Special
Events
Bird Arlington! Waterfowl at Gravelly Point
Saturday, Feb. 4, 8 - 9:30am
Families ages 8 and up. Join our new bird watching series for families! We’ll
visit different birding spots in Arlington throughout the year and build our
County bird lists. Birders of all experience levels can participate and loaner
binoculars are available. For information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gravelly Point
- George Washington Memorial Pkwy, Arlington. Gravelly Point is a great spot
for viewing winter waterfowl on the Potomac. We will bring spotting scopes, and
stroll around the park looking for winter specialties and maybe a Peregrine
Falcon. Flat terrain.
Free. Program #622857-J
Celestial
Stroll
Friday, Feb. 10, 7 - 8pm
Families. Join us for a moonlit walk through the forest searching for nocturnal
animals. Come learn how the moon moves, its phases, and its effect on wildlife.
We'll also hear legends about the moon. For information: 703-228-3403. Meet at
Fort C. F. Smith Park.
$5 fee due upon registration. Program #622857-N
Pola
Negri Movie Afternoon
Sunday, Feb. 12, 3 - 5pm
Adults and teens ages 14 and up. Pola Negri was a famous silent screen siren
who took Hollywood by storm. Legend has it she lived at Gulf Branch when it was
a private home. We'll be screening her hit 'Barbed Wire', featuring Pola as a
farm girl torn between love and patriotism during World War One. Refreshments
and romance will be served. For more information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf
Branch Nature Center.
$5 fee due upon registration. Program #622847-D
Arlington's
Earliest Amphibians
Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 - 11am
Adults and teens ages 13 and up. Wood frogs, spring peepers and spotted
salamanders that have spent the winter hibernating will soon begin to move to
our ponds. Come learn about Arlington's amazing amphibians. For information:
703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. $5 fee due upon
registration. Program #622847-E
Salamander Patrol Training
Saturday, Feb. 18, 11 - 11:30am
Adults and teens ages 13 and up. Every year with the first 'warm' rain, a
dangerous journey begins for amphibians crossing driveways, parking lots and
roads trying to get to ponds. Get trained to be added to our 'safety patrol'
list, for a one or two hour shift some night in late February or early March
(we can't predict the evening(s) more precisely). For information:
703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. Free. Program #622847-F
Hanssen Spy Talk
Saturday, Feb. 18, 3 - 4:30pm
Adults. Back by popular demand! The infamous spy and traitor Robert Hanssen
worked in secrecy all around the nation's capital for years before being
discovered. Some of those clandestine affairs were conducted right here in the
woods of the Long Branch Nature Center. Join us on the anniversary of his
capture as we unfold the dramatic story of this notorious spy, his eventual
downfall and arrest, including the FBI's nature center operations. For
information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center. $7 per person.
Program #622947-K
Keeping Warm Campfire
Saturday, Feb. 18, 6 - 7pm
Families ages 3 and up. Register children and adults; children must be
accompanied by a registered adult. Spend a chilly evening by the warmth of our
campfire while making S'mores. We'll learn how animals have adaptations to stay
warm and survive winter outdoors. For information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf
Branch Nature Center.
$5
fee due upon registration.
Program #622857-O
Excursión
Bilingüe por el Parque / Bilingual Walk
Sunday, Feb. 26, 1:30 - 3pm
Familias. Bienvenidos a una excursión bilingüe por el parque. Nos encontraremos
en el Centro de Naturaleza Long Branch. Conoceremos a los animales en el centro
y caminaremos por el parque para observar y hacer preguntas sobre la
naturaleza. Regresaremos al centro de naturaleza para tomar chocolate caliente,
té, o café. Nos reunimos en Long Branch Nature Center. Gratis. Families.
Welcome to a bilingual walk in the park. We’ll meet at Long Branch Nature
Center to learn about the animals there and we’ll take a hike out in the park
to check out and ask questions about nature. We'll return to the nature center
to have your choice of hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Free. Program #622957-N
Programs for Children, Families, and
Adults
Northern Virginia
Bird Club Walk
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 9:30 - 11am
Adults. Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for one or all of these
informal walks through Long Branch and Glencarlyn Parks in search of resident
and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welcome. Bring
binoculars and field guides if you have them. For information: 703-228-6535.
Meet at the parking lot at Long Branch Nature Center.
Free. Program #622947-F
Home Hunting is for the Birds
Friday, Feb. 3, 10 - 11am
Ages 6 to 10. The best time to spot bird nests is in the winter when the leaves
are gone. We’ll examine some nests, learn how birds make and select the best
locations for their homes, then go on a short hike to see some birds’ nests.
For information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. $5 fee due
upon registration. Program #622827-F
Scatology
Friday, Feb. 3, 3 - 4:30pm
Ages 6 to 10. Come learn about the traces our animal friends leave behind! Each
animal has its own unique footprints and scat that are clues for naturalists,
field biologists and animal investigators. We'll practice identifying scat and
make fake scat to take home. For information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch
Nature Center.
$5
fee due upon registration.
Program #622927-G
Keeping Mini-Beasts! Beautiful Beetles
Friday, Feb. 3, 4:30 - 5:30pm
Ages 10 to 13. Get ready to (temporarily) own all sorts of mini-beasts and have
a series of amazing, unique pets. Learn all about different animals’ lives
while caring for them over a month. At each session, you'll return last month's
critters and learn about and receive new ones. Over the year we'll work our way
up to more demanding critters - graduating with tadpoles in the spring! Fee
covers all three sessions and includes everything you'll need for the season: a
container you'll keep, food, bedding, the critters themselves, and more. For
information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center.
$30. ($20 material fee for first-time participants paid on site.) Call
to register.
Animal
Tracks
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2 - 3pm
Ages 8 to 12. Winter is a great time to see animal tracks in the snow or mud.
We’ll make plaster casts of local animal’s footprints, and while it sets we’ll
hike to look for real tracks and traces out on our trails. For information:
703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center.
$5 fee due upon registration. Program #622927-H
Tree
ID Without Leaves
Sunday, Feb. 5, 11am - 12:30pm
Adults and teens ages 14 and up. The leaves are all gone but we can still
identify trees with other clues. We'll learn to ID the trees of Arlington by
their bark, shape and other factors. Dress for the weather. For information:
703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center.
$5 fee due upon registration. Program #622947-C
Birding Trip to Point Lookout State Park
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7:30am - 5pm
Adults. Enjoy winter birding at the southernmost point in Maryland. We'll
search for waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, and brown-headed
nuthatches in the woodlands. Participants should dress for the weather and
bring binoculars, a bag lunch and a drink and snacks for the day. For
information: 703-228-3403. Our vans leave from the parking lot at Lubber Run
Recreation Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington.
$45 fee due upon registration. Program #622847-C
Feeding Time!
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 4 - 5pm
Ages 6 to 10. Find out what's on the menu for our animals and what they would
eat in the wild. We'll learn about the adaptations that help them find, capture
and swallow their meals. Then we'll feed our snakes, turtles and frogs. For
information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. $5 fee due
upon registration. Program #622827-H
Hawks
in Arlington
Saturday, Feb. 11, 9 - 11:30am
Adults and teens ages 12 and up. Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Cooper’s and
Sharp-shinned Hawks all call Arlington home. We'll learn to tell these four
hawks apart and how they survive in urban areas. After our discussion, we’ll go
out to look for hawks and other birds. For information: 703-228-6535. Meet at
Long Branch Nature Center.
$10 fee due upon registration. Program #622947-J
Remove
Invasive Plants
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 - 4pm
Adults, teens, and families ages 8 and up. Want to increase native species
diversity right here in Arlington? Work parties are held every month and are
making a real difference, with the return of ferns and wildflowers, and the
animals that depend on them, in areas once covered in destructive invasive
plants. Help make it happen! No registration required. For information:
703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. Free. Call to
register.
Flying
Squirrel Lore & More
Saturday, Feb. 11, 6 - 7pm
Families ages 4 and up. Register children and adults; children must be
accompanied by a registered adult. Flying squirrels are found throughout the
wooded neighborhoods of Arlington, but are seldom seen. Join us to learn about
these engaging nocturnal acrobats. After an indoor presentation, we'll tiptoe
outside to see these little pixies glide in for an evening meal. These
creatures are truly one of the natural wonders of the Arlington! For more
information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center.
$5
fee due upon registration.
Program #622957-E
We
Love Animals!
Sunday, Feb. 12, 1 - 2pm
Ages 6 to 10. Happy Valentine's Day! Which animal at the nature centers - or in
the whole world - do you love the most? Come show your love by making them a
valentine, and learn ways you can help them in the wild. For information:
703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. $5 fee due upon
registration. Program #622827-G
Notable Nature
Sunday, Feb. 12, 3 - 4pm
Families ages 5 and up. Register children and adults; children must be
accompanied by a registered adult. Join us for lessons in nature journaling and
sketching. We'll construct our own nature journals, hone our writing and
drawing skills, and talk about the season during our hike. For information:
703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center.
Free. Program #622957-H
Winter
Storytime
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 10:30 - 11am
Families ages 2 and up. Register children only. Come in out of the cold and
warm up as we read our favorite stories about winter. For information:
703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center. Free. Program #622917-O
Third
Sundays - Remove Invasives!
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 - 4pm
Adults, families, and teens. Want to increase species diversity right here in
Arlington? Join us as we keep the park free of destructive invasive plants.
Work parties are held every month and are making a real difference. We are
starting to see the return of ferns and wildflowers in areas once covered in
ivy. Come for all or part of the time. No registration required. For
information: 703-228-6535. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center. Free. Call to
register.
Wake
up, Wood Frogs!
Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 - 11am
Families ages 5 and up. Register children and adults; children must be
accompanied by a registered adult. Get ready to learn all about our earliest
amphibians! After the first warm rain of spring, you'll hear them
"quacking" as we explore and search for them around our pond! For
information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center.
$5 fee due upon registration. Program #622857-P
Free Play Day - February
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 - 2:30pm
Ages 5 to 9. Register child only. Give kids unstructured time they can call
their own. Your child will love this chance to explore our woods, make snow
forts, stoke the campfire, throw rocks in the creek and just be free. For
information: 703-228-3403. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center. Free. Program
#622827-C
Tiny Tots
Ages: 18 - 35 months with adult. Tiny Tot programs provide a wonderful
opportunity to interact one-on-one with your child while discovering the
wonders of nature. Each program has a theme, but themes are not published ahead
of time so that we have flexibility in exploring and incorporating all of the
amazing and changeable aspects of the park and its wildlife into our programs.
The theme for each program is repeated during the month, so please register for
only one program at each nature center per month. Adults must remain during the
entire program. $5 per child due at
registration.
