Join us at an exciting and empowering camp at the Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, VA.

Do you feel safer walking with a friend?

Is your little one interested in becoming an official Seven Bends State Park Junior Ranger?

Who wants to be a junior ranger?  Join us for our junior ranger camp for ages 10-12 from Monday, June 16 - Thursday, June 19.

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 2 is Meadows & Fields! 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 lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

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.

This is the last day of our Batteaux and Banjos event.

Find out what lurks below the surface of the swamp in this fun dip-netting adventure!

Have you ever wondered what secrets the natural world holds? This drop-in program offers a unique opportunity to meet with Virginia Master Naturalists who will be available to answer all your nature-related questions.

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 head to the site.

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

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.

Ever wonder what the fish are doing when they dive deep under water?

June 16-22, 2025 is National Pollinator Week!

Do you enjoy coffee, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables?

How many animals inhabitants of First Landing State Park can you identify?

Are you trying to secure the tarp over your tent, or interested in how to keep your boat or canoe tied up so that it won't float away?

Every Monday evening from May to the first week of September 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 Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park is a volunteer organization of interested citizens who actively support the park. The group works on behalf of the park by assisting in daily programs, special events, fund raising, and public education. The partnership provides a mechanism to use the skills, contacts, and resources of private citizens and businesses to improve services that may not otherwise be available.

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

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

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Have you ever bumped into one of our tall bark-covered residents and wondered who it is you've just run into?

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 2 is Meadows & Fields! 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 lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

First Landing is home to many creatures both large and small.

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

Is the opossum misunderstood?

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 head to the site.

Join the Rangers each week to learn a new skill to help you survive in the wild.

Animals may be shy, but they leave plenty of clues behind.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

How can we be more sustainable when practicing our favorite hobbies?

Ever wondered how you stack up against some of the largest birds in the sky?

Fly on over and learn how to make a bird feeder from natural materials which you can keep.

Did you know people were tie-dyeing clothes over a thousand years before it became a 1960s fashion trend?

Our beautiful park is the perfect place to pick up a fun new workout routine.

Help support the park you love.

Allow the evening to envelop you and enjoy a hay wagon ride with our park guide.

Spend time floating down the Clinch River.

Children Ages 7 - 13 Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Children can experience Virginia’s frontier like never before.

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

Yes, you too can canoe!

Join the Friends of Mason Neck and Fairfax Master Naturalists for a rewarding day of volunteer garden work!

This summer, the Junior Ranger program is exploring different biomes, and Week 2 is Meadows & Fields! 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 lunch and a reusable water bottle, as well as apply sunscreen and bugspray before the program begins.

Take a fascinating hike to learn about the rich history of James River State Park from fossils to the American Civil War.

Whether your child is an aspiring adventurer or simply loves being outdoors, this program is designed to ignite their curiosity and foster valuable skills.

Come across our Ranger outposts stationed at a part of First Landing State Park you may have never visited: the Narrows Beach!

Join us as we open the doors to the old Norfolk and Western caboose 518517.

Without pollinators, people and all of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

While most of the adventure on the New River takes place above the water, there is no shortage of things to see below the water!

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 head to the site.

All aboard the Virginia Dare for a fun-filled and informative lunch cruise.

Go back in time in the historic village of Foster Falls.

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

Our amazing amphibians are abundant here in the mountains.

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

“What does the fox say?” Did you know that there are two different foxes found in Virginia, the red fox and the grey fox?

Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the animals that live in it!

Meet at the Big Water Visitor Center and help our resident box turtle have some fun in the sun! .

Trees are so important to our environment. They give us air to breathe, homes for animals, wood to build our homes and help control erosion.

Get your feet wet and explore life in the creek.

Right now in Fairy Stone Lake, giant gelatinous blobs resembling brains can be found attached to stationary objects in the water, using their tentacles to feed.

Enjoy a scenic guided walk along the New River Trail. This easy one-mile round trip tour will take visitors outside one of the oldest mining operations in North America, the Austinville lead mines.

Whether you're fascinated or a little rattled, snakes are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, and they’re not as scary as they seem.

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

Meet us on South Beach to help clean up trash and search for treasures.

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

Hop on over for a hands-on adventure into the world of frogs. Join park staff as we search for some of Virginia’s native frog species and their tadpoles.

The day has been filled with fun activities, but now it is time to wind down with a peaceful paddle on the lake.

Join us at picnic shelter #1 for a late-night hike as we search for owls and other nocturnal animals that call Kiptopeke home.

Children Ages 7 - 13 Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Children can experience Virginia’s frontier like never before.

Do you want to witness the art of Gyotaku fish printing, an ancient craft where you can create your own fish masterpiece!

Ride with a park guide as we experience the shores of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Want to experience the New River Trail State Park in a way few people get a chance to?

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.   All materials will be provided by the park. There is no fee for this program, but the standard parking fee is required unless you are a cabin or campground guest.

The Senior Ranger Series is geared towards citizens 55 and older who are interested in learning more about nature. Join Rangers to take in the tranquility of this tributary, watch majestic bald eagles and ospreys soar above, a heron hunting along the shore, or turtles basking in the morning sunshine.

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

Come out of your shell and spend some time getting to know the Eastern Box Turtle.

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

Upon visiting Chippokes you'll find many historic buildings that are direct links to the property's past as a former plantation and active farm site.  Beyond these fields and buildings, there are important narratives of the men, women, and children who worked and lived on property over the years as Chippokes has continuously evolved.  Join a ranger as we walk along the historic Quarter Lane, from the River House to the Jones - Stewart Mansion, to share the history of both enslaved and tenant farmer families of Chippokes.

Join the Rangers on a guided hike through our most popular trail!

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

We use fire for all sorts of things in the outdoors, but how do we work with it safely?

We have all heard about the hard-working bees, but they're not the only pollinators hard at work.

Have you ever wondered what makes an owl such a skilled night hunter?

Join park staff, volunteers, and community partners for a series of events celebrating African-American culture, resilience, and joy.

Find time to head down to the Tunnel Platform where you’ll find amazing views of the 300-foot-tall amphitheater walls of the Natural Tunnel, rock pigeons, and if you’re lucky, a train.

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 head to the site.

The beauty of nature has inspired artists for thousands of years.

Travel through time on this scavenger hunt.

Step into the shoes of an archaeologist and uncover the secrets of an owl’s diet!

The batteau was a historically significant boat used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Who wouldn't want to learn helpful skills to fully enjoy nature safely and responsibly?

Meet a ranger for a leisurely paced afternoon walk at the Dannelly Park access to New River Trail.

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

Join a ranger and learn tips and tricks to take better photos with the cameras we always have on us - our phones.

Discover the fascinating world of creepy crawlies with a park ranger.

Trees are some of the most crucial organisms on the planet.

How much do you know about Douthat State Park's past?