(4-Adult) Join a naturalist to discover the secret lives of nocturnal animals like owls, bats, and foxes with a hands-on presentation. Roast marshmallows and enjoy s’mores by a campfire. Cancelled in case of inclement weather. Minimum age to attend program is 4 yrs. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(10-Adult) Enjoy a naturalist-led hike and identify plants that are safe to eat and which ones to avoid. Participants will learn how plants were used in rope making and folk remedies with connections to Eastern Woodland Indians. Foraging in Fairfax County Parks is prohibited.

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

(4-13 yrs.) Join a naturalist as they demonstrate how to feed our site display animals. Activities include making a birdfeeder to take home and searching for worms and insects to assist in serving dinner. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

(10-Adult) Step into the quiet beauty of the forest and discover the trees that shape our local landscape. Join a naturalist-led hike as we search for and identify native tree species, learning how they survive and support the ecosystem around them. Explore the ways these trees provide food, shelter and seasonal beauty, and gain a deeper appreciation for their role in our community and get a taste of some local tree inspired flavor.

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

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

(2-5 yrs.) Introduce your little ones to the wonders of nature with hands-on activities that teach environmental stewardship and sustainability. Your little earth keepers will learn how their actions can help protect our planet. Adults must participate with children. 

(3-6 yrs.) Explore the parks through books. Hear a story, enjoy nature activities, take a short hike, and finish with a craft. Topics will change seasonally. A parent must accompany each registered child in the program.

(1-3 yrs.) Bring your toddler to explore nature through sight, sound, smell and touch. Programs include indoor and outdoor activities. Adult must be able to participate with children. A different amazing topic every month

(4-Adult) Freshwater ecosystems are full of fascinating creatures. Search for stoneflies, hellgrammites, water pennies and crayfish. Explore the park's streams with a naturalist, use dip nets and kick nets to catch and release these creatures.

(12-Adult) Travel back in time to the triassic period during this season's Lawrence Lecture to learn about the animals, geology, and change to the land we now know as Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Participants will receive a lecture and examine rock types.

(4-Adult) Vernal pools are one of our parks most fascinating and elusive ecosystem. Join us after hours as we hike the trails and search for signs of new amphibian life. Learn about the life cycle and early development of local amphibians. Hike the trails at night and end with roasting s'mores over a campfire. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(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. Feel free to bring your own guides, binoculars and spotting scopes. Site will have a limited number of supplies for participants to borrow for the duration of the program.

(6-Adult) Explore Big Rocky Run with a naturalist to meet some of the small creek critters (macroinvertebrates) that call it home. Learn why so many different types of macroinvertebrates are active in winter streams. The naturalist will demonstrate winter collecting and participants can help pick, sort and learn to identify these magnificent critters.

(6-Adult) Take a closer look at natural items from the park using magnifying glasses and digital microscopes.