Join us for a farewell bid to the last days of summer with a late afternoon performance by the Fort Lee Army Concert Band’s Dixie and concert ensembles.

Bear Creek Lake State Park will hold a dedication of the renovated archery range on Saturday, September 18th from 10 am to 1 pm.  Fun activities for the entire family are planned.

In this edition we talk to Liza Field and Dixie Leonard about the New River Trail Concervancy.

Belle Isle State Park rests on the mouth of the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County.

Fairy Stone State Park is one of the original 6 State Parks of Virginia constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

False Cape State Park rests between the Atlantic Ocean and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge south of Virginia Beach.

High Bridge Trail State Park is one of the newest additions to the family of Virginia State Parks.

Holliday Lake State Park is named for it’s 150 acre beautiful lake.

James River State Park is named for its 3 mile riverfront on the beautiful James River.

Leesylvania is situated on its own peninsula out looking the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield is named for the civil war battle which took place on April 6, 1865.

Shenandoah River State Park is one of Northern Virginia’s most serene parks.

Sky Meadows State Park is one of the most unique of Virginia State Parks.

Maybe you didn't notice but the unique to Virginia State Parks Archery Range at Bear Creek Lake State Park had been closed for the past few months.

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.

A statewide volunteer program, the Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps, has been named the Outstanding State Volunteer Program in the United States by...

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.

Are you wondering what to do for the 4th of July Weekend?  Well wonder no more! Pocahontas State Park is offering outdoor activities for the entire family.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Pocahontas Premieres Summer Concert Series presents the Eilen Jewell Band on Saturday, June 26th at 6 p.m.

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.

Pocahontas Premieres Summer Concert Series presents the Robin Rogers Band on Saturday, June 19th at 6 p.m.

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...

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.

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

Located only 20 minutes from downtown Richmond, Pocahontas State Park is the largest park in the system with over 7,900 acres. In the heart of two beautiful campgrounds, Pocahontas offers six “camp cabins.” 

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

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.

Join us for a celebration of Armed Forces Day with a late afternoon performance by the 380th United States Army Reserve Band on Saturday, May 15th at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Amphitheater.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spring is nearing full bloom here at Wilderness Road State Park and thanks to the Odwalla Plant a Tree program, we are happy to be able to host ...

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.

Have you ever thought of running a triathlon with your kids but the opportunity was not there?  Well that opportunity is now available.

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.

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.

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

Join us at Pocahontas State Park during National Wildlife Week, March 15th –21st, for outdoor nature programs that will introduce you and your family to the wildlife found in the park.

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.

Two different volunteer groups will be spending a week of their time at Douthat State Park working on a variety of volunteer 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.

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.

Snow came a little early this year to central Virginia.

Winter break is upon us and we’re all wondering what to do with the kids.

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

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

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.

Pocahontas Premieres featuring Page Wilson with Recklass Abandon, Marna & Macy and Li'l Ronnie and the Grand Dukes

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.