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

 

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

MAY

Spring on Wheels Along the Potomac
Friday, May 3 (8:30 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $48
Spring has sprung and the towpath along the Potomac River is one of the finest places in the DC-metro area to experience the season’s richness. In order to cover more territory and visit more habitats, we’ll use bikes to explore the stretch from Swain’s Lock to Riley’s Lock, a 12.3 mile round-trip ride. We’ll dismount often to look for spring wildflowers, butterflies and other insects, and reptiles and amphibians, all the while keeping an eye and ear open for spring migrants and other breeding bird activity. Bring your own bike. Image credit: Taylor Janis REGISTER HERE

Abloom in the Blue Ridge
Saturday, May 4 (9 am-3 pm)
Leader: Sujata Roy
Members $32; nonmembers $44
The G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Linden, VA is a 4000-acre area that is well known for its botanical diversity. The floral display is especially rich in early May when the hillsides are covered with many wildflowers including masses of large-flowered trillium, plus yellow-lady’s-slipper, showy orchis, wild geranium, three-lobed violet, and rue-anemone.  Spring migrants such as Scarlet Tanager and American Redstart, as well early season butterflies, also abound in these mature woodlands. Our field day will focus on the sites rich plant community, but we won’t turn a blind eye to other spring sightings on our leisurely exploration of 2-3 miles. Expect some uphill/downhill walking on rocky and uneven trails. REGISTER HERE

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
D: Saturday, May 4 – Patuxent Research Refuge, MD (Mike Bowen)
E: Sunday, May 12 – Glover Archbold, DC (Jim Nelson)
F: Saturday, May 18 – Little Bennett, MD (Mark England)
G: Sunday, May 26 – Pennyfield Lock, MD (Lisa Norwalk and Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring pulse of bird activity can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk, we’ll search for both resident and migrant birds by song and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence the spring travelers, practice spotting them in the field, and attempt to learn the songs of many species. Our trips include walking on natural surface trails, which may be muddy, slippery and uneven. Walk C will include some uphill/downhill walking. REGISTER HERE

Geology at Greenbrier State Park, MD
Saturday, May 4 (9 am-1 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Greenbrier State Park is located on the western slope of South Mountain about fifteen miles northwest of Frederick, Maryland. Its trails provide good exposures of three formations of the Blue Ridge Province: Antietam, Harpers and Weverton. The exposures have two unusual features. First, the Antietam is the source of the tube-shaped Skolithos fossils commonly seen in DC-area stream gravels. Second, because the Blue Ridge rocks are overturned within the park, walking uphill means walking backward in geologic time. Unfortunately, there will be a price to pay to see these Cambrian and Precambrian wonders. Our two-mile hike will be quite rocky and involve about 500 feet of elevation gain. Although we will proceed at a slower geologist pace than usual, it will still be a moderate to strenuous hike. Note that for day use, the park charges $3 per person for Maryland residents and $5 per person for non-residents. REGISTER HERE

Glorious Spring in Rachel Carson Park
Sunday, May 5 (9 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Carole Bergmann
Members $26; Nonmembers $36
Experience spring unfolding in the plant communities of this Park’s high-quality forests, mountain laurel thickets, rocky outcroppings, and Hawlings River bottomlands. Under the guidance of a field botanist who knows this area well, we’ll admire and ID unfolding leaves, seasonal wildflowers, and many native ferns. Expect a walk of 2.3 miles, with some uphill/downhill over terrain that may be uneven, rocky, and/or muddy. REGISTER HERE

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section D: May 8 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section E: May 22 – Violettes Lock 
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely walks along portions of the C&O Canal. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the Canal. We’ll proceed at a slow “naturalist’s shuffle” pace as we watch spring unfold. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and whatever else we might find. Carpool from Woodend with the leader if you desire. REGISTER HERE

Spring Nature Drawing Workshop
Friday, May 10 (10 am-2:30 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $26; nonmembers $36
There is a long tradition of naturalists keeping field notes. Often their written notes are accompanied by drawings. In this workshop, you will be guided through the steps to create a spring sketch, using pens or pencils in your sketchbook or field journal. Starting out, Tina will lead you on a brief walk at our Woodend Sanctuary, pausing to observe and record notes in your sketchbook. When you return to the tables and chairs in our tented classroom, she will share her sketchbooks, demonstrate art supplies, and explain techniques to create a quick sketch. Here’s a chance to slow down and look closely at spring leaves, buds and flowers as you capture a spring day in your sketch and field notes. A list of art supplies will be provided with your registration and confirmation. REGISTER HERE

Spring Warbler Walk RESCHEDULED FROM 5/5
Saturday, May 11 (7-11 am)
Leaders: Lisa Shannon and Rob Hilton
Members $26; nonmembers $36
More than 30 species of warblers pass through the mid-Atlantic during spring migration—but finding and properly identifying these active songbirds can be a real challenge. Our leaders, both long-time birders in the area, will aim this teaching trip at beginning to mid-level birders. The walk will begin at Pennyfield Lock and then move upriver to Riley’s Lock along the Potomac C&O Canal. REGISTER HERE

Spring in the Parks
(8:30 am-1 pm)
C: Saturday, May 11 – Mason Neck NWR, VA FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Members $28; Nonmembers $38
Join our Senior Naturalist for these broad-based nature explorations of close-by parks rich in natural history. We’ll walk between 2-3 miles in a search for spring wildflowers and seasonal wildlife activity, including birds, butterflies, and amphibians. Our first destination visits rich woodland and wetland habitats near Largo, MD. On our next expedition, we’ll explore the surprisingly wild urban forest and streamside trails of Rock Creek Park in the District. As the pulse of spring change slows down and the woods stand green, we’ll walk the bottomlands adjacent to Belmont Bay near Occoquan, VA. All of our trips include some uphill/downhill (steepest on walks A and B) on natural surface trails, which are likely to be muddy and possibly slippery this time of year. REGISTER HERE

Spring in Your Step FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Saturday, May 11 (4:30-6:30 pm)
Leaders: Pam and Chris Oves
Free, but registration required.
The early bird may get the worm, but late afternoon can be a rewarding time to birdwatch as well. Join us on a 2-3 mile stroll on the paved Black Hill Hiker/Biker Trail in Black Hill Regional Park, with views of Lake Seneca. We’ll look and listen for birds such as Belted Kingfisher and Bald Eagle as well as migrants such as Baltimore and Orchard Orioles. Limited to 12 participants. This walk is aimed at beginning birders. REGISTER HERE

Spring Hike on the Appalachian Trail CANCELLED
Sunday, May 12 (full day hike)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $36; nonmembers $50
Spring rains, warming temperature, and longer hours of daylight ignite a great burst of life in the valleys and ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. One of the best ways to explore this seasonal richness is along the Appalachian Trail. Our Senior Naturalist leads this search for spring blooms, butterflies, and breeding bird activity amongst the rocky terrain of Maryland’s South Mountain. Beginning at Gathland State Park, the former estate of a Civil War correspondent, we’ll hike along the AT for around 2.5 miles, before retracing our steps. We’ll cover around 5 miles on this moderately strenuous uphill/downhill hike on trails that will be rocky and uneven. We’ll stop to observe natural phenomena, but will keep a pace necessary to cover the distance stated. REGISTER HERE

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
E: Sunday, May 12 – Glover Archbold, DC (Jim Nelson) CANCELLED
F: Saturday, May 18 – Little Bennett, MD (Mark England)
G: Sunday, May 26 – Pennyfield Lock, MD (Lisa Norwalk and Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring pulse of bird activity can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk, we’ll search for both resident and migrant birds by song and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence the spring travelers, practice spotting them in the field, and attempt to learn the songs of many species. Our trips include walking on natural surface trails, which may be muddy, slippery and uneven. REGISTER HERE

Wonders at Woodend: Forest Bathing through the Seasons
Wednesdays (10 am-Noon)
Section B: May 15 FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section C: July 10 FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Section D: October 16 FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Savor the natural joys of each season on forest bathing walks led by Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a longtime ANS field trip leader and the author of The Joy of Forest Bathing—Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. Discover the magic of shinrin-yoku, translated as “forest bathing,” a nature-oriented mindfulness practice that originated in Japan and has become popular all over the world. Our leader is a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide with certification from the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Programs of Sonoma County, California. Experience the restoration of Woodend as we explore and commune with the living things in our meadows, forest, and Blair Garden. A serving of maple sap “tea” and a sharing of nature poetry will conclude each walk. REGISTER ONLINE.

Spring Shorebird Migration on the Delaware Bay
Thursday, May 16 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, May 18 (full-day field trip)
Leaders: John Bjerke and Cyndie Loeper
Members $48; nonmembers $64
Lecture only members $24; nonmembers $34
Each year in May, horseshoe crabs migrate to the beaches of Delaware Bay to mate and lay their eggs. During the same time period, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds, en route to summer breeding grounds, stop at the Bay to feast and refuel on the concentrated number of horseshoe crab eggs. At Thursday’s lecture, John Bjerke will discuss shorebird migration and use slides to help ID some of the most common shorebirds in our region. Saturday’s field trip, led by Cyndie Loeper and a second leader (TBA), will take us to the Bay, where we will hope to see and ID a variety of shorebirds. REGISTER HERE

Evening on the Canal  RESCHEUDLED FROM 4/19
Friday, May 17 (7-9 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $25; nonmembers $35
Early spring evenings can be alive with wildlife as you’ll discover on this stroll from Swain’s Lock up the C&O Canal towpath. We’ll watch for wildlife as the sun sets, and as twilight gives way to the darkness of night, we’ll listen for calling frogs and hooting Barred Owls while discussing the adaptations of these and other nocturnal animals. REGISTER HERE

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
F: Saturday, May 18 – Little Bennett, MD (Mark England) FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
G: Sunday, May 26 – Pennyfield Lock, MD (Lisa Norwalk and Len Bisson)
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring pulse of bird activity can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk, we’ll search for both resident and migrant birds by song and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence the spring travelers, practice spotting them in the field, and attempt to learn the songs of many species. Our trips include walking on natural surface trails, which may be muddy, slippery and uneven. Walk C will include some uphill/downhill walking. REGISTER HERE

On the Wing in Late Spring
Sunday, May 19 (8 am-Noon)
Leaders: Stephanie Mason and Cathy Stragar
Members $28; nonmembers $38
As the pace of spring’s dramatic changes in the natural world starts to slow down, we’ll take a couple of slow strolls ourselves along the C&O Canal Towpath from Riley’s Lock both upriver and downriver. We’ll keep eyes open and ears attuned to things on the wing:  birds, butterflies, bees, and dragonflies. Of course, we’ll pay attention to the plant company these winged things keep, as well. REGISTER HERE

Geology of Leesylvania State Park SORRY CANCELLED
Sunday, May 19 (9 am-1 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $26; nonmembers $36
Leesylvania State Park sits next to the tidal Potomac about five miles south of Woodbridge, Virginia. Its sandy beach, sandstone cliffs and upland gravel terraces illuminate the geological history of the Coastal Plain and of the Chesapeake Bay estuary. We will hike a loop of about three miles within the park over well-maintained woodland trails. The terrain is flat to gently rolling with a couple of short steep sections. If there has been recent rain, the trail may be muddy at spots. The pace set and distance covered is usually faster and father than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” REGISTER HERE

Introduction to Bird ID by Voice FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Tuesday, May 21 (7:30-9 pm)
Thursday, May 23 (7:30-9 pm)
Saturday, May 25 (7 am-Noon)
Leader: Mark England
Members $50; nonmembers $70
The sounds made by birds can help find and identify many species, yet to beginning birders, the wide variety of sounds can be confusing. If you know many of our area birds by sight but not by sound, this class is for you. Two evening sessions will use recordings and slides to study bird songs and calls. Our field trip to one or more sites in Montgomery County will give us a chance to listen for and try to learn some of the local species. Image credit: Prather, J. F., Peters, S., Nowicki, S., Mooney, R. (2008). “Precise auditory-vocal mirroring in neurons for learned vocal communication.” Nature 451: 305-310. REGISTER HERE

Spring Saunters Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section E: May 22 – Violettes Lock FULL
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $25; nonmembers $35
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely walks along portions of the C&O Canal. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the Canal. We’ll proceed at a slow “naturalist’s shuffle” pace as we watch spring unfold. We’ll stop often to observe birds, wildflowers, butterflies, snakes, turtles, and whatever else we might find. Carpool from Woodend with the leader if you desire. REGISTER HERE

Spring Hike on Sugarloaf
Friday, May 24 (10 am-3 pm)
Leaders: Melanie Choukas-Bradley and Tina Thieme Brown
Members $34; nonmembers $48
The author and the artist of two books about Sugarloaf Mountain team up once again for a seasonal outing devoted to the botany, wildlife, geology, and history of our local monadnock in the rural Piedmont northwest of Washington, D.C. The 1.5 mile hike is timed to coincide with High Spring’s greening of the Sugarloaf Mountain woodlands and the blooming of many plants, including mountain laurel and fringe-tree. Bring binoculars to look for Wood Thrushes, Warblers, Ravens, and other bird species. After lunch, Tina will show you how to approach a quick leaf sketch, and Melanie will introduce the concept of “forest bathing,” time permitting. Our hike includes uphill/downhill walking over rocky trails and a fairly steep ¼ mile hike up to the summit—all at a leisurely pace. REGISTER HERE

Spring Early Birds (7-10 am)
G: Sunday, May 26 – Pennyfield Lock, MD (Lisa Norwalk and Len Bisson) FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Each walk members $26; nonmembers $36
Immerse yourself in the phenomenon of spring migration with this series of short bird walks at nearby parks. These walks are designed for beginning and intermediate birders for whom the spring pulse of bird activity can sometimes be overwhelming. On each walk, we’ll search for both resident and migrant birds by song and sound. We’ll discuss the arrival sequence the spring travelers, practice spotting them in the field, and attempt to learn the songs of many species. Our trips include walking on natural surface trails, which may be muddy, slippery and uneven. REGISTER HERE

Botany in a Parking Lot
Wednesday, May 29 (10 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Marney Bruce
Members $24; nonmembers $34
No joke! Our leader invites you to join her for an easy walk around one of her favorite botanical hot-spots along the C&O Canal Towpath at the Carderock Recreation Area. Expect an easy walk around the parking lot as she shows you how to ID the diverse group of trees around the lot, using bark, buds, leaves, and developing fruits. REGISTER HERE