The 6th Annual Kingman Island Friends and Family Day will be held on Saturday, October 17th, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM!

The event is free to attend. Advance registration is encouraged but not required.

2026 Activities and Partners
FAQs
Event Maps

2026 Activities

We’re excited to share the confirmed activities for this year’s event! Thank you to all of our partners for leading these activities.

ASL interpretation will be available at this event. Activities with the sign language interpretation icon will have a dedicated session with ASL interpretation. Additional interpreters will be available to support event attendees at other activities upon request. Stop by the DOEE tent at the RFK Lot 6 Island Entrance or Kingman Meadow for more information.

  • Join ReThread DC for an all ages clothing swap. Stop by our tent to drop-off or swap your donations of washed, gently-used clothing from 11am-3pm. Then head next door to upcycle your new find into Kingman merch!

  • You asked for merch, and we're bringing it to you with a sustainable twist! Bring your own clothing item or accessory and transform it into Kingman and Heritage Islands merch through the art of block printing!

    Designs will work best on light colored fabrics. A limited number of previously donated items will be available to use if you don't have your own item to bring.

  • Join Anacostia Riverkeeper and Anacostia Watershed Society for a motorized boat tour, where you'll learn about the history of the Anacostia and its surrounding communities, environmental threats, river wildlife, infrastructure along the river, and anything else you’d want to know!

    Registration will be walk-up on the day of the event in the Kingman Island Meadow. There is no pre-event registration option. Spots are limited.

    Boat rides will last 45 minutes and begin at 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00.

    The 1:00 session will have ASL interpreters, with a number of seats specifically reserved for Deaf participants. Email kingmanisland@dc.gov for any accessibility questions.

  • Green Boats is back! Do you want to explore Kingman Lake by water while also cleaning up our river? Guided by Living Classrooms paddling staff, participants will partner up and paddle on Kingman Lake in search of trash. Participants will be provided with basic instructions, gloves, and trash grabbers. No paddling experience is required! Age requirement: 4 years and older.

    Not joining us on the water? Stop by our info table to play a game about marine debris and try sitting in a kayak on land!

    Register for all sessions on event day.

    • Session 1: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    • Session 2: 12:15 - 1:15 PM

    • Session 3: 1:30 - 2:30 PM

  • Are you curious about how spending time in nature can benefit your health? Join an engaging forest therapy walk on Kingman Island with the with Association of Nature and Forest Therapy guide and DC Master Naturalist, Danielle Smith. Forest therapy is a practice that involves guided walks in nature to promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This will be a slow and low-impact walk to explore the Islands through your different senses.

    Advance registration is recommended as spots are limited. Register here.

    This activity will run from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM.

  • Explore, discover, and connect with nature alongside other young people in this kid-centered bird walk with the DC Bird Alliance Junior Ambassadors.

    Guided walks will begin at 12 PM, 1 PM, and 2 PM.

    The 2 PM session will have ASL interpretation. Email kingmanisland@dc.gov for any accessibility questions.

  • Who have you observed at Kingman and Heritage Islands? A Great Blue Heron wading in the water? A Monarch Butterfly fluttering over the meadow? A Spotted Turtle swimming under the footbridge? Create your favorite critter out of clay! Stop by our table to learn about Keystone Species and Species of Greater Conservation Need, and make a memento to take home from your island adventure.

  • Want to learn why trees are so important in the District? Join Casey Trees, who will have activities for all ages, including a Leaf Rubbing Craft, Tree Bingo Game and a Scavenger Hunt using their Kingman and Heritage Islands specific tree guide. You can also learn about basic tips for tree identification while using the Casey Trees Species Guide! Talk to us about what we do in the city and how you can get free trees for your yard or community.

  • Have you ever wanted to explore the walking trails of Kingman and Heritage Islands? Are you interested in learning the difference between native and invasive trees? Join forester Alex Grieve from DDOT's urban forestry division for a 30-minute guided walking tour of the islands! Participants will learn about island restoration projects and tree identification skills. All ages welcome!

    Tree walks will begin at 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM.

    The 11:30 AM session will have ASL interpreters. Email kingmanisland@dc.gov for any accessibility questions.

  • Come get crafty and make your very own sun print with plants found around the District with community volunteer Erin Palmer. We’ll bring the materials. You’ll bring the creativity!

  • Meet the project team behind the Kingman and Heritage Islands Structures and Trails Project and share your feedback to shape the future of the Islands. 

  • Get crafty and use your imagination to show what DC will look like in the future. How will people get around? What will buildings look like? How many trees will there be? Use the goals in the Sustainable DC plan as prompts to create a vision of what DC will be like when you grow up.

  • Are you curious about wetlands? Join DOEE staff for interactive wetland activities and crafts, plus learn about our plans to restore and enhance 55 acres of wetland habitat within Kingman Lake.

  • Meet freshwater mussels and learn about their importance in solution to pollution in our Anacostia River.

  • Put your nature detective skills to the test! Stop by the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens table, grab a scavenger hunt, and explore the outdoors as you search for plants, wildlife, colors, textures, and other nature finds. Fun for kids, families, and curious explorers of all ages!

  • Try your hand at gyotaku , a technique used by Japanese anglers before cameras were invented to record the fish they caught! Learn about the fish that reside in the District from DOEE’s Aquatic Resources Education Center team and use rubber fish molds, paints, brushes and rollers to create a replica or a funky, one-of-a-kind multicolored fish.    

  • Meet a beekeeper and learn about beekeeping in the District and all about native pollinators!

  • Did you know that keeping our dogs on leashes while exploring the islands can benefit our ecosystem? Stop by the DOEE Event Hub to sign the Paw Pledge and have your dog become a Kingman Bark Ranger! Dogs will receive an official Bark Ranger bandana and pet waste holder and will help ensure all people and creatures are kept safe and happy on the islands. 

  • Get ready to meet some incredible birds of prey with Earth Conservation Corps! During this exciting raptor presentation, guests will get an up-close look at our raptor ambassadors while learning about their amazing adaptations, behaviors, and important role in our environment.

    Discover how Earth Conservation Corps works to protect and monitor raptors throughout the Anacostia watershed and learn what we can all do to help conserve these incredible birds. Fun, educational, and perfect for all ages!

  • Join RiverSmart homes for an interactive activity to build a rain garden model. A hands-on, nature-filled activity for kids of all ages!

  • Every place holds voices and experiences that shape how we connect to it, and that includes yours! Explore how the people and experiences of Kingman Island and surrounding Ward 7 neighborhoods have shaped and continue to influence the area beyond its physical spaces.

    Interact with a 7-foot installation featuring local stories, memories, and perspectives that reveal what makes Kingman Island and surrounding Ward 7 neighborhoods meaningful. Listen, reflect, and connect with the voices of people who have helped define this area, then add your own by sharing what this place means to you.

    Place_holder is part of Something For Us, a Pour Girls initiative sharing hyperlocal narratives across Washington, DC, supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

    Learn more at www.pourgirls.org

2026 Activity Partners

Event Maps

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

  • Find directions for metro, bus, foot or bike, and car at kingmanisland.com/visit. General free public parking is available in RFK Lot 6 (575 Oklahoma Ave NE). Please note there is a weekly Farmers & Flea Market in RFK Lot 6 on Saturdays.

    Limited accessible parking is available at our 3101 Benning Rd NE entrance. Follow signage for designated parking areas

  • Yes, J & J’s Mex-Taqueria will have food available for purchase, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. We’ll be giving out reusable utensils.

    Bring a reusable water bottle. There will be water stations available to refill.

    You are welcome to pack your own snacks. Bonus points if it is zero-waste!

    Head to our zero-waste station after to sort your compost, recyclables, and trash.

  • Yes, there will be accessible bathrooms available in three locations:

    • Kingman Island Boat Dock (near the Benning Rd. NE entrance)

    • Kingman Island Meadow (where most event activities will take place).

    • At the Fields of RFK Campus (near the Oklahoma Ave NE/RFK Lot 6 entrance to the Islands).

  • Yes! All activities are designed for kids and adults.

  • Dogs on a leash are welcome on the Islands. Please keep in mind that there will be activities like loud music that might create a stressful environment for your dog. Be sure to stop by the Bark Rangers table to sign a Paw Pledge and receive a Bark Ranger dog bandana and pet waste bag!  

  • Wear comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for outdoor activities like fishing, paddling, and walking through nature. All activities will be outside.

  • The Department of Energy and Environment is committed to making our events accessible to all District residents.

    To request an accommodation or inquire about accessibility, please contact kingmanisland@dc.gov. This page will be updated with further accessibility information as more activities and logistics are confirmed.

    ASL interpreters will be provided at the event. Review the schedule of ASL-interpreted activities here.

    Accessible parking will be available at our 3101 Benning Rd NE entrance.