SKY MEADOWS STATE PARK

11012 Edmonds Lane Phone: 540-592-3556

Delaplane, VA 20144 www.virginiastateparks.gov

SPRING PROGRAM and EVENT CALENDAR

April & May 2010

Saturday, April 3

Bird Walk from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is partnering with the Northern Virginia Bird Club for a free bird walk at Sky
Meadows State Park. All ages are welcome. The park is known among birders for its large colony of Red-headed
Woodpeckers, and its diversity of birdlife is part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail (Site MFR03). Please bring
binoculars.

Saturday, April 10

Beautiful Birds! From 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Take a walk with Bill Brown from the Audubon Society of Northern
Virginia. Learn about bird identification and find some of the birds that reside at Sky Meadows.

Saturday, April 17

Astronomy for Everyone from 7:45 to 10:45 PM

Find out about U.S. space research, take a sky tour, and look for deep space objects through large telescopes. This
program is offered in partnership with the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, the Albert Einstein Planetarium, and the Northern
Virginia Astronomy Club. If the sky is cloudy, only the NASA/JPL program will be presented and the park gates will close
at 9:00 PM. Bring your children ½ hour early for a special “Junior Astronomer” activity. Parking: $5/vehicle

Sunday, April 18

Flutter By, Butterfly from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Look for butterflies with volunteer naturalist Mary & Scott. Enjoy the brilliance and variety of Sky Meadows’
butterflies. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. (2 miles) Fee: $2/person

Music in the Park from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Enjoy a picnic in the park as you listen to local musicians play a variety of music reflecting the traditions and history of this
area.

Naturalist Stroll from 4:00 to 6:00 PM

Take a casual walk through the park with Volunteer Naturalists Mary Alexander & Steve Malone. Enjoy the park
for its natural beauty as you look for signs of native plants & wildlife. Bring your guides and see what you can find. Bring
water and wear comfortable shoes.

Saturday, April 24

Life on the Farm from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Watch as history comes to life and see what the Settle family might have been doing on their farm in the mid-
1800s. Join volunteers in historic attire as they prepare our 19th century garden for planting, make rope and clean the horse-
tack.

Astronomy DAY from 3:00 to 11:00 PM

Come see the sky like never before and find out about U.S. space research while looking for deep space objects
through dozens of large telescopes with the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club. Learn about the day and night sky and get
answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask from our experienced astronomers as they share their extensive
knowledge. Solar observing will begin at 3PM and special presentations will be offered during the day. If the sky is cloudy,
only the NASA/JPL program will be presented and the park gates will close at 9:00 PM. Bring your children ½ hour early
for a special “Junior Astronomer” activity. For all ages and interest levels. Parking: $5/vehicle
Sunday, April 25

Meet the Beekeepers! from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Enjoy learning the art of Apiculture (AKA Beekeeping). Meet Doug & Ramona Morris our local beekeepers. This
month learn about Sky Meadows Bee Yard. See a demonstration of hive equipment and an apiarist tools. Also, witness the
installation of our hives.

Nature Photography Workshop from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

A hands-on class emphasizing photograph composition and artistry, how to use settings on the camera, and incorporating
tools for beautiful nature photography. Matthew Asai has been an avid photographer for over 35 years. As a volunteer state
park photographer, he has photographed events and facilities at seven state parks in the Northern Virginia. His work has been
published in Virginia Wildlife, The Bay Journal, Free Lance Star and the Virginia State Park E-news. His photographs can be
viewed at www.mattasai.com

Saturday, May 1

Wildlife of Virginia from 3:30 to 5:00 PM

Join a naturalist from the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center to meet some live wildlife up close. Find out what their needs
are and what makes them so special. Look at fur, skulls and skeletons of wildlife that live in and around Sky Meadows.
Fee: $2/person

Civil War Encampment from 10:00 Am to 5:00 PM

Get a glimpse into the daily life of a Confederate infantryman and cavalryman at the 10th VA Encampment.
Interact with the soldiers as they re-enact a recruitment drive and enlistment ceremony, perform unit drills, and demonstrate
signal flags and weapons usage.

Sunday, May 2

Civil War Encampment from 10:00 Am to 5:00 PM

Get a glimpse into the daily life of a Confederate infantryman and cavalryman at the 10th VA Encampment.
Interact with the soldiers as they re-enact a recruitment drive and enlistment ceremony, perform unit drills, and demonstrate
signal flags and weapons usage.

Music in the Park from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Enjoy a picnic in the park as you listen to local musicians play a variety of music reflecting the traditions and history of this
area.

Saturday, May 8

Quilt Making from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

For children and their parents. Join volunteers from the Fauquier County Quilters to see how quilts are made.
And make a lovely card combining quilt designs, fabric, and paper to give to Mom for Mother's Day.

Primitive Camping: What you need and how to use it from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Welcome to the great outdoors and camping basics. This workshop will teach you what you need; from tent to
kitchen. You will learn how to set-up a campsite using proper Leave-No-Trace skills, and how to pitch a tent. Food
storage and wildlife safety will also be covered. Fee: $5/person; $10/family

Astronomy for Everyone from 8:00 to 11:00 PM

Find out about U.S. space research, take a sky tour, and look for deep space objects through large telescopes. This
program is offered in partnership with the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, the Albert Einstein Planetarium, and the Northern
Virginia Astronomy Club. If the sky is cloudy, only the NASA/JPL program will be presented and the park gates will close
at 9:00 PM. Bring your children ½ hour early for a special “Junior Astronomer” activity. Parking: $5/vehicle

Saturday, May 15

Fantastic Forests from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Join Fauquier County Forester Joe Rossetti to learn about the forest ecosystem and why it is so important to our
health.
 Life on the Farm from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Watch as history comes to life and join volunteers in historic attire as they plant the 19th Century garden with
herbs and veggies, cook, white wash the fence and clean the horse-tack.

Sunday, May 16

Flutter By, Butterfly from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Look for butterflies with volunteer naturalist Mary & Scott. Enjoy the brilliance and variety of Sky Meadows’
butterflies. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. (2 miles) Fee: $2/person

Music in the Park from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Enjoy a picnic in the park as you listen to local musicians play a variety of music reflecting the traditions and history of this
area.

Naturalist Stroll from 4:00 to 6:00 PM

Take a casual stroll through the park with volunteer naturalist Mary & Scott. Enjoy the park for its natural beauty as
you look for signs of native plants and wildlife. Bring your guides and see what you can find. Bring water and wear
comfortable shoes. Fee: $2/person

Saturday, May 22

Hiking for Beginners: Planning Your Day Hikes from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
This workshop will teach you how to get started hiking including: what supplies you should bring, what you should
expect to see, and what gear beginner hikers may need; especially hiking boots, socks and backpacks. You will be
given a few common sense hiking safety guidelines; things you need to know before you go very far beyond your local tree-
lined hills. Fee: $5/person; $10/family.

Sunday, May 23

Meet the Beekeepers! from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Enjoy learning the art of Apiculture (AKA Beekeeping). Meet Doug & Ramona Morris our local beekeepers. This
month find out if the Queen has been accepted and what the life cycle of a worker bee is. Also, learn how bees find
pollen, nectar, and the way home. Begin to check for pests like varroa and hive beetles.

Importance of land Conservation from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

Todd Benson from the Piedmont Environmental Council will be at the park to talk about land conservation and why it is
important to save open space for people & wildlife alike.

Saturday and Sunday, May 29th and 30th

Delaplane Strawberry Festival from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Celebrate spring and the region’s strawberry season with live music, arts and crafts, old-fashioned kids’ games, a
petting zoo, hay rides, historical exhibits, a silent auction, lots of great food and fresh strawberries and strawberry
sundaes. Enjoy a day or weekend of good old country fun. Admission $15/car in advance and $20/car at the gate.

Mount Bleak House Tours

Tour our historic Mount Bleak House, built in 1843, and find out what life might have been like for a middle-
class farm family during the mid-1800s. The house will be open for guided tours between 1:00 and 4:00 PM on
weekends and holidays, starting April 18.

Children in Nature Program TimeTravelers Program