New Experiences Posted Every Week! Say YES to NEW Adventures!
JOIN US IN BEING SPONTANEOUS ON MOST SATURDAYS!
So many people asked us, “if we don’t have a group in mind, can we still ride The Nature Bus and go on one of your nature experiences?” Our model is primarily for GROUPS up to 16 people. But we heard you! So we put together “Saturday Escapes!”
When we don’t have a private group tour scheduled, then it is your lucky opportunity to hop-on-board! So grab your seat before they are all taken.
Our public tours depart from REI in Town Center, Virginia Beach.
Our Upcoming Tours are listed below:
Upcoming Events
Give the gift of experience!
This is the perfect gift for nature enthusiasts. Select from a gift certificate value of $25, $50 or $100. View Details
TOUR NAME: DROP-IN AT TINKERGARTEN with The Nature Bus!
DROP-IN “small print” – Be sure to read carefully before purchasing a ticket. The drop-in fee is $35/child/class (no discounts or promo codes apply for a drop-in class). It is important for you to know that you will not appear on the class list or the class email contact list or the SMS text system. After you purchase this drop-in ticket, YOU will need to email (info@TheNatureBus.com) and text (757-288-9595) the owner with the following information: Your name, your email, your text-able cell number, the date(s) you purchased the drop-in ticket for, your child’s name, your child’s age, your child’s birthday so that we are AWARE that you purchased a drop-in spot. Since you won’t receive notifications, such as inclement weather class cancellation, YOU should text the teacher to confirm the class. Our rain date is 9/18 for any cancelled classes due to weather. This drop-in ticket is a final sale and cannot be refunded. But if your class is cancelled due to weather, you may attend on the rain day 9/18. Be sure you BRING your printed ticket to class to show that you registered for the class. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED FOR YOU TO JOIN US! SO HAPPY YOU WILL DROP-IN!
Below are the regular details so you will “be in the know” about how to find us, what to bring, etc.
Monday mornings, 11 am, at First Landing State Park for explorers 1 year old to 6 years old. Siblings under 1 year old may attend for free.
Summer Session (6 days) = 7/17, 7/31, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28, 9/11 (rain date: 9/18)
11:00 – 12:00 ONE HOUR TINKERGARTEN NATURE LESSON (After the one-hour class, perhaps stay and play with your new friends after class if you choose.)
> Fall Session (6 days) = 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 (rain date: 11/20)
> No Winter Session – see you in April 2024 for the next Spring session!
DESCRIPTION:
Join The Nature Bus for wonderful nature adventures to First Landing State Park! This family-friendly 6-week session is perfect for children and families who love the outdoors. COME PLAY OUTSIDE TOGETHER!
Outdoors is the classroom.
We have no walls.
Creatures are our teachers; Mud and sticks are our tools.
EVERY LESSON CONNECTS US TO NATURE!
“Invitations to play” ~ Each lesson is engineered to engage kids in play that they simply can’t refuse!
Kids learn best when they lead the way.
Child led; We help grownups support their child.
For families with young kids, spending purposeful time outside is more important than ever. To thrive in this dynamic world, children need outdoor play experiences that deliver the hands-on lessons, valuable social interactions, and restorative activity that can’t be gained from the tap of a screen. As parents, it’s our job to ensure they engage in these experiences early and often. But how?
While finding ways to create enriching outdoor moments is essential, it isn’t always easy. Getting outside might be a simple first step, but for a lot of us, knowing what to do next—and how to make it count— just doesn’t come naturally.
We’ve been there. That’s why you need Tinkergarten!
Tinkergarten helps families get outside to make the most of their kids’ early learning years. Designed by education experts and loved by all families, our play-based outdoor curriculum guides parents in raising healthy, confident, and capable kids.
Tinkergarten. Your guide to purposeful outdoor play.
$150 per child for the 6-week session ($25/class); siblings under 1 year old may attend for free; 10% discount for registered siblings (text/call owner/Suzanne 757-288-9595 for the promo code) DROP-IN FEE IS $35/child/class (no discounts or promo codes can apply to drop-in registration).
Note: You will need to pay the FLSP entrance fee/or have a park pass/or call/text Suzanne about carpool option (we help arrange carpool, but not for DROP-IN tickets).
Address: First Landing State Park 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Class Location: from Shore Drive, when you arrive you will see FLAGS indicating the entrance. Turn onto Cypress Swamp Drive (away from the beach; please go to the forested side). IMMEDIATELY after passing the ticket booth, turn right and park in the large parking lot. Look for our Outdoor Classroom (large green tarp) and other families.
Venue: First Landing State Park
Address:
TOUR NAME: Private Tour – Holiday Spirits with The Nature Bus
DATE: Tuesday, December 26
DURATION – aprox. 2.5 hours (ROUND TRIP): 5:00 – 7:30 (ish) (4:30 check-in)
PRICE: $350 ($22/person) (purchase your ticket at TheNatureBus.com > Calendar)
DESCRIPTION: Get into the holiday spirit by hopping on board! Such a FUN way to celebrate the beginning of your holiday season! We will head to the Virginia Beach oceanfront; we will actually drive on the beach boardwalk!!! With the sound of holiday music playing, you will see nautical holiday light scenes. The light displays include fish, crabs, elves, Santa, and more.
*Note: This tour is offered as a public tour or a private tour! Come alone, and make new friends OR bring a group of friends/family. Office party? This tour can also be purchased as a private tour for a group of up to 16 on a date of your choice. You can also purchase a GIFT CERTIFICATE to give the “gift of experience” during the holiday season.
Give the gift of experience!
This is the perfect gift for nature enthusiasts. Select from a gift certificate value of $25, $50 or $100. These can be applied to any one of our Saturday Escape tours; we offer these year round (starting at $25 per person). We have something of interest for everyone! Upon the purchase of one of our gift certificates, we will immediately mail it to you, or to an address you specify. So get yours today!
Some tour examples include: guided nature hikes, bird watching, stargazing, nature painting and journaling, kayaking, white water rafting, visits to the Great Dismal Swamp, Back Bay, the Eastern Shore and so much more!
*December date listed below are only a place-holder for purchasing gift certificates -> does not dictate when certificates can be used.
TOUR NAME: First Day Hike with The Nature Bus!
DATE: Monday, January 1st 2024
DURATION (ROUND TRIP): 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (traffic dependent; flexible return time)
Please arrive 15-30 min before departure to board the bus. (REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)
PRICE: $25 per person (admission to the museum included!)
DESCRIPTION: Begin the New Year by setting the intention to go outside! The Nature Bus will bring you on a guided First Day Walk inspired by the principles of forest bathing. Forest bathing (the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku) combines the restorative properties of meditation and nature for a refreshing start to the New Year. As you walk along the trails, your guide will encourage you to look deeply and connect with the natural world around you. The hike will help you to set positive intentions for the year to come. Whether you’re setting a resolution for health or you just enjoy the fresh winter air, we hope you’ll join us for this refreshing, peaceful First Day Hike!
TOUR NAME: Tour CBF Green Building + Birding with Award-Winning Guide
DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2024
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Princess Anne Recreation Center 1400 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
DURATION – approximately 4 hours (ROUND TRIP): 8:00 am – 12:00 noon – (ish) Flexible return time/Traffic dependent
PRICE: $65 per person (a tip for the guide is already included in this fee)
*Important Note: REGISTRATION OPENS on November 15 at 9 am. Please know that the annual Winter Wildlife Festival tickets often sell out within a few hours. It is advised that you purchase tickets right at 9 am!
Register and get your tickets directly from the City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation at this link:
DESCRIPTION: Join the heated Nature Bus and bird expert James Abbott for a guided walk at Pleasure House Point. The “National Park Service, Excellence in Education Award” was given to James! Pleasure House Point is a winter birding hotspot. Almost all of our local waterfowl species can be observed here, as well as wintering shorebirds and songbirds. We will tour the marshes, woodlands, and open water areas. Coastal areas can be colder due to wind, so dress warmly. This trip involves walking on a sandy surface. After our winter walk, hot chocolate will be served to you before heading inside the Chesapeake Bay Foundations’s ( CBF) Brock Environmental Center, a Certified Living Building. We will be met by a second tour guide, who will show off the behind the scenes of this spectacular building. This is one of the most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings IN THE WORLD! Visit TheNatureBus.com for more trip details; be sure to click the green button for important information!
TOUR NAME: Birding on the Eastern Shore + Lunch in Cape Charles
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 2024
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Bayside Recreation Center 4500 First Ct Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
DURATION – approximately 7 hours (ROUND TRIP): 9:30 – 4:30 (ish) Flexible return time/Traffic dependent
PRICE: $90 per person (a tip for the guide is already included in this fee)
*Important Note: REGISTRATION OPENS on November 15 at 9 am. Please know that the annual Winter Wildlife Festival tickets often sell out within a few hours. It is advised that you purchase tickets right at 9 am!
Register and get your tickets directly from the City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation at this link:
DESCRIPTION: Join the heated Nature Bus and bird expert James Abbott for a trip to some birding hotspots. Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, an engineering marvel from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore; they have a slogan over there “You’ll Love Our Nature!” The Eastern Shore of Virginia plays host to tens of thousands of waterfowl every winter season. This provides possible opportunities to observe truly spectacular congregations of birds on the water and in farm fields. In late January, in particular, large flocks of snow geese and other waterfowl congregate on the eastern shore as they make their way back north. We will be cruising the back roads and visiting several protected areas as well as the towns of Oyster and Cape Charles. We will be mostly on the heated bus, driving much of the time, hopping on and off of the bus to view birds at a variety of locations. Some light walking will be involved. Winds can make several of our stops feel colder, so dress warmly. We will visit the beautiful town of Cape Charles for 1.5 hours for lunch (bring $ for your lunch/drinks). In town, there are several dining choices you can walk to along Main Street. Be sure to stop in to the candy shop! Visit TheNatureBus.com for more trip details; be sure to click the green button for important information!
TOUR NAME: Definitely Not Dismal: a nature tour with a bit of history !
DATE: Monday, January 29, 2024
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Mount Trashmore Park 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
DURATION – approximately 7 hours (ROUND TRIP): 9:00 – 4:00 (ish) Flexible return time/Traffic dependent.
NOTE: There will be a 1-hour stop for lunch (bring $ for your food and drink)
PRICE: $90 per person (a tip for the guide is already included in this fee)
*Important Note: REGISTRATION OPENS on November 15 at 9 am. Please know that the annual Winter Wildlife Festival tickets often sell out within a few hours. It is advised that you purchase tickets right at 9 am!
Register and get your tickets directly from the City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation at this link:
DESCRIPTION: If there were a place that was at once, one of the largest peat bogs in North America, the most important wildlife habitats in Mid-Atlantic region, once over 1.28 million acres of wilderness, listed by Audubon Society as a Globally Important Area, designated as an Underground Railroad Network Freedom Site. Would you go? What if it is one of the top three homes for Black Bears in the East, with more than 200 bird species, 334 plants from 100 plant families? How about if this place was where the poet Robert Frost came to commit suicide, or the place George Washington came to drain the swamp? Or just simply join notable visitors including Poe, Wordsworth, Sir Thomas Moore, Madison, Monroe, and Harriett Tubman? Here’s your chance! While much of this tour is on the heated bus, this tour involves some light walking on short wooden boardwalks and a dirt trail. Visit TheNatureBus.com for trip itinerary; be sure to click the green button for important information!
Proposed itinerary (subject to change):
- Leave from Mount Trashmore 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach for the Great Dismal Swamp. Drive through the former swamp on the way along route 58, White Marsh and Desert Roads. Mr. Allen Carter, a retired Dismal Swamp refuge forester, will offer participants information about the most common birds, animals, and plant species that inhabit the Dismal Swamp. The guide will discuss the various human influences that have impacted the ecology and integrity of the swamp, and the techniques that managers are currently using to restore the natural environment there. Special efforts to reintroduce the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and control invasive plant and animal species will also be mentioned.
- Railroad Ditch. Begin exploring on several short trails to see exhibits on marronage. Observe the damage the Swamp has endured from tornadoes and widespread peat fires. Walk boardwalks safely above the Swamp for spotting wildlife and plants.
- Lake Drummond. Stop and rest on the pier and perhaps have your snack here.
- Washington Ditch. Wander briefly on trails largely on boardwalks over the Swamp. Imagine the perils of enslaved workers digging by hand in thigh-deep snake-infested muddy water a shallow ditch from Dismal Town to Lake Drummond. Consider the dozens of lumbering operations bringing shingles and lumber out of the wilderness.
- Jericho Ditch. (if time allows) This ditch was a replacement to Washington Ditch and went from Lake Drummond to the village of Jericho.
- Return to Mount Trashmore, Virginia Beach.
TOUR NAME: Chincoteague’s Crown Jewels – 10 hour tour!
DATE: Saturday, February 3, 2024
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Mount Trashmore Park 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
DURATION – approximately 10 hours (ROUND TRIP): 8:00 – 6:00 (ish) Flexible return time/Traffic dependent.
NOTE: There will be a stop for lunch (bring $ for your food and drink)
PRICE: $145 per person (a tip for the guide is already included in this fee)
*Important Note: REGISTRATION OPENS on November 15 at 9 am. Please know that the annual Winter Wildlife Festival tickets often sell out within a few hours. It is advised that you purchase tickets right at 9 am!
Register and get your tickets directly from the City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation at this link:
DESCRIPTION: Join The Nature Bus for a spectacular all day tour to the town of Chincoteague and the National Wildlife Refuge. Birding expert, James Abbott, will be your guide! Although the bus ride is more than two hours, each direction, the naturalist will provide an excellent education program while riding. Participants will be taken up the eastern shore of Virginia and over the marsh causeway to one of the state’s most popular places to visit. Situated on the southern end of Assateague Island, Chincoteague NWR is one of the crown jewels of Virginia natural areas. The Refuge in the winter is a very important place for waterfowl along the Atlantic flyway. This tour will take you onto the refuge along the wonderful wildlife drive, into the marsh to observe the unique Chincoteague Ponies and Delmarva Fox Squirrel, and down to the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. We will also be lunching in the beautiful town of Chincoteague. February can be cold, so dress warmly. There will be some light walking involved. Visit TheNatureBus.com for trip itinerary; be sure to click the green button for important information!
TOUR NAME: Such a GRAND View!
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 2024
DEPARTURE LOCATION: Mount Trashmore Park 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
DURATION – approximately 5 hours (ROUND TRIP): 8:00 am – 1:00 pm – (ish) Flexible return time/Traffic dependent.
PRICE: $70 per person (a tip for the guide is already included in this fee)
*Important Note: REGISTRATION OPENS on November 15 at 9 am. Please know that the annual Winter Wildlife Festival tickets often sell out within a few hours. It is advised that you purchase tickets right at 9 am!
Register and get your tickets directly from the City of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation at this link:
DESCRIPTION: Join the heated Nature Bus and bird expert James Abbott for a guided winter waterfowl trek to Grandview Beach in Hampton. Grandview Nature Preserve juts out into the Chesapeake Bay off the northeastern tip of Hampton. Its combination of tidal marsh, maritime scrub and beach habitat make it a hotspot for winter bird diversity. It boasts a tremendous amount of waterfowl including Harlequin Duck and has had a few rare sightings of Snowy Owl on the lighthouse ruins. This tour will involve beach walking. It is about 1.6 miles to the over-wash area. It is 3 miles to walk to the end at Factory Point. Dress for colder temperatures due to wind on the beach. Visit TheNatureBus.com for more trip details; be sure to click the green button for important information!
