The Mechanicsville Riding Club has embraced the Tread Lightly! concept and is working with James River State Park to promote a good conservation ethic with all visiting equestrians.

In this addition we talk to Nancy Heltman, state parks operations director, about the Youth Conservation Corps and their efforts to create quality youth initiatives.

A new program has been developed to encourage membership on Virginia Outdoors.com and with the Virginia Association for Parks.

On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 20, 2010, ten families from across the state of VA brought one of their most precious assets, their daughters, to Hungry Mother State Park.

As you may know, the State Parks Division is part of a larger agency, the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The Twelfth Annual Douthat State Park Arts and Crafts Fair will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Discovery Center.

Gaston Rouse, his assistant Carrie McCrory, and I are spending four days at Bear Creek Lake State Park preparing 40, mostly College aged youth, to lead youth 14 to 17 year old youth in this summer's program.

There are so many things we do better in Virginia State Parks because of our loyal and large cadre of volunteers.

Our mission is to conserve the natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational resources of the park, as well as...

Everyone looks forward to the weekend – those two days when you get a break from work and can enjoy some free time.

There are a lot of fun things to do at Occoneechee State Park throughout the upcoming weekend. Hike through the woods, ride a bike, visit the museum, have a picnic, and enjoy these great programs along with many others.

Great music is on the way as Ronnie Reno and the Reno Tradition headline the 16th annual Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition.

The 54th Basic Law Enforcement class graduated from Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy in Salem VA on Wednesday May 26, 2010.

Don’t miss this year’s Steam & Gas Engine Farm Festival June 5 & 6 at Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum 868 Plantation Road, Surry VA 23883 (inside Chippokes Plantation State Park).

With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, the unofficial kickoff of summer is here and with it comes camping.

Both last April and this April, some of you were introduced to Carrie Sparks at our Women’s Wellness Weekend.

Victorian-style afternoon tea is appealing both to palate and spirit.

Discover Shenandoah at Parkfest!

Best known around the world for his abilities to make guitars, Wayne Henderson is also a talented musician.

This weekend Bear Creek Lake State Park will celebrate its 70th Anniversary with activities for the entire family.

The Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum’s Fourth Annual “Gathering in the Gap” takes place Saturday, May 29, on the grounds of the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

Big Stone Gap, VA, local woodworker and Master Craftsman Tom Dickenson saw an opportunity to preserve the history of the storied tree.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park are citizen volunteers from Virginia’s Central Piedmont region that enjoy supporting the park’s mission and operation.

A big volunteer hug for volunteers from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Saturday, May 8th, from 8-11 PM there is another opportunity to experience one of Sky Meadows State Park most popular and entertaining programs- Astronomy for Everyone.

The weather at Belle Isle State Park on Friday, April 23 was perfect for about 180 kids to celebrate Earth Day. This event was held in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Governors School.

On May 15, Bear Creek Lake State Park will celebrate its 70th Anniversary along with the grand opening of the newly renovated trail system.

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.

Virginia State Parks has joined in a partnership with several agencies including, Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Tourism and numerous County Tourism Agencies to promote fishing in Southwest Virginia.

For Earth Day, America's State Parks offer the following birthday card.

Local schools were invited to participate in Douthat State Park’s Twelfth Annual Earth Day Celebration which was held on Friday, April 16, 2010.

The Friends of Holliday Lake State Park will hold its second of two organizational meetings in starting a Friends group on April 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Lake 4-H Center.

Once again the Eagle Festival is coming to Mason Neck. This event, the largest Earth Day related environmental event in Northern Virginia includes exhibits from nearly 30 non-profit, environmental, historic ...

Visitors to Douthat State Park lined Wilson’s Creek and Douthat’s lake in anticipation for 9 o’clock to drop their fishing lines in the water for Douthat’s first day of fee fishing on Saturday, April 3, 2010.

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

According to Wikipedia, "Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud) is a large shrub  or small tree native to eastern North America from Southern Ontario, Canada south to northern Florida."

Of course, since I'm a native Virginian, I already knew that the Dogwood is the state flower and tree of Virginia.

Another installment in Caledon Natural Area's Volunteer Bob as he works to keep the shoreline clean

Last week I started a weekly series on recommending other great websites for readers of this blog similar to the Twitter tradition called #FollowFriday. Today's recommendation is The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Fourteen college students from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York are spending a week at Douthat State Park as an alternative spring break volunteering.

Twelve college students from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan and seven college students from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia chose to volunteer

I just read a story that in the toughest of times, Americans are volunteering at a record rate.

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

Eleven volunteers from the American Hiking Society are working at Douthat State Park this week and have started their first day of trail work.

Located near the highest point in Virginia, Grayson Highlands State Park has a lot going for it. There are beautiful mountain views and in the summer cooler temperatures. The spring flowers bloom later and the fall colors turn earlier.

I use my vast knowledge of Virginia State Parks that I acquired since I started in 1986, to take Troop 340 out for fun and to learn about the great outdoors.

A trip to the beach or manual labor doing work around a Virginia State Park?  That is the choice 19 college students are making for their spring break this year.

A trip to the beach or manual labor doing work around a Virginia State Park?  That is the choice 11 college students are making for their spring break this year.

Girls weekends are one of my favorite adventures because you never know where you’ll end up or who’ll you’ll meet, which is the fun of the weekend anyway.

At a time when we could sure use the revenue and our visitors sure could use an escape from cabin fever, the winter weather has conspired to put a damper on early spring camping.

Virginia State Parks is home to a park whose black history dates back to the depression era and the civil rights movement of the 50s.

Douthat State Park added to the increase in visitation with 205,654 visitors in 2009, up 10,090 visitors from 2008.

This past weekend I went to Douthat State Park and stayed in one of the original CCC log cabins built in the 1930's. 

The Virginia State Parks Office of Volunteer Services is part of the Operations Section that I manage.

I have mentioned before that we are deeply indebted to our volunteers in Virginia State Parks.

On Friday, December 11, the Fish Virginia First steering committee met at beautiful Douthat Lake View Restaurant at Douthat State Park.

Discussion between Virgininia State Parks Director Joe Elton and Walter Wright from the Friends of Pocahontas State Park.

Douthat State Park will begin lowering Douthat Lake beginning Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 and will begin refilling the lake on Friday, March 26, 2010.

Discussion between Virgininia State Parks Director Joe Elton and John Tamminger from the Friends of Hungry Mother State Park.

Douthat State Park is offering an ornament making contest for students through Monday, December 14, 2009.

A special “volunteer hug” goes out to a group of volunteers from Longwood University’s Greek Society.

Discussion between Virgininia State Parks Director Joe Elton and Herb Distefano from the Friends of Lake Anna State Park.

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.

State Parks Director Joe Elton talks with staff from Virginia’s National Award Winning State Parks.

Apple Day, a Celebration of Appalachian Heritage at Douthat State Park is just around the corner on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jason Ring to perform at Douthat State Park this Saturday, Sept 5

Virgil S. Possum explores the Virginia State Parks and tells tales of his adventures.

A day of fun in the sun is had at the annual Back to School Beach Bash at Douthat State Park.

State Parks Director Joe Elton talks with staff from Virginia’s National Award Winning State Parks. In this episode, Joe talks with Charlie Conner, Park Manager at Douthat State Park.

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

Summer may be half over, but there are still lots of programs at Belle Isle State Park.

A crew of ten participants were chosen from current high school students 14 to 17 years-old who demonstrated an interest in protecting Virginia’s environment.