2026 Herp Events/Programs
For more info on any of our programs, please email us: [email protected]
Upcoming Public Events
All of our programing listed below are family friendly and open to the public. There may be event or entry fees, but we do not charge for any of these.
3/20/2026 (Friday) Frogs and Vernal Pools -- Powhatan State Park -- 7pm -- Interpretive Talk & Short Hike
4/19/2026 (Saturday) Turtles -- Powhatan State Park -- 1pm -- Interpretive Talk
4/24/2026 (Friday) Reptile Festival -- Virginia Museum of Natural History -- 10am - 4pm -- Booth
4/25/2026 (Saturday) Reptile Festival -- Virginia Museum of Natural History -- 10am - 4pm -- Booth
5/23/2026 (Saturday) Turtle Day -- Twin Lakes State Park -- 11am - 3pm -- Booth
6/06/2026 (Saturday) Black Bear Festival -- Stanardsville, VA -- 10am - 4pm -- Booth
6/20/2026 (Saturday) Farmville Wildlife & Conservation Symposium-- Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library -- 1pm - 4pm -- Booth & Lecture TBA
7/18/2026 (Saturday) Snakesss -- Powhatan State Park -- 1pm -- Interpretive Talk
4/19/2026 (Saturday) Turtles -- Powhatan State Park -- 1pm -- Interpretive Talk
4/24/2026 (Friday) Reptile Festival -- Virginia Museum of Natural History -- 10am - 4pm -- Booth
4/25/2026 (Saturday) Reptile Festival -- Virginia Museum of Natural History -- 10am - 4pm -- Booth
5/23/2026 (Saturday) Turtle Day -- Twin Lakes State Park -- 11am - 3pm -- Booth
6/06/2026 (Saturday) Black Bear Festival -- Stanardsville, VA -- 10am - 4pm -- Booth
6/20/2026 (Saturday) Farmville Wildlife & Conservation Symposium-- Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library -- 1pm - 4pm -- Booth & Lecture TBA
7/18/2026 (Saturday) Snakesss -- Powhatan State Park -- 1pm -- Interpretive Talk
Private Offerings
We at Herping Virginia have prided ourselves on providing free programing, as we feel education shouldn't be kept behind a paywall. Unfortunately, over long term, we have found the rate of programs we do to be unsustainable in the long-term due to fluctuating gas prices, increased program distances, program planning, and the increased cost to care for and display our animal ambassadors. As we do more events, our display boards and enclosures begin to deteriorate and materials (info cards, brochures, etc.) deplete meaning we are constantly buying more. All of our current work is done out of our own pockets. As we grow, which we are proud of, Herping Virginia's workload on us grows as well, which makes working full-time jobs while focusing on Herping Virginia more and more difficult. We are happy to have good jobs and happy Herping Virgina is fluroshing, but time wise the two conflict. This is why we are starting to ask as of March 1, 2026 for donations of $100 - $200 for programs we offer private groups and libraries, and considerations for mileage. We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for understanding. This does not apply to Virginia Master Naturalists basic trainings.
*These are not all the programs that we offer. Reach out to us if you have other program needs*
|
Snakes in SuburbiaJoin "The Snake Man" Ty Smith, Chief Herpetological Specialist with Herping Virginia, for a presentation on our local snakes, how they benefit us, the troubles they are facing, and how to peacefully coexist with them.
~1 Hour -- Recommended donation $100 Popular with: Garden Clubs, Community Programs, Wildlife Clubs
|
|
Taxonomic PioneersTaxonomy and phylogeny is fun, but most of us learned it in such a boring, unengaging way that it feels difficult. For this classroom program, Ty will walk students through a case study on the Lampropeltini, using living ambassadors to explain key details in describing species and reading/building cladograms. This program is geared towards college classes, but a well behaved high school class can also digest this program easily. ~2 Hour -- Recommended donation $200
Popular with: Students, Master Naturalists, Environmental Educators
|
|
Talking TurtlesDid you know turtles are often considered the most endangered group of vertebrates in the world? In this program, Ty Smith will discuss what are turtles, why turtles are declining, and how you can help. ~1 Hour -- Recommended donation $100
Popular with: Master Naturalists, Community Programs, Wildlife Clubs
|
|
Salamanders: Virginia's Hidden TreasuresTy discusses some of our most common, and beautiful salamanders as well as how Virginia's location paired with geology harbors many unique species. ~1 Hour -- Recommended donation $100
Popular with: Master Naturalists, Community Programs, Wildlife Clubs
|
|
Vernal Pools | Explorative HikeIf you or your organisation has access to a vernal pool and would like to learn how to do monitoring and/or interpretive programing with your pool, this program is for you. Ty will come to your pool and cover topics such as sanitization of equipment, vernal pool functions and ecosystems, identification of organisms, and how to safely and least impactfully monitor these unique water bodies. ~2 Hour -- Recommended donation $200
Popular with: Master Naturalists, State Parks, Wildlife Clubs
|
|
Summer Reading ProgramsWe happily do Summer Reading Programs at libraries across the state when available. We focus mainly on Reptiles and Amphibians, but we usually can adjust to make it slightly more tailored to certain themes. These are lead by Lindsey, and we usually bring a few ambassadors as well. ~1 Hour -- Recommended donation $200
Popular with: Libraries
|
|
Virginia Animals you Have Probably Never Heard of… (But if You Have, You Have Probably Never Seen a Presentation on them…)Other than the title being a mile long, this program is a fun, lighthearted ride through many of Virginia's overlooked species. It is not focused on herps, but there are several herps in the presentation given by our "Snakeman" Ty Smith himself. ~1 Hour -- Recommended donation $100
Popular with: Master Naturalists, Community Programs, Wildlife Clubs
|
