Friends of York River State Park

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United States
Williamsburg, VA
Friends of York River State Park

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the natural, historic, and cultural resources of York River State Park.

Through labor, materials, community engagement, and advocacy, we advance the park's projects and its conservation mission.

10/26/2026

Join us tomorrow evening at 6:30pm at the Visitors Center for the friends group annual membership meeting. We'll share some accomplishments from the last year and gather feedback for projects for the new year.

10/20/2026

🍂 Fall Hayrides are coming to York River State Park!

Join park staff on Saturday, Oct. 24 or Saturday, Oct. 31 for a 45-minute hayride through the park and learn how the forest changes with the season.

Rides depart at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day, with a maximum of 18 people per ride, so reservations are required.

While you wait, stop by the Visitor Center for a fall activity — and the Friends group will be there helping make the afternoon a little more festive.

🎟️ Reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/121497200424

10/10/2026

Beautyberry Day: officially a wrap. 💜 We learned a little, wandered the park, and discovered that beautyberry jam is apparently the fastest way to make new friends. Thanks to everyone who came out for our first one - we had a blast!

10/03/2026

Never seen anything like this before. How about you? Any idea what causes this?

09/30/2026

Join us for a fun talk and walk with our Beautyberry Day, hosted by Friends of York River State Park! 💜

📆 October 3
🕥 Session 1: 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
🕥 Session 2: 1:30 - 3 p.m.

Those bright purple berries are one of the most eye-catching sights in a Virginia forest. Discover the story behind American Beautyberry during a short talk, then take a guided walk to see it growing in the wild. Attend the full program or stop by for either portion.

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-07-26-10-52-58-021758-ief

09/29/2026

Don't miss Beautyberry Day this Saturday (10/3) from 11am - 4pm at the York River State Park! Come learn a little about American beautyberry, then head out on a guided hike to find it growing along the trails.

12:00pm & 2:30pm - Beautyberry Talk
12:30pm & 3:00pm - Beautyberry Hike

09/12/2026

Your park needs you. The Friends of York River State Park is looking for 2 people to step into open board roles this fall: Secretary and Member-at-Large.

We’re a small board, which means each person really does help keep projects, events, and support for the park moving forward.

Secretary: attends the monthly board meeting, records minutes, helps keep track of membership, and helps with community events. Total time commitment is less than 10 hours a month.

Member-at-Large: attends the monthly board meeting and helps with projects and events as needed. It’s a great, low-pressure way to get involved, learn how the board works, and get your feet wet.

These positions will be filled at our annual membership meeting in October, so if you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, now’s a great time to raise your hand.

Send us a message here or email [email protected] to learn more.

08/23/2026

From Ranger Paige: York River State Park Rangers would like to congratulate our first 5 pups on becoming official B.A.R.K. Rangers! These dogs and their families practiced exemplary trail etiquette and safety and were rewarded with their official B.A.R.K. Ranger certificates, a York River State Park collar medallion and a pup cup.

If you think your dog would enjoy participating in our B.A.R.K. Ranger programs we have another hike coming up on August 29th, and several more dates scheduled for September. If you think your dog would enjoy a solo experience more, keep an eye out in September for the launch of our self-guided B.A.R.K. Ranger program. Thank you again to everyone who came out for inaugural hike, and we look forward to many more fantastic programs!

08/16/2026

Join us as we go on a Fossil Frenzy! Did you know that you can find relics of very old creatures right here on fossil beach?

📅 August 22
🕙 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📅 August 23
🕐 1 - 3 p.m.

Long before there was a York River State Park, or even a York River, 6 million plus years ago, marine creatures swam here in a shallow sea. Early whales, porpoises, sharks, clams, scallops, and snails all left traces of their existence which we now find as fossils.

ℹ️ https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-07-27-21-43-16-048626-z8u

08/03/2026

FOYRSP members: our first issue of the newsletter went out by email this morning. It included updates from park staff, a look at projects made possible by YOU and our sponsors, and a roundup of upcoming events. If you didn’t receive it, send us a DM on here with your email address and we’ll make sure you’re added to the list.

Address

9801 York River Park Road
Williamsburg, VA
23188

Website

https://www.virginiaparks.org/friends-of-york-river-state-park

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