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

(3-Adult) Its dinner time at the nature center and worms and insects are on the menu. Help our naturalist care for and feed the nature center's animals.

(3-7yrs.) Put on your pajamas and come to the nature center to hear bedtime stories, meet animals and wish goodnight to the center's live animals. Bring your favorite stuffed animal with you. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(3-5yrs.) It's back, the social event of Hidden Ponds winter season! There will be dancing, refreshments, crafts and live animals to entertain.

(4-8 yrs.) Play musical valentines and critter sweetheart games as you learn how animals find a mate. Meet live animals, make an animal valentine craft. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(4-Adult) Beaks, feathers, nests and talons are examined to explore the avian world that surrounds us. Find out about bird life cycles, migration patterns and adaptations that make these creatures fascinating. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(3-Adult) Join us for a campfire, s'mores, animals, and so much more! We cover a different topic and different area of the park each night.

(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 of the sea and make a craft. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(4-Adult) Celebrate Chinese New Year with games, stories and crafts. Participate in a Ribbon Dance and a Dragon Parade. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(2-6 yrs.)Cardinals are Virginia’s state bird and with their bright red feathers, you can see why! How do these feathered friends live in the cold winter season? Join us as we learn all about the life of a cardinal, as an egg in a nest to a flying adult, these beautiful birds are fun to watch! Join a naturalist for hands-on activities, songs, games, outdoor exploration and end with a craft to take home.

(4-Adult) How did the Powhatan Native Americans use the plants and animals you see every day for their medicine, grocery store, clothing and fun? Immerse yourself in a way of life 400 years ago. Grind corn, make a clay pot, master corn darts and go on a guided tour to see the park from the perspective of a Virginia Indian.

Dinosaurs once roamed all the Earth, places far and near. How do we know that they were here? Enjoy a puppet show and crafts along with fun fossil facts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(4-Adult) Naturalists share the tales of “Yertle the Turtle”, “Gertrude McFuzz” and more and show that real woodland creatures share some of the same talents. Meet live animals and make crafts. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(Adults) Take an evening stroll through the forest to one of the park's largest meadows. Listen for the call of the male woodcock and hopefully see his amazing courtship dance and flight. Bring a flashlight. Approximately 1.5 mile walk on uneven terrain. Canceled if rain. Meets at the South Kings Highway entrance to the park.

Students explore Virginia's ecosystem in this nature series which takes place both outdoors and indoors so dress accordingly. Series dates and topics: 1/12 Mammals, 1/19 Birds, 1/26 Trees, 2/2 Fish; 2/9 Mammals, 2/16 Birds, 2/23, Trees, 3/2 Fish.

(4-Adult) Enjoy an evening around the campfire making s’mores and learning about the flying squirrels that live in our area. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Join a naturalist calling in these amazing night gliders and look for flying squirrels at roosting boxes near the nature center. Learn how you can encourage flying squirrels to visit your yard. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(6-Adult) Enjoy nature's tranquil beauty and winter's bright skies under the full moon. Your naturalist guide points out signs of creatures that glide, fly and tiptoe through the woods in the dark. Enjoy a campfire after the hike with s'mores provided. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Enjoy a naturalist-led night hike to see a supermoon, a full moon that looks larger than usual due to the closer distance to the Earth.

(3-8 yrs.) Willard the Groundhog has a very poor track record of success in predicting the length of winter. Help him improve by joining in our dress rehearsal for tomorrow's Groundhog Day. Enjoy a dramatization, songs and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(3-Adult) Learn the story behind Groundhog Day and some interesting facts about this animal. Visit the home of the Walney garden groundhog and play some groundhog games. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(2-Adult) Bring your empty milk jugs and/or two liter soda bottles to make bird feeders. We discuss tips for feeding birds and learn to identify common birds that visit home bird feeders. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Take a walk through our winter wonderland with one of our naturalists and then join us back inside to warm up with a hot cocoa party. Jazz up your cup of cocoa up with goodies, listen to some heartwarming winter stories, and make a wintry craft to take home.

(6-Adult) Sip hot cocoa and join a naturalist for a special winter wonder wetland tour after dark. We look for signs and listen for sounds of beavers, owls, deer and other nocturnal winter animals. Children must be accompanied by registered adult. Canceled in case of inclement weather.

(3-6 yrs.) Preschool children explore nature or history once a month accompanied by an adult. An outdoor activity and craft included. Topics: January-Snow, February-Squirrels.

Prepare a winter meal with your family using colonial and indigenous cooking techniques around the centuries old campfire. Bring a flashlight and warm clothes. Food and drink provided. Space is limited.

(4-7 yrs) Explore the natural world in this fun, hands on program series for the young nature enthusiast. Each week has a different subject and activities: 1/15-New Winter Friends; 2/12-Snow.

Preschoolers and their accompanying adult begin sharing the wonders of nature in this interactive class. Experiences include finger plays, stories, meeting animals and weather permitting, outdoor exploration. Dress for the weather. Topics: 1/7 Hibernation, 1/14 Rock’n with Rocks, 1/28 Birds in Winter, 2/4 Chinese New Year Fun, 2/11 Animal Valentines, 2/25 Mittens, 3/4 Desert Animals, 3/11 Tricky Animals.

Help feed your feathered friends this winter by making and taking home your very own pinecone bird feeder! What birds stay around all winter long? Find out what those familiar bird calls are as we discuss common birds you may see visit your feeder.

(4-Adult) Meet native reptiles and amphibians and learn how to identify these species. See at least one animal being fed. Learn how these animals' wild cousins are adapting to seasonal stresses. Find out the challenges of caring for live snakes, turtles, toads and more. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult registered.

(2-5 yrs.) With the help of Mr. Bear, learn about the weather with a felt-board story, bubble play, an ice cube race and songs. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(3-8 yrs) Explore nature through hands -on activities touching furs, plants and creatures that have amazing body parts and features. Naturalists stress nature safety.