This program satisfies all of the requirements to earn the Archery Merit Badge. There is no prework for this program.

(9-Adult) See the forest with new eyes by taking a winter walk with a naturalist. During this beginner-level course, you will examine bark, buds, form, and other clues that can help identify trees when they have no leaves.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details.

(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.  

(4-Adult) Enjoy a hot cup of coffee while you hike with a naturalist and look for birds. The program will begin with a short discussion of the concept of bird-friendly coffee. To reduce waste, please bring your own mug to fill. Tea and hot cocoa options will also be available. 

(5-Adult) Learn about the different methods that can be used to cook over a campfire, as well as what types of food are best prepared using each cooking style. Then, practice building your own cooking fire. Stay for a demonstration and a snack around the campfire.

(3-Adult) Enjoy an evening in the woods and learn about the constellations, their stories and other night-sky features. Our naturalist will identify the stars and will have some telescopes to use. The program concludes with a campfire. S'mores ingredients provided. All participants, including accompanying adults, must register and pay for the program.

(4-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. Includes s’mores. Topics vary by date. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(5-Adult) Learn all about building a campfire. Practice starting a fire without matches and stay for a demonstration.

(8-Adult) Enjoy the warmth of a campfire while you create a hand-dipped candle to take home. All participants must be registered for the program.

(3-Adult) Go on a short hike with a naturalist to look for clues animals have left behind. Learn how to identify common animal tracks, habitats, scat and other evidence that may suggest who lives in our forest.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details.

(5-Adult) Join a naturalist to learn the basics of fishing while enjoying the beauty of the lakefront. Gain a better understanding of not only how to fish, but also how we can better connect with the natural world while participating in recreational activities, such as fishing. Rod and bait will be provided. Participants 16 and older must have a valid Virginia fishing license. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Take a hike with a naturalist in the early morning to view the stunning first sunrise of the year as it crests over the lake. Rejuvenate as you walk along the park trails and signal in the new year. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(4-Adult) Take a hike with a naturalist in the evening to view the stunning first sunset of the year as it sets over the lake. Rejuvenate as you walk along the park trails and signal in the new year. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(9-Adult) With every season there are different blooms, leaves, roots, seeds and mushrooms that you can identify and eat. Learn how to eat from the forest safely and ethically as you join a Naturalist on a walk by the Lake. Please be aware that foraging is prohibited in Fairfax County parks. This class will focus on how to safely identify various edible plants, as well as their uses. No plants will be picked during the course of the class.

(6-Adult) Enjoy nature's tranquil beauty and the night sky under a full moon. Take a hike through the woods to listen and look for signs of nocturnal animals that may be flying overhead or stirring beneath our feet. Enjoy a campfire after the hike with s'mores provided. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(3-6 yrs.) These wild members of the dog family are a common sight in our neighborhoods. Learn about their lives through activities and practice yipping like a fox. Children must be accompanied by an adult.  

(8-Adult) Join us for a tour of caches throughout Fairfax County. Hunt for hidden treasures throughout our park system using a GPS. Join one class or sign up for them all. Equipment provided.

(8-Adult) Join our park naturalist on a hike and explore wild plants and animals throughout the trails. Learn how to use the iNaturalist app to take pictures of things you find along the way. Smart phones, cameras and binoculars welcome. Each hike will feature a different theme and may include: salamanders, birds and other wildlife, wildflowers, trees, nature photography, cultural history, or a scenic destination.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details. This title allows online group registration.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details. This title allows online group registration.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details. This title allows online group registration.

(7-Adult) Join our park naturalist to learn more about how animals stay warm in the winter and about hibernation cycles. Stay warm yourself with hot cocoa or coffee. All participants must be registered.

(9-Adult) Join a naturalist to learn how to preserve nature by creating resin pendants encapsulating small natural specimens. Discover how to responsibly select natural materials, while also learning how to use resin to make your own natural charm. No living wildlife will be affected in the making of the charms. All materials will be provided.

(8-Adult) Orienteering is the sport of navigation with map and compass. It's easy to learn, but always challenging. Participants learn how to use a compass, read a topographic map and navigate orienteering courses. Compass required.

(8-Adult) Join a naturalist for a night hike to learn about the different owls that can be found in the park. Listen for calls and learn about how owls can navigate the night. Then enjoy s'mores at a campfire.

(4-Adult) Join a naturalist to learn about various nature topics that relate to the lake depending on the season. Then go on a scavenger hunt adventure to find different related objects around the lake and collect a small themed prize.

(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.

(12-Adult) Participants will learn about different outdoor survival skills such as starting a fire and putting out a fire, how to find and build shelter, and how to keep warm in the winter weather.

(8-Adult) Hike with a naturalist to search winter waterfowl along the water's edge. Bring a mug to enjoy some hot cocoa or coffee before we embark on our journey. We have a limited number of binoculars to borrow, so please bring your own if you have them.

(2-Adult) All aboard the Holiday Express! Climb on for a train ride, spin around the Carolers Carousel, play a round of Gingerbread Man Golf or cozy up by the fire to make s’mores. Celebrate the season with family fun, a visit with Santa, hot chocolate and candy canes. Passes for the event are available for $20 if purchased online by the Thursday before the event. Day-of passes will be sold for $25. Passes can be picked up at the ice cream parlor on the day of the event. refunds are only offered if the event is cancelled or requested prior to the start of the event on the day you are registered. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult on the train. Children under 2 are free with a paying adult. Children shorter than 42 inches must purchase a ticket to ride the carousel and must be accompanied by an adult. Adults riding with small children on the carousel do not need a ticket. A limited number of a la carte tickets will be available for purchase at the park the day of the event. Online registration closes the Thursday before the event.