Friends of Mason Neck State Park

06/02/2026

June Events at the Park

The park has lots of events this month. Enjoy programs about dragonflies, take a guided hike or a kayak trip, help improve the park’s pollinator gardens, learn about bald eagles, and more. To see the programs the park has to offer, go to the park’s website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/mason-neck scroll down until you see the current list of upcoming Events, Programs.”

06/02/2026

Help the Friends Support the Park!

We need your help to continue providing support for Mason Neck State Park. You can donate online, using a check, or using a Qualified Charitable Donation from your traditional IRA. Learn about your donation options by clicking the following link:

06/02/2026

$1,200 in Prizes Announced for the Friends of Mason Neck State Park 2026 “Picture the Magic” Photo Contest

Entries for the Friend’s 2026 Picture the Magic photography contest are now being accepted. We’re looking for images that highlight the park’s magic such as striking images of the park’s scenery, flora, fauna, and aquatic activities.

Images taken by young photographers and adults will be judged separately and both will be eligible for cash prizes. Thanks to the generosity of Ann Kaup, six prizes totaling $1200 will be awarded – a $300 Grand Prize and two $150 First prizes in the Youth category (under 18 as of October 15, 2026) and a $300 Grand Prize and two $150 First Place prizes in the Adult category.

The best youth and adult photos will be published in our newsletter, website, and social media.

The entry period for the photo contest closes on October 15, 2026. Prize winners will be notified by October 31, 2026.

The 2026 contest rules and a downloadable entry form are on the Friends’ website: https://friendsofmasonneckstateparkinc.wildapricot.org/Photo-Contest-Rules

06/02/2026

Come to the June 6 Park After Dark – Fireflies and Bugs, 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Meg Doppee, the Park’s Chief Ranger, Visitor Experience, writes: Join us for an evening exploring bugs after dark. As the sun sets, a fascinating world of glowing fireflies and nocturnal insects comes to life. Come for an evening adventure and explore the secrets of these nighttime bugs, learn why fireflies flash, and discover the important roles insects play after dark.

Bring your curiosity and experience the magic of nature at night!

We will also go for a short walk to look for some glow bugs, the larval form of fireflies in the leaf litter. Bring a camp chair and a flashlight. We will have red cellophane to cover them up so we can see better at night without white light. We will also have a black light shining on a sheet to see if we can attract more bugs and learn to identify them.

It’s going to be a great night!

Meet us at the interpretive center lawn.

There is no charge for this event, but standard parking fees apply.

06/02/2026

Visitors Enjoyed the 28th Annual Eagle Festival

Five hundred visitors attended the Eagle Festival on May 9. Attendees enjoyed a live raptor show by Secret Garden Birds and Bees, which also displayed their birds in the Visitor Center all day long.

The festival expenses were funded by the Friends of Mason Neck State Park and donations to the Friends from the Festival Sponsors:
The Carly and Frank Fiorina Family Fund and Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University.

06/02/2026

The Friends Purchased Accessible Navigation Equipment for the Park

The Friends have signed a contract with the RightHear company to purchase a platform and equipment that provides talking signage. The system will offer audible wayfinding assistance and information about the park to everyone, and particularly the visually impaired and people who have difficulty communicating in English. The purchase continues the Friends’ commitment to making Mason Neck State Park accessible to everyone.

The equipment includes Bluetooth beacons and Smart Markers placed throughout the park to provide accessible audio information to visitors using the free RightHear phone app. Bluetooth beacons automatically activate audible descriptions when a user approaches them, while Smart Markers can be scanned from a distance to access information. These audio messages provide helpful details such as restroom locations, trail information and surface conditions, and interesting facts about the park. The app can deliver audible information in 35 languages, making the experience more accessible to everyone, and will be especially valuable for the many park visitors who are visually impaired or whose primary language is not English.

The Park staff will develop the material to be included in the system, which will automatically be converted to audible information. Staff expect to complete the first phase of installation in a month or so. We will let you know when it is operational so you can come to the park to try it out! You can learn more about RightHear by clicking the following link: https://www.right-hear.com/

Mason Neck State Park will be the third Virginia state park to add the platform. Natural Bridge State Park’s RightHear platform is operational, and Westmoreland State Park’s platform is in process.

05/01/2026

Don't forget to join us for the annual Eagle Festival that includes music, puppet shows and nature programs.

🗓️ May 9
🕙 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

There will be multiple programs and fun all throughout the day!

Standard parking fee is $10, but the event is free.

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-01-14-11-58-30-646879-7es&fbclid=IwY2xjawRh-q5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFWcU9kMDdDUkR0dmVudm94c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhQzfYJKOeiXdlww1lrV4EJVaGjOFUk1dNXKj7a4KyPArQwNi0lTbCIvwaC0_aem_CDXZSIXVq7O-1YsFX39kmA

From Indigenous connections to modern conservation, the bald eagle’s journey reflects the link between people and nature and how protecting natural resources preserves both cultural heritage and wildlife. The purpose of the Mason Neck Eagle Festival is to inspire stewardship and conservation by co...

05/01/2026

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park 2026 “Picture the Magic” Photo Contest Has Started

Entries for the Friend’s 2026 Picture the Magic photography contest are now being accepted. We’re looking for images that highlight the park’s magic such as striking images of the park’s scenery, flora, fauna, and aquatic activities.

Images taken by young photographers and adults will be judged separately and both will be eligible for cash prizes. The prize amounts will be listed on our website in mid-May.

The best youth and adult photos will be published in our newsletter, website, and social media.

The entry period for the photo contest closes on October 15, 2026. Prize winners will be notified by October 31, 2026.

The 2026 contest rules and a downloadable entry form are on the Friends’ website link below:

https://friendsofmasonneckstateparkinc.wildapricot.org/Photo-Contest-Rules

05/01/2026

Learn about Bats at the Mason Neck State Park’s May “Park After Dark” Event Saturday, May 2, 2026, 7:00 -8:30 PM

Experience the park in a whole new way. The park changes as the sun goes down, inviting us to slow down, sharpen our senses, and discover a side of nature we often overlook. This month, the Park highlights bats, which aren’t often seen but provide vital ecological services. The Park will have a simple bat craft and activity. Then guests will hang out and watch the skies for bats, assisted by the park’s interpreters. We will also have a campfire.

Please bring your own chairs or blankets.

Registrations are not required but are requested so the Park can plan for enough materials and staff. Please call the Visitor Center to register at (703) 339-2385.

Meet interpreters near the Visitor Center.

This event is free, but standard parking fees apply.

*****Eastern Red Bat Photo by Randy Streufert

04/13/2026

The Friends of Mason Neck Released their 2025 Annual Report

The Friends' 2025 Annual Report is now available. You can read a summary of the Friend's activities and support for the park, as well as their income and expenses for the year.

See below:

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