Nature Program Calendar
DECEMBER
2–Fit for a Hike! #167099 Looking for a leisurely nature hike? This is not the hike for you! We'll stop to listen, look for and identify birds and plants, but not for long! Get outside, learn about nature and get fit and healthy, too. Ages 16+; FREE; 8:30- 9:30am
3–Lace Candles #166499 By combining the unlikely duo of heat and cold we'll make lacy holiday can-dles, while learning how early peoples enlightened their dark winter world. One candle per registered participant. Ages 7+; $10; 2:00- 3:00pm
6–Preschooler Adventures: Animal Homes #168249 Animal homes in the woods and meadow are easier to spot now that the leaves have fallen. Ages 3-5 ; $5; 10:30-11:15am
7–Winter Woodland Walk #168299 Explore the woodland and learn how wildlife uses trees for food and shelter, and how trees and birds adapt to cold weather. Ages 16+; $5; 1:30- 2:30pm
8–Senior Rangers: Winter Birds and Tea #166504 Visit the nature center and learn about our winter birds while savoring a light repast and letting the birds observe us! Ages 50+; $8; 10:30-11:30am
9–End of Fall Family Campfire #166999 Relax around the glow of a warm campfire as we contemplate how some of our native wildlife will survive the upcoming winter. Add some s’mores and you've got a great family campfire! Ages 2+; $2; 7:00- 8:00pm
11–Sunday Pre-K Nature Storytimes #168358 Join our volunteers on the second Sunday of each month for an exciting and educational story about different kinds of plants and animals. If the weather's nice, we'll take a short walk, too. Ages 3-6 ; FREE; 3:00- 3:30pm
13–All About Snowflakes #168401 Where do they come from, how are they made and what happens after they fall to earth? Learn about snowflake shapes and make a snowflake of your very own to take home. Ages 3-5 ; $6; 10:30-11:30am
14–Homeschool Series: Nature and Art Explorations #166517 What results when you start looking at nature through the eyes of an artist? An explosion of creativity and curiosity! In this monthly series we'll use a pro-fusion of media to help us represent the animals, colors, textures, and impres-sions of Brookside's wild side. Ages 6-12 ; $45; 10:30am-12:00pm
16–Fit for a Hike! #167049 Looking for a leisurely nature hike? This is not the hike for you! We'll stop to listen, look for and identify birds and plants, but not for long! Get outside, learn about nature and get fit and healthy, too. Ages 16+; FREE; 8:30- 9:30am
17–Ladies Hike Out: Seneca Creek State Park #172999 Trail conditions permitting, we’ll take a brisk 3-4 mile jaunt through the park. Ages 16+ ; FREE; 10:00-11:30am
20–Pre-K Gift for the Birds #168409 Celebrate Brookside Nature Center's 50th year by making a tasty gift for the birds. Hang your gift from one of our trees. Ages 3-5 ; $6; 1:30- 2:30pm
22–Winter Solstice Campfire! #168950 The Winter Solstice marks the longest night, and shortest day, offering a time to reflect, review and hope. Beginning inside the warmth of the nature center and continuing to the Pioneer Cabin fire ring, we’ll enjoy a variety of enlighten-ing festivities. Ages 2+; $3; 6:00- 8:00pm
31–Nature Film Fest #166599 Drop in throughout the afternoon to watch nature movies (scheduled on the hour) and celebrate the coming of a new year with light refreshments. Regis-tration not required but appreciated! A $2 donation per person at the door would be most appreciated. Ages 2+; FREE; 1:00- 4:00pm
JANUARY
7–Big Game Animals #167104 Can you go out and see our animals before they see you? Find out how to see more animals by walking quietly and staying down wind. Make a track print to take home. Ages 4-12 ; $5; 10:30-11:30am
8–Sunday Pre-K Nature Storytimes #168359 Join our volunteers on the second Sunday of each month for an exciting and educational story about different kinds of plants and animals. If the weather's nice, we'll take a short walk, too. Ages 3-6 ; FREE; 3:00- 3:30pm
10–Preschooler Adventures: Woodpeckers! #166649 Who's that tapping at the door? It could be one or more of the seven varieties of woodpeckers found in Maryland. We'll invite them in and learn about their astounding adaptations. Ages 3-5 ; $6; 10:30-11:15am
11–Winter Wonderland #168413 Explore winter at the Nature Center and find out how snow and ice help wild-life. Make a glittering icicle to decorate Brookside in celebration of its 50th winter. Ages 3-5 ; $5; 10:30-11:30am
12–Brookside Tot Times: Snuggle Bugs #167109 Where are our animals? Find out who is sleeping, who has left town and who is just outside your window. Ages 2-3 ; $5; 10:30-11:15am
14–Ladies Hike Out: Black Hill Regional Park #173000 We’ll hike briskly about 3 miles, with some ups and downs. Ages 16+; FREE; 10:00-11:30am
14–Reclaimed “Gar-baj” Workshop #166650 First, sift through your recycling bin and select things with artistic potential. Bring them to the nature center, throw into a communal pile, and let the fun begin! The challenge: Create a masterpiece using glue, wire, duct tape and junk. Prizes awarded. Ages 5+; $2; 2:00- 3:00pm
17–The Park After Dark #168450 Winter in the woods is full of life. Feed our nocturnal friends, the flying squir-rels, and take an evening stroll to listen for owls. Ages 2+; $2; 5:00- 6:00pm
20–Flannel Board Storytime: Winter #167150 Join us for a hike, craft and tale of winter delights. Ages 3-6; $5; 10:30-11:30am
20–Starstruck! #166651 Learning about the winter night sky is an astronomical adventure! We'll touch on modern cosmology, ancient history, and Greek mythology as we reach through the trees to touch a star. Ages 6+; $2; 7:30- 8:30pm
21–Winter Crystals on Display #168461 Compare rock crystals to snow and ice crystals, see how they're similar and different, and check out parts of our crystal collection that aren't usually on display. All Ages; FREE; 2:00- 3:00pm
24–Neighborhood Wildlife: Who Shares our Environment #168509 You may have neighbors that you didn't know about: foxes, possums, deer and birds that live next door to you year-round. Look for tracks and other signs that tell where they hide, and how they survive. Find out how you can be a good neighbor to local wildlife. Ages 6-12 ; $5; 4:00- 5:00pm
25–Water in Winter #168515 Make a giant snowflake, make ice melt and look at water in winter at our pond and stream. Ages 3-5 ; $6; 10:30-11:30am
26–Preschooler Adventures: Wintergreen #166699 It's amazing how much green there is in the winter landscape. Let's see and smell and touch it! Ages 3-5 ; $6; 10:30-11:15am
26–Creature Feature #167151 Have you ever seen a salamander or a box turtle? Meet and greet some of our resident reptiles and amphibians up close. Ages 6-12 ; $5; 3:45- 4:45pm
27–Senior Rangers: Winter in the Woods #168551 Explore the forest from our accessible Woodland Walk ramp. Look and listen for signs of winter wildlife, then warm up with a cup of tea as you watch birds from our indoor viewing station. Ages 50+; $6; 10:30-11:30am
28–Tip-Tapping Maple Trees #166754 Help us collect maple sap that becomes syrup by identifying suitable maple trees, drilling holes and setting up collecting buckets. Be sure to return later in the season to learn the rest of this sweet story! Ages 4+; $5; 2:00- 3:00pm
FEBRUARY
3–Fit for a Hike! #167149 Looking for a leisurely nature hike? This is not the hike for you! We'll stop to listen, look for and identify birds and plants, but not for long! Get outside, learn about nature and get fit and healthy, too. Ages 16+; FREE; 8:30- 9:30am
3–Moonwalk #166900 Experience the forest by moonlight. We'll learn about earth's satellite and how it affects life on our planet as we scan its wintry craters and seas through our binoculars. Ages 5+; $2; 7:30- 8:30pm
4–Fox Family in Winter #172749 Find out what fox families do in winter, and look for dens and tracks on this half-mile hike. Ages 4+; $5; 11:30am-12:30pm
4–Sparkling Snowflakes #168699 Find out about plates, columns and graupels, discover how people study snow, and how "Snowflake Bentley" took his first snow crystal photograph. Make a sparkling snowflake to take home, too! Ages 2+; $3; 3:00- 4:00pm
8–Brookside Tot Times: The Red Scarf #167110 What happens when animals find a red scarf left in the meadow? This lively puppet show will highlight the winter season and help our young audience learn about nature. Ages 2-3 ; $2; 10:30-11:00am
11–Weeds in Winter #166905 Although devoid of color and scent, winter weeds have a charm and useful-ness we'll discover on this botanical foray. Ages 7+; $5; 2:00- 3:00pm
12–Sunday Pre-K Nature Storytimes #168361 Join our volunteers on the second Sunday of each month for an exciting and educational story about different kinds of plants and animals. If the weather's nice, we'll take a short walk, too. Ages 3-6 ; FREE; 3:00- 3:30pm
14–Wildlife Valentines #168749 Make a gift for the Nature Center's wildlife on Valentine's Day. Find out what kinds of food help get animals through the winter, and look for the places where they hunt, graze and gather. Ages 3-5 ; $6; 1:30- 2:30pm
16–Marvelous Maples #168799 Tour our Sugar Bush and taste some home-made maple syrup, then visit our log cabin to see what life was like when settlers relied on maples for food and shelter. Ages 3-5 ; $5; 1:30- 2:30pm
17–Senior Rangers: Fire and Civilization #168602 Have you ever considered where the human race would be without the ability to control and use fire? Learn how fire ignited the path to civilization, and how it continues to energize our world. Ages 50+; $6; 11:00am-noon
18–Feed the Birds! #167199 What do birds eat for a mid-morning snack? Not Cheerios, that's for sure! Find out as you help fill the feeders, learning our seed eaters' taste prefer-ences, names and behaviors in the process. Ages 1+; FREE; 10:00-10:45am
22–Maple Sap Collecting #172856 Find out how we tap our maple trees and help us collect maple sap for our boiling pan. Ages 3+ ; $5; 4:00-5:00pm
23–Brookside Tot Times: Maple Syrup! #167200 Maple sugaring just for toddlers (or, "What is that sticky stuff and where does it come from?") Ages 2-3 ; $5; 10:30-11:15am
25–Maple-iscious Day #166913 Drop in and learn about maple syrup and maple trees at indoor discovery stations. Trace a maple leaf, sample some maple sugar, make a mukluk, and much more! Registration appreciated. A $2 donation per person at the door will be much appreciated. Ages 1+; 1:00- 4:00pm
26–Maple Sugar Festival #168899 Stop by to see an American tradition! Watch the whole process from start to finish. See sap drip from the trees and taste it, watch us boil it down into sweet maple syrup, and then sample a tasty treat! $5 per person. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..
Date of last update: November 30, 2011
Montgomery County Department of Parks