Public Programs

Nurture your child's sense of wonder and spark your own interest in the natural world with classes, programs or a visit to the Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

May

3 Saturday
Walk with a Naturalist to the Cross County Trail
(All ages), 10-11:30am. Hike along woodland trails and traverse the stream through the six-foot culvert under the Beltway to reach the Cross County Trail. Wear shoes that can get wet and follow the trail of the deer along the stream corridor. Prepare for an easy grade but uneven and slippery surfaces. Reservations required. Canceled if rain. FREE

4 Sunday
Miss Spider's Tea Party
(4-6 yrs. with adult), 1-2:30pm. Join Miss Spider, Miss Ladybug, and a host of other friends as we celebrate spring in the forest. Come dressed as your favorite insect or spider and make your antennae here. Enjoy a sit-down tea party, stories, and activities as we spin an afternoon of fun and learning. Reservations and prepayment required. $10/person

6 Tuesday
Trillium Trek
(Adults), 9am-4pm. Head by van to Linden, VA for the glorious display of trilliums and other spring wildflowers. Bring a bag lunch. Wear hiking shoes. Moderate hike on rocky trail. Reservations required by 4/20. $12

9 Friday
Little Acorns: Springtime Flowers
(2-3yrs.), 9:45-10:30am and 11-11:45am. See if those April showers brought May flowers. Through story, song, activities, and crafts explore wildflowers in the woodland and garden. Reservations and prepayment required. $5

10 Saturday
Pink Lady's Slipper Walk
(All Ages), 1-1:45pm, Roundtree Park. Call 703-941-1065 (Hidden Oaks Nature Center) for information. Join a naturalist for a leisurely stroll to see a natural display of wild orchids. We'll also visit the park's other native wildflowers. Meet by the paved trail next to the parking lot. Reservations required by 5/7. Canceled if rain. FREE

11 Sunday
Celebrate National Flower Month
(All ages), 1-2pm. Take a leisurely stroll around Annandale District Park as the naturalist highlights the native wildflowers along the trail and in the garden. Delight in the folklore and traditional remedies that many of these plants boast. Tour the new butterfly garden and learn tips to lure butterflies to your backyard. If rain, slide show will be substituted for the walk. Make a crepe paper flower to honor mothers on their special day. Reservations and prepayment required by 5/7. $3

17 Saturday
Pink Lady's Slipper Walk
(All Ages), 1-1:45pm, Roundtree Park. Call 703-941-1065 (Hidden Oaks Nature Center) for information. (SEE 5/10.) Reservations required by 5/7. Canceled if rain. FREE

18 Sunday
Snakes and Turtles at Roundtree Park
(All ages), 1-2pm, Roundtree Park. Call 703-941-1065 (Hidden Oaks Nature Center) for information. Meet at the shelter for a close up look at live reptiles which are indigenous to Fairfax County. Meet at the shelter. Program in Spanish and English. Reservations requested. FREE

23 Friday
Little Acorns: Animal Moms and Babies
(2-3yrs.), 9:45-10:30am and 11-11:45am. Look for wildlife and their young through story, song, activities, and a trail walk. Learn how nature provides for her youngest in fascinating and fun ways. Reservations and prepayment required. $5

24 Saturday
Snake and Turtle Feeding
(All ages), 1-2 pm. Enjoy a brief presentation and demonstration by our animal caretaker volunteers or naturalist staff. At least one snake and two turtles will be fed during the demonstration. Reservations required. Limit 20. $2

24 Saturday
Goodnight Walk: Sounds of the Night
(4 yrs. & up and adult), 7-8pm. Sounds of the night fill our ears with delight! We will learn about animal sounds and then take a night- time stroll along the Old Oak Trail to practice our new listening and identifying skills. Reservations and prepayment required. $5 per participant.

25 Sunday
Backyard Games and Outdoor Fun
(4 yrs. & up and adult), 2-3pm. How often these days do children just go outside to play after school? Celebrate National Backyard Games Week! Bring your children out for an afternoon of old fashioned outdoor games with a nature twist. Stay afterwards and discover how fun slowing down and exploring the woods can be! Reservations required by 5/14. Canceled if rain. Maximum 25. FREE

26 Monday
Creature Feature
(4 yrs. & up), 1-1:30pm. Meet a common snake in Fairfax County which doesn't follow the usual "rules." The northern brown snake doesn't eat mice, gives live birth, and uses a smell to protect itself. Discover more fun facts about this harmless backyard denizen. Compare this snake to another local snake that eats rodents instead of worms. Reservations required. FREE

June

7 Saturday
Teddy Bears' Picnic
(3-6 yrs with adult.), 1-2:30pm. Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic at Hidden Oaks! Bring your teddy bear and come along. Before our adventure, we'll disguise everyone to catch the bears unawares! There will be stories, songs, games, and light refreshments for humans and teddy bears. Reservations and prepayment required. $10/child

6 Friday
Little Acorns: Fish is Fish
(2-3yrs), 9:45-10:30am and 11-11:45am. Investigate fish from local streams and compare them to goldfish. Enjoy a story look, for fish in our pond and make a craft to take home. Look for fish in the pond. Dress for weather. Reservations and advanced payment required. $5/child

7 Saturday
Teddy Bears' Picnic
(3-6 yrs plus adult), 1-2:30pm. Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic at Hidden Oaks! Bring your teddy bear and come along. Before our adventure, we'll disguise everyone to catch the bears unawares. Stories, songs, games and light refreshments for humans and teddy bears. Reservations and prepayment required. $10/child

15 Sunday
Nature Scavenger Hunt
(Families), 2-3:30pm. Enjoy deciphering clues with your family as you explore the woods, ponds and streams of Annandale District Park with one of three scavenger hunts. Choose the level of difficulty right for you and enjoy an afternoon outdoors. Reservations and advanced payment required. Program postponed in case of inclement weather. $7/family

21 Saturday
Goodnight Walk: Who-oo is in the Forest at Night?
(4 yrs. & up and plus adult), 7-8pm. Sounds of the night fill our ears with delight! Learn about the summer solstice, nocturnal animals and then take a night- time stroll on the Old Oak Trail to practice your new listening and identifying skills. Reservations and prepayment required. $5/person

22 Sunday
Make Your Backyard a Wildlife Habitat
(Adults), 11-noon. Discover how you can easily and inexpensively make your backyard or apartment balcony into a habitat that provides food, shelter, water and a place to raise young for area wildlife. Learn how to make a water source from materials you have at home and how to get your backyard certified as an official backyard habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. Information provided on using native plants to support native species. Sponsored by the Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Reservations required. FREE

July

4 Friday
Creature Feature
(Families), 1-1:30pm. Meet a juvenile snapping turtle and several other water turtles common in Fairfax County. Discover fun facts about these local creatures and how to identify them in the wild. Reservations required. FREE

12 Saturday
Goodnight Walk: Firefly Fun!
(4 yrs. & up plus adult), 7-8pm. Discover the wonder of fireflies, then hike to find these amazing creatures of the night. Enjoy a story and make a craft. Reservations and advanced required. $5/person

13 Sunday
Snakes and Turtles at Roundtree Park
(All ages), 2-3pm, Roundtree Park. Call 703-941-1065 (Hidden Oaks Nature Center) for information. Meet at the shelter for a close-up view of live reptiles that are indigenous to Fairfax County. Meet at the shelter. Program in Spanish and English. Reservations requested. FREE

26 Saturday
Make Your Backyard a Wildlife Habitat
(Adults), 11-noon. Discover how you can easily and inexpensively make your backyard or apartment balcony into a habitat that provides food, shelter, water and a place to raise young for area wildlife. Learn how to make a water source from materials you have at home and how to get your backyard certified as an official backyard habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. Information provided on using native plants to support native species. Sponsored by the Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Reservations required. FREE

27 Sunday
Beyond the Old Oak Loop Trail: Walk with a Naturalist
(Families), 12:30-2pm. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, nestled inside of Annandale District Park, has over 2.5 miles of trails. Join a naturalist exploring some of the less traveled path. See evidence of pre-Civil War activity by the stream, clues as to the land use of yesteryear and why wildlife uses this stream valley as a natural highway. Reservations required. FREE

30 Wednesday
Wild Things Puppet Show: Native American Stories
(3 yrs. and up with adult), 10-11 am. Enjoy a puppet presentation and the telling of "How Butterflies Came to Be," "Rabbit's Toothache," "How the Beetle Got Her Colors" and more. Reservations and advanced payment required. $4/child, $2/adult.

August

1 Friday
Little Acorns: Incredible Insects
(2-3yrs.), 9:45-10:30am and 11-11:45am. Find out about our numerous neighbors-- insects. Through stories, activities and a walk, learn about the bugs of summer. Reservations and advanced payment required. $5/child

3 Sunday
Water Festival & National Watermelon Day
(5-10 yrs.), 1-3pm. Water is the key to life and, in the summer, often the key to fun! Explore a discovery room of wet and wild self-guided learning stations, games and activities. At 1:30 pm naturalists lead a hike to the creek for water tests and critter searches. At 2:30pm, slip into your bathing suit and join our water limbo contest plus other wet and wild outdoor activities. Enjoy a slice of the most water-y of fruits, the watermelon, in honor of its special day. Sponsored by the Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Activities changed in case of inclement weather. Reservations and advanced payment required. $6/child

7 Thursday
Wild Things Puppet Show: Owl and the Woodpecker
(3 yrs. and up plus adult), 10-11am. Enjoy a puppet presentation and stories highlighting the wild and wonderful wildlife of urban woodlands. Reservations and advanced payment required. $4/child, $2/adult.

8 Friday
Little Acorns: Outstanding Otters
(2-3yrs.), 9:45- 10:30 and 11-11:45am. Discover the frolicking lifestyle of our indigenous river otters and learn how they differ from sea otters. Enjoy activities, stories and make a craft. Reservations and advanced payment required. $5/child

8 Friday
Otter-ly Wonderful
(4-8 yrs.), 2-3pm. Discover the frolicking lifestyle of our indigenous river otters and learn how they differ from sea otters. Enjoy activities, stories and make a craft. Reservations and advanced payment. $5/person

9 Saturday
Goodnight Walk: Abounding Bats
(4 yrs. & up plus adult), 7-8pm. A naturalist leads an interactive look at a favorite creature of the night, the little brown bat. Hear a story, learn fun facts, and enjoy a stroll along the Old Oak Trail to look for bats. Reservations and prepayment required. $5/person

10 Sunday
Nature Scavenger Hunt
(Families), 2-3:30pm. Enjoy deciphering clues with your family as you explore the woods, ponds and streams of Annandale District Park with one of three scavenger hunts. Choose the level of difficulty right for you and enjoy an afternoon outdoors. Reservations and advanced payment required. Program postponed in case of inclement weather. $7/family

17 Sunday
Stream Stomp
(Families), 1-2:30pm. Saunter to the stream to hunt for crayfish, salamanders and more. Learn about watersheds and erosion in our stream valleys. Discover how you can make a difference in the quality of our stream valleys and how local waterways affect the bay. Be prepared to get wet by wading into the stream. Reservations and advanced payment required. Program canceled if heavy rain. $4/child, $2/adult

24 Sunday
Dinosaur Film and Craft Festival
(4-8 yrs.), 3-4:15pm. Explore fossils, footprints and films as you learn the latest on these fascinating creatures. Enjoy interactive stations and make a fossil craft to take home. Reservations and advanced payment required. $5/child, $1/adult

31 Sunday
Dinosaur Film and Craft Festival
(4-8 yrs.), 3-4:15pm. Explore fossils, footprints and films as you learn the latest on these fascinating creatures. Enjoy interactive stations and make a fossil craft to take home. Reservations and advanced payment required. $5/child, $1/adult.