Summer is heating up! Check out these cool ideas for tweens, ages 8 to 12, to do this summer at Virginia State Parks. For a list of things teens and younger kids will enjoy doing, take a look at the other two blog articles in this three-part series. 

1. Make a splash. 

Pocahontas State Park’s Aquatic Center

The Aquatic Recreation Center at Pocahontas State Park is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. Plus, registered overnight guests can enjoy a day of free swimming for each night of camping. The center has a toddler pool, fountain wet deck, three-foot and five-foot deep leisure pools, two tubular water slides and an activity pool. Swimming is a fun way for kids to beat the heat. 

For other swimming opportunities at Virginia State Parks, click here. 

2. Become a Junior Ranger. 

Completing the Junior Ranger booklet at Machicomoco State Park 

Summertime is a great chance to earn an official Junior Ranger badge. Ranger-led and self-guided programs are available at many parks to assist in exploration. Download an activity booklet online here or pick one up from the park office, and let the adventures begin.  

For some extra fun, join a Junior Ranger program or camp, such as the 2025 Junior Rangers at Widewater State Park for ages 6 to 10 with weekly themes throughout the summer, or Caledon Junior Rangers 2025 at Caledon State Park Track 2 for ages 9-11 held one week during July. 

Click here to find more Junior Ranger events. 

 

3. Watch a feeding. 

Snake feeding at Westmoreland State Park

Watch some of the critters of Virginia State Parks chow down on their dinner as a park ranger shares fun facts. Catch a Feeding Frenzy at Hungry Mother and James River state parks throughout the summer. At Sky Meadows State Park, meet Gertie and Birdie during Critter Chow and learn about their diets, natural behaviors and the important roles they play in our ecosystem.  

To find more animal feeding events, click here. 

 

4. Go on a geocaching adventure. 

Geocaching at York River State Park

Geocaching is a fun way to merge technology and outdoor exploration. In addition to public caches, many parks have developed special games, nature trails and activities that utilize GPS technology. Want to learn more about this worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure? Join New River Trail State Park’s Intro to Geocaching or James River State Park’s GPS Treasure Hunt this summer. 

For more information and to find geocaching events, click here. 

 

 

5. Rent a hydrobike. 

Hydro-biking at Douthat State Park

Tweens will enjoy biking across water at Douthat State Park. This fun activity provides a unique way to explore the lake, and Douthat offers rentals from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Many parks with lakes offer hydrobikes. Contact the park you plan to visit for more information. 

 

 

6. Go for a hike. 

Hiking to Fossil Beach at York River State Park

With more than 160 miles of the park system’s 626 miles of trails strictly reserved for hiking, and hiking allowed on more than 397 miles of multi-use trails, opportunities abound for those tweens ready to stretch their legs and their navigational skills. Hike to a waterfall at Fairy Stone State Park, trek to a secluded beach to hunt for fossilized shark teeth and shells at York River State Park, follow a ranger into the tunnel at Natural Tunnel State Park or take the trails less traveled.  

Don’t forget to sign up for the Trail Quest program and log your visits to earn pins along the way and become a certified Master Hiker. This is a fun challenge for all ages! 

Visit the hiking webpage for more trail information. 

 

7. Cast a line. 

Fishing at James River State Park

 

Virginia’s waters provide a variety of fish, and plenty of parks offer pier, dock and shoreline fishing as well as boat rentals. Not only is fishing a fun form of water recreation, but also a great skill for kids to learn. Plus, a fishing license is not required for those under 16 years of age. 

Explore the many fishing opportunities at Virginia State Parks and check out the fishing events taking place this summer. 

 

8. Get crafty. 

Making shark tooth necklaces at Westmoreland State Park

Arts and crafts opportunities abound at Virginia State Parks during the summer months. Kids can make Tie-Dye T-Shirts at Douthat State Park, Shark Tooth Necklaces at Westmoreland State Park, paint Wildlife in Watercolor at James River State Park and at Bear Creek Lake State Park and so much more. 

Click here to find more arts and crafts events. 

 

9. Pan for gold. 

Panning for gold

Catch gold fever at James River State Park as you learn about Virginia’s unique geology, the rocks and minerals of the park and the magnetic sand on the banks of the river. Participants must be 10 years of age or older, wear closed-toe shoes, and be prepared to get wet in this gold panning program with multiple dates throughout the summer. 

 

10. Rent a paddleboat. 

Paddle-boating at Twin Lakes State Park

Similar to hydro-biking, leg power is used to glide across the water in a paddleboat. Hungry Mother, Bear Creek Lake, Holliday Lake, Pocahontas, Twin Lakes, Fairy Stone and Douthat state parks are all excellent places for this type of boating that kids will enjoy. Rentals are available at these parks from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. 

Be sure to log your paddling adventures in the Wandering Waters Paddle Quest program and earn prizes as you explore the waterways of Virginia State Parks. 

Click here to learn more about boat rentals. 

 

What else can they do? 

The tween years are great ages for introducing kids to camping if they’ve never been. Learn more about camping and campgrounds at Virginia State Parks here. Visit the events webpage to find more fun events for your tween and the whole family to enjoy!