Rockwood Nature Center

09/24/2023

Rockwood Nature Center will be open today, from noon to 5pm.
Happy fall! We are looking forward to watching the leaves change on our trails.

09/22/2023

Attention: Rockwood Nature Center will be closed tomorrow, September 23rd, due to the inclement weather forecast. Stay safe and dry out there, !

09/22/2023

We are open from noon to 5pm today, come by and visit Gee the woodland box turtle in his new enclosure! He is enjoying all the space and opportunities for digging. 🐢
Did you know? Box turtles are opportunistic omnivores, and can fill the role of a scavenger in an ecosystem. They have a wide variety of diet items, ranging from plant matter to insects and other prey items. We feed our captive box turtles a complex and specialized diet to ensure their physical and mental health.

09/19/2023

It is baby copperhead season in Virginia! We have a large population of venomous eastern copperheads here in Rockwood Park. Please stay on marked trails and keep your pets leashed, as copperheads have incredible camouflage.
A newborn copperhead is called a “neonate”, not a hatchling, because copperheads give live birth instead of laying eggs. The snake pictured is only a few days old, and was about the size of an Oreo cookie! This individual was found near Rockwood Nature Center by staff members. Note the bright yellow tail, used by the snake as a caudal lure to attract prey. Contrary to popular belief, neonate copperheads are capable of envenomating with precision just like an adult copperhead, which means that they are just as medically significant as an adult snake and should be regarded with caution and respect.

09/15/2023

09/13/2023

On Saturday, Sept. 23, take advantage of FREE parking, volunteer opportunities, and special park events at your parks. Check out this resource for five ways to celebrate National Public Lands Day: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/public-lands-day

09/13/2023

Check out these claws!

Have you ever wondered why some turtles have long nails on their front paws?
Males of some species of aquatic turtles, including sliders and cooters, use their long nails in courting rituals. The ritual consists of the male turtle “fluttering” or “tickling” the female turtle’s face with his claws. Clyde, our eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna), is pictured here proudly showing off his long nails! 💅🏻

09/08/2023

Have you been inside of the nature center recently? We have some fun new exhibits and hands-on activities for the whole family to check out. Plan your visit today!

08/28/2023

Our newly redecorated children’s corner is looking especially cozy on this rainy day. Don’t worry—the plastic animals, stacking sticks, and hand-painted table are still here (they’re just out of frame).

Stop by the Nature Center Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. to check it out.

📚✨🌳

08/25/2023

Remember to stay alert on the trails at Rockwood Park! Keep small children close to you and keep pets leashed. Nature Center staff spotted this young eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) on the Yellow Trail a few moments ago and escorted it to safety.

08/22/2023

First monarch caterpillar sightings of the season in our Monarch Waystation!

08/18/2023

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Fall 2023 registration opens this coming Monday, Aug. 21!

To register, visit www.chesterfield.gov/Parks

08/17/2023

Hammerhead worms are once again making their way to backyards across the United States. They were most recently spotted in Washington, D.C and Virginia but have been around for some time. While they may look harmless, it’s important to note that they secrete toxins that could be dangerous to humans and pets.

Theresa Dellinger, an entomologist with the Virginia Tech Insect Identification Lab provides tips for what to do if you encounter one. ⤵️
https://news.vt.edu/articles/2023/08/hammerhead_worms_expert.html

08/14/2023

Home sweet home! Norbert the eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is settling into his new 120 gallon enclosure and is officially back on exhibit.

08/11/2023

Reminder: Rockwood Nature Center returns to Fall hours beginning the week of August 21.

08/08/2023

📢 Be part of our survey! As part of Chesterfield County’s update of its Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan, we want to understand the activities and opinions of county residents about county parks and recreation.

Even if you don’t use county parks and recreation facilities or services, your opinion is valuable and important. Your participation in this survey is voluntary.

‼Survey Here: https://tinyurl.com/CCPR-Survey

This survey will close on Thursday, Aug. 31. Thank you for taking your time to be part of this survey.

07/26/2023

It's a hummingbird! It's a butterfly! It's a wasp! Actually, it's a moth that flies like a hummingbird, feeds like a butterfly, and wants predators to think it's a wasp. Unlike most moths, hummingbird moths are active during the day, feeding on flower nectar and acting as important pollinators!

07/21/2023

A beautiful eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) stopped by one of our gardens earlier.
🦋

07/18/2023

Moths in the Moonlight is a little over a week away!

Visit the link below to register: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/chesterfieldparksrec/activity/search/detail/18741

Moths in the Moonlight
Course 42484
Friday, July 28, 8:30-9:30 p.m.
$5

Celebrate National Moth Week, contribute to community science, and experience the park after dark. Participants will use professional field techniques to find, observe, and record moths at Rockwood Park. Closed toe shoes are required; flashlights are recommended. For ages 8 and up; children under 12 must be accompanied by participating adult.

To register online, visit the link below:
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/chesterfieldparksrec/activity/search/detail/18741

07/16/2023

Happy World Snake Day Eve! As we get ready to celebrate tomorrow, we thought this infographic may be helpful to learn how to best live with our snake neighbors!

07/13/2023

With upcoming temperatures hovering around 90°F, remember to stay hydrated.

07/10/2023

Can you find everything on this list during your next visit to Rockwood Park? Be sure to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!

07/07/2023

Concerned about copperheads? There's still space available in our Virginia's Venomous Snakes program!

07/07/2023

Recent finds in Rockwood Park.

07/04/2023

Post Date: Monday, July 3, 2023Independence Day is here, and with it, millions of Americans will be celebrating through classic and time-honored traditions: grilling with friends and family in the backyard, hitting our favorite hiking trails and campsites, watching parades, and – for many people ...

07/04/2023

Happy Independence Day! Did you know that the rattlesnake has its own special place in American history? Its use as a symbol of the American colonies can be traced back to publications by Benjamin Franklin throughout the 1700s. In 1775, Benjamin Franklin published an essay in the Pennsylvania Journal under the pseudonym American Guesser in which he suggested that the rattlesnake was a good symbol for the American spirit:

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?"

07/01/2023

July is Park and Recreation Month and at Rockwood Nature Center! Want to see how Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation celebrates? Here are a couple of ways to stay in touch:

•Subscribe to the Out of the Park Newsletter: https://www.chesterfield.gov/5284/Out-of-the-Park-Newsletter

•Follow Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

06/30/2023

Walking into the weekend like:

12/20/2022

Rockwood Nature Center will be closed Friday, December 23 through Sunday, December 25. We will resume our regular seasonal operating hours (Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.) the following week.

12/19/2022

Winter/Spring 2023 program registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 8:30 a.m. Please note that Rockwood Nature Center's summer camps will be available for registration and typically fill up quickly. Visit https://www.chesterfield.gov/161/Programs to view programs and register.

12/15/2022

Happy ! We recently rediscovered this 1985 sketch of the original Rockwood Nature Center building by local illustrator Eliza B. Askin.

12/14/2022

Check out our upcoming programs, including archery and summer camp offerings, in the digital Winter/Spring 2023 Program Guide.

The Winter/Spring 2023 Program Guide is available now!

Visit www.chesterfield.gov/161/Programs to view. Remember registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 8:30 a.m.

To register for courses, visit apm.activecommunities.com/chesterfieldparksrec or follow the steps on our Program Guide page under "Course Registration and Mailing List" section.

12/09/2022

We are so proud of our lead animal keeper, Bella, for earning her certificate in Husbandry and Captive Management from the Amphibian Foundation!

12/08/2022

Hang in there, it’s almost Friday!

12/05/2022

Are you seeing any winter birds yet? 👀🐦

Learn how to create an inviting habitat for the birds in your backyard! ➡️ bit.ly/HORT59