Melanie Choukas-Bradley

Theodore Roosevelt’s North Dakota: Badlands and More (Smithsonian Associates)
2022-09-17 18:00 - 2022-09-21 12:30 (America/New_York) | Various Locations in North Dakota, Bismarck, ND, United States
In 1883, Theodore Roosevelt looked to the Badlands of western North Dakota as a place where he could transform himself from an asthmatic 24-year-old New Yorker into a big-game hunter, rancher, and authentic cowboy. A year later, it took on new meaning as place of refuge and solace after the deaths of his wife and mother.
The Badlands did transform Roosevelt over the course of the more than three decades he lived or visited there, reinventing himself into the kind of vigorous outdoorsman he’d idealized as a youth—and that shaped his public image as president. Perhaps more importantly, this corner of the West turned him into a passionate conservationist dedicated to the preservation of the rugged landscapes and native wildlife of the place he described as “where the romance of my life began.”
Experience those landscapes—filled with dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—on an extraordinary 5-day study tour led by author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.
The tour begins in Bismarck with a welcome dinner and introduction by the tour staff. The following morning, travel by bus to the historic town of Medora, where the Rough Riders Hotel (the modern incarnation of an inn where TR once stayed), provides a base for the group. Over the course of the next days, explore the north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by bus and on foot, as well as the site of Roosevelt’s Elkhorn ranch along the Little Missouri River (easy and moderate hiking options offered). Clay Jenkinson, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University, and National Park Service rangers are among the specialists who offer insights into Roosevelt’s pivotal years in the Badlands and the area’s natural history.
Say farewell to North Dakota with an intimate private reception and a performance by local musician Jessie Veeder at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora.
The next morning, the return trip to Bismarck includes a stop at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum before your transfer to the airport.
Travel Information
Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to Bismarck, North Dakota. Round-trip fares typically range from $400 to $600 from Washington-area airports; American, United, and Delta serve this route.
Important note: Once the tour has reached its minimum registration, participants will be notified and encouraged to purchase airline tickets.
General Information

Cost includes 4 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 10 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees. An airport shuttle is provided by the hotel.
Single-room supplement $300 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
Once registered, additional information will be sent via email. For questions, please call the tours office at 202-633-8599.
Registrants may want to consider purchasing trip insurance.
For additional tour information:

Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

Tickets:

$1,750 – Double Room Member

$2,050 – Single Room Member

$2,100 – Double Room Non-Member

$2,400 – Single Room Non-Member

More information on the Smithsonian Associates website.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for participation on all tours; additionally, current CDC and Smithsonian COVID-19 guidelines (at the time of the tour) will be followed, including but not limited to masks on the bus and indoors.

Forest Bathing Walk with Author Melanie Choukas-Bradley — Politics and Prose
2022-10-07 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | DC
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of The Joy of Forest Bathing and A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a fall forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006.

We will meander under tall trees, cross picturesque bridges over musical streams, and climb stone steps through a century-old cultivated and wild woodland landscape reminiscent of “the secret garden.”

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in the 1980s in Japan and it is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for nature. Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice akin to meditation, yoga and tai chi that involves tuning in to the beauty and wonder of your natural surroundings with all of your senses.
Melanie is a nature and forest therapy guide with certification from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides & Programs and she has participated in guided shinrin-yoku walks throughout Japan.

She will guide you on a calming and rejuvenating walk through the Tregaron woodland with plenty of time to slow down and soak up the beauty of this enchanting wild garden, one of the best kept secrets in our city.

Meet at the iron gate entrance on Klingle Road, NW. Please note there is another entrance to the Conservancy on Macomb Street, NW and also pedestrian access from the Rock Creek Park Klingle Valley Trail.

Know Before You Go:
Politics and Prose is now following DC Government and CDC guidelines for Covid protocol. Masks are optional. We are encouraging the use of wearing masks but will not be checking vaccination cards or mandating that everyone wear a mask.
We’ll continue monitoring the Covid situation closely, and any decision to reinstate a mask mandate or vaccine acknowledgement requirement will be tied to the community rating system recently introduced by the CDC.

Preparation for the Walk: Dress in comfortable clothing and be prepared for slow walking on natural trails and stone steps with some hill climbing. Bring rain gear if showers are expected.

Weather Policy: We will go ahead in light intermittent rain but will reschedule if steady heavy rain is in the forecast.

Directions, Map and other information:
Tregaron is a 10-15 minute walk from the Cleveland Park and Woodley Metro stops and can be accessed on foot or by bicycle (no bikes allowed within Tregaron) from the Klingle Valley Trail in Rock Creek Park.

We will meet at the iron gate entrance at 3031 Klingle Road, NW. You may also enter from 3100 Macomb Street, NW and walk through the park to meet up with us at the gate on Klingle.

Please note: there are no restrooms at Tregaron. There is a Starbucks on Connecticut Avenue across from the Zoo on Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, each of which is a 10-15 minute walk from the meeting place.

Please visit this site for detailed transportation options and directions, a map and information about the Tregaron Conservancy:

https://www.tregaronconservancy.org/directions/.
Registration Limited to 15 people.

Please let us know any questions.

Email: classes@politics-prose.com

Tickets: https://www.politics-prose.com/product/forest-bathing-trip-product

The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect With Wild Places and Rejuvenate Your Life

Capitol Tree Walk with Author Melanie Choukas-Bradley — Politics and Prose
2022-10-15 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum, Washington, DC, United States
Join naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of City of Trees and several other nature books, for a fall walking tour of the historic and botanically diverse trees of the U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum (the new official name of the site). The visit offers the chance to admire trees in early autumn splendor including several species of maple and magnolia, century-old oaks, pecans, giant sequoia, and the intriguing jujube. Many of the trees, such as oaks, pecans, black walnuts and dogwoods, will be bearing fall fruit, a perfect time to study and appreciate them.
Learn about the many official state trees on the grounds and get an overview of Frederick Law Olmsted’s design for the Capitol landscape, which shares elements of his plan for Central Park. Stop at notable sections of the grounds to see the five crabapple trees planted to honor the five Sullivan brothers who died when their naval ship went down during World War II; a horse-chestnut propagated from Anne Frank’s tree in Amsterdam; and a white oak planted by House Speaker Sam Rayburn.
Melanie is intimately acquainted with the Capitol’s trees, having studied them for 40 years beginning with research for the first edition of her local nature classic, City of Trees.
In addition to City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, DC, Melanie Choukas-Bradley is the award-winning author of six other regional nature titles, including A Year in Rock Creek Park, Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island and The Joy of Forest Bathing, all available for sale through Politics and Prose.
We will meet in Front of the US Botanic Garden Conservatory, at 10 AM on Saturday, October 15th.
Know Before You Go:
Politics and Prose is now following DC Government and CDC guidelines for Covid protocol. Masks are optional. We are encouraging the use of wearing masks but will not be checking vaccination cards or mandating that everyone wear a mask. We’ll continue monitoring the covid situation closely, and any decision to reinstate a mask mandate or vaccine acknowledgement requirment will be tied to the community rating system recently introduced by the CDC.
Preparation for the Walk: Dress in comfortable clothing and be prepared for slow walking around the Capitol grounds. (No stairs). Bring rain gear if showers are expected.
Weather Policy: We will go ahead in light intermittent rain but will reschedule if steady heavy rain is in the forecast.
Directions, Map and other information: Please visit this site for directions, a map and information about the US Botanic Garden Conservatory: https://www.usbg.gov/conservatory
Tickets: https://www.politics-prose.com/product/capitol-tree-walk-trip-product
Registration Limited to 20 participants.
Please let us know any questions. Email: classes@politics-prose.com
City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, DC

Autumn Hiking: Sugarloaf Mountain — Smithsonian Associates
2022-11-08 10:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | West View Parking Lot: Sugarloaf Mountain, Dickerson, MD, 20842, United States
Note: This program has a rescheduled date (originally November 11, 2022).
Natural beauty and fascinating history await this fall. Spend an autumn day hiking to the summit of Washington, D.C.’s local mountain, a natural treasure less than an hour’s drive from the city. The picturesque and rocky Sugarloaf offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside of Montgomery and Frederick counties in Maryland. With color in the trees and fallen leaves on the ground, exciting rural vistas open up.
Guided by popular study leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley, learn about the mountain’s plants and wildlife, seasonal changes, geology, and history. Spend time on the summit, composed of pink quartzite and forested with uncommon table mountain pines and mountain laurel, for a light lunch and a bit of “forest bathing.”
In addition to the deep dive into the flora and fauna of our local monadnock, get insights into two remarkable preservation stories: Gordon Strong’s lifelong mission to save Sugarloaf Mountain from development and keep it open for public enjoyment and education under the administration of Stronghold, a nonprofit corporation, and Montgomery County’s innovative 93,000-acre farmland preservation area known as the Agricultural Reserve. Hikers also hear tales about how the Sugarloaf Mountain plans of two of the 20th century’s most formidable personalities, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Frank Lloyd Wright, were thwarted.
Choukas-Bradley spent 20 years living near the base of Sugarloaf in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve and has authored two books about the mountain: one about its trees and wildflowers, and the other Sugarloaf: The Mountain’s History, Geology and Natural Lore.
Additional Date Options

November 9
November 10

General Information

Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Monday, November 7, 2022.
The tour meets on site at West View parking lot, Sugarloaf Mountain Drive, Dickerson, MD.
Tour participants must be in good physical condition to hike the steep trail to the summit, which includes a long set of stone steps. Total hike distance is less than 1 ½ miles, and many stops are made en route. Lunch is not included; please pack your own food to enjoy on the summit.
This tour is limited to 20 participants.
For additional tour information:

Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

Please Note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for participation on all tours; additionally, current CDC and Smithsonian COVID-19 guidelines (at the time of the tour) will be followed.

Autumn Hiking: Sugarloaf Mountain — Smithsonian Associates
2022-11-10 10:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | West View Parking Lot: Sugarloaf Mountain, Dickerson, MD, 20842, United States
Note: This program has a rescheduled date (originally November 11, 2022).
Natural beauty and fascinating history await this fall. Spend an autumn day hiking to the summit of Washington, D.C.’s local mountain, a natural treasure less than an hour’s drive from the city. The picturesque and rocky Sugarloaf offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside of Montgomery and Frederick counties in Maryland. With color in the trees and fallen leaves on the ground, exciting rural vistas open up.
Guided by popular study leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley, learn about the mountain’s plants and wildlife, seasonal changes, geology, and history. Spend time on the summit, composed of pink quartzite and forested with uncommon table mountain pines and mountain laurel, for a light lunch and a bit of “forest bathing.”
In addition to the deep dive into the flora and fauna of our local monadnock, get insights into two remarkable preservation stories: Gordon Strong’s lifelong mission to save Sugarloaf Mountain from development and keep it open for public enjoyment and education under the administration of Stronghold, a nonprofit corporation, and Montgomery County’s innovative 93,000-acre farmland preservation area known as the Agricultural Reserve. Hikers also hear tales about how the Sugarloaf Mountain plans of two of the 20th century’s most formidable personalities, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Frank Lloyd Wright, were thwarted.
Choukas-Bradley spent 20 years living near the base of Sugarloaf in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve and has authored two books about the mountain: one about its trees and wildflowers, and the other Sugarloaf: The Mountain’s History, Geology and Natural Lore.
Additional Date Options

November 8
November 10

General Information

Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Monday, November 7, 2022.
The tour meets on site at West View parking lot, Sugarloaf Mountain Drive, Dickerson, MD.
Tour participants must be in good physical condition to hike the steep trail to the summit, which includes a long set of stone steps. Total hike distance is less than 1 ½ miles, and many stops are made en route. Lunch is not included; please pack your own food to enjoy on the summit.
This tour is limited to 20 participants.
For additional tour information:

Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

Please Note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for participation on all tours; additionally, current CDC and Smithsonian COVID-19 guidelines (at the time of the tour) will be followed.

Forest Bathing Walk with Author Melanie Choukas-Bradley — Politics & Prose
2023-05-05 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Tregaron Conservancy, 3031 Klingle Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 5 BECAUSE OF RAIN

Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of The Joy of Forest Bathing and A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a spring forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006. We will meander under tall trees, cross picturesque bridges over musical streams, and climb stone steps through a century-old cultivated and wild woodland landscape reminiscent of “the secret garden.”
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in the 1980s in Japan and it is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for nature. Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice akin to meditation, yoga and tai chi that involves tuning in to the beauty and wonder of your natural surroundings with all of your senses.
Melanie is a nature and forest therapy guide with certification from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides & Programs and she has participated in guided shinrin-yoku walks throughout Japan. She will guide you on a calming and rejuvenating walk through the Tregaron woodland with plenty of time to slow down and soak up the beauty of this enchanting wild garden, one of the best kept secrets in our city.
Meet at the iron gate entrance on Klingle Road, NW. Please note there is another entrance to the Conservancy on Macomb Street, NW and also pedestrian access from the Rock Creek Park Klingle Valley Trail.
Know Before You Go:
Preparation for the Walk: Dress in comfortable clothing and be prepared for slow walking on natural trails and stone steps with some hill climbing. Bring rain gear if showers are expected.
Weather Policy: We will go ahead in light intermittent rain but will reschedule if steady heavy rain is in the forecast.
Directions, Map and other information: Tregaron is a 10-15 minute walk from the Cleveland Park and Woodley Metro stops and can be accessed on foot or by bicycle (no bikes allowed within Tregaron) from the Klingle Valley Trail in Rock Creek Park.
We will meet at the iron gate entrance at 3031 Klingle Road, NW. You may also enter from 3100 Macomb Street, NW and walk through the park to meet up with us at the gate on Klingle.
Please note: there are no restrooms at Tregaron. There is a Starbucks on Connecticut Avenue across from the Zoo on Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, each of which is a 10-15 minute walk from the meeting place.
Please visit this site for detailed transportation options and directions, a map and information about the Tregaron Conservancy.
Registration Limited to 15 people.
Please let us know any questions. Email: classes@politics-prose.com

Forest Bathing Trip Product

$50.00

click here for details

Capitol Tree Walk with Author Melanie Choukas-Bradley — Politics & Prose
2023-05-13 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20016, United States
Join naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of City of Trees and several other nature books, for a spring walking tour of historic and botanically diverse trees of the U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum (the new official name of the site). The visit offers the chance to admire trees in springtime splendor including several species of maple and magnolia, century-old oaks, pecans, giant sequoia, and the intriguing jujube.
Learn about the many official state trees on the grounds and get an overview of Frederick Law Olmsted’s design for the Capitol landscape, which shares elements of his plan for Central Park. Stop at notable sections of the grounds to see the five crabapple trees planted to honor the five Sullivan brothers who died when their naval ship went down during World War II; a horse-chestnut propagated from Anne Frank’s tree in Amsterdam; and a white oak planted by House Speaker Sam Rayburn.
Melanie is intimately acquainted with the Capitol’s trees, having studied them for 40 years beginning with research for the first edition of her local nature classic, City of Trees.
In addition to City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, DC, Melanie is the award-winning author of six other regional nature titles, including A Year in Rock Creek Park, Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island and The Joy of Forest Bathing, all available for sale through Politics and Prose.
We will meet in front of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, at 10 AM.
Know Before You Go: Politics and Prose is now following DC Government and CDC guidelines for Covid protocol. Masks are optional. We are encouraging the use of wearing masks but will not be checking vaccination cards or mandating that everyone wear a mask. We’ll continue monitoring the covid situation closely, and any decision to reinstate a mask mandate or vaccine acknowledgement requirement will be tied to the community rating system recently introduced by the CDC.
Preparation for the Walk: Dress in comfortable clothing and be prepared for slow walking around the Capitol grounds. (No stairs). Bring rain gear if showers are expected.
Weather Policy: We will go ahead in light intermittent rain but will reschedule if steady heavy rain is in the forecast.
Directions, Map and other information: Please visit this site for directions, a map and information about the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory: https://www.usbg.gov/conservatory
Registration Limited to 20 participants.
Please let us know any questions. Email: classes@politics-prose.com

Capitol Tree Walk Trip Product

$50.00

Paddle on the Potomac (Nature Forward)
2023-07-19 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Key Ridge Boathouse – Georgetown Waterfront, WA, 20007, United States
Join us at the Key Bridge Boathouse for a summer paddling trip around Theodore Roosevelt Island. Discover the magic of paddling around DC’s historic 88.5 acre island in the Potomac beneath the boughs of magnificent sycamores, cottonwoods, silver maples, black walnuts, basswoods and river birches.
Witness the blooms of summer wildflowers growing along the shoreline and the thrill of spotting ospreys, bald eagles, herons and egrets, and the noisy kingfisher!
Our leader is the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island, so she knows this area well. Canoes or kayaks can be rented or you can bring your own. Registration fee does not include boat rental.

Theodore Roosevelt’s North Dakota: Badlands, Bison, and the Making of a Conservationist — Smithsonian Associates
2023-10-07 18:00 - 2023-10-11 12:00 (America/North_Dakota/Center) | Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
In 1883, Theodore Roosevelt looked to the Badlands of western North Dakota as a place where he could transform himself from an asthmatic 24-year-old New Yorker into a big-game hunter, rancher, and authentic cowboy. A year later, it took on new meaning as a place of refuge and solace after the deaths of his wife and mother.
Over the course of the more than three decades he lived or visited there, the Badlands did indeed transform Roosevelt into the kind of vigorous outdoorsman that he’d idealized as a youth—and that shaped his public image as president. Perhaps more importantly, this corner of the West turned him into a passionate conservationist dedicated to the preservation of the rugged landscapes and native wildlife of the place he described as “where the romance of my life began.”
Experience those landscapes—filled with dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—on a 5-day study tour led by author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.
The tour begins in Bismarck with a welcome dinner and introduction by the tour staff. The following morning, travel by bus to the historic town of Medora, where the Rough Riders Hotel (the modern incarnation of an inn where TR once stayed) provides a base for the group. Over the course of the next days, explore the north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by bus and on foot, as well as the site of Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch along the Little Missouri River (easy and moderate hiking options offered). Clay Jenkinson, Theodore Roosevelt Humanities Scholar at Dickinson State University’s Theodore Roosevelt Center, and National Park Service rangers offer insights into Roosevelt’s pivotal years in the Badlands and the area’s natural history.
Say farewell to North Dakota with an intimate private reception and a performance by local musician Jessie Veeder at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora.
The next morning, the return trip to Bismarck includes a stop at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum before your transfer to the airport.
Know Before You Go

Program begins Saturday, October 7, at 6 p.m. with dinner in Bismarck and ends Wednesday, October 11, with a midday transfer to Bismarck Airport.
Cost includes 4 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 10 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees. An airport shuttle is provided by the hotel.
Single-room supplement $325 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
Once participants are registered, additional information will be sent via email. For questions, please call the tours office at 202-633-8599. We highly suggest registrants consider personal trip insurance. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
Travel information: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to Bismarck, North Dakota. Round-trip fares typically range from $400 to $600 from Washington-area airports; American, United, and Delta serve this route.
Important note: Once the tour has reached its minimum registration, participants will be notified and encouraged to purchase airline tickets.

General Information

Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, October 6, 2023.
Smithsonian is a mask-friendly environment. Masks are strongly recommended to be worn on buses at all times and may also be required at various indoor sites.
For additional tour information:

Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

$1,865
Double Room Member

$2,215
Double Room Non-Member

$2,190
Single Room Member

$2,540
Single Room Non-Member

Location:

Detailed information for overnight tours
is mailed approximately FOUR WEEKS
prior to departure.

Fall Tree Walk through the Regional Garden (On-site Tour)
2023-10-20 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20016, United States
Spend an autumn evening strolling through the Regional Garden, where native fall fruits are abundant and splashes of leaf color are beginning to show through. Join Melanie as you walk and learn to identify trees of the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Coastal Plain. During the walk, Melanie will guide you in identifying tupelo, hop-hornbeam, red buckeye, pawpaw, common persimmon, oaks, and many other native trees. She will also share some of the arboreal history of Washington, D.C., which has long been known as the “City of Trees,” and offer ideas for self-guided tree tours in and around the nation’s capital.
Intended Audience: Adult All Levels: Suitable for all learners, this program will provide a variety of content. Program providers will answer both introductory and more advanced questions.
Please note: This tour is held outdoors. We suggest bringing sunscreen, protective clothing, and water. The tour is canceled if it rains or during times of extreme heat (heat index of 95 degrees or higher/Code Red weather alert).
DATE: Friday, October 20
TIME: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Gated Outdoor Garden; Please meet on the Terrace by the entrance to the Conservatory
FREE: Pre-registration required –
REGISTER HERE: https://usbg.doubleknot.com/registration/register.aspx#

CANCELLATION POLICY
The U.S. Botanic Garden reserves the right to substitute instructors or cancel programs when necessary.

Nature Hike in the Potomac Gorge at Carderock, Maryland — Smithsonian Associates
2023-10-24 09:00 - 2023-10-26 12:00 (America/New_York) | Billy Goat Trail, C North Parking Lot, Carderock., MD, 20817, United States
Join author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley for an autumn nature hike in the scenic Potomac Gorge at Carderock, Maryland, and learn how to forest bathe. Hike on the Billy Goat Trail, section C, starting at the Carderock climbing area.
The trail offers dramatic river vistas and passes through a mature forest of oaks, hickories, maples, beeches, black walnuts, and sycamores. Stop along the route to admire trees with their autumn foliage and fruit, notice birds and other wildlife, and see wildflowers. Midway in the walk, enjoy a few moments of forest bathing, quietly appreciating the splendor of the surroundings. The hike returns to the Carderock climbing area parking lot on the C&O Canal towpath.
Choukas-Bradley is the author of City of Trees, The Joy of Forest Bathing, and several other nature books.
Know Before You Go

Tour participants meet at Billy Goat Trail C, North Parking Lot.
Bring water, a snack, and comfortable, sturdy shoes. You must be in good physical condition for this hike.
The trail covers some ups and downs and traverses rocks and tree roots. The hike is approximately 2 miles round trip.
Additional information will be emailed the week before the tour.

Additional Date Options for this Tour

October 25
October 26

Book Sales Information

Purchase your copy of City of Trees by Melanie Choukas-Bradley here.
Purchase your copy of A Year in Rock Creek Park by Melanie Choukas-Bradley here.
Purchase your copy of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island by Melanie Choukas-Bradley here.
SPECIAL NOTE: Politics and Prose is offering a 10% discount to Smithsonian Associates ticket-holders. To claim your discount, enter the code SPECIAL10 (no space between letters and numbers) in the “Coupon discount” or “Comments” section on Politics and Prose’s check-out page.

General Information

Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Monday, October 23, 2023.
Smithsonian is a mask-friendly environment. Masks are strongly recommended to be worn on buses at all times and may also be required at various indoor sites.
For additional tour information:

Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

Politics and Prose: Capitol Tree Walk with Author Melanie Choukas-Bradley
2023-11-04 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum, Washington, DC, United States
Join naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of City of Trees and several other nature books, for a fall walking tour of the historic and botanically diverse trees of the U.S. Capitol Grounds and Arboretum (the new official name of the site). The visit offers the chance to admire trees in early autumn splendor including several species of maple and magnolia, century-old oaks, pecans, giant sequoia, and the intriguing jujube. Many of the trees, such as oaks, pecans, black walnuts and dogwoods, will be bearing fall fruit, a perfect time to study and appreciate them.
Learn about the many official state trees on the grounds and get an overview of Frederick Law Olmsted’s design for the Capitol landscape, which shares elements of his plan for Central Park. Stop at notable sections of the grounds to see the five crabapple trees planted to honor the five Sullivan brothers who died when their naval ship went down during World War II; a horse-chestnut propagated from Anne Frank’s tree in Amsterdam; and a white oak planted by House Speaker Sam Rayburn.
Melanie is intimately acquainted with the Capitol’s trees, having studied them for 40 years beginning with research for the first edition of her local nature classic, City of Trees. In addition to City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, DC, Melanie Choukas-Bradley is the award-winning author of six other regional nature titles, including A Year in Rock Creek Park, Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island and The Joy of Forest Bathing, all available for sale through Politics and Prose.
We will meet in Front of the US Botanic Garden Conservatory, at 10 AM on Saturday, November 4th.
Know Before You Go:
Politics and Prose is now following DC Government and CDC guidelines for Covid protocol. Masks are optional. We are encouraging the use of wearing masks but will not be checking vaccination cards or mandating that everyone wear a mask. We’ll continue monitoring the covid situation closely, and any decision to reinstate a mask mandate or vaccine acknowledgement requirment will be tied to the community rating system recently introduced by the CDC.
Preparation for the Walk: Dress in comfortable clothing and be prepared for slow walking around the Capitol grounds. (No stairs). Bring rain gear if showers are expected.
Weather Policy: We will go ahead in light intermittent rain but will reschedule if steady heavy rain is in the forecast.
Directions, Map and other information: Please visit this site for directions, a map and information about the US Botanic Garden Conservatory: https://www.usbg.gov/conservatory
Registration Limited to 20 participants.
Please let us know any questions. Email: classes@politics-prose.com
