September 2021 Saturday, September 25 Family Fall Festival Fridays, September 3 & 24 at Green Spring Gardens Campfire Fridays-Lake Accotink (All ages) Say hello to autumn at Green Spring (3-Adult) Join us for an evening campfire the Gardens with an event the whole family will enjoy. whole family can enjoy. During the program we There will be activities for all ages, including clas- will explore the wonders of our natural world. Our ses for children and adults. Place a bid at the programs may include nature walks, interactive silent auction. Grab a meal at one of the food activities, animal presentations, or other opportu- trucks, and listen to music at the White Gazebo. nities to learn about nature and our place in it. Peruse the book sale, and visit with vendors sell- Topics vary by date, but all campfires include ing a wide assortment of plants and craft items. s’mores. The program at Lake Accotink Park runs This free event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on September 3 and from hosted by the Friends of Green Spring, better 7 to 8 p.m. on September 24. The cost is $7 per known as FROGS. person. Children must be accompanied by a reg- istered adult. For information, call 703-569-3464. For more information, call 703-642-5173. Friday, September 3 Bats Friday, September 3 Saturday, September 4 (7-Adult) Walk the meadows and forest edges to Riverside Campfire: Fishing Fun Garden Talk: Rocks Rock! see bats feeding on insects. Use a bat detector to (6-Adult) Fish from the river bank and learn (Adults) Rock gardens add a special look and hear echolocation. Learn about our native bats about the fish's world. Borrow our fishing rods or feel to any landscape. Extension Master and their habits. The program at Ellanor C. Law- bring your own. Tackle and bait will be provided. Gardeners show you how to design and plant a rence Park runs from 7 to 8 p.m. The cost is $7 Enjoy s’mores at the campfire. The program at beautiful display resembling an alpine meadow or per person. Children must be accompanied by an Riverbend Park runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The cost a mountain garden with fabulous small and dwarf adult registered in the program. For more infor- is $15 per person. Children must be accompanied perennials and evergreens. Not only do these mation, call 703-631-0013. by an adult registered in the program. Meet at the plants boast great longevity, they require little Riverbend Park Visitor Center. For more infor- maintenance. The program at Green Spring Sensory Walk mation, call 703-759-9018. Gardens runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The (3-12 yrs.) Join a naturalist on a guided stroll cost is $12 per person. For more information, along a paved woodland path and compare your Saturday, September 4 & call 703-642-5173. senses with those of wildlife's. Meet two live rep- Sunday September 5 tiles. Learn fun facts as you use your ears, eyes, Dinosaur Egg Hunt Nature Scavenger Hunt nose and sense of touch. The program at Hidden (3-8 yrs.) Stomp over to Hidden Oaks Nature (4-Adult) Join us on the first Saturday of each Oaks Nature Center runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Center to enjoy a dinosaur-themed program and month to learn about different aspects of nature and again from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. The cost is $9 outdoor egg hunt while visiting Dinoland in Nature and go on a hunt for themed objects around per child. Only one adult per registered child may Playce. The 45-minute programs at Hidden Oaks Green Spring Gardens. The program runs from attend. For more information, call 703-941-1065. Nature Center begin at 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 10 to 11 a.m. The cost is $7 per person. For more noon, 1:45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. The cost is information, call 703-642-5173. Campfire Fridays-Lake Fairfax $10 per child. One adult only per registered child (3-Adult) Join us for an evening campfire the due to social distancing requirements. This event Saving Garden Treasures: Taking whole family can enjoy. During the program we will be canceled in the event of inclement weath- Plant Cuttings will explore the wonders of our natural world. Our er. For more information, call 703-941-1065. (16-Adult) Learn how to propagate plants from programs may include nature walks, interactive cuttings following simple techniques demonstrat- activities, animal presentations, or other opportu- Register for programs at: ed by Green Spring staff. Gain strategies to over- nities to learn about nature and our place in it. winter your favorite tender perennials so you can Topics vary by date, but all campfires include add them to your garden next year and save s’mores. The program at Lake Fairfax Park runs money. Take home a starter collection to begin from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $12 per person. your own saved treasures. The program at Green Children must be accompanied by a registered www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes Spring Gardens runs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The cost adult. For more information, call 703-471-5414. is $22 per person. Call 703-642-5173. Please note: Programs may fill or be canceled after the calendar is printed. Please register at Parktakes online or confirm with the park. Saturday, September 4 Monday, September 6 Thursdays, September 9 & 23 Choose Your Nature Walk Life in the Leaf Litter Hidden in Your Backyard: History (2-Adult) Book a walk with one of our Children’s (4-Adult) Life can be found thriving everywhere, of Cains Branch Education teachers for a themed tour of Green even under leaf litter. Investigate the creatures (5-Adult) Hike trails and learn about the history of Spring Gardens. Each tour will include a hands- that call the forest floor their home. The program abandoned sites hidden from the view of most of on element and can be customized to include the at Hidden Oaks Nature Center runs from 9:30 to the visitors to Sully Historic Site. Follow trails of science topics your students are learning in 10:30 a.m. and again from 11 a.m. to noon. The forested areas and Cain’s Branch waterway to school. Choose from: Pond Fauna & Flora, Native cost is $7 per person. For more information, learn about the life of early inhabitants who made Virginia Plants & Trees, Watersheds & Geology call 703-941-1065. Sully their home. This outdoor guided program of Green Spring, Virginia Ecosystems Walk, His- involves some walking over uneven terrain and tory of Green Spring as a Farm, or General Gar- Wildlife Walk at Huntley Meadows along trails. The program runs from 11 a.m. to den Tour. Sign up for a scheduled walk or sched- (4-Adult) Enjoy a naturalist-guided walk through noon. The cost is $10 per person. For more infor- ule an on-demand tour. The program runs from 2 the forested trails and wetland boardwalk at Hunt- mation, call 703-437-1794. to 3 p.m. The cost is $45 per family. For more ley Meadows Park. Look and listen for seasonally information, call 703-642-5173. active wildlife like birds, frogs, turtles, dragonflies, Thursday, September 9 muskrats and more. Each season brings different Celebrate National Bat Night wildlife into view. What will you discover? The Teddy Bear Day (6-Adult) Join a naturalist to discover the facts, program runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The cost is (3-9 yrs.) Bring your teddy bear or other plush fiction and folklore about nature’s only true flying $9 per person. Children must be accompanied by friend to learn how bears became many children's mammal. We will set the record straight about the a registered adult. For more information, first best friend. Have your bear or buddy join you incredible but often-misunderstood bat. The pro- call 703-768-2525. on a teddy bear picnic in Nature Playce and make gram will start with a presentation followed by a a bear craft. The program at Hidden Oaks Nature night walk where we will use a special acoustic Wednesdays, beginning September 8 Center runs from 4 to 5 p.m. The cost is $7 per device to listen for and identify bat calls not heard (3-6 yrs.) Want to know more about wildlife near child. Children must be accompanied by an adult. by the human ear. The program at Huntley Mead- your house or school? Find out more about the For more information, call 703-941-1065. ows Park runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $9 plants, animals, and habitats near you through per person. Call 703-768-2525. hands-on activities, crafts, songs, and games Nature Detective during our five-week class. Parents/guardians will Sundays, September 5 & 19 (3-5 yrs.) In this naturalist-led class, parents and be required to be present during the program and children explore nature through hikes, stories, Grind Day hopefully learn something new, too. The program songs, hands-on activities and crafts. Topics vary (All Ages) We’re running the mill like it’s 1811 -- takes place at the Lewinsville House, located at seasonally. The program at Huntley Meadows when the mill was first operating.