and night falls, winged nocturnal creatures take flight.

Drop by the Discovery Room at noon to observe whatever critters we may have on display enjoy their lunch.

The Jones-Stewart Mansion is a stunning example of an antebellum plantation house.

Interested in learning more about archery while having fun?

Our rangers know how to have fun, too!

Can you identify tracks of critters left behind in the park?

How many species of turtle call the Mason Neck Peninsula their home?

The brackish waters of the York River have a unique variety of fish and shellfish.  Follow the Woodstock Pond Trail to the river access point past shelter #3 to the left of the pond, Rangers will be using a 2-man seine and other nets to discover what is in the water.

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun games, crafts, and prizes.

Let's be creative!

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.

Of all the mammals, possums are the most misunderstood. They are fascinating creatures with very unique characteristics.

Join rangers for a lesson in making natural bird feeders from materials that can be found around your home.

Take some time to get out of the hot sun and join our park nature interpreter under the tent for some fun crafts. Independence Day is a time to reflect on our freedom. Create your own butterfly, make a picture using the sun, or "scratch-up" some art.

Bring home a piece of history and a piece 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.

Take a moderate hike on the Rhododendron Trail, look for the park ranger and learn about the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park. Discover why they are in the park, pony safety, and other interesting facts about the High Country.

Put your detective skills to work and process evidence left behind by wildlife at the park.

Sunday Funday anyone?  Swing by our interpretive table to add some fun to your Sunday picnic.

Want to learn how to play the outdoor version of BINGO? Each guest will be given a Virginia State Parks Bingo Card with a picture or a word in each box. If you find five objects in a row on your card, then you get BINGO. Let's set out on the trail and see what kind of natural wonders we can find. Along the way we might also be able to observe the Staunton River and learn about the history of the park.

Join Ranger Matthew as he discusses how the geology of the Appalachians affect the ecological circle of life and biodiversity from soil to animals in his lecture series taking place at the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center.

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.

Ahoy, matey!

Dragonflies zip around wetlands making the habitat fascinating.

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

Who was Elizabeth Hartwell?

Past and present, friends and families have enjoyed getting together for some friendly competition.

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.

What is a seed bomb?

Want to learn how to crab?

Come as a family, with friends, or as a team of one to compete in a quest for all ages.

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.

A new way to find treasure at your own pace.  Geocaching makes use of the Global Positioning System to help you find caches of park information and small gifts.  We will supply you with a GPS unit and a pirate- ranger will point you to the path of a unique discovery. .

Join an interpreter to learn about the fairies that used to live at Fairy Stone State Park.

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.

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".

Come be inspired by the natural beauty of Machicomoco as one of our Rangers leads you through the creation of your own masterpiece (Pre-registration and additional fees required).

Throughout the summer we offer multiple opportunities for you to take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride. Enjoy the scenic views of the Staunton and Dan Rivers. Witness some of the original work that the Civilian Conservation Corps did to build our beautiful park. Be sure to bring your camera to capture some fun memories or anything picture worthy.

Step back in time with us as we uncover the stories of those at rest in the historic cemetery, and honor the families who lived on the land where the park now sits.

Since it's a holiday weekend, we are having a bonus evening by the fire. You’ll get to meet park staff and other campers as we tell campfire stories, sing songs, eat s’mores and learn how to build the perfect campfire.

Join a ranger-led hike to catch glimpses of the full moon.

Bring the kids by the Discovery Center to encourage a day of play!

Start your day off right with a morning kayak trip along Swift Creek Lake.

Discover your creative side as we discover how we are all natural artists.

What makes meadows special?

Stop by to decorate your bike, scooter, or even your stroller with patriotic supplies provided by the park.

Create your own Bear Creek Lake souvenir while making a memory with air dry clay.

Celebrate Independence Day with activities at the Beach Building.

Many animals migrate.

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Sketch out a path to discover the art of Nature while nurturing your inner artist.

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.

Join us for a true Bald Cypress Swamp adventure.

Butterflies don't begin their lives as colorful, winged creatures.

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

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.

The Jones-Stewart Mansion is a stunning example of an antebellum plantation house.

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.

Stop by the ranger's tent on the way to the pool for fun games, crafts, and prizes.

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.

Meet us at the boat ramp down our 64th St entrance to learn about the Bay's greatest keystone species...

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

Let's beat the heat this Independence Day by making ice cream the traditional way and learning some cool facts along the way.

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

While technically it's not a crustacean but more closely related to spiders and scorpions, this living fossil is quite interesting.

Let's learn all about our friends, THE BEES! There are many people in the world who do not recognize the importance of these beautiful pollinator insects, but here at Staunton River State Park we welcome them with open arms. We will talk all about the life cycle of bees, how they are one of the most sociable beings on earth, and then we will provide you with an opportunity to craft your own item using beeswax.  The fee for this program is $2 per person.

What's under that rock?

Mosey on over and try your hand at panning.

Explore this interactive exhibit and aquarium space in order to discover the creatures that inhabit the bay, what makes a watershed, why the Bay is so important and so much more!

Join us to practice your hand at spear-throwing and archery.

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

Let’s head over to Edmunds Lake and try to wrangle in some big fish. Our 25-acre lake offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the park, and is one of the most beautiful and natural areas in Scottsburg, VA.  A park ranger will escort everyone to the fishing location and will be available to show you how to tie some basic fisherman’s knots that will help you reel in the big one. Some fishing poles and worms will be provided, but feel free to bring your own rod and tackle.

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

Come take a walk with us under a full moon to search for some of the park's most illusive night-time predators -- owls!  As we walk along under the quiet cover of darkness, we'll listen for their haunting voices as they cry out across the landscape.

Watch as the moon rises over the lake and lights of the lake in its glow.

Been itching to go fishing?

Start your Independence Day with a bang by joining us at the Archery Range.

Start your day off right with a morning kayak trip along Swift Creek Lake.

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

Have you ever wondered what tree you were walking by in the park?

We need your help.

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

Want to go on a scavenger hunt in the wilderness? Let’s go on a hike on the Captain Staunton Trail and try to find some of nature’s hidden treasures. All guests will be provided with a list of items to find while we are out on the trail. The first person to find them all will get a prize.

Bows and arrows have been a part of human society for thousands of years and used for both survival and sport.

Join a ranger and learn about one of the critters you may find around a marsh, FROGS! These slimy amphibians have amazing adaptations to live in their environment. We will talk about their life cycle from egg to adult, their coloration and why they use it for camouflage or as a warning and more.

Journey across Bear Creek Lake in a canoe to experience a different side of the park. No prior canoe experience is necessary, and all equipment is provided, though children under 6 years of age must provide their own approved life jacket.