Piscataway Park

10/30/2026

👻It's not a ghost, it's a ranger! And they're trying to tell you something....

Come see the fort in a new light in our special evening program, "Fort Washington by Candlelight."

📍Meet our rangers at the visitor center circle, tomorrow at 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight. 🔦

🎃This is not a ghost tour or paranormal investigation; it will focus on stories of people that once lived and served Fort Washington.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EBwemrUVg/

NPS Photo/C. Kosasih

10/24/2026

🎃With Halloween in 6 days, how about a creepy fact about a creepy-crawly that lives in Piscataway Park?🕸️

You may have seen clay-like tubes all over the park, on a tree or on the side of a building. They are pipe-organ mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum) “nests”. If you've seen a black iridescent wasp flying around this summer, that's it!

These nests are unassuming on the outside, but have you ever wondered what’s inside?

🕷️SPIDERS! Paralyzed, of course.

Pipe-organ mud daubers are a type of spider wasp. So called because they capture and sting small spiders, paralyzing them. The wasp stuffs the paralyzed spider into one of these "nest" tubes where one of their eggs is waiting. Then they seal off the tube. Once the wasp larva hatches, it has a buffet of spiders available, pre-prepared! What you see here in the ranger's hand is the remnants of a removed "nest" tube, paralyzed spiders and all.

The wasps spend the winter as larva, eating spiders. They emerge as adults late spring, early summer.

Luckily for larger animals enjoying Piscataway Park, pipe-organ mud daubers are non-aggressive, solitary insects.

Do you know any other creepy facts about Maryland’s amazing native insects?

NPS Photo/M. Woollard

Park

10/24/2026

🌇Enjoy the fort after dark on this special tour.🌇

Join our rangers for a guided tour on 10/31 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Visitor Center Circle.

Learn what life was like for the soldiers that were garrisoned at Fort Washington in the early 1860s. This will be a guided tour around the fort; some parts of the fort will be inaccessible due to safety. Bring a flashlight and comfortable walking shoes.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EBwemrUVg/

🎃This is not a ghost tour or paranormal investigation; it will focus on stories of people that once lived and served Fort Washington.

NPS Photo/C. Kosasih

10/21/2026

🐦 Upcoming birding program! 🐦

Join us this Saturday, October 24th at 10:00 AM for a birding walk at Accokeek Creek Boardwalk. A park ranger will lead this 45-minute program to explore the avian life of Accokeek Creek.

Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. The walk will be on flat terrain over about a quarter mile out and back. All ages welcome! We will provide some binoculars for little kids.

The road to the trailhead is on the right-hand side of Bryant Point Road on the way to National Colonial Farm. Follow the dirt path to the parking lot. We’ll see you there!

NPS photo/A. Calta

10/11/2026

Get ready to forge some new memories at this year's fall festival! 🔥

Mark your calendars for October 17! The National Park Service will be hosting a fall festival at Oxon Hill Farm from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The free event will feature a collection of fall-themed activities for all ages, including a blacksmith!

For more information and a schedule of events please visit: https://go.nps.gov/fall-festival

NPS Photo/ C. LaBarge & J. Alvares

10/10/2026

Join a park ranger tomorrow for our new "Nuts About Black Walnuts! Ink Making and Art Drop-In" program!

🗓️ Oct 11th, at 9:30 AM
📍Fort Washington Park
✅Free, no registration required
⏰Drop-in program. Join at any time!

Black walnut trees are a staple of Maryland’s ecosystem. The tree and nut have many uses from shelter and medicine to food and art! Join a ranger and help them make black walnut ink. Then let your creativity shine painting outdoors with that very same ink!

We suggest wearing something you don’t mind staining as black walnut ink is difficult to remove and stains easily. This is a drop-in program so feel free to join anytime during the activity.

Learn more: https://go.nps.gov/1f2w6m

NPS Photo/Rock Creek Park, M. Woollard

10/07/2026

What better way to start the cozy season than joining us for a brand-new interactive ranger program?

Come to our site for "Nuts About Black Walnuts! Ink Making and Art Drop-In"
🗓️ Oct 11th, at 9:30 AM
📍Fort Washington Park
✅Free, no registration required
⏰Drop-in program. Join at any time!

Black walnut trees are a staple of Maryland’s ecosystem. The tree and nut have many uses from shelter and medicine to food and art! Join a ranger and help them make black walnut ink. Then let your creativity shine painting outdoors with that very same ink!

We suggest wearing something you don’t mind staining as black walnut ink is difficult to remove and stains easily. This is a drop-in program so feel free to join anytime during the activity.

Learn more:https://go.nps.gov/1f2w6m

NPS Photo/M. Haddock, KSU, Tallgrass Prairie National Reserve

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

🎆It's almost time for It Took a Nation: The Revolutionary History of Marshall Hall! 🎆

Join us at Marshall Hall tomorrow, October 3, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm to explore the story of the Marshall family and their connection to the American Revolution.

Meet living historians, discover local history, and take part in a wreath-laying and salute honoring Thomas Hanson Marshall and Dr. Thomas Marshall at 1 PM.

We hope to see you there!

For more information➡️https://www.facebook.com/share/1EfCcfwuBZ/

NPS Photo/Laurel Brodsky

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

09/28/2026

Ever wondered about the graves at Marshall Hall?

On October 3, you’ll have the chance to learn their stories.

Join us for “It Took a Nation: The Revolutionary History of Marshall Hall” and learn about Revolutionary War veterans Captain Thomas Hanson Marshall and Doctor Thomas Marshall, who once called Marshall Hall home.

Enjoy living historians and exhibitors from 11 am to 2 pm and join us for a wreath laying at 1 pm.

For more information➡️ https://www.facebook.com/share/1EfCcfwuBZ/

NPS Photo/ C. Swensen

09/26/2026

Don’t be sheepish...join us for a fun filled day at the Oxon Hill Farm Fall Festival!

Mark your calendars for October 17! The National Park Service will be hosting a fall festival at Oxon Hill Farm from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The free event will feature a collection of fall-themed activities for all ages, including a sheepdog demonstration!

For more details and a full schedule of activities, please visit: https://go.nps.gov/fall-festival

NPS Photo/C. LaBarge and J. Alvares