There's something happening in White Oak Swamp, Beavers!

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

Visit a ranger and learn about bear safety.

Pasture Pals is a special program at Chippokes, where guests are introduced to and able to spend quality time with our ambassador farm animals. Have you ever wondered exactly why donkeys have such long ears?

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

Explore the various ways you can connect with the Earth through keeping a nature journal.

The Indigenous Peoples were well known for being quite clever in their usage of the abundant natural resources found in the woodlands and coastal region, but did you know that these tribes were also compelled to use these same resources for sport and game playing?

Be on the lookout for a roaming ranger with a mini-program and learn something new.

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

What's under that rock?

Hungry Mother State Park's interpreters are always finding cool things around the park and thinking up new activities and crafts.

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

We invite you to join us as we commemorate Memorial Day, a day to pay tribute to those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

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.

Connect with nature on a guided hike with the Rangers!

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

Join Virginia Master Naturalist and entomologist Sarah Reilly as she introduces us to some of the beautiful and fascinating tiny critters you’re likely to find in this part of Virginia during this part of the season. Far from creepy, these many-legged crawlers are bound to amaze you as you learn about some of their mind-blowing adaptations and behaviors. Sarah’s presentation will be followed by an optional bug-themed craft that kids and adults alike can take home.

Turtles!

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.

Gather at Cullers Overlook to gaze across the river valley as we learn of the winding river and surrounding mountains.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Bring home a piece of history 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.

Yes, this is an honest-to-goodness game show with buzzers, lights, excitement, and prizes (without the TV cameras). We will put your knowledge to the test about everything from history, animals, plants, and more.

Come on out to the park and test your paddling skills.

We invite you to join us as we commemorate Memorial Day, a day to pay tribute to those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Join a ranger to learn about the wild animals found at Belle Isle State Park that delight your senses.

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

Explore all about the Northern Flying Squirrel and why they call Grayson Highlands State Park their home.

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 'boom town.' 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.

Ever wonder what it would be like to get up close to a wild animal?

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.

Join a ranger in learning the key differences between our native and non-native pollinators and what they do to help the environment.

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

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Like them or loathe them, snakes are important to our ecosystems.

Beautiful blooms are all around us in the late spring!

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

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

Join us for a wet and wild exploration of the animals living under the water and amidst the salt marshes at First Landing State Park.

Hop on over to learn the calls and search for some of Virginia's native frog species.

Throughout the summer we offer multiple opportunities for you to take a tour of our beautiful park by wagon ride.

Join us for a special night hike through False Cape State Park.

Join us at the outdoor stage for an evening program about the soaring predators that hunt from the sky at night, including learning different owl calls, adaptations, and a chance to dissect an owl pellet.

What's a camping trip without a campfire?

Come enjoy an evening with guitar legend and world-famous builder Wayne C.

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

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 a ranger and learn about the natural history of Westmoreland State Park and about the particular fossils you can find here.

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

Over 200 years ago, early adventurers like Daniel Boone walked these same hills and valleys we see today.

Bring the family by the Discovery Center to play Colonial, Appalachian, Indigenous, and Scottish games played throughout our local history.

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring a different life group every week, and Week 1 is Plants & Fungi! Programs run Monday - Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Outdoor and weather appropriate clothing must be worn as we will be exploring the park; getting dirty and wet are both strong possibilities! Closed-toed shoes are required every day. Please don't forget to bring a snack and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Come together and observe Black Birder's Week honoring the noted naturalist Dr.

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.

What some people call creepy crawlies are actually some of the most interesting and beneficial animals in our area.

Join the Park Rangers of Clinch River State Park in enjoying a short float down the Clinch River. Accompany a park ranger on this kayak trip from Old Castlewood to St.

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

Geocaching combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with nature to provide adventure for treasure hunters all over the world.

Show off your creativity with a beach themed craft on your way to or from the Chesapeake Bay.

Join us by stopping by our table to learn about trash and it’s impact on the beach, and how we can help prevent it from damaging our environment!

Come walk the park's bluebird trail with a Virginia Master Naturalist as she checks the nest boxes and records data for the Virginia Bluebird Society.

Come learn about the largest estuary in the country, the Chesapeake Bay, while exploring some of the unique species that live within it.

America's national symbol, the bald eagle, soars wild and free over the Potomac River.

Pollinator populations everywhere are in a steady decline, but why all the buzz about it?

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

Explore the life cycle of butterflies. Learn what is special about the monarch butterfly. What do they like to eat?

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

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.

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our stationed naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.

Have you ever touched bear fur or looked at the teeth of a beaver?

Need a break from your long trip and have a little fun? Do you like being creative? We have many things to see at our Visitor Center.

Want to go on a scavenger hunt in the wilderness?

Gather at Cullers Overlook to gaze across the river valley as we learn of the winding river and surrounding mountains.

Can you imagine not having a TV or cell phone?

How would you stand in competition with the wildlife of Virginia?

Take a look at the fascinating lives of insects and let your creative juices flow.

Who made those footprints?

Have you met the animals living at Hungry Mother State Park's Discovery Center?

Not all bees live in hives.

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

Stop by the beach to see some cool critters, hold some interesting artifacts, and have your nature and history questions about Douthat State Park answered.

Take some time to get out of the hot sun and join our park nature interpreter under the tent for some fun crafts. Memorial Day is a time to give thanks to all the brave men and women who fought to give us our freedom.

Every Monday you can find local fresh produce, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, soap, and local artisan crafters, as well as food vendors, here at Fairy Stone State Park.

Tie-dye wasn't the brainchild of American hippies during the 1960s.

Look for the park interpreter on the sidewalk between the pavilion and sand at the swimming beach to have some fun making bubbles.

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

We need your help.

Want to learn what steps you can take to both help the ecosystem and bring wildlife to your own backyard?

A face only a mother could love?

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.

Get creative and be inspired by the beautiful scenery of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

As animals explore their surroundings they leave us lots of clues.

Migrate to the Discovery Center to learn about the fascinating "Fish Hawk".

What's under that rock?

Join a ranger to hike along a section of the Mountain View Trail and cut through the woods for a short distance, seeing the ruins of an old moonshine still along the way.

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

Time to go on a scavenger hunt in the campground.

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.

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".