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    Gulf 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: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Monday: Closed
    Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Sunday hours at Gulf Branch Nature Center are due to the support of the Friends of Gulf Branch Nature Center.

    Features

    Exhibits, classroom (20 person capacity), children's Discovery Room, pollinator garden, live animal exhibit room, pond, restored log cabin, observation bee hive, birthday parties

    Pollinator Garden at Gulf Branch Nature Center

    Check out the pollinator garden at Gulf Branch Nature Center! It's filled with plenty of nectar- and pollen-rich flowers and many plants that are native not just to Virginia, but also to the Arlington area. Native gardens like this are deer resistant, attract pollinators, tough and easy to maintain and look beautiful!

    Amenities

    Public restrooms, water fountain, not wheelchair accessible

    Blacksmiths at Gulf Branch

    blacksmith - click to enlargeThe Blacksmiths Guild of Potomac meets the first and third Friday at 7:30pm at Gulf Branch Nature center. Meetings are free and open to the public. The guild also shares its craft at Gulf Branch quarterly at special events and programs. The mission of the Guild to enhance and interpret ancient techniques for making beautiful and useful tools and treasures, to provide help and instruction to beginning and experienced smiths alike -- and to share their love of blacksmithing with the general public.

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    Gulf Branch Nature Center

    Gulf Branch Nature Center

    child observing bee hive

    Gulf Branch Nature Center Map
    Gulf Branch Nature Center Map
    click map to enlarge (2.42 MB PDF)

    UPCOMING EVENTS

     
    Ages 6 - 10. Register child only. Your child is invited to join our exciting nature club which meets twice a month. Choose just a few programs or attend them all! Which of our Virginia species is the ...
    Bundle up for a winter walk! There are so many things we can find if we look really carefully. Jane Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long ...
    Bundle up for a winter walk! There are so many things we can find if we look really carefully. Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long Bran ...
    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 ...
    Bundle up for a winter walk! There are so many things we can find if we look really carefully. Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long Branc ...
    Teens and Adults. Pola Negri was a famous silent screen siren who took Hollywood - and its leading men - by storm. Legend has it that she once lived at Gulf Branch when it was still a private home. ...
    Adults, families, and teens. Keep the park free of destructive invasive plants. Work parties are held every month and are making a real difference. We are starting to see the return of wildflowers ...
    Ages 14-adult. Use these cold days of winter to REDUCE the clutter and RECYCLE the excess. Find forgotten thing-a-ma-gigs and relax in reclaimed space. Program will present methods to motivate and ...
    For ages 8 - 12. Register child only. Learn how silver is mined from the earth and used in jewelry and other valuable objects. See some samples from silver mines and hear stories from our own Ameri ...
    Adults. Every month we read and discuss a book or essay about the natural world. This month we'll enjoy Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. Join us every fourth Thursday for a fun conversation. You'l ...
    Ages 4-6. Ever wonder what it would be like to have a beak? To be covered with feathers, or to have a toe that faces backwards? Soar with us as we learn about the winter birds in our area, and ima ...
    Families with children 5 and up. Get ready for our earliest amphibians! After the first 'warm' rain of spring, you'll hear them "quacking" in the pond. Where do they all come from? For more informa ...
    My best friend is a salamander; he eats bugs for snack… Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long Branch Nature Centers. The theme for prescho ...
    Children 5 and up. A chill may linger but spring is on the way! We'll look listen smell and feel for signs of the oncoming season at this scavenger hunt/hike. For more information: 703-228-3403. M ...
    Families with children 5 and up. What has a small brain, more teeth than any other mammal in North America, and can play dead? Come learn all about who this could possum-ly be! For more informatio ...
    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 ...
    My best friend is a salamander; he eats bugs for snack…Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long Branch Nature Centers. The theme for preschoo ...
    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 ...
    Ages 7 - 11. Register child only. Budding geologists and gem lovers are invited to join us for a year's worth of fun and collecting. Attend one or all of the sessions; we meet once each month. Examin ...
    My best friend is a salamander; he eats bugs for snack…Ages: 3 - 5 years. Preschool programs are offered throughout the year at both Gulf Branch and Long Branch Nature Centers. The theme for preschoo ...
    View ALL Calendar Events

    CONTACT US

    Gulf Branch Nature Center
    3608 N. Military Road
    Arlington, VA 22207
    703-228-3403
    map

    RELATED RESOURCES

    • All About Trees
    • Citizen Monitoring on Gulf Branch
    • County Holiday Schedule
    • Enjoy Arlington! Classes
    • Flying Squirrels Video
    • Guide to Environmental Education Programs (PDF)
    • Mason Bees Video
    • Nature Centers
    • Nature Discovery Area
    • Nature Resources
    • Pollinator Garden at Gulf Branch
    • Seniors
    • Snag Newsletter
    • Snag Publications
    • Snake Video
    • Summer Camps
    • Upcoming Events
    • Virginia Herpetological Society
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Weather Cancellations

    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).


    Last Modified: February 07, 2012
    2100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 Tel: 703-228-3000 TTY: 703-228-4611