All programs start promptly at the scheduled times. No admittance to the Planetarium after the doors close.
Rock Creek Park invites you to commemorate the
144th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens,
Fort Steven’s Day, July 12th
Tuesday, July 1
• 4:00PM @NC Summer Puppet Theatre Join us in the Nature Center auditorium and discover what the animals in Rock Creek Park are doing this summer. Ages 3 and older.
Wednesday, July 2
• 4:00 PM @NC Young Planetarium This introduction to the night sky for the youngest of astronomers is a shortened version of our Night Sky Planetarium Program. Ages 4 and older
Thursday, July 3
• 4:00 PM @NC Sensational Senses Discover how the animals living in Rock Creek Park use their five senses to survive in the forest. Ages 4 and older.
Saturday, July 5
• 9:30 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour Experience Rock Creek Park with a Ranger by horseback. This one hour tour leaves from the Rock Creek Park Horse Center and travels south along Rock Creek. Participants must be 12 years old or older and weight limits may apply. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance and are taken on a first come-first served basis. Fee $35. A credit card is required to make a reservation. Please arrive 30 minutes before your ride. For further information call (202) 362-0117.
• 10:00 AM @ OSH Francis Scott Key: The Man Behind the Banner Join a park ranger on a tour to the Francis Scott Key Memorial Garden while learning about the life of this famous poet, patriot, and religious leader. Ages 8 and older.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky Visit the only planetarium in the National Park system and explore the wonders of the night sky. View the brightest stars, planets, and constellations of July and learn their stories. Ages 5 and older.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe Join us for a series of planetarium programs exploring the universe. Topics for these programs include the sun, moon, stars, planets, and other space phenomena. Ages 7 and older.
Sunday, July 6
• 10:00 AM @OSH Black Georgetown Hike Participate in a walking tour of historic Herring Hill, a Georgetown neighborhood that holds reminders of the vibrant African-American community that thrived here in the 19th century. Ages 8 and older.
• 11:00 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour See program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
Monday, July 7
• 10:00 AM @ NC Planet Hike Learn about the planets and how far apart they are from each other on this ranger led scaled-down model hike of the solar system. Ages 7 and older.
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
Tuesday, July 8
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Puppet Theatre See program description for Tuesday, July 1st.
Wednesday, July 9
• 4:00 PM @NC Young Planetarium See program description for Wednesday, July 2nd
Thursday, July 10
• 4:00 PM @NC Curious About Coyotes Learn about Rock Creek Park’s newest animal inhabitant, the coyote. Ages 7 and up.
Friday, July 11
• 4:00 PM @NC Creature Feature Get acquainted with the Nature Center’s live animals and assist a park ranger in their feeding. All ages.
Saturday, July 12
• 10:00 AM @NC Fort DeRussy Hike Join a park ranger on this 1 mile hike to historic Fort DeRussy and learn how this little fort helped save Washington, DC during a Confederate attack in 1864. Ages 6 and up.
• 11:30 AM @FS Fort Stevens Talk Learn the stories of bravery and sacrifice of the Civil War soldiers who fought and died during the Battle of Fort Stevens. Ages 10 and up. Meet at the Nature Center at 11:20 AM and car caravan to the fort.
• 1:00 PM @NC Night Sky to Freedom Planetarium Learn how enslaved people on the Underground Railroad used the night sky as a compass to reach freedom. Ages 7 and older.
• 1:30 PM @BNC Battleground National Cemetery Talk Learn the personal and intimate stories of the lives of the men who died saving Washington, DC during the Battle of Fort Stevens. Ages 8 and up.
• 3:30 PM @FS Fort Stevens Talk See program description for 11:30 AM, Saturday, July 12th.
• 4:00 PM @ NC Night Sky to Freedom Planetarium See program description for 1:00 PM, Saturday, July 12th.
• 9:00PM @MF Exploring the Sky Come see the stars! Join the National Park Service and members of the National Capital Astronomers in Rock Creek Park to view the stars, planets, and other night sky phenomena with telescopes. All ages. Rain cancels this event.
Sunday, July 13
• 10:00 AM @DO Dumbarton Oaks Park Tour Join a park ranger to discover the trials of this naturalistic landscaped garden turned public park, and learn of Beatrix Ferrand, the pioneering 20th century landscape architect who designed it. Meet at the Dumbarton Oaks Park “Lover’s Lane” entrance sign. Ages 8 and older.
• 11:00 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour See program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 2:00 PM @PB Rope-Making Did you ever think about how rope was made? Help a park ranger make rope 19th century style! Ages 6 and up.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
Monday, July 14
• 10:00 AM @ NC Why Are There No Bears In Rock Creek Park? Learn about the story of how bears once roamed the Rock Creek Valley and why they eventually had to leave. Ages 7 and up.
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
Tuesday, July 15
• 4:00 PM @NC 4:00PM @NC Woodland Trail Hike Join a park ranger for a winter exploratory hike along the Woodland Trail. Boots are recommended. Ages 5 and older.
Wednesday, July 16
• 4:00 PM @NC Young Planetarium See program description for Wednesday, July 2nd.
Thursday, July 17
• 10:00 AM @NC Predators and Prey From songbirds to squirrels, we’ll explore how animals in Rock Creek Park avoid becoming dinner for area predators such as owls, hawks, foxes and coyotes. Ages 7 and up.
• 4:00PM @NC Show de Títeres Niños van a disfrutar las actividades graciosas de una variedad de títeres, mientras aprenden que hacen los animales de Rock Creek Park en el verano y como los podemos proteger.
Friday, July 18
• 4:00 PM @NC Creature Feature See the program description for Friday, July 6th.
Saturday, July 19
• 9:30 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:30PM @ OSH Architectural Tour of the Old Stone House Learn how the architecture of the Old Stone House not only speaks of how the house was built, but also about the lives of those who lived there. Ages 8 and older.
• 2:00 PM @NC Milkhouse Ford Hike Join a park ranger for this 1.5-mile hike to the Milkhouse Ford and discover the diverse natural and cultural resources that surround this historic water crossing. Boots are recommended. Ages 7 and older.
• 2:00 PM @PB Hunting Methods of the Native Peoples Learn the simple and effective tools that the native peoples of the Rock Creek Valley utilized for hunting and capturing prey. Ages 6 and up.
• 3:00 PM @PB Cornhusk Dolls Learn how to make this simple and popular 19th century toy with only a few corn husks and bits of string. Ages 5 and older.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
Sunday, July 20
• 11:00 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour See program description for
Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @PB Milling Through the Ages Learn hand on about the evolution of the milling process by hand grinding and sifting corn flour. All ages.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
Monday, July 21
• 10:00 AM @ NC The Food Chain From chipmunks to coyotes, each creature has an important role in nature. Explore how the plants and animals in Rock Creek Park are linked together through the food chain. Ages 8 and older.
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
Tuesday, July 22
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Puppet Theatre See program description for Tuesday, July 1st.
Wednesday, July 23
• 4:00 PM @NC Young Planetarium See program description for Wednesday, July 2nd
Thursday, July 24
• 4:00 PM @ NC Woodland Trail Hike Join a park ranger for a winter exploratory hike along the Woodland Trail. Boots are recommended. Ages 5 and older.
Friday, July 25
• 4:00 PM @NC Creature Feature See the program description for Friday, July 6th.
Saturday, July 26
• 9:30 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour See program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
• 2:00 PM @PB Native American Gorgets Learn how the native peoples of the Rock Creek Valley used simple tools to create a practical but essential necklaces that was essential to their survival. Ages 9 and older.
• 3:00 PM @BNC Battleground National Cemetery Talk See program description for Saturday, July 12th.
• 3:00 PM @PB 19th Century Games Step back into the 1800’s and learn some of the various types of games and activities that children played. All ages.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
Sunday, July 27
• 10:00 AM @DO Dumbarton Oaks Park Tour See program description for Sunday, July 13th.
• 11:00 AM @HC Ranger-Led Horseback Tour See program description for Saturday, July 5th.
• 1:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
• 2:00 PM @PB Beautiful Butterflies Learn about the secret lives of butterflies while looking for butterflies and doing a butterfly craft. Ages 4 and older.
• 4:00 PM @NC Exploring the Universe See the program description for Sunday, July 5th.
Monday, July 28
• 10:00 AM @ NC Fort DeRussy Hike Join a park ranger on this 1 mile hike to historic Fort DeRussy and learn how this little fort helped save Washington, DC during a Confederate attack in 1864. Ages 6 and up.
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Night Sky See the program description for Saturday, July 5th.
Tuesday, July 29
• 4:00 PM @NC Summer Puppet Theatre See program description for Tuesday, July 1st.
Wednesday, July 30
• 4:00 PM @NC Young Planetarium See program description for Wednesday, July 2nd.
Thursday, July 31
• 10:00 AM @NC Predators and Prey in Rock Creek From songbirds to squirrels, we’ll explore how animals in Rock Creek Park avoid becoming dinner for area predators such as owls, hawks, foxes and coyotes. Ages 7 and up.
Help Us Preserve Rock Creek Park: While Walking Your Dog, Keep Them On A Leash And Properly Dispose Of Their Waste In The Nearest Trash Container.
