Sunday, June 28, 2009

Natural Happenings: June 29 - July 5

Each week, we will list opportunities to get outdoors, to learn about nature, and to do service. We'll list just brief teasers about each one. Please click through to the organization hosting each event for more details. Some events require prior registration; some charge a fee.

This week's highlight: July 4th. It's a day when many of us spend a great deal of time outside at picnics, parades, and fireworks displays, despite the DC summer heat and humidity. Enjoy your holiday, and don't forget to drink lots of water along with whatever else you may be drinking!

And if you can brave the heat for the 4th, why not on other days? The offerings this week are a little lighter than average, but there's still a lot going on -- get out there!

Sierra Club
Sat: Bull Run Mtn Natural Area (7-8 mi; carpool)
Sun: C&O Canal, Carderock/Gold Mine (7 mi)

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Many cabin and trail crew work trips.
Tue: Tuscarora Trail (18 mi + 4000' ascent)
Fri: Registration deadline for basic wilderness first aid class to take place July 11-12

Center Hiking Club
Sat: Lake Frank and Lake Needwood (9 mi; Twinbrook Metro)
Sun: W&OD trail from East Falls Church (4 mi); Overall Run hike/swim (9 mi; Vienna Metro)

Capital Hiking Club
Fri eve: C&O Canal (4 mi)
Sat: Rock Creek Park (9 mi; Cleveland Park Metro)

Wanderbirds
Sun: Great Falls and Billy Goat trails (8-13 mi; carpool)

Audubon Naturalist Society
Sat: Rose River Falls, Shenandoah National Park (4-6 mi)
Sun: Summer butterflies of Patuxent Research Refuge

Maryland Native Plant Society

Tue: Monthly Meeting: The Secret to Maintaining a Productive Butterfly Garden

Anacostia Watershed Society
Sat:Invasives removal at Greenbelt Park

Potomac Conservancy
Sun: Medicinal Plant Walk

FOR KIDS

Rock Creek Park
Wed: Art in the Park exploring wildlife (ages 5+)
Thurs: Nature journal (ages 5+)

Fri
: Creature Feature (all ages)
Sat: Native American Hunting (ages 8+)
Sun:Rolling Meadow Bridge Hike (2.5 mi; ages 8+)
Sun: Ranger-led horseback tour (ages 12+)

Museum of Natural History
Tue: Dig It! The Secrets of Soil activities
Wed: Ask an Expert in the Ocean Hall