Mason Neck State Park
The Eagle Eye
Volume II1, Issue ii
Points of interest:
Program Highlight: Pond Probe
♦ The park is open daily
from 8:00 am to dusk. Who knows what
monsters lurk in the
♦ Summer is peak butter-
fly time. Look for beau-
slimy depths of the frog
ties like the Monarch, pond... We do! Would you
Zebra Swallowtail, and like to find out too?
many others throughout
the park. At our weekly Pond
Probe, you can try your
♦ Wildflowers blooming hand at netting mysteri-
in the park include ous critters. Maybe you’ll
Common Milkweed, catch a transparent grass
Cardinal Flower, and shrimp, which jumps like
Pickerelweed.
popcorn in your net. Per-
♦ This year’s bald eagle haps you’ll be lucky
babies have now fledged enough to catch a young
and can be seen fishing
in Belmont Bay. Look
for them and their par-
ents on clear breezy
Park Manager’s Notes
days.
Well, the summer’s
finally arrived and the
wet weather seems to
have decreased. All our
trees are green and as the
grass growth slows, we’ve
been able to stretch our
mowing schedule.
Inside this issue:
We look forward to
Wildlife in the Park 2 each day and to our many
interpretive programs.
Citizen Science 2 We’ve started the Captain
John Smith Explorer’s
Picky Little Caterpillars 3
Camp, which teaches chil-
Campfires at Pohick 3 dren about nature and
our environment. Funded
How You Can Help 4
by a Chesapeake Bay
Mason Neck State
Gateways grant, it is a
Creature Feature 4 five week, ten session
camp that will reach over
Canoe and Kayak Trips 5 eighty children this sum-
mer. We’ve also started
July Programs 6
our Junior Ranger and
August Programs 6 Wee Ranger camps, sin-
gle-day camps that give
Living On The Edge 7 children hands-on experi-
ence exploring the natu-
Junior & Wee Rangers 8
turtle, although their
speed and agility may
surprise you.
Every Saturday after-
noon in July and August,
from 4:00 to about 5:00
pm, join our interpreters
at the large pond by our
car-top boat launch. Use
our nets and buckets to
explore all the wonderful
life under the surface,
from minnows and tad-
poles to odd and unusual
ral world. Our weekend
interpretive programs
have been very successful
as well, with a great deal
of interest in our eagle
watching, pond explora-
tion, and birding pro-
grams. We’ve also seen
an increase in canoe and
kayak rentals throughout
the week as visitors dis-
cover the joys of paddling
into Kanes Creek. If you
haven’t yet tried this ex-
perience, please give it a
shot this summer.
This summer we will
resurface the access road
to our wildlife fields. In
addition, our Visitor Cen-
ter expansion project is
moving forward and we
should meet potential
contractors in the near
future. This is very excit-
ing for us as the expan-
sion will also mean the
Summer 2009
critters. Check out that
ferocious-looking bug
stalking along the muddy
bottom. Who would
imagine it’s actually a
young dragonfly?
See you by the pond
this summer!
addition of restrooms to
our Visitor Center.
We’re also looking
forward to the Youth Con-
servation Corps program
beginning this month.
Fifteen youth will live in
the park for three weeks
and work on resource
management projects.
You will see these young
adults working hard on
our trails and installing
erosion control devices
around our frog pond, as
well as learning about
nature.
We appreciate your
interest in Mason Neck
and your support for the
park. If you have an in-
terest in helping establish
a friends group, please
contact the park office.
Have a great summer and
see you on the trails!
 PAGE 2
Wildlife in the Park
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Become a Citizen Scientist!
Here are lots of ways to
make a difference in nature and
have fun at the same time. You can
become a citizen scientist and con-
tribute to important studies of
birds, flowers, butterflies and more.
Some programs are already estab-
lished here at Mason Neck, some
you can do in your own back yard.
Try one of the following projects, or
check out http://
www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit
to discover even more suggestions.
1. Christmas Bird Count
(http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/)
Join birders across the
country tallying bird species on a
winter day. The National Audubon
Society holds several counts in our
area between December 14 and
January 5. The CBC is a fun way to
meet other birders and discover our
winter birds. Novice birders are
always teamed up with more experi-
enced folks, so don’t worry if you’ve
just started birding.
2. Breeding Bird Survey
(http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/)
This bird count takes place
in June and tallies our breeding
populations. The information gath-
ered on this count helps ornitholo-
gists see how bird populations may
be affected by factors such as pesti-
cides and habitat changes.
Monarch Butterfly
2. Virginia Bluebird Society’s
nest box trails
(http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/)
Here’s a way to get hands-
on involvement in providing habi-
tat for the eastern bluebird and
other small songbirds. The VBS
volunteers maintain nesting boxes
and tally eggs and chicks each
week during the birds’ breeding
season. The local bluebird popula-
tion has greatly increased thanks
to bluebird box programs.
3. Project Feederwatch
(http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/ )
Feederwatch can actually
be done from the comfort of your
own home. All winter long, partici-
pants count birds in an area
they’ve chosen, often at feeders in
their back yards. Their data is
used to compare trends in bird
population and distribution. This
winter, local feeder watchers were
treated to a massive irruption
(sporadic migration) of pine
siskins, who normally stay far to
the north and west of our area.
4. Project Budburst
(http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
citizen_science/budburst/)
If you enjoy flowers and
plants, this is a good project for
you. You’ll track the dates that
different trees and wildflowers
bloom in your area, and can com-
T H E E A G LE E Y E VOLUM E I I 1, I S S UE II
White-tailed Deer (fawn)
pare them with observations from
other regions. Data collected can help
indicate the effect of possible climate
change.
5. Frogwatch USA
(www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA )
Want to help monitor frog and
toad populations? Join this project
and check out ponds and streams near
your house each spring. You can
learn different frogs’ calls and dis-
cover when each species completes
hibernation and begins breeding.
6. NABA Butterfly Count
(http://www.naba.org/ )
The North American Butter-
fly Association’s summertime count is
a great reason to get outside and hunt
these colorful insects. Observations
gathered during the count help deter-
mine geographic ranges for different
species, and add to our growing
knowledge about monarchs, fritillar-
ies, and their many relatives. Contact
NABA to learn where and when this
summer’s counts are in our area.
Have fun!
PAGE 3
Picky Little Caterpillars
We may think our kids are
picky eaters, but did you know
that some caterpillars are even
choosier about what they will eat?
Many species eat only a single
kind of plant. That’s like eating
nothing but cheese your whole
childhood! Of course, while we
couldn’t get all the necessary nu-
trients from cheese alone, the cat-
erpillars’ limited diet does contain
everything they need to grow into
bright and beautiful butterflies.
One caterpillar whose
picky eating habits are familiar to
many people is the monarch but-
terfly. Monarch caterpillars eat
only milkweed plants. Other
picky eaters include the spiny cat-
erpillars of the great spangled
fritillary, which eat violet plants,
and caterpillars of the dramati-
cally striped zebra swallowtail,
which dine exclusively on leaves
of the paw paw tree. The exten-
sive groves of paw paws here in
Mason Neck State Park explain
Campfire Program at Pohick Bay Regional Park
Did you know MNSP has a
program partnership with Pohick
Bay Regional Park? Every Satur-
day night in July and August
(weather permitting), one of our
interpreters leads a campfire from
7pm to 8pm. We generally alter-
nate themes of nocturnal animals
or storytelling. Both are always
followed by tasty s’mores. What a
great way to enjoy the summer!
why zebra swallowtails are so
abundant in the park, although
you might never have seen them
in your own back yard. Of course,
not all caterpillars are quite so
picky. Caterpillars of the cabbage
white butterfly love to eat plants
in the cabbage and mustard fami-
lies, while caterpillars of black
swallowtails are fond of anything
in the parsley family, which in-
cludes carrots and Queen Anne’s
Lace as well as the parsley herb.
What does all this mean
for you? If you want to find a cer-
tain butterfly’s caterpillar, you
should start by looking for the
caterpillar’s favorite food, also
known as that butterfly’s host
plant. Or if you want to find a par-
ticular butterfly, know that if its
host plant doesn’t grow locally,
the butterfly isn’t likely to be
around either. Butterflies whose
caterpillars are extremely picky
can be severely hurt by habitat
loss, especially if what replaces it
is a shopping center or housing
development barren of the needed
host plant.
After the nocturnal animals
campfires, Pohick’s naturalist often
leads a night hike for participants.
If you’ve been thinking of camping
this summer, why not try Pohick
and come to one of our campfires as
well? We hold the campfire in the
field that’s right in the middle of the
campsite loop. Come join us!
T H E E A G LE E Y E VOLUM E I I 1, I S S UE II
So if you’re growing a but-
terfly garden this summer, do
make sure to include the proper
host plants, as well as flowering
plants to provide nectar. Good
references include butterfly field
guides, such as Jim P. Brock and
Kenn Kaufman’s Butterflies of
North America, and web sites
dedicated to wildlife or butterfly
gardening, such as http://
www.thebutterflysite.com/
gardening.shtml.
Also consider growing a
few plants to feed caterpillars
even if your garden isn’t specifi-
cally designed for butterflies.
Whether it’s wild plants like the
milkweed and Queen Anne’s Lace
mentioned above, or specialty
plants that you order from a nurs-
ery, your butterfly population will
love you for it. If you’re lucky, you
might even be able to watch a but-
terfly grow from egg to caterpillar
to pupa to adult right in your own
back yard. Good luck raising your
picky little caterpillars!
 VOLUM E I I 1, I S S UE II T H E E A G LE E Y E PAGE 4

How YOU Can Help Mason Neck State Park

1. Leave no trace. • Prevent your pet from get- • Observe wildlife while letting
ting in a dangerous fight it remain wild and undis-
• Discard your trash in
with another family’s pet. turbed.
proper receptacles.
• Carry a plastic bag so your
• Take home everything that
pet leaves no trace as well. 4. Become a volunteer.
you brought into the park.
• Leave the park cleaner than • Lead our canoe and kayak
when you arrived! trips.
3. Refrain from picking fruit, • Help out in the Visitor Cen-
flowers or other plants, and ter.
2. Control your pet on a leash
from harassing wildlife.
at all times. • Lead or help with interpre-
• Make sure everyone that tive programs, such as hikes.
• Keep your pet safe from
visits after you can enjoy
wildlife, and wildlife safe • Assist at our spring and fall
the same things you did.
from your pet. festivals.
• Leave the flowers to turn
• Make sure your pet stays Let’s keep our park
into seeds, which will feed
away from steep drop-offs
and restricted areas.
birds and other animals. beautiful!

Creature Feature: Saddleback Caterpillar

Did you know that some
caterpillars can actually sting?
Certain kinds of caterpillars have
stinging spines along their bodies.
The saddleback caterpillar is one of
these stinging caterpillars. As you
can see from the picture below, it
has spines at both ends as well as
along its sides. If you touch a sad-
dleback caterpillar, you will feel a
painful burning sensation that can
last for a couple hours. Ow!
what it eats. The photo here shows
one on a cattail leaf; it also likes to
eat oak and maple leaves, grass,
blueberry leaves, cabbage and
many other plants. It grows to
about three centimeters long. Its
sting is very potent and painful.
This is definitely a “look but don’t
touch” animal!
You tend to see saddle-
back caterpillars from August
through October, in fields, forests,
gardens and also at the edge of
wetlands. The one in the photo
was found in the marsh along Bay
View Trail. Keep an eye out for
them in your back yard as well as
here at the park!

The saddleback is a slug

caterpillar, which means it has lit-
tle sucker-like feet. This caterpillar
can crawl straight up the walls of a
glass container, so if you want to
keep one captive for observation,
make sure you have the top se-
curely fastened! Its adult form is a
fuzzy-bodied brown moth. The
moth no longer has stinging spines;
those are shed when the caterpillar
pupates.

The saddleback is very

easy to recognize in the wild—its
brown ends, abdomen with a bright
green saddle, and of course the
spiny lobes. It isn’t too picky about
PAGE 5 T H E E A G LE E Y E V O LU M E I I 1 , I S S U E II

Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Expeditions

Holiday Trips (morning only)
Guided Canoe & May 10- Mother’s Day
Canoe & Kayak
Kayak Mothers free with paying child!
Rentals
Expeditions June 21- Father’s Day
Fathers free with paying child!
Rent a canoe or kayak and explore
Weather Information Kanes Creek on your own. Canoes,
Registration
Trips will be held rain or shine. solo kayaks, and tandem kayaks are
All participants must pre-register You may reschedule due to weather available first-come, first-served.
at the Park Environmental Center, conditions; however, refunds will Rentals begin as early as 10 am,
either in person or by phone (703- not be made at short notice unless
339-2380). Payment must be made the guide cancels the trip. Guides and must be returned by 5 pm.
at the time the reservation is made. will assess the weather at the time
Cancellations must be made 7 of the tour. If it is unsafe, the trip Rates
days prior to the trip, otherwise will be canceled and your money
refunds will not be granted. will be refunded. Canoes Kayaks Tandem
Kayaks
Morning Trips Expedition Guides $12/hr $10/hr $15/hr
9-11:30 a.m.
All trips are led by a certified canoe $35/4hrs $35/4hrs $45/4hr
This 2.5 hour kayak or canoe trip is and kayak guide. The guides will $50/4+hr $50/4+hr $60/4+hr
offered on Saturdays and Sundays provide safety information and
from April through October. Max of some paddling demonstrations be-
fore the tour. Remember, you are Age Requirements
10 persons per trip.
responsible for paddling your canoe ♦ Must be at least 18 years old
Evening Trips or kayak. All trips are provided as
with a drivers license or other
6-8:30 p.m. staffing permits.
picture ID to rent a canoe or
This 2.5 hour kayak or canoe trip is Prices kayak.
offered on Saturdays from May Morning Trips $15 per person ♦ Children 13—17 years old must
through October. Max of 10 persons Afternoon Trips $15 per person be accompanied by a legal adult
per trip.
Twilight Trips $20 per person** 18 years or older.
Twilight Trips Group rate $9 per person* ♦ Children under 13 are not al-
Dusk (see below)
*Group rates are for parties of 5 or lowed in a solo kayak, and must
This twilight kayak or canoe trip is more on morning or afternoon trips. be accompanied by a legal adult
offered one Friday evening each
**No group rate on twilight trips. in a canoe or tandem kayak.
month. You must be 18 years or
older to participate in this trip. Max ♦ Children under age 6 are not
Age Requirements
of 10 persons per trip. allowed in canoes or kayaks.
Children 14 to 17 years old may
Dates: paddle solo in a canoe or kayak, but
April 10 6:30—9 p.m. an adult must accompany the trip.
May 8 7—9:30 p.m. Children 13 and under must paddle
with an adult in each canoe or tan-
June 5 7:30—10 pm
dem kayak.
July 3 7:30—10 pm
Children under the age of 6 are not
August 7 7—9:30 p.m. allowed in canoes or kayaks.
September 4 6—8:30 p.m. Twilight tours are for ages 18 and Explore Kanes Creek like never before!
up only.
October 2 5:30—8 p.m.
 PAGE 6
SATURDAYS
10:30-11:30 am Majestic Eagles
Look for bald eagles, osprey
and red-tailed hawks with
us, and discover their fasci-
nating lives. Meet at the Visitor Cen-
ter.
12:00-1:00 pm Makin’ Tracks
Identify tracks from ani-
mals native to Mason
Neck, and then make some
of your own. Meet in the Picnic Area.
1:30-3:30 pm Lost and Found GPS
Adventures
Ever use a Global Posi-
tioning System? Come and
learn how to navigate us-
ing these small hand-held electronic
devices, and then find hidden caches
around the park. Meet at the Visitor
Center.
August Programs
SATURDAYS
10:30-11:30 am Frog of the Wild
Come join us on this hike
as we listen and look for
frogs and toads. How many
species can you identify? Meet at the
Picnic Area.
12:00-12:45 pm Makin’ Tracks
Identify tracks from ani-
mals native to Mason Neck,
and then make some of
your own. Meet in the Picnic Area.
1:00-1:30 pm Skins and Skulls
Check out real furs, skulls
and bones of animals that
live in the park. Do you
know what a fox skull looks like? Meet
in the Picnic Area.
2:00-3:30 pm Lost and Found GPS
Adventures
Ever use a Global Position-
ing System? Come and
learn how to navigate using
these small hand-held electronic de-
vices, and then find hidden caches
T H E E A G LE E Y E
July Programs
4:00-5:00 pm Pond Probe
Join our scientific investi-
gation. We’ll have dip nets
and buckets available for
you to catch minnows, crayfish and
more as we check for life in our pond.
Meet at the large pond by the car-top
boat launch.
5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles
Look for bald eagles, osprey
and red-tailed hawks with
us, and discover their fasci-
nating lives. Meet at the Visitor Cen-
ter.
SUNDAYS
12:00-12:30 pm Got Butter?
Come make and eat deli-
cious fresh butter with us.
You’ll love the pure creamy
taste, just like George Mason’s family
around the park. Meet at the Visitor
Center.
4:00-4:45 pm Pond Patrol
Join our scientific investi-
gation. We’ll have dip nets
and buckets available for
you to catch minnows, crayfish and
more as we check for life in our pond.
Meet at the large pond by the car-top
boat launch.
5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles
Look for bald eagles, osprey
and red-tailed hawks with
us, and discover their fasci-
nating lives. Meet at the Visitor Cen-
ter.
SUNDAYS
12:00-12:30 pm Got Butter?
Come make and eat deli-
cious fresh butter with us.
You’ll love the pure creamy
taste, just like George Mason’s family
might have enjoyed. Meet at the Pic-
nic Area.
V O LU M E I I 1 , I S S U E II
might have enjoyed. Meet at the Pic-
nic Area.
1:00-2:00 pm Birding by the Bay
Join this walk to look for
songbirds, waterfowl and
of course the bald eagle.
Meet at the trailhead for the Bay
View Trail.
3:00-4:00 pm Buggin’ Out
Help us identify some of
the creepy-crawly insects
that are living in Mason
Neck State Park. Then use pipe
cleaners and other supplies to create
your own bugs. Meet in the Picnic
Area.
5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles
Look for bald eagles, os-
prey and red-tailed hawks
with us, and discover their
fascinating lives. Meet at the Visitor
Center.
12:45-1:45 pm Buggin’ Out
Help us identify some of the
creepy-crawly insects that
live in Mason Neck State
Park. Then use pipe cleaners and
other supplies to create your own
bugs. Meet in the Picnic Area.
2:00-3:00 pm Barkin’ Up a Tree
Do you know how to iden-
tify the most common trees
at Mason Neck? Come
make crayon rubbings of bark and
leaves with us to help you remember.
Meet in the Picnic Area.
3:30-4:30 pm Hey, What’s That?
There are so many exciting
things to see at Mason
Neck State Park. Bring
your sense of wonder as we explore
what is found growing and living here.
Meet in the Picnic Area.
5:00-6:00 pm Majestic Eagles
Look for bald eagles, osprey
and red-tailed hawks with
us, and discover their fasci-
nating lives. Meet at the Visitor Cen-
ter.
 V O LU M E I I 1 , I S S U E II
Living on the Edge: Creating Wildlife Habitat
Did you know that the area
between two different ecosystems,
such as a marsh and a forest, is
very important to many creatures?
Edge habitat, as the transitional
area is often named, allows animals
to take advantage of both ecosys-
tems: the deep cover of the forest,
and the lush plants of the marsh, in
this case. Although not all animals
will benefit from increased edge
habitat, you can generally increase
the wildlife in your yard by encour-
aging edge habitat.
The biggest benefit in edge
habitat is the diversity of plants.
When creating edge, you’re aiming
for a gradual transition, not just a
sudden change from meadow to for-
est. Instead of having the typical
suburban lawn going straight to tall
trees at the edge of your property,
mitigate the change by planting low
shrubbery, banks of wildflowers,
and so forth. Songbirds and many
other small critters will love it—and
of course so will their predators
such as foxes and snakes. The
kinds of animals that benefit from
edge habitat are generalists, who
will take advantage of the varied
habitat. Deer, turkeys, squirrels,
and many insect-eating birds will
enjoy the opportunity to use two
adjacent habitats plus the transi-
tion zone in between.
However, some birds might
be at increased risk of nest preda-
tion and parasitism in edge habi-
T H E E A G LE E Y E
tats. Predators like blue jays, crows,
and raccoons may find small birds’
nests more easily in low shrubby
cover like an edge habitat offers.
Nest parasites, too, like the brown-
headed cowbird, can find nests more
easily in an edge area and sneak in
their own eggs to take advantage of
the resident birds’ work.
When you’re considering
whether and how to take advantage
of edge habitat in your yard, first
decide what animals you’d like to
encourage. Specialist animals prefer
one ecosystem, where they find
plenty of cover and diversity without
the need for a second adjacent eco-
system. Bobwhites are happiest in
bushy meadow, for example. Some
songbirds need deep forest for their
nesting habitat and wouldn’t be
much helped by an expanded transi-
tion zone between forest and
meadow. But if you want the great-
est diversity of wildlife possible, cre-
ating edge habitat might be the way
to go.
Also consider the size of
your property when you ponder edge
habitat. Most folks’ back yards, es-
pecially when they’re surrounded
only by other back yards, aren’t
large enough for two different eco-
PAGE 7
systems plus a transition zone. You
still could create an edge-like diver-
sity of plants, though, by creating
open sunny areas as well as groups
of mixed shrubs and taller trees.
If you’re lucky enough to
own several acres of land, however,
or your small yard happens to abut
an expansive forest, you could in-
deed create true edge habitat. You
may already have found it difficult
to maintain an ordinary lawn close
to the forest—not enough sun at the
edge, or too many branches and
leaves dropping frequently. Creat-
ing a mantle or transition zone
would be perfect for you in this
case.
Plant some native shrubs
like mountain laurel, witch hazel,
or spicebush, along with wildflowers
that transition out from the shady
area into your sunny lawn. See the
Virginia Department of Natural
Resources’ lists of native plants and
tips for growing them: http://
www.dcr.virginia.gov/
natural_heritage/
nativeplants.shtml. Also keep in
mind that an irregular line or bor-
der creates more edge in a given
area than a straight line or even a
simple arc. You could feather your
border in and out, keeping some tall
trees next to the cleared area, but
fading the edge of the forest back
here and there with shorter shrubs.
Have fun discovering new kinds of
plants and watching the wildlife in
your edge habitat!
 V O LU M E I I 1 , I S S U E II
Junior Rangers and Wee Rangers
Looking for a special chance
to get your kids out into na-
ture this summer? Sign up
for our Junior Rangers or
Wee Rangers programs!
Call the Visitor Center (703-
339-2380) to register.
Junior Rangers
(ages 7-10)
$50.00 fee per child, per session,
includes all materials, instruction,
a midmorning snack, and the
Junior Rangers tee shirt, patch
and certificate of completion. Par-
ents should drop off their children
at 9:00 am, and return at 4:00 pm
for family campfire. Campfire con-
cludes at 5:00 pm.
July 8th - Wet and Wig-
gly: Have you ever looked
through a microscope at the
tiny creatures living in pond
water? We’ll start with
these smallest of animals,
then climb the aquatic food
chain as we explore how
everything in the natural
world is connected. We’ll
play games, make crafts,
hike and even catch fish and
other critters from the pond.
July 15th – Buggin’ Out:
There are hundreds of dif-
ferent types of insects at
Mason Neck State Park. We
T H E E A G LE E Y E
will find and identify many
of these creepy crawlers and
discover their fascinating
lives through games, crafts,
hikes, and more!
July 22nd – Mammal Sa-
fari: Camouflaged, cau-
tious, and under cover—let’s
discover some elusive mam-
mals on Mason Neck. As we
follow their fascinating
signs, how many mammals
can we find? We’ll also enjoy
mammal-themed activities,
games and crafts.
Wee Rangers
(ages 4-6)
Adult must attend with each
child. $10.00 fee per child, per
session, includes all materials,
instruction and certificate of
achievement. Children who com-
plete all three sessions may attend
the free graduation campfire, and
will receive a Wee Rangers t-shirt
and patch. Each session starts at
11:00 and ends at 12:30 pm.
PAGE 8
June 30th - Frogs and
Friends. How many rep-
tiles and amphibians are
there hiding all around us?
We’ll take a look at some of
our captive creatures and
then search for more.
Through hikes, games, and
crafts, we’ll discover the
frogs, turtles, snakes and
more that call Mason Neck
home.
July 9th - Butterfly bud-
dies. Have you ever met a
butterfly? Come explore the
secret world of these daz-
zling creatures. We’ll enjoy
hikes, games, and crafts
about butterflies’ lives.
July 28th - Fuzzy and
Furry. Their fur may be
soft, but their teeth are
sharp. Discover with us the
incredible lives of mammals
on Mason Neck. You’ll love
themed hikes, fun games,
and crafts to take home.
August 5th - Graduation
Campfire. Children who
complete all three sessions
may bring their families to
make s’mores around our
campfire. Free!