Volunteer registration is now open for the first-ever Bio-Blitz at Emory Waters Nature Preserve! Join an expert-led team to find, identify, and record as many species as possible during the 24-hour period. No prior training or experience is necessary to participate. Free; ages 8 and up. June 25 at 12 p.m. to June 26 at 12 p.m.; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD. More info and registration.

Get a jumpstart on celebrating ‘Great Outdoors Month’ by joining a ranger to celebrate National Trails Day! Listen to the songs of frogs as you learn backpacking basics and the many ways you can minimize your impact on the great outdoors. Reservations required. Day-use fees apply. June 3, 7 p.m.; Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, MD. More information.

Volunteer registration is now open for the first-ever Bio-Blitz at Emory Waters Nature Preserve! Join an expert-led team to find, identify, and record as many species as possible during the 24-hour period. No prior training or experience is necessary to participate. Free; ages 8+. June 25 at 12 p.m. to June 26 at 12 p.m. More information and registration.

This annual luminaria has served as a poignant tribute to the fallen since 1996. The National Park Service will host the 27th annual luminaria at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, free and open to the public. The ceremony honors those who died in the service of this country. Local Scouts will light 15,300 candles in the cemetery – one for each grave there. In addition, a bugler will play “Taps” every 30 minutes during the evening as park staff posted throughout the cemetery relate stories about some of the soldiers. May 28, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m; Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Fredericksburg, VA. More information.

RetroFest on the Potomac brings you all things vintage, including classic cars and vintage boats, live music, toys your parents/grandparents loved as children, a variety of fun retro family activities and crafts like tote bag tie-dye, pinup/greaser contest, sack races, tin can toss, the lighthouse temporary tattoo parlor, selfie station, hula hoops and more.Tickets are on sale now for $10 per person (5 and under free) and include event admission and access to all museum sites and exhibits. Tickets can be obtained at the door, purchased online or by calling 301-994-1471. June 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park, Leonardtown, MD. More information.

A ceremony will be conducted by the Contraband Historical Society and the Fort Monroe Authority marking the 161st anniversary of the May 24, 1861, “Contraband Decision” at Fort Monroe. The Contraband Decision was the first successful action by an official of the US Government to confiscate enslaved people from their enslavers. That action marked the beginning of the end of slavery in the United States. There will be a presentation on the life of Harry Jarvis, contraband and soldier, who liberated himself and then fought to liberate others. The ceremony will conclude with a candlelight procession from Cannon Park through the old fort’s main gate into “Freedom’s Fortress.” Free. May 24, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Cannon Park, Fort Monroe, VA. Read more about the Contraband Decision.

Registration is now open for Fort McHenry's free 2022 Fife and Drum Music Camp! The camp provides hands-on musical training and workshops with a history twist. Participants ages 11+ will experience what it was like to be a military musician during the War of 1812. This includes marching, military formations, musical instruction, flag raising, and more. On the final day, students will get to show off what they learned with a performance for the general public at Fort McHenry. Students will receive an official camp shirt, music, and a special memento. Registration required by May 27, 2022. More information.

The Rock Creek Conservancy works to collect weekly water quality data from May through September, by sampling for bacteria, turbidity, pH, and air and water temperature. Preliminary results have shown that bacteria levels in Rock Creek and its tributaries are quite high. This is why there’s a swim ban in all District waterways. If you are interested in helping collect water samples, there is one more online training opportunity, June 3, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information and registration. Other opportunities to contribute to Rock Creek Park: Weed Warrior Training Session, June 15 and 18, Invasives Removal at Piney Branch on May 28 and Invasives Removal on Trail 9 on June 4.

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is a time to celebrate the cultures, history and natural beauty of the nation's largest estuary. During the week of June 4 to 12 there are a wide variety of online and in-person events, volunteer opportunities and social media conversations for everyone to take part in to celebrate the Chesapeake Bay. The theme for Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week 2022, "Restoration Brings Results,” is reflected in the daily themes that include, forest buffers, green infrastructure, oyster and mussel restoration, stream restoration and public access. Explore your connection to the Bay at an event near you.

Looking for rainy day fun? The Smithsonian has released its Color Our Collections 2022 and the Portrait Gallery has a new downloadable collection as well. Color Our Collections includes bird head drawings, Equus marinus monstrus, Adelaide Alsop-Robineau’s Examples of Historical Ornament and Mori Yūzan’s Wave patterns. The Portrait Gallery Collections  includes portraits of Pocahontas, Lena Horne, Rachel Carson, Frida Kahlo and many more.

Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.

Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website.