Sign up for our year-round Nature Classes and Outings!

These programs offer nature novices and experienced naturalists alike an array of opportunities to explore and learn about our area’s natural history. Our experienced naturalists lead small group classes and trips to parks and wild spaces throughout the DC-metro region — and beyond. Lectures are held at our Woodend Sanctuary. Field trips are reached by private vehicle or carpool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Map of Field Trip Destinations

Link to DC Audubon Society’s map of Wheelchair Accessible and Metro-accessible birding spots

Link to Maryland Ornithological Society’s “Best Birding Sites in Maryland and DC”

Want to see what programs you are registered for? Log into your online account here.

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

Covid-19 Update – Walks and Field Trips

As long as area jurisdictions remain in at least Phase II of Covid 19 precautions, we are planning to offer in-person field trips to natural areas throughout the DMV.  Should there be any changes to these plans, we will notify trip participants and all ANS members through e-mails and/or social media.
* Both leaders and participants are required to wear face masks and observe social distancing throughout the field trip.
* Both leaders and participants are required to complete a health questionnaire before participating in the field trip.
* Maximum number of participants for the field trips will range from 5-8, depending on field trip location, trip focus, and leaders’ preferences.
* Our fall schedule of field outings will be updated every six weeks to add new listings farther out into November–and then December. This “rolling schedule” will help us respond to any changes in the Covid situation which may arise as late fall and winter arrive.

Did you know that we are offering a number of great Naturalist Hour Zoom presentations in September and October?  Visit www.anshome.org/naturalist-hour for an overview of dates and topics being offered—as well as to register for these nature learning opportunities.

SEPTEMBER

Woodend Garden Clinics
Thursdays, September 10, 17 and October 1 (1-3 pm) 
Leader: Jenny Brown
Members $100; nonmembers $125
Join ANS Garden Outreach Associate and Master Gardener, Jenny Brown, for three hands-on garden clinics in September. During these two-hour sessions conducted in the gardens of Woodend, you will gain practical experience with essential skills such as managing compost, thinning and transplanting, weed identification, and pruning. During each session, Jenny will highlight at least four native plants for you to learn common and scientific names, habit, growing conditions and wildlife value. You are encouraged to bring questions, clippings, and photos from home to get help with your own garden challenges. Plus, each session you will take home plant material – either seeds or plants – from the Woodend gardens to cultivate at home. Limited to 8 participants. REGISTER ONLINE.

Late Summer Wings and Wildflowers
Saturday, September 12 (8:30-11:30 am)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $30; nonmembers $42
In Prince George’s County, the Jug Bay Natural Area on the western shore of the Patuxent River offers old field, forest, and freshwater tidal habitats that are ideal for broad-based nature exploration. We’ll look for still active butterflies and other insects, migrant and resident birds, and other wildlife against the backdrop of late summer blooms and fruiting trees and shrubs. Expect of a walk of around 2 miles with a small amount of uphill and downhill, some of it under open and sunny conditions. REGISTER.

Fern Basics
Sunday, September 13 (9-11:30 am)
Leader: Kit Sheffield
Members $30; nonmembers $42
What makes a plant a fern? What are some of the common ferns in our area? And importantly, how can you start to tell them apart? Here’s your chance to spend some time in the woods of Rachel Carson Conservation Park, MD, with the naturalist who delivered last month’s Naturalist Hour talk on these ancient and beautiful plants. Expect a little over a 2-mile hike, with some very mild uphill/downhill as we search for and learn to recognize more a half-dozen species. REGISTER.

Fall Fungus Walks
A. Saturday, September 19 (9-11 am) WAITLIST OPEN
B. Friday, October 9 (9:30-11:30 am) WAITLIST OPEN
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
Leader: Serenella Linares
Fall is the ideal season to get introduced to the most common families of fungi in our area while finding out more about their natural history and vital ecological functions. Each session’s outdoor classroom will be our own Woodend Sanctuary, where trails will be natural surface and possibly muddy. The expert leader will be one of our own staff, whose knowledge about any and all mushrooms that may pop up in your yard has earned her the apt and affectionate nickname Mushie. Note: the focus of our field outings will be fungi’s important and under-appreciated role in forest ecology, not the edibility of particular species of mushrooms. REGISTER.

Butterfly Migrants of the Glendening Preserve WAITLIST OPEN
Sunday, September 20 (10 am-12:30 pm)
Rain Date: Sunday, September 27
Leader: Tom Stock
Members $30; nonmembers $42
The Parris N. Glendening Preserve in Anne Arundel Co.’s Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary maintains a large butterfly garden that is one of the best area locations for late-summer migrant butterflies, including Long-tailed Skippers, Ocola Skippers, Fiery Skippers, Cloudless Skippers and Sleepy Oranges, and, of course, Monarchs. We’ll spend most of our time exploring this active garden, boosting participants’ skills identifying difficult-to-ID skippers, with a short walk into surrounding fields for late summer dragonfly and damselflies as well as other insects. REGISTER.

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
B. September 23 – Riley’s Lock WAITLIST OPEN
C. September 30 – Carderock WAITLIST OPEN
D. October 7 – Carderock WAITLIST OPEN
E. October 14 – Violettes Lock WAITLIST OPEN
F. October 21 – Violettes Lock WAITLIST OPEN
G. October 28 – Pennyfield Lock WAITLIST OPEN
H. November 4 – Pennyfield Lock WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
Enjoy one or more of these leisurely autumn walks along portions of the C&O Canal which see less foot and bicycle traffic during the week than on weekends. The focus of our walks will be the general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the Canal. We’ll proceed at a “naturalist’s shuffle” pace, stopping often to observe birds, fall wildflowers and foliage, butterflies, snakes, turtles—whatever we might find. Several November Meanders will be added to this schedule in early October. Sorry, but we are unable to offer a series discount this season. Thanks for registering for only 1 walk per field site. REGISTER.

Fall Flora Fridays
Fridays, 10 am-12:30 pm
A: September 25 – Rock Creek Park, DC WAITLIST OPEN
B: October 9 – Little Bennett Park, MD WAITLIST OPEN
C: October 30 – Riverbend Park, VA WAITLIST OPEN
Leaders: Stephanie Mason (A, C) and Marney Bruce (B)
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
These walks of up to 1.5 miles will celebrate the transition from lingering summer blooms to ripening fall seeds and fruits to the grand show of dramatic foliage color and leaf fall. Although aimed at beginning to mid-level plant enthusiasts, all are welcome. Expect a stop-and-go pace on natural surface trails in three local parks, with uphill and downhill stretches on walks A and C. REGISTER.

Fall Birding Series
D. Sunday, September 27: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC (Paul Pisano) (8-10:30 am) FULL, SECOND SESSION ADDED ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 – FULL
E. Sunday, October 4: Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, VA (Cathy Stragar) (8-10:30 am) WAITLIST OPEN
F. Saturday, October 17: Lois Green Conservation Park, MD (Mike Bowen) (8-10:30 am) WAITLIST OPEN
G. Wednesday, October 21: Black Hill Regional Park, MD (Mark England) (8-10:30 am) WAITLIST OPEN
H. Sunday, October 25: Hughes Hollow, MD (Len Bisson) (8-10:30 am) WAITLIST OPEN
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
Our fall birding series visits natural areas under an hour’s drive from D.C. where a variety of habitats—including field, forest, and wetland—provide good opportunities for the observation and ID of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds, both resident and overwintering in the region. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Our explorations will be on mostly level, natural surface trails that may be uneven, muddy, and/or somewhat slippery. Several November trips will be added to the schedule in early October. Sorry, but we are unable to offer a series discount this season. Sign up for walks individually. REGISTER.

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
C. September 30 – Carderock WAITLIST OPEN
D. October 7 – Carderock WAITLIST OPEN
E. October 14 – Violettes Lock WAITLIST OPEN
F. October 21 – Violettes Lock WAITLIST OPEN
G. October 28 – Pennyfield Lock WAITLIST OPEN
H. November 4 – Pennyfield Lock WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
Enjoy one or more of these leisurely autumn walks along portions of the C&O Canal which see less foot and bicycle traffic during the week than on weekends. The focus of our walks will be the general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the Canal. We’ll proceed at a “naturalist’s shuffle” pace, stopping often to observe birds, fall wildflowers and foliage, butterflies, snakes, turtles—whatever we might find. Several November Meanders will be added to this schedule in early October. Sorry, but we are unable to offer a series discount this season. Thanks for registering for only 1 walk per field site. REGISTER.