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.

NOVEMBER

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. 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 November? Visit www.anshome.org/naturalist-hour for an overview of dates and topics being offered—as well as to register for these online nature learning opportunities.

A Year at Theodore Roosevelt Island
C: Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, November 4 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) WAITLIST OPEN
D: Late Autumn Tree Walk, Wednesday, December 2 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island, for a year-long exploration of Theodore Roosevelt Island, a 90-acre island in the Potomac that serves as a fitting memorial to our conservationist and naturalist 26th president—and Audubon Naturalist Society member! These fall tree walks will take you deep into the island, where swamp and tidal inlet can be explored by boardwalk as willows, bald-cypresses and cattails frame views of the city behind it. In addition to sharing her knowledge and love of the Island’s trees, Melanie will share details of this park’s fascinating history. REGISTER

Woodend Garden Clinics
Thursdays, November 5, 12, 19 (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. 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.

Fall on Wheels Along the Canal 
Friday, November 6 (9 am-2 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $36; nonmembers $52
Fall colors are ablaze and the C&O Canal Towpath along the Potomac River is one of the finest places in the D.C-metro area to experience this 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 Block House Point, an 8.75 mile round-trip ride. We’ll dismount often to look for fall fruits and admire lingering fall foliage, while keeping an eye and ear open for fall migrants, overwintering birds, and other still-active wildlife. Bring your own bike. REGISTER.

Autumn Tree ID Hike in Rock Creek Park WAITLIST OPEN
Saturday, November 7 (8:30 am-11:30 am)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Enjoy an autumn morning in America’s oldest urban national park with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of A Year in Rock Creek Park and the newly released Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. Rock Creek Park celebrated its 130^th birthday in September! We’ll cover approximately 2 miles on the Western Ridge Trail and Beach Drive with some short but fairly steep up and down on trails. We will ID trees of the Rock Creek floodplain and upland woods, including several maples, several oaks, sycamore, tupelo, river birch, musclewood, American beech, hickories, and others as we soak up the autumn beauty of the park. Melanie will also show you a rock outcrop that was a favorite climbing spot for President Theodore Roosevelt. REGISTER

Knock, Knock WAITLIST OPEN
Saturday, November 14 (9 am-12 pm)
Leader: Pam Oves
Members $30; nonmembers $42
On this approximately 4-mile roundtrip bird walk along the Canal’s towpath at Riley’s Lock, we’ll work to see or at least hear all 7 species of woodpeckers (a grand-slam!) that frequent our woods this time of year. Our walk is aimed at beginning birders. This walk will go faster and farther than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” REGISTER

Talking Trees Tour
D: Sunday, November 15 (10-11:30 am) WAITLIST AVAILABLE 
Leader: Bradley Simpson
Each tour: members $20; nonmembers $28
In fact, it will be our leader who will do the talking for the trees on these leisurely strolls at our Woodend Sanctuary. A staffer on our restoration team, Bradley will introduce you to some of the notable trees on our grounds, while sharing ID tips as well as wildlife and and tree associations. Expect some uneven and/or muddy ground on this approximately half-mile walking (and talking) tree tour. REGISTER.

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
J: November 18 – Widewater WAITLIST OPEN
K: December 2 – Swain’s Lock WAITLIST OPEN
L: December 9 – Swain’s Lock WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
As the calendar year winds down and winter starts sneaking in, we offer these leisurely 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 plant life as well as birds and other still active wildlife. 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)
E: November 20 – Dickerson Conservation Park, MD WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason (E)
Members $30; nonmembers $42
These walks of up to two miles will celebrate the ripening and scattering of fall fruits, lingering autumn color, and the season’s final bow: leaf fall. Although aimed at beginning to mid-level plant enthusiasts, all are welcome. Expect a stop-and-go pace on natural surface trails. The walk on the car-free Berma Road, accessed from the Widewater area along the C&O Canal, will be flat but could be muddy. The second walk includes stretches of the C&O Canal towpath, as well as possibly muddy walking on the floodplain along the Potomac River. REGISTER.

Fall in the Parks
(9 am-Noon)
E: Sunday, November 22 – Occoquan Bay NWR, VA WAITLIST OPEN
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
When it comes to protected natural areas in and around the DMV, it’s really an embarrassment of riches! These final two field outings in our fall series feature woodland, grassland, and riverine habitats—all which support diverse animal and plant communities. White’s Ferry provides access to the C&O Canal’s Towpath and its forested borders as it follows the Potomac River in upper Montgomery County, MD. Northern Virginia’s Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects grasslands and marshes at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers just 20 miles south of DC. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for all manner of animal and plant life as we explore up to a couple of miles in these parks using natural surface trails that could be muddy. REGISTER.

Fall Birding Series
M: Sunday, November 29: Patuxent Research Refuge/North Tract (Len Bisson) (8-10:30 am) WAITLIST AVAILABLE
Each walk: members $30; nonmembers $42
Our fall birding series continues through late fall with trips to 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. Walks K and M may include some minor uphill/downhill. Sorry, but we are unable to offer a series discount this season. Sign up for walks individually. REGISTER

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