New! Wild Side Wagon Ride
Sundays: September 20, October 4 and October 18
Start times: 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, or 4:15pm
(Families with children ages 6 and up) Take a 90-minute tractor ride with a park naturalist to parts of the wetland that are difficult to reach on foot. Look for and learn about songbirds, wildflowers, butterflies, and waterfowl. Stop for a snack at the observation platform, then ride to the junction of Barnyard Run and Dogue Creek. Meets at the South King's Highway entrance to the park. Reservations and prepayment required. $6

Friday, September 25
Café Cattail
7-9:30 pm. End your busy week with relaxing, nature-inspired music, poetry, and dance at this popular open-mike coffeehouse. Reservations required for performers only. FREE

Saturday, October 3
Birth of a Wetland
10am-noon. Walk along woodland streams with Park Manager Kevin Munroe tracing the wetland from its beginning in the Woodstone neighborhood down Barnyard Run to the marsh boardwalk. Cancelled if rain. Reservations required. $6

Sunday, October 18
Fly Tying
(12 yrs. and up), 12:30-2pm, Huntley Meadows Visitor Center, 703-768-2525. Wooly buggers and hare's ear nymphs, oh my! Learn the beautiful art of tying your own fishing flies from naturalist and fisherwoman Suzanne Malone. Reservations required. $12

Sunday, October 18
Historic Huntley Fall Open House
2-4pm, Historic Huntley. Tour a Federal-period country villa during this twice-a-year opportunity to go inside and learn about original owner Thomson Mason. Call 703-768-2525 (Huntley Meadows Visitor Center) for information. Sponsored by Friends of Historic Huntley. FREE

Saturday, October 24 or Sunday, October 25
Leathery Wings
1-3pm. See a vampire bat skull, a silhouette of the world's largest bat, and listen to bat calls during self-guided, hands-on activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. FREE

Sunday, October 25
Oh Deer!
(6 yrs. and up), 12:30-2pm. Families go off-trail to look for signs of deer activity, and talk about the importance of these animals. Reservations required. Cancelled if rain. $6

Saturday, November 14 or Sunday, November 15
Native American Theme
1-3pm. Travel back to a time when Native Americans populated this country. Self-guided displays and hands-on activities for families working together. FREE

Saturday, January 16
Flying Dragons
(Ages 11 and up), 5-6:30pm. Ever wonder how dragonflies can hover, dip, dive and zoom at 40 mph through the air? How many species live in Northern VA? What do they eat, who eats them and what kind of courtship do they have? The answers are all bizarre and surprising - you won't want to miss this colorful power point presentation made up entirely of photos taken in Fairfax County. We'll end with discussing how to create the perfect dragonfly pond on your own property. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required. $6

Friday, January 22
Café Cattail
7-9:30pm. Welcome to Huntley Meadows' very own coffeehouse! Enjoy a relaxing evening applauding our community's talents. Musicians, dancers and poets are encouraged to share their arts with a nature theme. Reservations required for performers only. Sponsored by FOHMP. FREE

Saturday, January 30
Native Wildflower Meadows
(Ages 11 and up), 5-6:30pm. Learn why the native grasses and wildflowers found in Virginia's meadows are so important and discover all the colorful wildlife that calls them home. We'll focus on what makes a Northern Virginia meadow and how to install, manage and enjoy your own "pocket" meadow in modern-day suburbia. Native meadow seed packets will be on sale. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $6

Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31
Winter Chills and Thrills
(5-10 yrs.), 1-3pm. What a fun way to spend a winter day. Discover how wildlife copes with winter by playing games, making crafts and exploring self-guided activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by FOHMP. $4/child

Monday, February 1
Winter Chills and Thrills
(5-10 yrs.), 1pm-3pm. What a fun way to spend the day off from school. Discover how wildlife copes with winter by playing games, making crafts and exploring self-guided activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by FOHMP. $4/child

Saturday, February 6
Winter Hike-Marvelous Meadows
(9 and up), 2-4pm. Chase the winter blues away with a two mile hike on the South King's Highway side of the park. Look for winter hawks and ducks, insect galls, and bluebirds and goldfinches, while exploring the park's native meadows. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $6

Saturday, February 20
Winter Hike-Wonderful Wetland Waterfowl
(9 and up), 2-4pm. Hike the boardwalk to the observation tower, looking for green-winged teals, pintails, swamp sparrows, winter wrens, and hopefully spot a bald eagle. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $6

All A-Buzz About Bees
(Ages 11 and up), 5-6:30pm. Learn all about the fascinating lives of our native bees, how they contribute to the human world and what you can do to attract them to your gardens. We'll discuss the best plans for bee boxes and how to build and care for them. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required. $6

Sunday, February 28
NEW! Bones
(9-12 yrs.)1-2:30pm. Every skeleton has a secret. Search clues left behind in animal skulls, teeth and bones. Parents welcome too! Reservations required. $6/person