what's new at the nature network?

Events

ant on a dewberry flower

Upcoming Events

9

MAY

Weekend Workshop: Flower Fun

Bon Air Rose Garden Park, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

We’ll explore fresh flowers, do some plant-inspired yoga, and go on a scavenger hunt.

Sign up here. Deadline to sign up: May 6, 2026.

16

MAY

Enjoy Arlington: Buzzing Bees

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Bees are buzzing around our gardens and flowers! Join for games where we explore animal sound and movement
and make our own sensory bottles. All materials provided.

Catalog: p. 45, unique identifier: 632950-N.

Sign up here.

 

6

JUN

Enjoy Arlington: Wiggling Worms

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Have you ever wondered what the life of a worm is like? Why do worms wiggle? Why do they still survive after being cut in half? Find out all this and more! We’ll explore live red earthworms in compost, make wiggling paper worms, and mix gooey slime worms.

Catalog: p. 45, unique identifier: 632950-P.

Sign up here

forget-me-not

Past Events

27

SEP

Weekend Workshop: Pollinators

Glencarlyn Park, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of flowers and fruit.

Crafts: decorate a flower, create your own pollinator bug.

Simulation of pollination: using homemade bugs and flour; using different tools to transfer pompoms.

9

AUG

Weekend Workshop: Ecosystems

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Discussion of the definition of an ecosystem, the differences between living and nonliving things, decomposition, and what it means to be a "native" or "invasive" species. 

Sensory exploration: English ivy, vinca, Persian jumpseed. 

Ecosystem exploration: observation of fallen (rotting) logs.

12

JUL

Anniversary Party

Arlington, VA 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The Nature Network turned ONE! 

Celebration consisted of making homemade pizza and talking about where different foods come from.

21

JUN

Enjoy Arlington: Wiggling Worms

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Exploration of red earthworms in compost, wiggling paper towel worms, and gooey slime worms (made of sodium alginate and calcium chloride).

10

MAY

Enjoy Arlington: Textures of Nature

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of different textures in nature. Nature walk featuring tree bark art and collection of natural materials to make prints in clay.

12

APR

Enjoy Arlington: Mini Meteorologists

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of a globe; conversations about days and seasons. Simulation of different weather events, including sunny (flashlight), rainy (watering plants), windy (decorating kites and standing in front of the fan), and snowy (instant "pretend" snow made of water and sodium polyacrylate polymer).

22

MAR

Weekend Workshop for Families: Flower Fun

Bon Air Rose Garden Park, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of fresh flowers; plant-themed yoga; scavenger hunt/nature walk to find different colors of flowers.

8

MAR

Weekend Workshop for Families: Buzzing Bees

Lubber Run Park, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of animal sounds and movements. Art/sensory activity: sensory bottles.

1

MAR

Weekend Workshop for Families: All About Worms

Zitkala-Sa Park, Arlington, VA 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of live worms in mulch and gummy "worms" in pudding. Craft: wiggling paper towel worms.

11

JAN

Weekend Workshop for Families: Winter Wonderland

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of a globe; conversations about days and seasons. Comparison of instant "pretend" snow (water + sodium polyacrylate polymer) with real snow from the park. 

9

NOV

Enjoy Arlington: Wiggling Worms

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of red earthworms in compost and slime worms (made of sodium alginate and calcium chloride).

12

OCT

Enjoy Arlington: Parts of a Plant

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of a kalanchoe plant. Discussions of body parts of a plant and their functions.

14

SEP

Enjoy Arlington: All About Water

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exploration of ice and water, and what it means for something to freeze, melt, float, or sink. Conversations of the scientific method. Practice of predicting and observing what happens.

31

AUG

Weekend Workshop for Families: Pollinators

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:05 PM - 4:55 PM

Exploration of flowers and fruit. Crafts: decorate a flower, create your own pollinator bug. Simulation of pollination.

3

AUG

Weekend Workshop for Families: All About Worms

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 4:05 PM - 4:55 PM

Exploration of worms in dirt and gummy "worms" in pudding.

25

MAY

Weekend Workshop for Families

Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM

The inaugural event of the Nature Network.

Exploration of animal movements, aloe vera plants, and the nature center.

Private Events

Have a Nature Network-themed birthday party for your child or other private event! I'd love to share some activities. Generally, participants would number no more than 20 children (ages 1 (walkers) to 10 years old), with at least a few adults available to help guide children through the activities, but I am happy to make adjustments as needed.

Please send me an email at arlingtonnaturenet@gmail.com, and we can discuss scheduling and cost.