Events in Virginia State Parks

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Does your child love exciting stories and fun facts?

Join us on the first Saturday of the month from May to November to experience the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of history at Sky Meadows.

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

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

Trees are vital to our environment.

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the Corn snake, Stevie Nicks the King snake, and three Red-Eared Sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

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

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

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

Come find us at the Splash Park as we get hands on with skulls and furs from Virginia’s native animals.

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

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

Paddle around the lake with us and discover the rich history and variety of habitats at Holliday Lake State Park.

Welcome to the park, complete with a campfire where you can ask questions and get answers while you learn about our history, upcoming activities, and the animals that live around the park.

Join a park ranger for a guided nighttime adventure through the maritime forest as we search and listen for some of First Landing State Park’s most fascinating nocturnal residents: owls.

Experience the James River like never before on this ranger-guided canoe float between Canoe Landing and Dixon Landing!

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

Life is indeed better with butterflies! Learn about the different species of butterflies in our area, their life cycles, how to identify them, and all the good they do for our environment. Join us in taking a closer look at these animals hard at work in our native plant garden and play a matching game of butterflies and their caterpillars.  This program will be held in the native plant garden next to the Visitor Center.  In case in inclement weather, please check this page prior to coming to the park. Cancellations will be posted by close of business the day before the program.

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

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the Corn snake, Stevie Nicks the King snake, and three Red-Eared Sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

Unleash your creativity in the great outdoors. Join a park ranger for a hands-on crafting adventure inspired by the wildlife that calls the park home.

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

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

What creatures rule our beaches at night?

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.

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

Who made those footprints?

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

Is the opossum misunderstood?

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

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

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

Slow down and take in the beauty of the James River and its vibrant landscapes!

Douthat Lake is home to some big, beautiful trout.

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

We can tell a great deal about an animal’s adaptations by looking at their skins and skulls.

Visit the Powhatan Library for a special summer program presented by the volunteers of Family Learning Adventures and park rangers from Powhatan State Park. This STEAM-focused "Nature Lab" series invites you to explore the different books, games, and learning kits you can check out and take home with you to learn more about nature and the environment.

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

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.

Second only to humans in the ability to change their environment to fit their needs, learn just how smart a beaver can be.

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

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

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

Just because we don’t always spot them, we know the animals are around by the tracks and traces they leave behind.

Can you track the ranger out on the trail?

Beat the heat at our new River Bend Discovery Center!

Explore the park’s different ecosystems that provide habitats for an array of unique mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and birds.

Black bears are one of the many incredible mammals that dwell in Douthat State Park.

Visit a Ranger at Massie Gap to learn about different creatures that live within the park.

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

Ever wondered what a skunk’s fur feels like, or how big a bobcat’s skull really is?

Meet Gertie and Birdie, our Educational Ambassadors, and interact with our knowledgeable rangers while they care for these beloved critters.

While designing a cool animal tooth necklace, learn how to to identify different animal skulls like a mini wildlife scientist.

Ever wondered what makes coyotes such successful survivors in our backyards and beyond?

As the heat of the day begins to fade, join a ranger for an evening walk along the Farmstead Loop to discover how plants, animals, and people adapt to summer's hottest conditions.

Watch the last traces of daylight strike the Blue Ridge Mountains on this haywagon ride.

Take a summer walk of exploration with two Virginia Master Naturalists in this second of a series of seasonal walks planned for children. Use your five senses to find clues to how various organisms – plants, animals, and more – work together to survive in this forest community.

Does your child love exciting stories and fun facts?

Let’s make animal tracks!

Join us for "Tree Topia" as we uncover the magical realm of trees and their incredible role as habitats!

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

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century farmer and help care for our heritage breed chickens and goats!

Trees are vital to our environment.

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the Corn snake, Stevie Nicks the King snake, and three Red-Eared Sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

Meet Lake Anna State Park's animal ambassadors Flick, General Raphael, and Julia at the Visitor Center. Learn about the important roles Virginia reptiles play in the environment, snake safety tips, and what you can do to help protect wild reptiles.

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

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

Come find us at the Splash Park as we get hands on with skulls and furs from Virginia’s native animals.

Take a closer look at what swims in the James River.

Meet Lake Anna State Park's animal ambassadors Flick, General Raphael, and Julia at the Visitor Center. Learn about the important roles Virginia reptiles play in the environment, snake safety tips, and what you can do to help protect wild reptiles.

A walk after sunset can sometimes feel mysterious, but it does not need to be feared.

Join a park ranger for a guided nighttime adventure through the maritime forest as we search and listen for some of First Landing State Park’s most fascinating nocturnal residents: owls.

Fireflies aren't the only species that glow at night.  Did you know several plant and animal species glow under black light?

Summer heat can be challenging for both people and wildlife.

Experience the James River like never before on this ranger-guided canoe float between Canoe Landing and Dixon Landing!

Come watch our resident snakes enjoy their mealtime!

Be on the lookout for our Roving Ranger as they roam the picnic area and beaches with interesting animals or historical artifacts from the park.

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

Westmoreland State Park is home to 5 ambassador animals: Reba McEntire the Corn snake, Stevie Nicks the King snake, and three Red-Eared Sliders, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, and Earl Scruggs.

Unleash your creativity in the great outdoors. Join a park ranger for a hands-on crafting adventure inspired by the wildlife that calls the park home.

It's feeding time in our Chesapeake Bay Lab!

Join our park ranger for this fascinating workshop on owls and what they eat.

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

What creatures rule our beaches at night?

The final week of Junior Rangers is all about the Spirit of 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.

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

Who made those footprints?

Come learn what makes cave ecosystems so delicate and special.

The final week of Junior Rangers is all about the Spirit of Adventure!

What do you think of when you hear term wildlife?

Is the opossum misunderstood?

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

What animal inspired a popular children's game?

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