Expanded Nature Center Hours Begins Nov. 12

Published on November 12, 2024

The Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is pleased to announce expanded hours at the Long Branch and Gulf Branch Nature Centers, beginning Tue., Nov. 12, 2024. The expanded hours, funded by increased FY 2025 Adopted Budget support, aim to enhance community access to nature and environmental education to six days a week.

The new winter hours at both Long Branch Nature Center (625 S. Carlin Springs Rd.) and Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 Military Rd.) are:

• Tuesdays through Fridays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sundays: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

This expansion allows DPR’s Conservation and Interpretation (C&I) unit to better serve Arlington’s community-- offering popular nature classes on topics like flying squirrels, winter tree identification, owl prowls, and winter campfires. The extended hours also create opportunities for students and working individuals to engage in weekend drop-in visits and weekday programs, promoting connections to nature in Arlington.

In addition to ongoing programs, Arlington’s nature centers will continue to offer seasonal highlights such as the Fall Heritage Festival, the Firefly Festival to celebrate the start of summer, and native plant sales each spring and fall.

Nature center operations will switch over to summer hours after daylight saving begins the week of Mar. 9, 2025.  

Opportunities to Get Involved
The nature centers are always looking for volunteers interested in supporting programs, operations, and environmental learning. If you or someone you know is interested in serving as a volunteer at either location, please reach out to longbranch@arlingtonva.us or gulfbranch@arlingtonva.us.

Learn more about Arlington’s nature centers and all there is to explore on the County’s website.