NOTE: Address & parking logistics will be sent after registration.

Tour Guide: Ryan Colliton, vegetation ecology & management unit leader, Montgomery Parks

Rachel Carson was a pioneering environmentalist who called Montgomery County home. Explore her namesake park to learn how Montgomery Parks’ restoration projects protect these natural habitats. Journey through colorful meadows housing rare plants and discover a prime example of a chestnut oak forest. Prepare for this active hike with sturdy shoes and a water bottle!

Delight in an outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream where rom-com antics meet supernatural magic. Follow four couples through the human and fairy realms where true love is tested by Puck’s mischievous ploys. Bring a picnic or enjoy a meal from an on-site food truck.

*Rain date: Thursday | July 11 | 7:00 – 8:45 pm

Join us each Tuesday evening in June for a series of musical performances set in the beauty of the Gardens! Admission is free, and no registration is required. Bring your friends and family, and don’t forget your chairs, blankets, and picnics (allowed in the Gardens on concert evenings only). Food trucks will also be available for your dining pleasure. No registration required.

Tuesday, June 4
Ocho de Bastos
Latin Pop

Tuesday, June 11
19th Street Band
Americana/Country/Rock

Tuesday, June 18
Kurlou Reggae All-Stars
Reggae

Tuesday, June 25
King Teddy
Swing/Rockabilly

NOTE: This tour date is different than the date listed in the Cultivate guide. The tour will take place on Tuesday, April 9, from 10:30am - 12:30pm. Address & parking logistics will be sent after registration.

Tour guide: Ryan Colliton, vegetation ecology & management unit leader, Montgomery Parks

Stroll along the Potomac River as you learn about the unique ecology of flood plains and Montgomery Parks’ efforts to control invasive plants. Explore the rich biodiversity of native specimens including the state’s largest sycamore trees and spring ephemerals like Virginia bluebells, woodland phlox, and false Solomon’s seal.

This new series aims to fill the gap between theory and practice. Tours of home gardens will serve as real-world case studies of landscape projects. Onsite discussions with homeowners and Brookside Gardens staff will offer applicable lessons in design and maintenance. Plant lists provided for each Field Lab.

Let's round up some fishing fun! No fishing experience or gear needed. We will provide a quick lesson and be on hand to assist participants as they fish. Prizes will be given in a variety of categories. Adaptive equipment through Fishing Has No Boundaries including wrist saver rods, rod holders, and seated rod holders are available with two weeks’ notice. Parent participation is required. Only one fishing line in the water per child. Fee includes a tee-shirt. Located at the fishing pond in Kings Local Park, 23715 Clarksburg Rd., Clarksburg, MD 20871. Registration required. Registration begins on Monday, April 15 at 6:30AM.

There is nothing like being at a campfire under the stars. Join a naturalist for themed songs, stories, games, and of course, s’mores around a fire. Bring a blanket if it’s chilly. Meet at the campfire area by Shelter F on Parking Lot 3, in Black Hill Regional Park. Registration required for all attending. FOBH $5

Fishing is fun for the whole family and for all abilities! We'll show you how to set up a simple bobber rig, bait your hook, and give you some tips on casting. We'll provide the bait and rigging supplies; you just need to catch the fish! We have fishing poles you can borrow, but if you have your own bring it along. Anglers of all abilities are welcome. All registrants 16 and over must have a current MD fishing license. Meet at the pontoon boat dock by the boat rentals. Registration required. Please register only those planning to fish. FOBH $11

Let's go fishin'! We'll provide poles and bait, then see what we can catch off the dock at Little Seneca Lake. Meet at the pontoon boat dock by the boat rentals. Registration required. FOBH $6

Spring is such an exciting time of year, with plants and animals all waking up from their winter slumber. And it's one of the best times to go looking for herps (reptiles and amphibians). We'll trek through the fields and woods of Rachel Carson Conservation Park to a vernal pool looking for tadpoles, frogs, and salamanders and maybe we'll even get to see some snakes too! Meet at Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Brookeville, MD Registration required. FOBH $6

Girls belong in nature, enjoying outdoor adventures! Join us for a girl-centered Nature Girls Club. There are three in-person sessions with a Park Naturalist that will focus on exploring nature, trying out outdoor skills, and nature journaling. Meetings are monthly. Registration required.

Toddlers of all abilities are invited to explore the exciting natural world in and around the Discovery Center. Families will explore at their own pace using nature play prompts that will remain out for the duration of the program. All ages are welcome but prompts and materials are geared towards children aged one to three. Registration required.

Do you dream of building forts in the woods, or climbing a tree? Maybe you want to learn about woodland critters or create some art in the woods. Join us for a time to explore the woods how you want to. We’ll supply some materials and a space to create and explore, you supply the imagination and sense of adventure! Drop in at our campfire circle area any time during the program to join in on the fun. Meet at the campfire area by Shelter F on Parking Lot 3, in Black Hill Regional Park. Registration required.

Nature is awesome, cool, and super-fun! We'll celebrate the nature around us with awesome family activities. Let your curiosity guide you with this self-led program. Pick up materials at the Discovery Center and let the adventures begin! Registration required.

Let’s go outside and hike to improve fitness, play in nature, and experience the great outdoors as a family. You will meet a naturalist at the meet up spot and set out on a trail that will have nature play and fun learning prompts along the way. These hikes are designed for adults with young children. Most trails are not stroller accessible, so you’ll need a backpack or carrier for younger kids and non-walkers. Please register everyone attending no later than 24 hours before the hike so we can contact you with the hike's location and other important information.

Toddlers of all abilities are invited to explore nature in our Urban Parks. Families will explore at their own pace using nature play prompts and materials to help you explore the exciting natural world around the urban park with your toddler. Siblings are welcome, too. Join us at 13905 Stilt St, Boyds, MD 20841.

Drop by the Discovery Center and have some fun! We'll have easy-to-make seasonal crafts that you can make and take home. Today we'll be making a froggy craft. Registration required – please register only those making the craft. Stop in anytime during program hours!

Go on a treasure hunt! People have hidden boxes with handmade stamps around the park. Stop inside the Discovery Center anytime during program hours to get an introduction to letterboxing and the tools to participate, then head out on your own for an adventure! Every letterbox has a list of clues to find it. Collect the stamps and leave your mark in the box. Registration required.

Join a Park Naturalist and seek the many natural wonders of Wheaton Regional Park. Preschoolers and their favorite adult will have the opportunity to collect, count and sort different natural materials (pre-math), recognize shapes and patterns in nature (art) and develop social skills like sharing and cooperation. Register each child, a guardian must attend.

Who’s out and about in Wheaton Regional Park once the sun sets? Join us for an evening experience to find out! Please note that each month focuses on a different theme! Adults and children must register.

Join us as we read stories, sing songs, engage in hands-on play, and take mini-hikes meant for the littlest legs! Please note: The Little Explorers programs scheduled in the same month will have the same topic and activities. Register each child, a guardian must attend.

Try orienteering, the navigation adventure, in Wheaton Regional Park. Gather your friends and family to take turns at finding wilderness checkpoints with your map, a compass, and powers of observation. All attendees must register.

Pilot program! Embark on an adults only, nature-themed, evening scavenger hunt at Brookside Nature Center and on the trails of Wheaton Regional Park. Teams of five will complete a series of missions using the GooseChase app on your smart device. Make sure to pre-register for this new and exciting pilot program as space is limited. All attendees must register.

Join us as we tap into our creative side to create a rustic vine basket using non-native invasive vines. Explore the effects of nonnative invasive vines on our native plant communities. During a short walk practice identifying common invasive vines. All attendees must register.

Join us for the magic of the full moon for a hike and campfire on each Friday nearest the full moon. We offer a variety of Full Moon Friday programs for a variety of ages.

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day here in Cabin John Regional Park. Join us as we keep track of the different migratory birds that pass through the park this time of year. Ask our naturalist any bird related questions as well. All levels of birders welcome, you are welcome to bring your own pair of binoculars, the nature will have pairs to borrow if necessary. Registration is required for this program.

In this 10-week session, Caregivers will have the chance to play, create and learn right alongside their little nature explorers. Each one-and-a-half hour class will include a hike, storytime and hands-on, nature-based activities that encourages imaginative play, curiosity, and cooperation.Program is intended for children 1 1/2 to 3 years old.The majority of each class will be outdoors (barring extreme weather) so be sure to dress appropriately. This trail difficulty is moderate. The trail is on natural surfaces with dirt, rock and rut. Trails steepness varies and some trails will only be accessible with stairs.
Register each child. An adult guardian must accompany the child. Each class meets Wednesdays, March 13 to May 22, skipping March 27 with May 29 for weather makeup (10 classes).

Studies show that babies as young as a few weeks old thrive with daily outside time. So pack your baby in a carrier and join us for a low-key nature walk lead by one of our naturalists. Get to know other local parents while enjoying the fresh air and beauty of Cabin John forest. The trail is on natural surfaces with dirt, rock and rut. Trails steepness varies and some trails will only be accessible with stairs. Trails are not stroller accessible. Fee is for one child and their adult for the entire Spring session, which meets Thursdays from April 18 to May 23, with May 30 for weather makeup (6 classes).

Create an array of nature themed crafts with any of our Nature Make and Take programs.

Forest bathing promotes wellness through deepening our connection to natural environments. Based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates as “taking in the atmosphere of the forest,". This 2-hour session, led by certified forest therapy guide Adria S. Zeldin, will guide you through mindfulness-based sensory invitations to help you slow down, awaken your senses, and reconnect with nature.

Please dress comfortably with the weather in mind. We will be outdoors and moving slowly so you may want to bring extra layers. There may be times that you wish to sit, so a blanket or mat may make your experience more enjoyable. This trail difficulty is moderate. The trail is on natural surfaces with dirt, rock and rut. Trails steepness varies and some trails will only be accessible with stairs. Registration required for 18 and up.