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A note about our programs:
We hold most programs rain, snow, or shine, unless we notify you otherwise. If you cancel your registration seven days or more prior to the program date, we’ll refund your fee in full. If you cancel within seven days of the program date, we are unable to refund your fee. If the Foundation of the State Arboretum cancels a program for any reason, we will refund your fee in full. Programs open to children/youth require an adult to attend with them and the adult is responsible for their supervision for the duration of the program. Advance registration is required for all programs. Space is limited.
Canceled due to Weather: Winter Tree ID and Holiday Potluck with Sustainability Matters
1:00-3:00 Sunday, December 14, 2025
At Blandy Experimental Farm
Join us and our co-hosts, the State Arboretum of Virginia (Blandy), for our most popular event of the year: our annual winter tree identification walk & potluck at the State Arboretum of Virginia on Sunday, December 14 at 1pm. This approximately 90-minute guided walk and tree ID primer, led by a Virginia State Forester, will ensure you never again mistake an oak for a walnut, or a spruce for a fir!
A holiday-themed potluck and social hour with fellow nature nerds will follow the walk. Please bring a snack or dessert to share!
Attendance is limited to 30, and previous years' walks filled up far in advance. Get your tickets now before we share this invitation with our entire mailing list! Tickets are $20 for members of Sustainability Matters or of the Foundation of the State Arboretum, a $5 discount from the regular price.
Hot Chocolate Hike: Cozy Conifer Mysteries
2:00-3:00 PM Sunday, January 11th
Enjoy a mug of hot chocolate (or tea!) as you work together to solve a conifer-themed mystery. Along the way, you’ll find out all about conifer identification and ecology.
What to expect: An outdoor nature walk (less than 1 mile) with clues to unravel along the way.
Audience: All ages! Minors must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times. No pets, please!
What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Hot chocolate/tea provided!
Where to meet: Meet in the library at the Quarters building.
"Wild Gardening" and how to turn your backyard into a haven for biodiversity
7:00-8:30 PM Thursday, January 29th
Always wanted to be the kind of person with a wildlife-friendly yard, but don’t know where to start? This talk is for you! Blandy’s Assistant Curator for the Native Plant Trail Jack Monsted shares beginner-friendly advice about how to support birds, bees, butterflies, and other creatures in your yard. This talk is tailored to small yards (less than an acre), but the advice can be applied to much larger spaces. Featuring real-life success stories from Jack’s yard in Winchester!
What to expect: A lecture in the library.
Audience: Designed for adult audiences.
What to bring: Paper and pen/pencil to take notes, if you wish.
Where to meet: Meet in the library at the Quarters building.
Hot Chocolate Hike: Leaf Litter Detectives
2:00-3:00 PM Saturday, January 31st
What’s going on in the leaf litter? There's a whole ecosystem down there! In this program, we’ll find out all about the insects and invertebrates that shelter in leaf litter during the winter. We’ll fill up our hot coca mugs and go out to investigate the forest floor and gather leaves to investigate. Then back to the library, where we’ll use science-y tools to search for tiny leaf creatures and learn about their fascinating little lives.
What to expect: An outdoor nature walk (less than 1 mile) with clues to unravel along the way.
Audience: All ages! Minors must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times. No pets, please!
What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Hot chocolate/tea provided!
Where to meet: Meet in the library at the Quarters building.
Hot Chocolate Hike: Our Cherished Chestnuts
10:00-11:00 AM Monday, February 16th
Enjoy a mug of hot chocolate (or tea!) as you find out all about the American Chestnut. Discover how the decline of the American Chestnut due to chestnut blight reshaped local ecosystems and economies, and learn about how scientists are trying to save American Chestnuts from extinction.
What to expect: An outdoor nature walk (less than 1 mile) with clues to unravel along the way.
Audience: All ages! No pets, please. Minors must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times.
What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Hot chocolate/tea provided!
Where to meet: Meet in the library at the Quarters building.