Machicomoco State Park is one of the many stops you have to make to complete this limited time county wide historic scavenger hunt!

Easter ROCKS at Westmoreland!

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

Calling all young anglers; kids 12 and younger get free admission and can fish for free during this annual event.

It is April Fools Day and some critters you see around Belle Isle are masters of mimicry or camouflage.

Swing by the Acorn Shelter to talk about activities happening at the park and tips on making the most out of your visit to Bear Creek Lake State Park.

April is frog month, so lets see some frogs!

The appearance of frogs and salamanders are a sure sign of spring.

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

In it's 26th season, this annual "Stitch in Time" quilt show exhibit honors both past and present quilters and features quilts, not only from the Museum's collection, but also from members of the community who display quilts from their own collections.

For centuries humans have created myths and legends about the salamander, even giving them a name that means "lives in fire".

Talk "birdy" to me.

It’s amazing how many of nature’s wonders are waiting to be discovered but are hidden in plain sight.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

Join us for an event hosted by the Friends of Holliday Lake State Park.

This ranger-led hike, designed for friends, families, and well-behaved pets on leashes, will bring you on all or portions of Big Poplar, Ground Pine Path, Beaver Lake, and Old Mill Trails.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6,000 plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea.

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

High Bridge Trail is excited to join the Town of Farmville for their community Easter egg hunt.

Are you an expert angler or looking to pick up a couple fishing tips?

During the spring and summer osprey dominate the skies over Leesylvania as they build nests and raise their young.

Have you ever heard an owl sing at night?

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.

Follow your nose to the Log Cabin to see what is cooking on the hearth.

The forge is fired up and the blacksmiths are hard at work showing off their skills.

As spring unfolds at Natural Tunnel, the forest floor begins to come to life with the vibrant colors that Mother Nature offers.

Discover how animals use tricks, like mimicry and camouflage to help them survive in the wild on a short, ranger-led hike.

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

The Jones-Stewart Mansion is a stunning example of an antebellum plantation house built in 1854.

Have you ever heard of a vernal pool?

Model and observe the different stages of a trees life, from seedling to sapling to a mature tree, and discover how important trees are to the life around them.  Parks are for everyone.

Mother nature often provides the best art inspiration and craft supplies!

Douthat's Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a unique historical tour experience to explore one of the oldest dwelling on the grounds.  What do the remnants of the River House tell us of a time much different than today?

Discover how animals use tricks, like mimicry and camouflage to help them survive in the wild on a 1.4-mile, Ranger led hike.

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

What is a vernal pool?

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

Presented by the Friends of Mason Neck State Park: Alison Zak, the Executive Director of the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund, will present a a brief history of human interactions with beavers over time, an overview of beaver ecology and behavior, and an exploration of the benefits that beavers and the wetlands they create provide to the health of our watersheds, landscapes, and communities.  Park Staff will present a short overview of how the beavers in the wetland along the Park's Bayview Trail have changed the ecology of the wetland.   View this presentation by visiting Explorer Hall in the park's Visitor Center, or view from home by registering here.

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

Join us to hear about the impacts of fire; from the habitats it touches to how humans have learned to use it to our advantage throughout the ages.

Did you know owls don't chew their food?

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

What's next?

Birding is a wonderful hobby.

Pine, poplar, oak, holly, who can tell? Practice your tree identification skills by getting leaf and bark rubbings from some of our common trees in the park.

Discover the “bear facts” about Fairy Stone’s black bears at our Ranger led program!

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park to host its First Saturday Community Coffee House of the 2023 season.

Join us by the campfire to relax and also learn about reptiles commonly found in our park.

It’s Spring and frogs are singing their hearts out.

Join astronomy volunteers as they share the stories written in the night sky.

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

Kids’ Activity Book: This free book contains activities for the young (or young at heart).

The appearance of frogs and salamanders are a sure sign of spring. Vernal pools, shallow pools of water that dry in the summer heat, provide a place for some very special amphibians to lay their eggs before returning to the land for the remainder of the year.

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 onto the Birding and Wildlife Trail to witness the new spring activity of plants and animals that call Natural Tunnel home.

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

Celebrate Spring with some of our favorite ephemeral wildflowers!

Join us for a true Bald Cypress Swamp adventure.

We would like to introduce you to “Boxer” the box turtle.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

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....

Hop on over and enjoy a short walk around Old Pond Trail as we look and listen for these amazing amphibians.

Looking for that perfect selfie spot?

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

Interested in learning more about archery while having fun?

We can't wait for our visitor center to be finished, but until then, please enjoy our pop-up museum.

The Jones-Stewart Mansion is a stunning example of an antebellum plantation house built in 1854.

Come visit our one-of-a-kind science lab all to do with the Chesapeake Bay.

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

Birding is a wonderful hobby.

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

Chippokes State Park welcomes visitors to accompany an interpretive guide on a unique historical tour experience to explore one of the oldest dwelling on the grounds. What do the remnants of the River House tell us of a time much different than today?

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. "Moonshine Murders" reveals the events which sparked a number of these murders.  Due to the gruesome nature of this topic, we ask that no one under age 15 attend.   .

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

From eagles to owls, raptors are everywhere at Mason Neck State Park.

School is out and Spring is here.

Spring is here, and the birds know it.

Witness the amphibian life cycle and see aquatic invertebrates up-close when you join us in this partnership program with our local Central Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists (CPVMN).

It starts with an "s" and ends with a "t." It comes out of you, it comes out of me.

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.

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.

The Jones-Stewart Mansion is a stunning example of an antebellum plantation house built in 1854.

Take part in the old tradition of fish printing.

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

What makes meadows special?

Join volunteer Tina Hayes on a relaxing hike made to calm the mind.

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

Head out on a trail with a park guide to see what summer is bringing forth in the forest. Perhaps you will espy the tiniest of wildflowers or the track of a raccoon.

Meet Ranger Scout, our Western Hognose Snake, and discover some of the snakes that live in the park and how they've adapted to survive.

Come as a family, with friends, or come as a team of one on this guided walk as you hunt for natural wonders along the trail.

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.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942) developed patches that were used by the enrollees as a means to identify others of their duties.

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

Some of Virginia's coolest mammals are rarely seen by humans.

Co-Op Trail offers stunning views of Swift Creek Lake.

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

It’s Spring and frogs are singing their hearts out.

Explore our Dark Sky park on your own! On Tuesday nights from dusk to 11 p.m. (beginning April 4th and ending on October 31st), you’re invited to come experience the night sky at your own leisure at Skyline Trail.

Join a ranger to hike the Stuart's Knob trail and learn about the history of Fayerdale and the importance Stuart's Knob played to in helping the residents earn money throughout its short tenure.