August 10-16

Each week, we list opportunities to get outdoors or learn about nature. Click through to the organization hosting each event for more details -- some events require registration or charge a fee.

Rescheduled for September: This week's highlight: At the Potomac Conservancy's River Center at Lockhouse 8 on the C&O Canal, a talk Sunday from 1:00 to 2:00 called Voices of the River: Knowing Native Waters. Abby Ybarra will speak on the Native outlook of stewardship and tribal relationships with water. Followed by a free workshop on Canoeing 101 (register with chapin@potomac.org by August 14) from 2:30 to 4:00. Inside the River Center, the Conservancy also has a new exhibit, “Backyard to the Bay,” that connects what happens on land to the health of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Also:

Sierra Club
Sat: Shenandoah River SP (11 mi)
Sat: Overall Falls Northern SNP hike & swim (11 mi)
Sun: Lake Artemesia (3 mi)
Sun: Greenbelt Park (5 mi)

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Many cabin and trail crew work trips.
Tue: AT, Thornton & Piney Rivers (18 mi)
Thu: Family Hike: Appalachian Trail At Bear Rocks (2-3 mi)
Sat: Natural History Hike, SNP
Fri-Sun: Family Backpacking Trip, Dolly Sods

Center Hiking Club
Sat: Rocky Mount, SNP (10 mi)
Sun: W&OD from East Falls Church to Ballston (4 mi)

Capital Hiking Club
Sat: Calvert Cliffs/Solomons Island (up to 10 mi)

Northern Virginia Hiking Club
Sat:Rapidan Camp (7.2 mi)
Sat: Turk Mountain, SNP (9 mi)
Sat: Tuscarora, Massanutten Loop and Milford Gap (11.5 mi)
Sun: Cacapon State Park (5-10 mi)

Wanderbirds
Sun: Swimming Hike, Jewell Hollow Overlook to Nicholson Hollow, AT (7.5 - 11.5 mi)

Audubon Naturalist Society
Wed: half-day birding trip to Woodbridge/Occoquan Bay NWR

Virginia Native Plant Society
Sat: Dyke Marsh

Rock Creek Park
Sun: Ranger led horseback tour (ages 12+)

United States Botanical Garden
Wed AM: Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening lecture

FOR KIDS

Rock Creek Park
Various planetarium programs.
Wed: Art in the Park - drawing outdoors (ages 10+)
Thu: Nature Journal (ages 9+), What's For Dinner? (ages 3+)
Fri: Creature Feature (all ages), Animal Track Hike (ages 5+)
Sat: Habitat Hunt - look for animal signs (ages 6-12)

Museum of Natural History
Daily tarantula feedings in the insect zoo and museum tours.
Tue: Hands-on activities in the Dig It! soil exhibit
Wed: Look at specimens or artifacts with a scientist in the Ocean Hall