Wheaton Regional Park
1400 Glenallan Ave.
Wheaton, MD 20902
301-962-1480
FAX: 301-962-8476
MCP-brooksidenc@mncppc-mc.org
Brookside Nature Center
Spring Calendar
Toddlers & Preschool Ages 0-6
Registration is required unless otherwise noted.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Sunday Nature Storytimes
Join our Nature Center volunteers every Sunday to enjoy
wonderful stories about different kinds of plants
and animals and how they live.
179854 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 4/15 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
179855 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 4/22 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
179856 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 4/29 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
179857 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 5/6 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
179861 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 5/13 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
179862 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 5/20 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
179863 3-5yrs 1 Class Free 5/27 Su 3:30pm- 4:00pm
Discovery Hikes
Our outdoor discovery hikes are designed specifically
for the "senior" preschoolers, and cater to their insatiable
curiosity and sense of wonder. Who could ask
for a better companion on a nature walk?
• Woodsy the Owl
Celebrate Earth Day early by taking a scavenger
hike and discovering the living things in the sky,
land and water.
181950 3-5yrs 1 Class $5 4/17 Tu 10:30am-11:30amJanuary
• Spring Flowers and Trees
Explore the beauty of spring flowers and trees in our
woodlands. Look for different colors, shapes and
leaves. Find out how flowers and trees help people
and animals, and how you can help keep our flowers
and forests safe.
182601 3-5yrs 1 Class $5 4/27 F 1:30pm- 2:30pm
• Spring Has Sprung!
Let's hike, scramble and scuffle through the park
taking in all of the new sights and sounds spring has
to offer.
181999 3-5yrs 1 Class $5 5/10 Th 1:00pm- 2:00pm
Big Little Nature Series
Learn about big animals and little animals, big plants
and little plants, and things that are old or new. We'll
look in the trees, on the ground and in the water for
living things that make the outdoors their home.
• Birds
182606 3-5yrs 1 Class $5 5/9 W 1:30pm- 2:30pm
• Animals
182607 3-5yrs 1 Class $5 5/16 W 1:30pm- 2:30pm
• Water Creatures
182608 3-5yrs 1 Class $5 5/23 W 1:30pm- 2:30pm
Brookside Tot Times
Explore nature with your youngest naturalist! Learn,
create, hike and discover our wonder-filled world during
these highly interactive sessions.
• Wet and Wild Water!
Drip, drop, splish, splash! Let's get a little wet as
we learn about the ways of water and the animals
that make their way in it!
181049 2-3yrs 1 Class $5 5/25 F 10:30am-11:15am
• Make It from a Tree
Trees help people in so many ways. We'll take a
spring tree walk and look for things that are made
from trees, and then make a tree craft out of wood
that you decorate yourself.
182399 3-5yrs 1 Class $6 3/21 W 1:30pm- 2:30pm
Children & Youth Ages 6–12
Registration is required unless otherwise noted.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Homeschool Series:
• Nature and Art Explorations
What happens when you start looking at nature
through the eyes of an artist? An explosion of creativity
and curiosity! In this monthly series of three separate
classes, we'll combine a profusion of media, from
oil pastels and seeds to paints and paper, to help us
represent the animals, colors, textures, and impressions
of Brookside Nature Center's wild side. Course
fee covers the cost of all three classes in the series.
Class meets on March 7, April 11 and May 16.
180099 6-12yrs 3 Classes $45 3/7 W 10:30am-12:00pm
• Water in Your Neighborhood
Explore the stream; catch, investigate and release
stream critters; and enjoy the spring weather. Please
wear water shoes or old sneakers. Nets and collection
tubs will be provided.
182605 6-12yrs 1 Class $5 5/8 Tu 4:00pm- 5:00pm
• Homeschool Special: Stream Study
Search for minnows, crayfish and water striders in
our stream, and learn about their suburban stream
habitat and why they live there. Find out how streams
change their shape and what you can do to help keep
our local streams healthy. Please wear waters shoes
or old sneakers.
182610 6-12yrs 1 Class $10 5/30 W 10:30am-12:00pm
Mixed Ages Ages 1 – 17
Registration is required unless otherwise noted.
Adult must accompany children ages 8 and younger.
Puppet Shows
at Brookside Nature Center
Our lively puppet shows highlight the current season
and help young audiences learn about nature.
• Are You My Mommy?
182300 2-8yrs 1 Class $4 5/13 Su 2:00pm- 2:30pm
Adults
Registration required unless otherwise noted.
Ladies Hike Out
Ladies, start the weekend off with an immersion
into nature as we hike some of the premier trails this
county has to offer. Our pace will be vigorous, but
we'll stop intermittently to observe, listen and learn.
Bring water and a snack, and wear your hiking boots.
Please call for directions to the trailhead.
• Magruder Branch Trail
Celebrate and explore spring by hiking the Magruder
Branch trail off Log House Rd. in Damascus.
179801 18 & up 1 Class Free 4/21 Sa 9:30am-11:00am
• Blockhouse Point
We'll explore Blockhouse Point and peek through
the leaves for an exemplary view of the Potomac, or
scan the understory for coy mayapple blossoms.
179802 18 & up 1 Class Free 5/18 F 10:30am-12:00pm
Spring Wildflowers Along the Canal
A walk along the C & O Canal in
mid-spring can yield a count of
over 30 wildflower species. Most spectacular will be drifts of azure
bluebells, patches of creamy
toothworts, and sprays of bright
buttercups. We'll walk to absorb
their visual splendor, and also learn their
names and folklore. Please bring your
field guides, bag lunch and water, and wear
comfortable hiking shoes. Transportation
provided from the Milestone
ter in Germantown to and from Noland's Ferry.
180399 18 & up 1 Class $15 4/18 W 10:00am- 1:00pm
Programs for All
Registration and payment required for all attendees
unless otherwise noted. An adult must accompany
children ages 8 and younger
Full Moon Club
Join the Full Moon Club and
experience nature at night with
a mildly strenuous 2-mile hike
through the meadows and woods
to Pine Lake. We'll look and listen for
signs of animals, and end the hike with
marshmallows around a campfire at the Harper Cabin.
Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.
• Little Frog Moon
182199 6 & up 1 Class $10 3/8 Th 6:30pm- 8:00pm
• Pink Bud Moon
182200 6 & up 1 Class $10 4/5 Th 7:30pm- 9:00pm
• Flowering Moon
182201 6 & up 1 Class $10 5/6 Su 7:30pm- 9:00pm
Wide-Eyed Weekends at Brookside Nature Center
Every now and then, Brookside Nature Center opens
its treasure chest to reveal some of the marvelous
teaching tools and natural specimens collected over
the past 50 years. Come explore these collections,
make a craft, play a game, read a story, and learn
about the topic of the day at your own pace. Our
mini-museum displays are specifically geared for ages
4 and up with parental guidance. Walk-ins welcome!
• Environmental Awareness
April has Environmental Awareness Week, Earth
and Arbor Days, and more. Drop in to learn new
ways to improve and support the local environment
and beyond!
181050 4 & up 1 Class $2 4/14 Sa 1:00- 4:00pm
191951 4 & up 1 Class $2 4/15 Su 1:00- 4:00pm
• Migratory Bird Day
It's International Migratory Bird Day's 20th
Anniversary. Test your birding IQ, learn birding
basics, check out the latest in bird news, learn ways
to make your backyard bird friendly and more!
182099 4 & up 1 Class $2 5/12 Sa 1:00- 4:00pm
191952 4 & up 1 Class $2 5/13 Su 1:00- 4:00pm
• Pioneer Pastimes
Come engage in pioneer pastimes and other old
time activities at our cabin!
180199 4 & up 1 Class $2 5/19 Sa 1:00- 4:00pm
191950 4 & up 1 Class $2 5/20 Su 1:00- 4:00pm
Fox Family in Spring
Find out what foxes do in spring and where they live,
hunt and play. What do baby foxes look like, and how
do their parents help them grow up? We'll visit a fox
den and learn how we can help foxes. Please wear
long pants and close-toed shoes for the half-mile walk.
Children must be accompanied by a registered adult.
183599 1 & up 1 Class $3 3/17 Sa 5:30pm- 6:30pm
Early Morning Birdwalk
Morning is one of the best times to watch birds. We'll look for
migranting and familiar birds that stay at the Nature Center
year round, and learn some springtime birding basics. Borrow
our binoculars and field guides or bring your own. Beginners
are very welcome!
179700 8 & up 1 Class $5 4/14 Sa 8:00am- 9:00am
179701 8 & up 1 Class $5 5/19 Sa 8:00am- 9:00am
Wildflowers in Your Neighborhood
Wildflowers live in all sorts of places in the suburbs, and
Brookside Nature Center is one of them. Learn to identify
some of our beautiful native wildflowers and why they're important to people and animals.
182549 8 & up 1 Class $5 4/19 Th 4:00pm- 5:00pm
Flying Squirrels!
Catch a glimpse of these elusive but surprisingly common nighttime
gliders. Learn about their secretive ways and how they live.
Rain cancels program.
182149 18 & up 1 Class Free 5/18 F 8:15pm- 9:00pm
A Gift for Nature
I love nature, you love nature, we all love nature—
right? Well, here's our chance to prove it! On Earth
Day weekend, come out and love nature in an active
way! There's an abundance of invasive plants here
that need to be removed to make way for more beneficial
native plants. We'll give you a bag and gloves,
and a quick lesson in plant ID. Then you can tug and
pull to your heart's content, restoring our forest habitat
in a way that pleases everyone.
187499 4 & up 1 Class Free 4/21 Sa 2:00pm- 4:00pm
Glowing Rocks
Learn a little about the history of rocks and minerals.
Find out what makes fluorescent rocks shine in the
dark, then watch the excitement as we turn out the
lights and our fluorescent rocks begin to glow with
beautiful, bright colors.
182603 1 & up 1 Class Free 4/28 Sa 2:00pm- 3:00pm
Forest Friends Festival!
Here's your chance to be a "BFF" (best friend forever!)
to birds, bats, bees and trees! Join us to explore
and enjoy, tree activities, forestfriendly
crafts, forest critters and much more!
182653 2 & up 1 Class $5 4/29 Su 11:00am- 4:00pm
May at Maydale
Let's hike around the Maydale pond looking for birds,
frogs and other boisterous signs of spring. Meet
at Maydale Park, 1638 Maydale Drive, Silver Spring
20905 (off Briggs Chaney Rd. and Claude Lane).
182154 1 & up 1 Class Free 5/22 Tu 1:00pm- 2:00pm
Growing Spring Flowers
Take a small plant and learn how to transplant it to a
bigger home so that it can grow big and strong. Paint
a beautiful pot for your flower that you can bring
home and treasure. Please register each person who
would like to paint one flower pot.
182609 2 & up 1 Class $6 5/22 Tu 4:00pm- 5:00pm
Volunteer Training for
Naturalist Aides,
Hosts and Hostesses
Spring is full of new life. Newborn animals, leaves, flowers, frog eggs and
more. Get ready to help Brookside Nature
Center visitors at the front desk
or during programs by learning some
basic information about what happens in the
forest during spring. If you're a Parks volunteer, please
call Brookside Nature Center at 301-962-1480 to register
for this course at no cost. Not a Parks volunteer?
You're welcome to attend; just register and pay online.
182449 14 & up 1 Class $5 4/16 M 6:00- 7:00pm
Volunteer Naturalists
Calling all current and prospective Volunteer Naturalists!
We want to share our knowledge and give you information
and tools that will help you share your love of nature.
Training courses cover a wide range of natural history topics,
provide an overview of Piedmont ecology and introduce the
prime habitats in this county. You'll improve your teaching
skills and learn techniques of effective interpretation...and as
your knowledge and confidence grows, you'll get opportunities
to contribute to our environmental literacy mission.
Classes are free for any Volunteer Naturalist serving with the
Parks; please contact BNC's Volunteer Coordinators to register.
Other adults are welcome to register and pay online at
www.ParkPASS.org. Let the adventure begin!
• Stream Splash Programs
Help our visitors learn about stream ecology. Learn how to
prepare for and lead this hands-on program for all ages.
182604 18 & up 1 Class $5 4/30 M 6:00pm- 7:00pm
• Spring Wildfl owers
For most people, springtime means flower time! We'll teach
features and folklore to help you remember the lovely spring
flowers that adorn our parks. Hike location will be determined
closer to May 5; we'll let you know where to meet.
180953 18 & up 1 Class $10 5/5 Sa 1:00pm- 3:00pm
• Trailside Tips & Tricks
You and sixteen first graders are heading outside to learn
about nature. Soon the kids are running down the hill,
wandering off the trail, poking each other with sticks. Help!
How do you hold their interest and help them explore their
surroundings in a meaningful way? This short tutorial, based
on many years of naturalist experience, will show you how.
180955 18 & up 1 Class $10 5/10 Th 4:00pm- 6:00pm
Date of last update: April 9, 2012
Montgomery County Department of Parks