Wilderness Road State Park will host their second annual Community Appreciation Open House on Saturday, September 11 with a free lunch and a day full of entertainment beginning at 8:00 am.

This is a picture of a honeybee on a Summersweet bush (Clethra alnifolia).  You can find these bushes along woodland creeks, wet forests, bogs, wetlands, and pine flatwoods.

Part of my work here at Chippokes Plantation State Park is mapping out where different species of trees are located, with a special focus on finding the invasive ones.

Independence Day, an American holiday through and through!  A perfect excuse to gather the family and have a cookout, vacation on the beach, or visit one of the many historic areas in Virginia as we celebrate the birth of our great country!

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.

Are you looking for activities to keep the kids busy this summer?  The park naturalist at Pocahontas State Park has the perfect solution to every Mom’s dilemma on how to keep the kids occupied during summer break.

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.

Saturday, June 5th is the 22nd Annual Clean the Bay Day sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Start voting for Virginia to receive trees donated by Odwalla's Plant a Tree program!

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

Saturday May 15th was a beautiful spring day and just perfect for Bear Creek Lake State Park's 70th Anniversary Celebration.

After researching Odwalla's Plant a Tree program I thought maybe I should share some of the benefits of trees to everyone.

Today's society is more connected than ever between Twitter, Facebook, and that Blackberry you never let out of your sight.  Even helping the environment has gone hi-tech.

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

As a child I enjoyed crocheting. It probably started with one of those pot holder weaving kits when I was even younger, but I enjoyed the feel of the yarn and the satisfaction of being creative.

On Friday, April 23rd, participants from Bear Creek Academy, the Friends Of Bear Creek Lake State Park, and park staff worked together to plant five trees in Bear Creek Lake State Park's picnic area.

A big volunteer hug for volunteers from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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.

For the first time, the “Gathering in the Gap” Music Festival, which takes place at the Southwest Virginia Museum on May 29, 2010, will include a new Songwriting Contest.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park Boat Ramp saw extra business last Saturday, May 1st.

On April 24th Cub Scout Pack 962 demonstrated their dedication to the Earth by planting five new trees at Sky Meadows State Park.

The Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park is one of Virginia State Parks newest Friends group.

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

Governor Bob McDonnell visited Leesylvania State Park last week for an Earth Day event.

Many thanks to Odwalla and those who took part in its 2009 Plant a Tree program.

On Saturday, April 24, 2010, Holliday Lake State Park celebrated Earth Day with a special tree planting ceremony.

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

A little bad weather didn’t stop the volunteers at Leesylvania State Park from doing their best for Earth Day.

On Thursday, April 22, members of the Friends of Hungry Mother and a local home-school group met with staff of Hungry Mother State Park to plant trees in honor of Earth Day.

I am the Marketing Manager for Virginia State Parks and was asked by Fort A.P. Hill to come to their Earth Day celebration on Thursday, April 22 to share with school groups and military families some...

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

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

I could not think of a better way to celebrate Earth Day than spending the afternoon with Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell and students in the park planting trees.

On January 17, 2010, Governor Robert F. McDonnell appointed Doug Domenech (pronounced DOM-en-etch) as Secretary of Natural Resources.  “I am honored and humbled to serve in this important role,” said Domenech.

Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton attended the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors on April 16, 2010.

This year’s "Raid" at Martin's Station promises to be the best yet and will be held May 7-9, 2010 at Wilderness Road State Park.

The Friends of Pocahontas State Park will host a weekend-long volunteer event Saturday, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th at Pocahontas State Park.

Odwalla donates funds to purchase trees in area State Parks through a national internet competition in which Virginia State Parks came in second.

Here at Wilderness Road State Park, we were just getting used to the cool morning turns to warm sunshine weather pattern that is Springtime in Southwest Virginia…

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, VA honors the coming of Spring and Virginia Garden Week with a day-long event, “A Celebration of Spring,” Saturday, April 24, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

When many people think of a quilt, they envision something that you throw on a bed to help keep warm on a wintery night or something you cuddle up under when you’re under the weather.

Think about it, you deserve a little more “me” time.

Jim and Patti Gerhart, members of the Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park, submitted this great story

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

We all have favorite signs that spring is finally here to stay.

Looking for a change in venue now that spring has finally come to the Eastern Shore of Virginia?

A warm 70-degree afternoon set the perfect Spring stage for our first-ever rain barrel workshop at Wilderness Road 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."

Kiptopeke State Park, Natural Heritage and Chesapeake Bay Foundation teamed together today planting trees and shrubs creating wildlife habitat while conserving natural resources.

Every college student dreams of sandy beaches and warm sunshine for spring break, but there are some that put service to their communities above this thought.

National Tourism Week is May 8-16, 2010 and as part of the celebration, the City of Virginia Beach is hosting the Virginia Beach National Tourism Week Hospitality Awards on Friday, May 7th.

History runs deep in the heart of Southwest Virginia, through the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky.

Plans are being finalized for a milestone event at Wilderness Road State Park.  This year mark's the 10th anniversary of the Raid at Martin's Station, the park's annual signature event that has...

It is the 77th anniversary of the Virginia Garden Club premier event: Historic Garden Week.  Once again, Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry, Virginia will be a featured site during the event

Wilderness Road State Park is about as far as you can go in Virginia without leaving the State.

March brings many things like longer days and more sunshine.  It also means it is spring break time.  One group of college students is spending their spring break at Hungry Mother State Park volunteering.

Spring is just a short time away and many people are already planning their vegetable and flower gardens.  Their biggest obstacle throughout the year is water or, to be more precise, lack thereof.

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.

The crew at Shenandoah River State Park has got to be looking forward to spring!

Our Friends Groups are all about supporting our state parks. The Friends of Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park demonstrated their support for the park by donating funds they have raised in support of two important projects.

First Landing is facing a crisis related to the destruction of the park's natural forested area due to prohibited off-trail use and the creation of cut-throughs, short-cuts, and unofficial trails.

Spotsylvania couple active in projects, new technology for state parks here and elsewhere

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.

With generous donations of $1,500 from Tidewater Striders Running Club and $2,500 from Tidewater Fibre Corporation, First Landing State Park has installed a multi-functional drinking fountain at the 64th Street/Narrows entrance parking area.

Governor Kaine announced that his ambitious goal to conserve 400,000 acres in the Commonwealth was reached at the new Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center near Charlottesville on Friday, January 8th.

The Biscuit Run property in Albemarle County has been acquired by the Commonwealth of Virginia for $9.8 million for use as a future state park.

A discussion with Lynn Davis about the Virginia Association For Parks.

Thanks to the 2002 State Parks and Natural Area Bond, we have had a number of new and significantly remodeled visitor centers opening.

Karl Harris, who renovated "Karlan" bought the property sometime in the '50s.

Hundreds of visitors traveled to Wilderness Road State Park on December 4th and 5th to witness Christmas Past and Present, a unique look at our most popular holiday.

Several members of the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes (BRFAL) Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program recently installed new interpretive signs along the Oak Hickory Trail at Fairy Stone State Park.

The Sixth Annual Foster Falls Festival of Lights was a huge success at New River Trail State Park this past Saturday, Dec. 5.

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

If you were in Leesylvania State Park on the morning of Saturday, November 21, you might have seen a sight that is increasingly rare these days: children having fun while being active outside.

Wilderness Road State Park will be offering magical and historical views of our most treasured of holidays, with a Christmas Past and Present on Dec. 4-5, 2009.

Leesylvania Elementary school children were invited to get outside and experience Northern Virginia nature on Nov. 21, 2009 at the Turkey Trot.

Tom takes time to share highlights of his visits to Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park, Wilderness Road State Park, Natural Tunnel State Park, Grayson Highlands State Park and Hungry Mother 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.

Johhny Finch, President, Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) announces rennovation of VAFP website, its new companion virginiaoutdoors.net and dates and location for the 2010 Spring Conference.

Come explore the rich history of Wilderness Road State Park

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy.

26 state park volunteers participating, two fantastic canoe companies, our Park's chief ranger and two other rangers, and even an ace reporter from the Warren County report collected 1340 lb of trash from the river.

National Park Service and Virginia State Parks getting together to take on the collective challenge to get our children and families in to the outdoors.

The annual Raid at Martin's Station provides one of the most realistic historic reenactments in the country May 8-10.