Dog Recreation
Meet other local people interested in Dog Recreation: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Dog Recreation group.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out dog recreation events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the dog recreation events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find dog recreation events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Dog Recreation Events Today
Join in-person Dog Recreation events happening right now
Rock Creek Park North (Rating: C)
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer,https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "**I Accept**" to be permitted on the hike.
**7 mile loop with a 679 ft. elevation gain that makes the hike the equivalent to a bit over 8.5 miles.** (400 ft gain = 1 mile)
**Per Park Permit Guidelines, this hike is *limited* to *20 Hikers***
**Description**: **[Rock Creek Park](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm)** is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754 acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third national park.
It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge, recreation, fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals.
This hike starts from the **[Rock Creek Park Nature Center](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htm)**[ ](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htm)(Plenty of Free Parking; closed Mon/Tues), crosses Military Road heading north along the **[Western Ridge Trail,](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)** over the **[Boundary bridge](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)** and then south following the creek to the **[Valley Trail](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)**, and then back to the **[Nature Center.](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/nature-center-and-planetarium.htm)**
**Pace:** pace is about 2 - 2.5 mph while moving.
**Bring**: adequate water/hydration, also snack/lunch, insect repellant as Tick Season is here and sturdy hiking shoes since there are rocky areas, tree roots and a stream crossing,
**Dogs:** Dogs are **not** welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy.
**Weather:** weather in this location is **[HERE](https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/NoMa+Washington+District+of+Columbia?canonicalCityId=5449cc9af33d6584872016be78d0340d)**[.](https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/NoMa+Washington+District+of+Columbia?canonicalCityId=5449cc9af33d6584872016be78d0340d)
**Meetup Location:** we will meet in the parking lot of the Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium
(Closed Monday and Tuesdays) at
5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015.
**GPS Coordinates : 38°57'34.1"N 77°03'05.6"W**
**Maps**
**[Hiking in Rock Creek Park](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/hiking.htm)**
**[Rock Creek Park](https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/maps.htm)**
Friday Night Skate
Bring your lights for the “Friday Night” Skate!
**Join us for the Friday Night Skate!** See the monuments of DC all lit up at night!
We will meet at the National World War I Memorial “Pershing Park” at 7pm. We’ll warm up with a nice easy skate to the Capital and skate along the mall and museums to the National Monument. We will then head to the Lincoln Memorial through the World War II Memorial.
Those interested in just a 5.5 mile skate can backtrack to Pershing Park.
The group will then proceed from the Lincoln to Haynes Point via Ohio Drive with the option to take the 3 mile loop (12 mile total skate) or sit by the water and enjoy the crisp air (8.5 mile total skate.)
There are three options to loop back to the Pershing Park WWI Memorial and our path back will depend on the preferences / skill of the group.
The skate is mostly flat on good pavement with a small slope coming down from the Washington Monument and a 40 yard small slop from the Lincoln to Ohio Drive. If skaters are more advanced we will cross the 14th St bridge, enjoy a few up and down hills and finish with a downhill through the 12th St. tunnel.
Please feel free to jazz it up with lights, I wear a helmet bike light, a fun set of lights and lighted wheels! Wear your lights so you have fun, can see and be seen!
In case of bad weather, I will cancel the skate by 6pm on this post.
**Of course, all skating is at your own risk.**
Cat Happy Hour 🍻 🐈
Your cat might be under 21, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t drink! We are bringing the cats to the beer garden.
Feel free to come with or without a cat and get ready to socialize and raise a glass with fellow cat lovers! 🍻 This is a great opportunity to make new friends.
I will be bringing one or both of my cats and they would love to meet you! If you bring your cat, make sure they are wearing a collar, harness, leash, in a backpack, carrier, and/or stroller.
We will be meeting in the side tent called the “special events tent” opposite of the entrance. We have the tent fully reserved for our group!
🅿️: From the Shipgarten website, “Our free parking can be found at 1700 Old Meadow Rd McLean, VA 22102. We have a complimentary shuttle which has continuous service after 3pm on weekdays and starting at 11am on weekends.”
Ⓜ️: The venue is a 7 minute walk from the McLean station on the silver line.
Read & Reflect: A Social Reading Circle.
Shared Pages, Shared Insights.
📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with?
Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café.
Here’s how it works:
First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you.
Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections.
Why join?
Add structure to your reading habit.
Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices.
Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply.
Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.
MP(FRI)-Sand Volleyball: BB - Crystal City
***Please read all and make sure you agree before you sign up.***
**Court Type:** Outdoor Sand
**Level:** intermediate+ (BB/A)
**Transportation:** Parking will be right by the sand courts, behind the courts, and there is garage parking close to the courts. Metro is the Blue and Yellow Lines.
**What to bring:** at least 3 bottles of water and a ball if you have one.
**MAX:** 10 players per net. (1 Net)
**Restroom:** Restrooms are across the street in the restaurants.
**Host's Philosophy on This Event:**
The purpose of this meetup is to create a fun and supportive environment where we can improve our skills, enjoy competitive games, and connect socially. While we do aim to play seriously and challenge ourselves, the focus is more on growth and enjoyment than simply winning at all costs. That’s why the title doesn’t include “competitive” or “social”—we want a healthy mix of both. This is a space where you won’t be judged for making mistakes, ***but we do expect you to listen to the organizer if they make suggestions or adjustments***. We also expect a mindset geared toward learning and getting better over time. That said, this event isn’t intended for beginners; an understanding of the game is expected so that everyone can contribute to meaningful and engaging matches. The host holds the right to remove you from the game if they believe that you are at a C level.
**Skill Level:**
1. **If you want to know your level, please see the link below:**
[Smiley Social Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/edit)
**YouTube:**
The games may be recorded and uploaded to our channel here:
Let the host know if you have issues with this ahead of the event.
[https://www.youtube.com/@mp02626](https://www.youtube.com/@mp02626)
**ATTENDANCE:**
**Player Selection:** Regulars > League Members > Your Vibe > Smiley Attendance Ratio\* > Skills > New Members
The host takes attendance very seriously. Please remove yourself from the event (if you can't make it) as early as possible to allow others to join. You will be marked as a ***no-show*** if you don't show up to the event.
One no-show means you will be removed from the group. See the rules below.
**\*The organizers can see the number of times you have attended events vs the times you have dropped out. If your drop rate is more than 50%, you may not be accepted to the going list.**
[Smiley Social Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg/edit)
**Q&A**
* Bringing your **dog** is welcome and encouraged.
* *Can I come if I don't know how to play?* No, you may not. The host teaches a beginner's volleyball class that you may attend on Saturdays.
* *Can I be late or leave early?* The host expects you to be there **on time** and leave on time. If you need to arrive late or leave early, please let the host know in advance.
* *Can I come even if I am not on the going list?* No, sorry
* Why Max the players at 10 when you can do 6v6? This court is already for 2v2; getting 6 players on each side is overkill.
* How can I become a regular if I don't ever get to attend? You can attend my other events on weekdays/weekends. Show me you have good skills and bring good vibes!
**Smiley Social documents:**
1. [Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg)
2. [Liability Waiver](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco)
3. [Smiley Social Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/edit)
Dog Recreation Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Run and Get Dirty! Adult Dogs in the main park, puppies in the small dog park
Our regular Sunday meetup at the Shirlington Dog Park -- members start arriving around 10:15 a.m. You'll always find an Aussie to play with. There are 3 entrances, so wander the park -- the dogs will find each other!
For puppies, Shirlington has a small dog park within the larger dog park. It's the prefect place for your puppy to gain confidence and socialize with others. There is also plenty of room to run.
Just a reminder, the Dog Park is under attack by the Arlington County Board of Commissioners. While early plans to decrease the size of the park by 50% has been tabled, it's important to remind Arlington County how important this park is to dogs and owners. Here are links to the change.org petition and the Facebook page where you can get updates.
Shirlington Dog Park Page Petition: https://www.change.org/.../arlington-county-board-save...
Arlington County Board: Save the Shirlington Dog Park!
We love the Shirlington Dog Park -- it provides…
change.org
Shirlington Dog Park Page
Shirlington Dog Park Page Save the Dog Park Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/groups/696087663906890
A DC meetup at Dumbarton Oaks
PawsUP for David and Brick for originally suggesting this awesome meetup and our dogs love it!
-Dumbarton Oaks/Montrose Park in Georgetown
-Meet at the entrance off of R st, on the East side (closer to the cemetery)
-Plenty of street parking in the area
-Bring water and a ball for your Aussie
This park is a very large open field, that is very dog friendly. Tons of space to run and chase. Most if not all dogs are off leash. Occasional runners and kids (there is a playground), so keep that in mind. There is also a trail inside with a stream that the dogs love to play in.
Paws & Socialize
At Dawgie Linkup, we provide a safe and fun space for your dog to socialize and play. Our goal is to not only create a space for dawgs to build social interactions, but also cultivate relationships between dawg parents!
Meet us at Bowie Dog Park on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00am for a Dawgie play date. There will be small and large dog enclosed spaces!
We want to make this social club lots of fun. So come and linkup with your neighborhood dawgie parents. All dawgs are welcome!
\- Sincerely\,
Dawgie Linkup — where we connect paws & people
Easy Hike: Capital Crescent Trail, only 3 miles
Below is the alltrails link to the hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/maryland/capital-crescent-trail
We will only be doing 3 miles overall in this hike, out and back.
Parking and Metro Access:
Park in the garage near 7150 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20815.
Or park on the streets----- street-parking is free on Sundays.
For metro: just get down at Bethesda metro station.
We will meet at the trailhead next to the Ourisman Honda, check out the photo section of this event for a visual of the location.
Bring plenty of water, whatever you need for your hike, and your awesome authentic self. Keep it easygoing.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY & ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT:
By being a member of this Group, RSVPing to any Activity, or participating in any Activity, You accept and agree to the terms and conditions described below:
1. You acknowledge that hiking in nature carries the risk of potential harm to yourself, including the risk of injuries such as broken bones or muscle/tendon injuries, illness, disability, or death.
2. You agree that You will at all times be responsible for Yourself and Your own safety.
3. You release and hold harmless with respect to all injury, disability, death, or loss of property, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, this group's leadership and members for the hikes that you participate in.
4. You acknowledge and agree that this Group is merely a collection of friends or potential friends who enjoy doing activities, and that in no event does any Organizer or Other Member assume any responsibility or liability for You.
5\. You agree not to sue and to release\, discharge\, waive and hold harmless all organizers and other members from and against all liabilities\, claims\, demands\, losses\, damages\, suits and proceedings\, for negligence\, carelessness or any other cause which you may have or that hereafter may accrue arising\, resulting from or related to your membership in this group or participation in any activity\.
Ultimate Frisbee - All Levels
Just good ole Ultimate Frisbee. Tons of fun. Great group. No stacks. No pick calls (but no picks!!!). Fair warning to those totally new to ultimate: it's a lot of running.
\*\*Please pay close attention to the rule #6 listed below.
*What to DEFINITELY bring*
1. Running shoes/Cleats
2. One white shirt *and* one dark shirt !!!! See this one !!!!
\-\-\- IMPORTANT you can play both dark and white so we can make teams when we get there; just pickup after all 😎
3. Water
*What you can ALSO bring*
4\. Snacks & Drinks
5\. Gloves \(winter\)
6\. Sunscreen \(summer\)
7\. Sunglasses 😎
House Rules -
1. Starting Play: Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of opposite end zone lines. The defense throws ("pulls") the disc to the offense.
2. Scoring: Each time the offense catches a pass in the defense's end zone, the offense scores a point. The teams switch direction after every goal, and the next point begins with a new pull by the team that just scored.
3. Movement of the Disc: The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower ("marker") counts out the stall count.
4. Change of Possession: When a pass is not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception, stalled), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense.
5. Substitutions: Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout. (Modified depending on the number of the attendees)
6. Non-contact: Players must attempt to avoid physical contact during play. Picks and screens are also prohibited.
7. Fouls: When a player initiates contact that affects the play, a foul occurs. When a foul causes a player to lose possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player that the foul was called against disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.
8. Self-Officiating: Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. The host will also step in if it is needed.
Please message the event host for any questions or concerns.
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**Smiley Social documents:**
1. [Group Rules ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg)
2. [Liability Waiver ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco)
Doubles Volleyball, BB+ Level @ Bluemont
Let's get together to play some fun BB level Quads games at Bluemont.
**Format**: Doubles
**COST**: FREE
**Court Type**: Outdoor grass
**Minimum Skill Requirements**: Intermediate-BB (click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic) for details)
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**Smiley Social documents:**
1. [Group Rules ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg)
1. [Liability Waiver ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco)
1. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)
Dog Recreation Events Near You
Connect with your local Dog Recreation community
Sunday funday: let's play dodgeball at Scioto Audubon park
Dodgeball is back again!
If you’ve been wanting to come out, this is an easy one to join. We’ll be playing for about 1.5 to 2 hours, you do not need to bring any equipment, and no experience is needed.
We use a specific set of rules and equipment to make the games run better and keep them fun for everybody, not just people who already know how to play.
If it rains, the event will be canceled.

























