(5-Adult) Parents and children will sip tea, enjoy butterfly-shaped sandwiches and join the crazy fun of Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter and his friends at the strangest of tea parties. Meet a live creature from the story. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

(4-Adult) Join the naturalist as she shares stories about animals that enjoy being chilly including penguins and polar bears plus others that can get through the cold. Come dressed as your favorite frozen friend. Enjoy a sit down tea with china cups, treats and snow crafts. Contact the nature center one week prior with any dietary restrictions. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult registered in this program.

(6-10 yrs.) From bees to butterflies to bats, learn all about the native pollinators that call this area home and how they help local plants. Make and decorate a home for pollinators.

(4-Adult) Spring is the time for many animals to give birth and raise young. Meet some young animals and discover how wild creatures grow and develop. Child must be accompanied by an adult also registered in this program.

(7-Adult) Learn how to create one or two paper mache animals in week one. In week two, paint your sculptures with acrylic paints. Meet live animals and play an animal pictogram game as part of the classes. A paying adult must accompany children in the program. All materials included.

(4-7 yrs.) Explore the woods, creeks and ponds as we look for all sorts of critters. Learn about the animal life science of frogs, toads, birds, mammals, snakes, turtles, fish and insects through hikes, projects and games.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

(5-8yrs) Investigate the properties of water and air, make bubbling concoctions, learn about electricity, and the science of bubbles. Older campers will also learn about bacteria and DNA.

(8-12yrs) Investigate the properties of water and air, make bubbling concoctions, learn about electricity, and the science of bubbles. Older campers will also learn about bacteria and DNA.

(6-Adult) Use your eyes and ears to identify native birds as you embark on a guided walk with one of our naturalists. Both beginner birders and veterans welcome. Bring your own binoculars or use one of ours.  

(12-Adult) Learn about the park's birds and some basic identification skills. This program for beginners starts with a bird identification discussion. Children age 12 to 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(5-Adult) Learn how to safely build and enjoy a campfire, learn fire safety skills and receive the Smokey Bear Pledge certificate. Enjoy a brief woodland walk and toast marshmallows. Children must be accompanied by adult.

(3-7 yrs.) Join an octopus, ray, shark, lobster and all their friends in this undersea adventure. After the show, play a game, sing songs and make a craft. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

(Adults) Enjoy a peaceful adults only visit to the nature center for Valentine’s Day. Meet animals and learn about their dating and mating habits.  A fun activity and a special treat complete your nature-themed holiday celebration. Each attendee must register individually.

(6-10 yrs.) From tadpoles to meadow voles, water is needed for all living things. Join us for this mostly outdoor camp as we explore many features of the watershed and learn about animals that depend on it. Be prepared to get wet, do cool experiments and learn how humans affect the quality of water in our rivers and streams.

Campers will become junior paleontologists as naturalists lead discovery of the latest in dinosaur knowledge through crafts, games and fossils.

(5-9yrs) Campers will become junior paleontologists as naturalists lead discovery of the latest in dinosaur knowledge through crafts, games and fossils.

(3-8 yrs.) Stomp over to Hidden Oaks Nature Center to enjoy a dinosaur-themed program and outdoor egg hunt while visiting Dinoland in Nature Playce. Cancelled in case of inclement weather. One adult only per registered child preferred.

(16-Adult) Learn about owl adaptations as you draw owl feathers, eggs, talons, skulls and taxidermy mounts. Go on a hike to learn about owl habitats, then dissect your own owl pellet to figure out what owls eat and draw some of the bones. Your choice of watercolor, colored pencil or ink pens.

(16-Adult) Beetles and bugs are everywhere from logs, to forests, gardens and even in the water. Learn some natural history, anatomy and tips for drawing the Coleoptera and Hemiptera families. We will draw from the center’s preserved insect collection as well as from photos and field guides. Your choice of watercolors or colored pencil.

(16-Adult) The sky is dramatic and ever changing. Learn how to add weather data and information to your nature journal. Discover techniques for drawing and painting skyscapes, clouds, rain, snowflakes, frost and more. Media discussed will include watercolor, oil pastel, water-colored pencils, ink and gel pens. Many materials will be available to borrow in class.

(5-Adult) Find out what’s cracking (or not) as we do various experiments with eggs and learn about their many amazing properties. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult also registered in this program.

(8-12 yrs.) Join naturalists for one or all of these weekly explorations of our forest and stream ecosystems. We’ll investigate the natural world through hands-on activities and experiments. Topics will supplement learning towards the VA science SOLs for grades 4-6, while in our outdoors science “lab”. Weekly themes include: Apr 8-Plant Power, Apr 15-Marvelous Metamorphosis, Apr 22-Wacky Weather, and Apr 29-Earth's Energy. Bring your curiosity and get ready for some eco-adventure.