Spoil Mom with a delightful cup of tea.

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.

Who says you have to get up at the crack of dawn to go bird watching?

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.

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will remember mothers everywhere on this day with a special presentation commemorating Mother's Day.

Do you know why turtles have shells?

Bring Mom out for a Wildflower Walk to uncover some of Virginia's prettiest, yet often overlooked, treasures.

Come on and take a free ride...

Join a park ranger on a hike to the waterfall and back.

Join us in making homemade cards for the special women in your life, using real flowers!

This land-based, hook-free fishing game is a fun and safe way to learn how to cast, but even those who are fishing fanatics will enjoy trying to beat out the competition in this game of limited resources.

Flowers are a traditional Mother’s Day gift, but they only last so long.

The survival bracelet is the superhero utility belt of the outdoors.

Watch and learn about our ambassador animals, Reba the Corn Snake or Stevie the King Snake, as they feed on a frozen mouse! .

Bear Creek Lake is a modest 40 aces in size yet has a many-faceted story to tell.

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

Join us as we build a beaver to find out if the beaver's teeth, and other body parts, are useful, or just a cruel joke played by Mother Nature.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our on-the-go naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.  Don't be surprised if he has a photo or two to share with you.

Step back in time to 1939, when Pocahontas State Park was known as the Swift Creek Recreational Demonstration Area and learn more about the history of the park.

🌳🐍 WIDE WATER STATE PARK PRESENTS: "SNAKES ALIVE" 🐍🌳 Join us Saturday at 2:30 pm for an unforgettable experience at Wide Water State Park's "Snakes Alive" program!

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.

Create a hand-made, nature-inspired souvenir to take home.

Did you know mommy opossums carry their young on their backs for three to five months?

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

Frogs, crawdads, and children, oh my!

Join us at the Wetlands Estonoa Center for a fun educational activity all about environments and how they work.

You never know what critters you will see around Belle Isle, there's dozens to pick from. Join a ranger to learn about the insects we see and don't see and make a craft to take home and share with friends and family.

Join us for an evening presentation at 7:30 in the interpretive center.  Dr.

Discover our International Dark-Sky Park!

5/4 RESCHEDULED TO 5/11 DUE TO WEATHER Join astronomers from the Richmond Astronomical Society for Saturday Under the Stars.

Calling all amateur astronomers and people who enjoy the night sky!

Did you know that opossums roamed the earth with the dinosaurs and that  raccoons have “hands” like ours? Wonder what other secrets these critters hold? Join us to discover little known facts about these amazing animals and how they benefit humans.

Come join the storytellers from CHAOS (Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society) on the Observation Field to share the stories of the stars.

Prepare to be mesmerized by the mysterious world of snakes at Holliday Lake State Park's "Sssensational Snakes" program!

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

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

The use of bows to shoot arrows has been a part of global history for thousands of years whether for defense, survival, or sport.

Celebrate Mother's Day with a peaceful paddle to Caledon Marsh.

Walk in the footsteps of moonshiners of decades gone by.

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

It’s Mothers Day, and our trails are full of mother animals taking care of young.

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.

Will you take up the bow and try your hand at the sport of archery?

Want to know more about how our animal friends parented their young?

Growing up in the park trail walk.  What is it like raising a baby in the park?   From insects to birds, animals have different strategies for raising their young.  We will meet at the Pollinator Garden, share some different ways animals raise their young,  then walk towards Wortman Pond to see if we can find any young tadpoles, or froglets in the pond. .

During the Civil War, Union soldiers were always ready for the challenges of marching, training, or engaging in battle.

Step back in time and participate in games played in the 18th century.

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.

The Bear Creek Lake State Park Archery Club is open to beginner and intermediate level archers 18 years old and older.

Mom does everything for you, now it’s your turn to do something for her. Show your mom some love this Mother’s Day weekend by submitting up to two of your mom’s favorite flowers either in honor of, or in memory of, for the museum’s floral display.

Can you hear the park talking?  There are many tales and tails throughout Sweet Run State Park.  Some are visual, some are tactile, most don’t use words, so how does the park share its stories?  Growing up in the park.  What is it like raising a baby in the park?   Animals have different strategies for raising their young.   Stop by the table and find out who is living in the park and how they grow up.   .

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will remember mothers everywhere on this day with a special presentation commemorating Mother's Day.

Flowers are a traditional Mother’s Day gift, but they only last so long.

Celebrate Mother's Day at Caledon with a decoupage craft.

Have you always wanted to try archery but never had the opportunity?

Curious about how our animal friends raise their young?

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.

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.

Did you know mommy opossums carry their young on their backs for three to five months?

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).

With over two thousand acres, the park has a wide variety of life in the wetlands and woods.  Meet with our on-the-go naturalist/ranger who will help you discover the aquatic, insect, mammal, and plant life in the park’s ecosystems.  Don't be surprised if he has a photo or two to share with you.

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.

Discover the world of pollinators from Monarchs to beetles to bats!

All are welcome at the Friends of Sailor's Creek Battlefield volunteer support group during their monthly meeting as they focus on a variety of objectives designed to assist the park's mission in preserving the hallowed grounds of the last major battle of the American Civil War in Virginia on April 6, 1865.

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.

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

We need your help.

Enjoy an evening of floral themed creativity learning the Victorian Era pastime of decorating with pressed flowers.

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

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Come join us at the Lebanon Farmers Market for a fun leaf rubbing activity.

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.

Who's ready to have some fun?  Schedule a field trip at Shenandoah River State Park!

FLSP is excited about our 2024 Junior Ranger Camp!  Online registration will begin Monday, Feb. 19th, at 9:00 a.m. via SignUpGenius.

The Archery Range opens for the season daily from 8 a.m. until dusk.

The Visitor Center at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park offers a museum filled with treasured artifacts discovered over the years where the last major fight of the American Civil War in Virginia occurred on April 6, 1865.

Tours of the Hillsman House, a National Historic Landmark, are available to the public by request.

A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Sailor's Creek Battlefield is available to visitors year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield offers six, self-guided Hiking Trails with historic markers for the public to explore year round during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).

Join us on a real or virtual hike through Claytor Lake State Park as we take a closer look at some of the beautiful native trees.

The Staunton River Scavenger Hunt is a self-guided program that you can enjoy with family and friends.

Pick up the Staunton River State Park bird identification list in the Visitor Center for this self-guided program.

Pick up the Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Pick up this Ranger Quest guide at the Visitor Center to begin this self-guided program.

Did you know that Haven Howe was an early advocate for environmental reform in Virginia? Participate in person or virtually as we examine the fine craftsmanship of the Howe House and learn of its builder, inhabitants, and history.

Take a hike back in time by visiting our tour points located at the same location as our collection of photos and videos from past years at Claytor Lake State Park and Claytor Lake.

Earn your junior ranger patch through a variety of programs and fun family activities.  Visit the park office, gift shop, or contact station for a copy of our junior ranger booklet, or you can download it from the link below.

Find out what it takes to be a ranger at Sky Meadows State Park.

A new discovery awaits your family with Sky Meadows' Discovery Backpacks.

Discover the different habitats Sky Meadows has to offer on our Kids in Park's TRACK Trail!

Stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a copy of a self-guided brochure on the "22 Trees of Virginia Tour." This one-mile hike will take you on an adventure to awe-inspiring overlooks while identifying some of the common trees you may find in your backyard.

Experience geocaching at Sky Meadows State Park with three park-themed caches.

Contribute to citizen science by helping us create a time lapse of this mysterious site.

We have some exciting self-guided activities launching this year; whether it's kayaking the New River, enjoying an audio tour, or becoming a Junior Ranger, there's something for everyone. Here is a list of what is available: Geocaching: This is a fun way to merge technology and outdoor exploration.

As you explore the Wilderness Road Blockhouse and the surrounding area, discover what makes this building so unique as well as what was commonly used on the frontier for survival during the 18th Century.

Enjoy a self-guided tour as you walk down to see the Natural Tunnel.

Biking is a wonderful activity to do here in the park.

Smith Mountain Lake is the perfect location for fishing.