Calling all children ages 10-12 for a week of fun, educational and entertaining activities as part of Wilderness Road State Park’s annual Junior Rangers program set for Monday, July 19 through Friday, July 23 from 9 am- 12 noon daily.

Take a walk on the wild side this 4th of July and enjoy America's beautiful outdoors!!

False Cape State Park is offering some great paddling programs for all levels of ability.

On June 1st VDGIF biologists attached leg bands to three falcon chicks nesting on a high-rise in downtown Richmond, VA.

Worried that oil from the BP disaster will sully Atlantic beaches...

Last month, I challenged readers to make a "Virginia State Parks To-Do List" by visiting our events website at  www.virginiastateparks.gov/ and selecting five things to do at Virginia State Parks.

We are revamping the interpretive information at False Cape State Park.  So far, we've changed the names of trails to reflect the park's cultural and natural history...

Snakes seem to get a bad rap for one reason or another.  Personally, I am a great admirer of snakes.  Sure, some could be dangerous when provoked, but that could be said about most wildlife.

First let me introduce myself, Moose here, a basset hound born & bred in Cumberland County who moved to the big city of Richmond to reign over the West family.

Did you know that Mason Neck State Park has six canoes, four solo (one-passenger) kayaks and two tandem (two-passenger) kayaks available for rental from April through October?

Interested in Virginia's reptiles and amphibians? This fun new "A Look Outside" series of videos tracks a group of cub scouts as they learn about spotted salamanders, canebrake rattlesnakes, wood turtles and more!

Interested in Virginia's reptiles and amphibians? This fun new "A Look Outside" series of videos tracks a group of cub scouts as they learn about spotted salamanders, canebrake rattlesnakes, wood turtles and more!

Snakehead fish in Virginia.

Join Department biologist J.D. Kleopfer on a survey of the state endangered Rafinesque's big-eared bat.

A healthy and feisty Bald Eagle is released on April 13th by Ed Clark, President of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

Black bears are becoming an increasingly common sight in Virginia—bears now live in almost every county!

On May 5th DGIF Nongame and Watchable Wildlife along with Agency Outreach staff were at the Norfolk Botanical Garden for the banding and transmitter fitting of nestling bald eagles by researchers at the Center for Conservation Biology.

Wilderness Road State Park will host a special birding program on Saturday, June 5 at 1 pm, entitled Backyard Birds.

Maybe you've been reading about Women's Weekends at Virginia State Parks, but can't seem to find the time to get away from your family obligations to enjoy the outdoors.

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 7:30pm-10:30pm False Cape will offer a new program called, "Stargazing and Owl Hoot." 

One of the benefits of being the Information Manager for State Parks is to be aware of the many events that take place at all of our parks.

Want to do something fun and unique for your mom for Mother's Day? Bring her to Holliday Lake State Park on Saturday, May 8, for our 11:00 am Wildflower Hike.

As the weather warms up, there are lots of things to do here at Mason Neck State Park.

Find out how coastal plants were used by American Indians for fiber, food, and other crafts.

False Cape State Park staff will conduct a guided exploration of Back Bay and its marshes during the evening sunset hours.

Take a scenic tram ride through Back Bay national Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park to teh site of the historic Wash Woods community in what is now False Cape State Park.

Saturday, May 8 from 10am-2pm False Cape State Park is offering a "Shell & Tell" seashell program.  False Cape boasts an incredible treasure trove of huge whelk, oyster, and moon snail shells.

Discover ways to find directions using nature as a guide, learn how to use a compass, and how to use a GPS as a wayfinding tool.

Take a scenic tram ride through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park to the site of the historic Wash Woods community in what is now False Cape State Park.

Spring comes early on the coast and with many plants have begun to grow and bloom at False Cape State Park.

Catch a glimpse of spring along the coastal forest during the "Back Bay Kayak Paddle" hosted by False Cape State Park on Sunday, April 4 from 3pm-6pm.

Join wild foods enthusiast and park interpreter, Vicky Shufer, for a journey through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to False Cape State Park's interior on Saturday, April 3 from 1pm-5pm.

While doing research for a new trail at Chippokes Plantation State Park, Erik Molleen, District Resource Specialist, came upon evidence of an active eagle's nest in the park. 

After writing this morning's post about rain showers bringing spring wild flowers to Mason Neck State Park, I couldn't resist going to look for early flowers myself.

Spring weather is finally here at Mason Neck State Park, and with warmer days we see not only more park visitors but more park wildlife.  We also see many visitors exploring nature for the first time.

False Cape State Park sits on property that was once the Wash Woods community of Virginia.

A few weeks ago, False Cape Park Manager Kyle Barbour snapped this beautiful picture of an elusive coyote that has been living in the park.

I know it's almost spring because a glance at our events database show the beginning of our canoe and kayak programs.

I started working for Virginia State Parks in 1986 and in a long career have had the chance to get up close with wildlife and working on enhancing it.

The old American Express slogan "Don't Leave Home Without it" came to mind today when my husband called with the news.

I just went to check out the "Eagle Cam" that is set up at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens on an active nest.  This is really cool and several school groups were checking it out for education.

Making your visit to Mason Neck State Park the most enjoyable it can be is as easy as having the right equipment. 

Spring has to be close now and as soon as we start having a few days in the 60's and 70's there will be a rush to get out to our great Virginia State Parks.

As Winter sets in I can’t help but reflect how quickly Fall passed. As with each season there are always regrets and always delights to be tucked away.

Come on out to False Cape for an outdoor adventure in a wild winter wonderland.

For those of you that grew up camping, do you remember how good food tasted cooked outside over a campfire?  Wasn’t it the best?

Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? If you are interested in backyard habitat, this is a great month to assess your own property to determine how well you are feeding our feathered friends.

The Great White Egret is the symbol of the National Audobon Society and represents the regal beauty of all bird species.

Macro photography--artistic close-ups of insects, plants, flowers--has become quite popular in the photography world with new digital stabilization technology and macro lenses for digital cameras.

False Cape State Park is hosting Wild Women Weekend on March 5-7, 2010 at their Environmental Education Center.

False Cape State Park is considered Virginia's Outer Banks.  It's barrier spit island stretches south from Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Sandbridge, Virginia to the North Carolina border.

False Cape State Park is offering an Winter Woods Walk on Saturday, Feb. 7th from 1pm-4pm.

Make it a False Cape State Park Wildlife Winter Wonderland Weekend! (Say that 10 times fast)

Take a Winter Tram Ride to Wash Woods at False Cape State Park.

There are three poisonous snakes that can be found in Virginia, and I am starting off this series with my favorite one.

As part of a new initiative, Virginia State Parks is using GPS technology to redesign our trail maps to more accurately reflect current conditions.

How to make a Snow Day Special by having fun outdoors.

Winter is a great time to come hiking or bird watching at Mason Neck State Park.

Regardless of falling temperatures or even falling snow, Mason Neck State Park is a great place to visit in December.

Take time to read highlights from Tom's visits and to five state Parks on the far west side of the state. This is the last in the series of five articles.

Only when I peaked behind my garden wagon did I find the most beautiful bird I’d seen in years, a Northern Parula (Parula Americana).

False Cape State Park invites the entire family for a fun-filled weekend of hiking and exploring Virginia’s Outer Banks while discovering tricks and tips on how to survive in the wilderness.

Regardless of whether you are a lark or owl, False Cape State Park has a kayak program right up your alley during the month of October.

Virginia Beach is a great destination year round and First Landing State Park makes an excellent base for visiting that resort city and the surrounding cities.

Autumn is a great time to explore nature in Mason Neck State Park.

MSNBC Profiles the Wildlife Center of Virginia. This video from MSNBC features the National Wildlife Federation's Doug Inkley:

Often overlooked in its importance to birds, the Piedmont provides valuable nesting, migration, and wintering habitats that are scarce in other parts of the state.

Take a Fall Bird Walk to Celebrate the Fifth Birthday of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail

Butterfly found in Virginia State Parks

Kiptopeke will feature the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival in September, and birdwatchers the world over will be on hand.

Mathews County, Rebecca Grow

Interested in Virginia's reptiles and amphibians? This fun new "A Look Outside" series of videos tracks a group of cub scouts as they learn about spotted salamanders, canebrake rattlesnakes, wood turtles and more!