Department of Parks and Recreation

Long Branch Nature Center

 

 

Our nature centers are nestled in lovely park settings and are staffed with friendly and knowledgeable people. They provide interpretive environmental education programs for all ages and for a wide variety of audiences including small groups. To search for nature center activities, visit the county calendar and select the "Environment" category and the appropriate audience group for the type of activities you are looking for.

Hours of Operation

Sunday and Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 12 noon - 5:00 p.m.

Features

Exhibits, classroom (40 person capacity), children's Discovery Room, live animal displays, interpretive gardens, viewing pond, birthday parties, coming soon a Nature Discovery Area

Amenities

Public restrooms, water fountains, fully wheelchair-accessible with some accessible trails

Review

Read a review of Long Branch Nature Center from Our-Kids.com.

Birthday Parties at Long Branch

Children 4 and up, join a naturalist at Long Branch Nature Center with up to 17 of your closest friends and discover some neat things about the animal of your choice and even meet a critter up-close and personal!
Chose a half hour presentation from one of three themes:

  1. "Snakes Alive"
  2. "Turtle Time"
  3. "Hop To It" with either Rabbits or Frogs

Call Long Branch Nature Center for availability.

Videos

Watch the Sing-a-Long video
Watch the Sing-a-Long video

Flying Squirrels Video
Watch the flying squirrels video

Spacer graphic

Long Branch Nature Center building

Long Branch Nature Center terrariums

Long Branch Nature Center indoor pond

Long Branch Nature Center Map
Long Branch Nature Center Map
click map to enlarge (1.29 MB PDF)

UPCOMING EVENTS

 
Bouncing, billowing, beautiful bubbles are always a good time. Join us as we explore these effervescent spheres! Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Bra ...
Bouncing, billowing, beautiful bubbles are always a good time. Join us as we explore these effervescent spheres! Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Bra ...
Ages: 18 - 35 months with adult. Tiny Tot programs provide a wonderful opportunity to interact one-on-one with your child while discovering the wonders of nature. Each fun and educational program wil ...
All ages. Register adults and children; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. The whole family is invited to join us at the Long Branch amphitheater for lots of old fashioned fun as we ...
Imagine a life with no eyes, a hundred 'feet' and five arms! We'll explore the world under the sea… Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long ...
Imagine a life with no eyes, a hundred 'feet' and five arms! We'll explore the world under the sea… Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long ...
Adults. Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for an informal walk through Long Branch and Glencarlyn Parks in search of resident and migratory birds. Experienced and beginning birders welc ...
Imagine a life with no eyes, a hundred 'feet' and five arms! We'll explore the world under the sea… Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long ...
Imagine a life with no eyes, a hundred 'feet' and five arms! We'll explore the world under the sea… Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long ...
Ages: 18 - 35 months with adult. Tiny Tot programs provide a wonderful opportunity to interact one-on-one with your child while discovering the wonders of nature. Each fun and educational program wil ...
Imagine a life with no eyes, a hundred 'feet' and five arms! We'll explore the world under the sea… Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long ...
Ages: 18 - 35 months with adult. Tiny Tot programs provide a wonderful opportunity to interact one-on-one with your child while discovering the wonders of nature. Each fun and educational program wil ...
Kids ages 6 to 10. Join Northern Virginia Mineral Club member, Barry Remer, for a journey learning about minerals, the 3 classes of rocks, and how they make up our world. We'll also be taking a sid ...
All ages. Register adults and children; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. The whole family is invited to join us at the Long Branch amphitheater for lots of froggy fun as we learn a ...
Ages 9-Adult. Not all plants are good for the environment. Kids and adults will learn what these trouble-some beasts look like and can help rescue the park from these alien invaders! No registration ...
Developed with preschool educators and early childhood specialists, Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood includes over 130 experiences that engage children in outdoor play and exploration an ...
Adults, K- 8 educators Master Naturalists. Bring this interdisciplinary, award winning environmental education program to your students! Project Learning Tree (PLT) activities help students connec ...
All ages. Register adults and children; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. The whole family is invited to join us at the Long Branch amphitheater for lots of fun as we learn all abou ...
Families, with kids ages 5 and up. You don’t always need to see an animal to know it’s around. How? By detecting the clues -- tracks, nests, scat (aka “poop”), holes and other signs -- of what anima ...
Kids ages 6 to 10. Do feathers make the bird? How do they help birds survive? And just what is a feather anyway? Find out the answers to these and other questions -- and learn the feather dance! Inf ...

CONTACT US

Long Branch Nature Center
625 S. Carlin Springs Road
Arlington, VA 22204
703-228-6535
map

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE!

Icon - Email SubscriptionSign-up to receive our publications, The Snag and The Snag for Wee Ones, electronically or via the mail.

There are two ways to sign-up to receive our publications, The Snag and The Snag for Wee Ones:

  1. Subscribe online for a quarterly e-mail notification with a link to the publications (electronic, text-only versions or pdf versions available to view on-line or download); or
  2. Fill out a Registration Form (64 KB PDF) and return it to Long Branch Nature Center to receive a copy of the quarterly publications for a yearly subscription rate of five dollars.

You will find programs for families, school-aged children and adults listed in The Snag. The Snag for Wee Ones lists programs for preschoolers (ages 3-5) and tiny tots (ages 18-35 months).

BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS!

Nature abounds at Long Branch Nature Center and Park! Check out these beautiful photos of birds at Long Branch taken by photographer Paula Sullivan. View Photo Gallery! (Note: By clicking on the link, you will be taken outside the County website. Arlington County is not responsible for images and content contained therein.)

GROWING NATIVE

Did you know that Long Branch Nature Center is a collection site for the Growing Native program? Growing Native is a year-round volunteer project that collects hardwood seeds and plants trees to help restore and protect rivers and streams in the Potomac River watershed. Find out more!


Last Modified: May 11, 2012
2100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 Tel: 703-228-3000 TTY: 703-228-4611