It’s fun to spend a day at Machicomoco State Park, but did you know the park offers classes tailored to you and children, too?
Programs are broad enough to include children or adults, and they’re a wonderful way to incorporate fellowship with enjoying one of Virginia’s newest and most scenic state parks.
Machicomoco State Park at 3601 Timberneck Farm Road in Hayes on the Middle Peninsula is open from 8 a.m. until dusk.
Check the calendar for what’s coming up, but here are some classes to consider in May:
Design at Dusk: Wildlife Wired: This one-hour, ranger-led program that starts at 7:30 p.m. on May 20 is open to sculptors of all levels. The handmade designs reflect the wildlife found in the park. A $10 fee covers all supplies. Preregistration required.
National Kids to Parks Day: The park offers three family friendly activities — Trek for Tracks at 10 a.m., Junior Ranger: Discovery Digs at 3 p.m., and Junior Ranger: Tree ID at 5 p.m. Choose one or all three. No extra fee required other than standard admission.
Junior Ranger: Discovery Digs: Earn a Junior Ranger patch on May 27 by becoming a historic and cultural steward of the park. The one-hour program that starts at 4 p.m. includes mock artifact discovery dig. No extra fee required other than standard admission.
Paint in the Park: With so much natural beauty and plentiful wildlife, scope out your favorite subject and create your own masterpiece. Painters of all levels will enjoy this one-hour class led by a ranger. A $10 fee covers all supplies; preregistration required.
Pollinator Investigator: For kids 6 and up, find out what all the buzz is about on May 28 in a one-hour program that begins at 10 a.m. No extra fee required other than standard admission.
That’s just a sampling of classes available. Others include fashioning fishnets from cordage, an evening “Owl Prowl,” birding for beginners, guided hikes and more. Classes are repeated frequently throughout the summer.
A standard vehicle can enter the park for $5. Parking and admission for 12 months to all state parks is $85 annually.
Call Machicomoco State Park at 804-642-2419 to preregister for any class.