Calendar

Wild Exploration

This summer, let your imagination run wild as you uncover the wonders of the natural world right in your own backyard! Explore interactive displays and immerse yourself in the fun of classic lawn games that showcase the diversity of flora and fauna. Challenge your friends and family to a game of giant Jenga, Cornhole, or Connect Four. As you play, you’ll learn valuable lessons in the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of conservation. From buzzing bees to chirping crickets, you’ll marvel at the intricate web of life that surrounds us.

Turtle Census 2024

The Virginia Living Museum Education and Herpetology staff began a multi-year research project to monitor the population changes of freshwater turtles in a local watershed over time.

Every year in June and July we set out live-capture, baited hoop nets in Deer Park Lake to catch and survey as many turtles as possible. VLM Staff and volunteers gather all of the turtles that are collected in these nets and spend the morning identifying the species and sex of the turtles, cleaning the shell to remove any stuck-on algae, and using a special marking system to determine whether each turtle is new for the year or a recapture from previous years.