We will bird along the C&O Canal and Potomac River at Riley’s Lock in Poolesville and then drive to the nearby wildlife impoundments at Hugh’s Hollow to look for winter waterfowl. Registered participants will receive directions and a map link by e-mail.

Ages 18 & up

What animals live in and around Wheaton Regional Park and which animals actually live in the nature center? Join us for a family friendly presentation and your chance to see the animals close up.

Ages 2 & up

01/09/2016 – Get Lost! at Black Hill Regional Park

‎Saturday, ‎January ‎09, ‎2016, ‏‎2:00:00 PM

01/10/2016 – Make It and Take It: Wind Flags

‎Sunday, ‎January ‎10, ‎2016, ‏‎12:00:00 PM

01/10/2016 – Science Sunday: Ooey Gooey

Science is awesome, messy, and fun! Join a park naturalist as we explore the awesome world of science around the park. On this Ooey Gooey Science Sunday we’re going to get messy by making things like slime and silly putty. We’ll use our ooey gooey experiments to talk about the science of liquids, solids, and polymers. You’ll also get to take some ooey gooey experiments home with you.

Ages 6 to 12

01/16/2016 – Winter Birding at Black Hill

Discover amazing winter birding just minutes from I-270! Do goldeneyes, tundra swans, and coots sound intriguing? Come check them out with an expert guide. Meet at the Visitor Center. Bring your own binoculars if you have them; spotting scopes will be provided. Dress for the weather.

Ages 16 & up

01/16/2016 – Easy Basketry at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park

‎Saturday, ‎January ‎16, ‎2016, 03:30 PM – 05:00 PM

Using willow staves and a round wooden base, we’ll fashion a simple, cylindrical basket by applying basic basket weaving techniques.  The natural container we create will be ideal for holding pens, tools or other utensils.

Ages 12 & up

01/16/2016 – Weed Warriors at Elmhirst Parkway

Saturday 10:00am to 12:00 noon.

Save the Trees! of this tributary of Rock Creek. This neighborhood park provides a stripe of green and a lovely pathway. Last year, persistent hard work took down some of the longest standing vines, but the summer those pesky plants have grown again.  Join the community (ceritfied Weed Warrior or not) for group workdays, the 3rd Saturday of the month. Each workday will have a differenent target.
SSL hours approved.

Wear long plants, sturdy shoes and work clothes. Gloves and tools will be provided, or bring your own. Hand tools only. No power tools, machetes or herbicides.

Questions and RSVP to Barbara or Anne at mcp-weedwarriors@montgomeryparks.org. Please note that email is not monitored after 1pm Friday.

Montgomery Parks is excited to once again take part in the MLK Jr. Day of Service.  We’re looking forward to another great 3-day weekend of volunteer service in our parks January 16-18, 2016!

Last year, more than 500 volunteers joined us in celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service by cleaning up our parks and streams, and by removing non-native invasive plants and helping to save our forests!  Let’s see if we can do even more this year!

Go to www.MontgomeryParks.org/MLK to see the growing list of events where YOU can help out!  Keep checking back as we get closer to the date as we will be updating the list of volunteer events often.

Most projects will either be 10am to noon in the mornings, or 1pm to 3pm in the afternoons.

Projects are Student Service Learning (SSL) approved.

Contact Lynn in the Volunteer Services Office (VSO) if you have any questions.

Hope to see you out there!

In case the weather is a little “iffy” please get the latest updates on cancellations at: www.MontgomeryParks.org/Weather

Observe Meadowside’s resident raptors during their feeding time and hear some stories about the raptors on exhibit.

All ages

Want to jump like a frog? Dig a hole to China? Search for spineless wonders? Then join us in the outdoor classroom exploration areas at the Black Hill Visitor Center. Staff will guide children through a variety of activities that are sure to be fun and inspiring. Dress for the weather.

Ages 5 to 12

Take a walk with a naturalist on nearby trails to discover what’s happening in nature around Brookside Nature Center. One day we might learn how to identify trees in winter, another day we’ll go birdwatching. The next week we may learn about animal tracks. You never know what nature will share, so be here each week for all the fun!

Ages 6 to 12

Baby its cold outside! But don’t let that stop you from enjoying a roaring campfire under the starts. Join a naturalist for a winter-inspired campfire followed by s’mores! Meet at the Visitor Center and bring a chair or blanket.

Ages 1 & up

Join us for an afternoon of beautiful harp music and the natural beauty of Black Hill all around you. No need to register; just come to the Visitor Center and enjoy.

All ages

What animals live in and around Wheaton Regional Park and which animals actually live in the nature center? Join this family friendly presentation and your chance to see the animals close up.

Ages 2 & up

01/17/2016 – January Storytimes: Winter Weather

Now that the weather is colder, enjoy a tale about nature in the cozy comfort of the nature center. Join us in January by our cozy hearth to watch the weather from our big window while listening to a different story each week about the wonders of winter weather like snowflakes, crystals and ice.

Ages 3 to 6

01/17/2016 – What Are You Missing?

Look around…listen…breath deep…touch! Our understanding of the world around us is based on what we can sense, and what we can imagine. As humans, we have limited senses of hearing and sight–and our sense of time also has an effect on what we understand. Join a Brookside naturalist to learn how to use different tools to expand your powers of observation and sharpen your senses. You never know what you’ll discover when you take a closer look!

Ages 5 & up

No school? No problem! On many of the days Montgomery County Public Schools are off (teacher training days, etc.), Park Play Days are on.  Bring your kids (ages 6-12) for a Park Play Day full of activities, including an ice skating lesson, arts & crafts, and fun team games and sports.

Ages 6 to 12

School’s out today, so why not let your young tennis pros take the day to learn and improve their tennis skills?  We’ll use games, personal instruction and drills to teach beginning/intermediate level players all the basics: forehand, backhand and overhead strokes, serves and volleys, footwork, scorekeeping, names and meanings of the lines, and more.  It’s great fun and great exercise, too!  Please bring non-perishable lunch.

Ages 6 to 12

No school? No problem! On many of the days Montgomery County Public Schools are off (teacher training days, etc.), Park Play Days are on.  Bring your kids (ages 6-12) for a Park Play Day full of activities, including an ice skating lesson, arts & crafts, and fun team games and sports.

Ages 6 to 12

01/18/2016 – Volunteer at a MLK Jr. Day of Service Event this weekend!

Montgomery Parks is very excited to once again take part in the MLK Jr. Day of Service.  We’re looking forward to another great weekend of service this winter on January 16-18, 2016.

Last year, more than 500 volunteers joined us in celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service by cleaning up our parks and streams, and by removing non-native invasive plants and saving the forest!  Let’s see if we can do even more this year!

Go to http://www.montgomeryparks.org/team/mlk_jr_day.shtm to see the growing list of events where YOU can help out!  Keep checking back as we get closer to the date.

Take a hike by the light of the full moon. We’ll look and listen for creatures that are most active at night. Hikes are approximately 1 mile. Dress warmly and please, no flashlights.

Ages 8 & up

01/23/2016 – Backyard Birding

Learn which seed is preferred by which bird and where to place your feeders, then make a treat or a feeder for your backyard feathered friends. Please register everyone attending and dress for the weather. Call 301-528-3492 to let us know if your child has any food allergies.

Ages 1 & up

01/23/2016 – Meet the Animals

What animals live in and around Wheaton Regional Park and which animals actually live in the nature center? Join us for a family friendly presentation and your chance to see the animals close up.

Ages 2 & up

01/23/2016 – Raptor Enrichment

Raptors are smart! Come see Meadowside’s resident raptors as they search for food, explore new objects, and encounter new experiences.

All ages

Observe Meadowside’s resident raptors during their feeding time and hear some stories about the raptors on exhibit.

All ages

Take a walk with a naturalist on nearby trails to discover what’s happening in nature around Brookside Nature Center. One day we might learn how to identify trees in winter, another day we’ll go birdwatching. The next week we may learn about animal tracks. You never know what nature will share, so be here each week for all the fun!

Ages 6 to 12

School’s out today, so why not let your young tennis pros take the day to learn and improve their tennis skills?  We’ll use games, personal instruction and drills to teach beginning/intermediate level players all the basics: forehand, backhand and overhead strokes, serves and volleys, footwork, scorekeeping, names and meanings of the lines, and more.  It’s great fun and great exercise, too!  Please bring non-perishable lunch.

Ages 6 to 12

No school? No problem! On many of the days Montgomery County Public Schools are off (teacher training days, etc.), Park Play Days are on.  Bring your kids for a Park Play Day full of activities, including an ice skating lesson, arts & crafts, and fun team games and sports.

Ages 6 to 12

School’s out today, so bring the kids to the Visitor Center for an afternoon of nature fun! Friends of Black Hill Nature Programs will be on hand to help you explore nature topics like birds, bats and bears. Also, volunteer naturalists will lead short nature walks with hands-on activities and games. Drop in anytime from 1 – 4 pm for the fun! This program is free, but please register so we’ll have enough materials and help for all.

Ages 1 & up

Nature is awesome, cool, and super-fun! We’ll celebrate the winter wonderland around us with awesome activities around the Visitor Center. Check our Facebook page before the program to find out what’s happening today and to know how to dress.

Ages 5 & up

What animals live in and around Wheaton Regional Park and which animals actually live in the nature center? Join this family friendly presentation and your chance to see the animals close up.

Ages 2 & up

Look around…listen…breath deep…touch! Our understanding of the world around us is based on what we can sense, and what we can imagine. As humans, we have limited senses of hearing and sight–and our sense of time also has an effect on what we understand. Join a Brookside naturalist to learn how to use different tools to expand your powers of observation and sharpen your senses. You never know what you’ll discover when you take a closer look!

Ages 5 & up

MCT Garden Club January Meeting Topic: Planting for Birds

Saturdays, 9-11am *usually*

Join us this morning to take on the invasive plants along the stream and the bike path. This seciton of Sligo Creek has had a steady group of volunteers working to preserve the secret biodiversity of Sligo Creek. Join us and we may just show you something cool. We’ll certainly teach you how to work the invasives that are probably in your yard too. Work continues in this section to remove undesirable plants, restore forest health and enjoy Sligo Creek throughout the year, usually the last Saturday of the month. Workdays occur in all temperatures, but are cancelled in the event of rain. Wear appropriate clothing, bring your own tools or borrow ours.

Learn about flyways, birds found in your backyard, and caring for insects.  Explore the role producers, consumers, and decomposers play in the food chain of an ecosystem.

Ages 7 to 10

01/30/2016 – Nature Architects

Erect a tower, build a boat, make a mud pie…it’s time to let your inner architect out! We’ll venture into different park habitats to design and construct things using natural objects and materials. What we do will depend on the weather and the things we can find. But no matter what we do, come dressed for the weather and ready to get dirty.

Ages 3 to 12

What animals live in and around Wheaton Regional Park and which animals actually live in the nature center? Join us for a family friendly presentation and your chance to see the animals close up.

Ages 2 & up

01/30/2016 – Raptor Enrichment

Raptors are smart! Come see Meadowside’s resident raptors as they search for food, explore new objects, and encounter new experiences.

All ages

Observe Meadowside’s resident raptors during their feeding time and hear some stories about the raptors on exhibit.

All ages

Bring the family to Black Hill Visitor Center to hunt for natural treasures! Drop by the Visitor Center to pick up a scavenger hunt sheet, get some helpful hints, and then head outside to start looking. When you’ve finished, come back to the Visitor Center to get a prize. No registration required – drop in anytime during program hours!

All ages

Take a walk with a naturalist on nearby trails to discover what’s happening in nature around Brookside Nature Center. One day we might learn how to identify trees in winter, another day we’ll go birdwatching. The next week we may learn about animal tracks. You never know what nature will share, so be here each week for all the fun!

Ages 6 to 12

Want to hike but don’t quite know where to go? Meet other women and hike park trails with a park naturalist. Hike lengths vary with the pace of each group. Today we’ll hike in the Agricultural History Farm Park – a 410-acre complex situated along Rock Creek in Derwood, Maryland. The park features a farmhouse, barn, assorted farm buildings and an activity center, as well as 7- acres set aside to depict historic life on the farm. Meet at the parking lot to the left of the Activity Center, 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD. Trail Map: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/trailmap_pdfs/Ag_HistFarm.pdf

Ages 18 & up

What animals live in and around Wheaton Regional Park and which animals actually live in the nature center? Join this family friendly presentation and your chance to see the animals close up.

Ages 2 & up

Drop by the Visitor Center and have some fun! We’ll have easy-to-make seasonal crafts that you can make and take home. No registration required; drop-in anytime during program hours! Fee is per craft; exact change is appreciated.

All ages

Now that the weather is colder, enjoy a tale about nature in the cozy comfort of the nature center. Join us in January by our cozy hearth to watch the weather from our big window while listening to a different story each week about the wonders of winter weather like snowflakes, crystals and ice.

Ages 3 to 6

Look around…listen…breath deep…touch! Our understanding of the world around us is based on what we can sense, and what we can imagine. As humans, we have limited senses of hearing and sight–and our sense of time also has an effect on what we understand. Join a Brookside naturalist to learn how to use different tools to expand your powers of observation and sharpen your senses. You never know what you’ll discover when you take a closer look!

Ages 5 & up