This week's highlight: The Audubon Naturalist Society is offering a free program Saturday morning at their Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase. Their high-quality, naturalist-led programs can be a little pricey, so this is a great deal if registration hasn't filled up yet (you must pre-register to attend). Their description: "Join two naturalists for a closer look at the summer web of life in meadows at our Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD. Plenty of species of flowers will be in bloom, attracting butterflies and other pollinators, in addition to the predators of these pollinators - birds, spiders, and mantids. We’ll take the time to identify the sun-loving plants as well as the animals that find food and shelter among them."Also this week:
Sierra Club
Sat: Gunpowder Falls (14.5 mi; leaves from Greenbelt Metro)
Sat: Loudon Heights/Harpers Ferry multi-language hike (11 mi; leaves from Grosvenor Metro)
Sun: George Washington NF (11.7 mi; leaves from Vienna Metro)
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Many cabin and trail crew work trips.
Tue: Shenandoah NP (17 mi, vigorous)
Thur: Family Hike: Blue Ridge Center, Loudon County (2-3 mi)
Sat: Shenandoah NP (8.3 mi)
Center Hiking Club
Sat: Trout Pond, George Washington NF (10 mi, Vienna Metro)
Sun: Rocky Mountain, Shenandoah NP (10 mi, Vienna Metro)
Capital Hiking Club
Sat: Passamaquoddy Trail, Shenandoah NP (6-9 mi, bus)
Northern Virginia Hiking Club
Sat: AT - Stony Man Mountain (4 mi)
Wanderbirds
Sun: AT through Shenandoah NP (7.4-10.1 mi; bus)
Audubon Naturalist Society
Wed AM: Huntley Meadows wetlands
Fri: Class: Creating a Nature Journal
Sat: the summer meadow at Woodend (see above)
Sun eve: Hughes Hollow
Mycological Association of Washington
Sun: possible foray to Greenbelt Park (check website)
The Nature Conservancy
Sat: Invasives removal on Plummers Island
DC Audubon Society
Sun: invasives removal at Blue Marsh Nature Trail, Laytonsville
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Sat: Gardens open at 6:30 AM; bird walk at 7:30 AM
Sun: Garden tours
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: Rapids Bridge hike (2 mi; ages 8+)
Sun: Ranger-led horseback tour (ages 12+)
Sun:Bike hike to Boundary Bridge (ages 8+)
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Thur: Family Hike: Blue Ridge Center, Loudon County (2-3 mi)
Museum of Natural History
Tue: Dig It! The Secrets of Soil activities
Wed: Ask an Expert in the Ocean Hall
