(4-Adult) Barred owls inhabit our stream valley parks. Learn to identify these owls from other native owls while enjoying the campfire. Toast marshmallows over the embers. Canceled in case of inclement weather. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

(4-Adult) Play traditional Eastern Woodland Indian games of skill and luck which were common during the period of first European contact. Enjoy oral storytelling and make a game to take home. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.

(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. One adult only per registered child.

(7-Adult) Challenge your superstitions on this upcoming Friday the 13th by learning more about animal-related superstitions and their impacts on wildlife. Meet live animals.

(Adults) Come get an exclusive look at our animals after hours at this adults-only event. Learn about our local species and their amazing habits and meet our animal ambassadors up close and personal.

(5-12 yrs.) Stretch your creativity as you create animal masterpieces out of natural materials gathered around the park. The only limit is your imagination.

(4-Adult) Join a naturalist for a night of learning about the beauty of our local bats. It's time to clear these flying mammals' good name and understand how helpful they are to humans. The program will involve not only talking about bats, but also looking and listening for nearby bats.

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

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

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

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

(16-Adult) Learn where invasive plants come from and how to recognize them. Dive into the world of invasive foliage as we document and draw examples found throughout the park. Create a scientific illustration of a species of your choice using graphite, ink and watercolor. Press a plant specimen to take home.

(16-Adult) Late fall is a great time to look for nature’s bounty. Learn some tips to identify and draw these beautiful botanical items. Take a short hike to search for these items on the trail. Learn some techniques for drawing botanical subjects and see sample projects. Then try it yourself using our dried plant/seed collection. Your choice of watercolor or colored pencil. Dress for the weather.

(8-12 yrs.) Join naturalists for one or all of these weekly explorations of our forest and stream ecosystems. We’ll investigate the natural world through hands-on activities and experiments. Topics will supplement learning towards the VA science SOLs for grades 4-6, while in our outdoors science “lab”. Weekly themes include: 9/16-Delightful Decomposition, 9/23-Fall Foraging, 9/30-Ghastly Germs, and 10/7-Beautiful Bones. Bring your curiosity and get ready for some eco-adventure.

(6-11 yrs.) Use your critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities to engineer a solution for our secret seasonal challenge. Attack the design problem and work within the criteria and constraints to see if you can come up with the best solution.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to both the badges. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

(2-5 yrs.) Youngsters and their accompanying adult begin sharing nature’s wonders in this interactive class. Experiences include: meeting animals, stories, games and outdoor exploration. Dress for the weather. Quiet infants welcome. Topics covered are: 9/14 Monarch Butterflies, 9/21 Funny Feet , 9/28 Reptiles, 10/5 Owls, 10/19 Bones, 10/26 Spinning Spiders, 11/2 Spooky Animals, 11/9 Outstanding Otters, 11/16 Dinosaurs, 11/23 American Indians, 11/30 Twinkle Stars.

(4-Adult) Learn proven strategies to encourage our amazing native flying squirrels to your treed backyard and how to recognize their presence. Assemble a feeding box to take home. Two attendees permitted per registration (one adult and one child over age 4 or two adults). Program is held outside. If possible, bring your own hammer and Phillips head screwdriver. A $25 supply cost will be included at check out.

(4-Adult) Discover the fascinating life cycle of monarchs and other butterflies. Learn how to identify butterflies and assist with tagging monarchs when available. The nature center raises monarchs annually for tagging and release. If available, at least one monarch will be tagged during the program. Due to the dramatic decline in the monarch butterfly population, wild monarchs may not be available for tagging. Visit a Monarch waystation and native butterfly garden. Learn about the monarch migration, its challenges and how you can make a difference. Children must attend with an adult and all attendees must register.

(4-Adult) Adults and children sip tea or cocoa and enjoy meeting and tagging live monarch butterflies, if available or meet caterpillars. Learn about the fascinating migration phenomenon. Release ceremony after the tea party. Tea treats include sweets from the Michoacan area of Mexico, the ultimate destination of the monarchs now traveling through Virginia. Children must be accompanied by an adult registered in this program.

(All Ages) Families are invited to join a naturalist to stroll and explore along the nature trail. We will roll logs and search the forest floor and other habitats. We’ll learn about safety while being a nature detective. An officer from the community outreach of the local district FCPD will join us in this investigation.