Upcoming events at Smith Mountain Lake State Park

Lauri A. Schular, the Nature Interpreter at Smith Mountain Lake State Park would like to invite you to the following park events in April - May 2013 

Wildlife Wednesday Cruises - Join us the first Wednesday of each month!

We’ve teamed up with Virginia Dare Cruises to offer this fun-filled & informative lunch cruise.

Noon to 2:00 pm – Boat boards @ 11:30 am

Wildlife Wednesday Cruises run from May thru October 2013

Call (540) 297-7100 for reservations & further info www.vadarecruises.com

Earth Day Events – Saturday April 20^th 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Discovery Center

Join us and Keep Virginia Beautiful by competing in our “Trash to Treasure” Scavenger Hunt

You find the trash & we’ll turn it into a treasure. Pick-up an Earth Day “Trash to Treasure” scavenger hunt tracking sheet from the Main Office or the Discovery Center.

Grab any litter from any public area of the park.

Keep track of how much was thrown away and how many items you were able to recycle on your tracking sheet. Find & use our brand new recycle bins behind the Visitor Center.

Come to the Discovery Center to see who collected the most trash and we’ll turn it into a treasure.

1st place prizes will be awarded at Noon and again at 4 p.m. Must be present to win.

Gloves & Trash Bags available at the Discovery Center

SML State Park Earth Day Pick It Up

Geocaching Event (GC 45V46)

Parking fees will be waived for those pre-registered thru www.geocaching.com

Both events are Free and open to the public, regular parking fees apply. Call (540) 297-6066 for more info.

Owl Prowl – Friday April 26^th 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Booker T. Washington National Monument

Booker T. Washington National Monument will re-open just for this event. Join Lauri Schular, SML State Park’s Nature Interpreter for an exciting evening of owl calls. We’ll take a short walk from the Heritage Center to “talk” to the local owls that live on & nearby the Burroughs farm. Please contact Janet Blanchard at Booker T. Washington National Monument for details. 12130 Booker T. Washington Hwy Hardy, VA  24151

540-721-2094 x 32  Janet_Blanchard@nps.gov 

Take Pride in SML Clean-up Day – Saturday May 4^th 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Boat Ramp

We invite you to participate in the 26th Annual “Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake” spring clean-up. Our beautiful lake needs more than a simple “spring cleaning”. This year we need everyone to help. Do your part-join us in the annual clean-up of Smith Mountain Lake and the shoreline.

This is a Stewardship Virginia event. Certificates will be awarded to those who pre-register.

Stewardship Virginia is a statewide initiative held twice annually to help citizens with projects that enhance and conserve Virginia's natural and cultural resources.

Registration forms are available at:

Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center * Smith Mountain Lake Association * Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission

For additional information, call 540-721-4400 or 540-721-1203 www.visitsmithmountainlake.com

Mother’s Day – Saturday May 11^th

Discovery Center

Wildflower Walk

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Discover Mother Nature’s hidden treasures while on a short, guided walk on our trails. Bring Mom out to the Discovery Center for a Wild Flower Walk to uncover some of Virginia’s prettiest, yet often overlooked treasures. We’ll start at the DC and head out on an easy amble to spy the colorful native wildflowers of our area. Free.

Mother’s Day Tea Party

11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Stop by the Picnic Pavilion at our Discovery Center and spoil Mom with a delightful cup of tea. We’ll harken back to the days of olde and enjoy an American version of an English Afternoon Tea. In England at that time there were two main meals daily, breakfast and dinner. Dinner was served very late in the evening, so it was a very long time between meals. Anna Maria Stanhope the Duchess of Bedford (1788-1861) complained about a "sinking feeling" in the late afternoon. Afternoon tea was her invention to keep her going until dinner.

Be sure to don your most audacious chapeaux! 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd place prizes will be awarded to the wearer of the most fanciful hat.

National Kids to Parks Day – Saturday May 18^th 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Discovery Center

Head to the Discovery Center for loads of outdoor fun!

From 1 to 2 p.m. Join the interpreter for an Osprey Hike; Learn of the fascinating "Fish Hawk". Watch streaming video on our monitor, then take a stroll to catch a glimpse of these magnificent raptors in person! FREE.

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Build a Birds Nest; You'll decide what makes the best building material as you construct your own nest. Discover the hidden housing facing our feathered friends when it comes to housing. FREE.

Music in the Park – Saturday May 25^th 8 to 10 p.m.

Beach Pavilion

Bring the whole family to Smith Mountain Lake's Beach Pavilion for an evening of great music with the Friday Nite Band. The Old Dominion Cloggers from Martinsville, Va., will also entertain. Hot dogs, sausages, ice cream, drinks and other refreshments are for sale. $5 per person and kids 12 and under get in free. Don't forget lawn chairs. Sponsored by Friends of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

For more information contact:   

Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 1235 State Park Road , Huddleston, VA 24104 (540) 297-6066 Regular Parking Fees Apply