(8-Adult) Take a one mile walk along Walney Creek from its source at the Spring House to its end at Big Rocky Run. Learn about plants and animals that call this watershed home and observe evidence of how humans have interacted with Walney Creek throughout history.

(3-Adult) It's 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.

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

(4-Adult) Why are the stars seen differently around the world? Learn about the natural and cultural science of stars including fun facts about our own star and the most easily viewed stars. Learn how you can further explore stars as a family. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

(7-Adult) Walk the meadows and forest edges to see bats feeding on insects. Use a bat detector to hear echolocation. Learn about our native bats and their habits. 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-Adult) Enjoy a stroll along the lake shores and learn about the constellations, their stories and other night-sky features. Our astronomical naturalist identifies the stars for you and will have some telescopes for you to use. The program concludes with a campfire. S'mores ingredients provided; hot dogs welcome. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Join us in song and exploration on a wagon ride. Warm up with s'mores at the campfire. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(7-Adult) Fall foliage is a sight to behold, but why do leaves turn colors? Get into the science of it. Hike through the park with a naturalist to find out what else is falling from the trees.

(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.

(2-6 yrs.) Walk with a naturalist and your child as we investigate the critters who make this park their home.

(3-Adult) Discover Ellanor C. Lawrence Park with our historians or naturalists. During this hands-on interpretive hour, you may search for animals, make biscuits and butter or explore a stream and much more. Contact the park for program topics.

(3-Adult) Riverbend Park was once farmland. Play children's games from the 1900's, enjoy fireside stories and s'mores. Come early if you want to bring a picnic or hotdogs to toast. Bring a toasting stick, blanket and flashlight. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Make your own seasonal wreath out of vines decorated with greens, cones, dried flowers and ribbons. Register one adult to reserve the supplies for yourself and/or your family. One wreath per registrant. Please register another adult per additional wreath. All ages welcome.

(4-13 yrs.) Join a naturalist and youth volunteers as we demonstrate how we feed our site display animals. Make a birdfeeder to take home and use. Search for worms and insects and assist in serving dinner. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(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.

(5-10 yrs.) Program deals with rocks and minerals and covers sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rock types. This program also covers fossil formation, weathering, chemical reaction and human uses of rocks/minerals.Most of the program is indoors. Some experiments for some of the sessions are conducted outdoors.

(2-5yrs.) Wild turkeys still roam in Great Falls. Find out about this shy bird and other plants and animals that are an important part of our Thanksgiving tradition.

(5-Adult) Learn about the fish living in Lake Fairfax and the ancient Japanese custom of fish printing. Practice the technique on a T-shirt or a fabric bag to keep and take home.

(3-Adult) Join us at Riverbend Park for a Halloween Adventure. A festive wagon ride, complete with scarecrows, sweets and stories is followed by more stories and s'mores around the campfire.

(6-12 yrs.) This nocturnal wildlife and local lore program features a craft, a twilight walk into the forest, a campfire with spell-binding stories, s'mores and more. Scary stories told in the last 30 minutes.

(3-6 yrs) This nocturnal wildlife and local lore program features a craft, a twilight walk into the forest, a campfire with spell-binding stories, s'mores and more. Not-so-scary stories told in the lat st 30 min. We don't want to frighten you.

(6-12 yrs.) This program for school children focuses on the natural and historical world. A different topic and hands-on activities are covered each day. 9/12-Stream Life; 10/10-Mammals; 11/14-Geology; 12/12-Native Americans.

(6-12 yrs) This program is based on the popular Pohick Rangers series geared to meet some homeschool science requirements. Topics vary. Meets every other week.

(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. We encourage program participants to bring their own mug to help us reduce waste. Children must be accompanied by registered adult. Canceled in case of inclement weather.

(4-Adult) Meets at Cabell's Mill. Enjoy a turkey hot dog supper roasted over the campfire and a brisk wagon ride through the Rocky Run stream valley. Discover who Ellanor C. Lawrence was and learn about the areas local and natural history. We provide hot dogs, buns, condiments, and s'mores. Feel free to bring your own drinks and sides. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Amazing reptiles call our park home. Play games, test your courage with a touch table and see these wonderful creatures up close. Calm your nerves by roasting s'mores at a campfire while listening to stories and then join us for a refreshing wagon ride through the autumn woods.

(9- 13 yrs.) What does a naturalist do all day? Explore the park's meadows and forests, view wildlife, play nature fun games and make crafts. Fall topics: October: Working on the Farm November: Oh Deer!

(3-5 yrs.) Preschool children explore nature or history once a month, accompanied by an adult. An outdoor activity and craft included. Fall topics: Sep. -Turtles at the pond, Oct.- Apples, Nov. -Wild Turkeys, Dec.-Farm Chores.

Learn how to draw in nature! Children will learn basic drawing skills, how to set up a field sketch page, and make accurate drawings to sharpen their observations. All participants will take home an art kit to keep. Includes a short hike; dress appropriately for the weather. All supplies included.

(3-Adult) Join us for a night of campfire, s'mores and more. A different topic and a different area of the park will be explored each night.

(5-Adult) Spark your interest in Walney history through legends, lore and stories of the supernatural on a night hike. Then gather around the campfire for s'mores.

Have you ever seen a shooting star? What are they and where do they come from? Discover the magic of meteors as we celebrate the Leonid meteor shower with sky stories and star gazing. Join us for a guided walk in the park after dark to catch a glimpse of these fleeting splendors.

Have you ever seen a shooting star? What are they and where do they come from? Discover the magic of meteors as we celebrate the Leonid meteor shower with sky stories and star gazing. Join us for a guided walk in the park after dark to catch a glimpse of these fleeting splendors.

(4-Adult) Life can be found thriving everywhere, even under leaf litter. Investigate the creatures that call the forest floor their home.

(2-4 yrs.) Preschoolers and their accompanying adult begin sharing nature's wonders in this interactive class. Experiences include finger plays, stories activities and, weather permitting, an outdoor exploration. Dress for the weather. Topics: Sept 9-Wild Dogs, Sept 16-Insects and Spiders, Sept 23-Deer Family, Sept 30-Rainbows. Oct 7-Squirrels, Oct 21-All about Autumn, Oct 28-Halloween Fun. Nov 4-Reptiles, Nov 18-Rainforest Animals, Nov 25-American Indians.