(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.

(3-7 yrs.) 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.

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

(4-8 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 an evening campfire the whole family can enjoy. During the program we will explore the wonders of our natural world. Our programs may include nature walks, interactive activities, animal presentations, or other opportunities to learn about nature and our place in it. Includes S’mores. Topics vary by date. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Enjoy a night hike to learn about nocturnal hunters. Listen to taped calls of owls and coyotes and catch a glimpse of them in the forest. End the evening with s'mores round the campfire. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in the program.

(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.

(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.) Join a naturalist to learn about Virginia’s state bird, the red cardinal! Why are their feathers red? What do their eggs look like? How do they survive the winter months? Practice using binoculars to look for these beautiful birds and make your own bird feeder to take home to attract cardinals to your own backyard.

(4-Adult) What does it take to attract a mate in the animal world. Turtles, frogs, insects, birds and even fish all have unique techniques for finding that special someone. Learn about these unique specialties and enjoy a short hike before sitting around a campfire to roast marshmallows. Canceled in case of inclement weather. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(2-6 yrs.) Join a naturalist to learn about the white tailed deer, our largest mammal neighbors. What do they eat and how do they live? Touch real deer fur, antlers and bones. Make a deer Valentine’s day craft for your “deer.”

(4-8 yrs.)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.

(4-8 yrs.) Naturalists share the tales of “Yertle the Turtle”, “Gertrude McFuzz” and more and demonstrate that real woodland creatures share some of the same talents. Meet a live animal and make a craft. Children must be accompanied by an 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.

(6-Adult) Come for an evening walk through the woods to one of the park's large meadows. Listen for the call of the male woodcock and hopefully see his amazing courtship display and flight. Bring a flashlight. Approximately 1.5 mile walk on uneven terrain. Canceled if rain. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Meets at the South Kings Highway entrance to the park.

(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.

(4-12 yrs.) 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.

(7-12 yrs.) This program for school children focuses on nature and history. A different topic and hands-on activities are covered each month. January - Hibernation; February - Snow; March - Almost Spring!

(7-12 yrs) Join a Park Naturalist to learn how to survive in nature’s most challenging season. Learn skills humans use to stay safe and warm like preparing a winter survival kit, avoiding getting lost, building a fire in wet conditions and keeping a healthy mindset when faced with a challenge. Any supply fee payable to instructor at first class.

(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. 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.

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

(5-Adult) 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-Adult) Celebrate the day that only comes around once every four years, leap day February 29, with a guided park tour of the forest and wetland habitats on this winter day. Learn about common wildlife and where to find them.

(2-4 yrs.) Preschoolers and their accompanying adult begin sharing nature's wonders in this interactive class. Experiences include finger plays, stories, meeting animals and weather permitting, outdoor exploration. Dress for the weather. Topics: Dec 2-Polar Animals, Dec 9-Owls, Dec 16-Evergreens, Jan 6-Hibernation, Jan 13-Birds in Winter, Feb 3-Groundhogs, Feb 10-Animal Valentines, Feb 24-Walk, Waddle, Wiggle.

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.

(1-3 yrs.) Bring your toddler to explore nature, through sight, sound, smell and touch. Program includes indoor and outdoor activities. Adults must be able to participate with children. Topics vary with seasons: Jan. Snow and Ice, Feb. Wind and Mud.

(2-5 yrs.) Through fun activities, explore the lives or squirrels, deer and other mammals. Find out how they stay warm and find food during the cold winter months! Call Riverbend 703-759-9018. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(8-12 yrs.) Based on the long running popular Pohick Ranger Series. An extended single program that covers forest ecology in winter, animal homes, animal calling, wildlife observations, hiking through the stream valley and ends with a toasty campfire.

(5-Adult) Join a park naturalist to sip hot cocoa with marshmallows and learn the basics of drawing in this family friendly program. Then try your hand at drawing some of our taxidermy animals like a fox, owl, beaver, duck or raccoon! This program is great for all skill levels. Drawing materials will be provided.

Blizzards, freezing rain, frigid temperatures. Find out how wild animals stay safe and snug while winter weather deals its worst. Enjoy an indoor presentation, animal homes hike, and make a craft to take home.

(4-Adult) Enjoy a winter hike through the trails looking for the first signs of spring. Join a naturalist to discover what life peaks out through the cold ground to take advantage of the early sun and first warm rains. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(6-Adult) Experience the bright super moon as it rises in the sky on this evening boardwalk stroll. Tonight this full moon will be at its closest to Earth this year and often appears larger than others!

(4-Adult) Learn the science and art of building a fire and then test your skill with primitive fire bows and modern fire-making techniques. Use your new skills to roast some s'mores at the end. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(14-Adult) You may know how to identify tree species in the spring, summer and fall. But how about when the leaves and fruit are gone? Join us as we flex our tree ID muscles this winter and get to know a different side of our local trees.

(4-Adult) Take a hike through the woods with a naturalist to listen and look for the Park’s winter avian residents and migrants. Find out what birds do to survive the winter weather.