NOTE: Tuesday's performance has been POSTPONED due to the extreme heat advisory. The raindate for the performance is scheduled for Thursday, July 11 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Please check this webpage back for updates.

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. Picnics are welcome. There will not be a food truck onsite for the rescheduled date.

For more information, please visit: https://montgomeryparks.org/event/shakespeare-in-the-garden/

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.

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 $6

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 $13

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 $7

Toddlers of all abilities are invited to explore the exciting natural world 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. Visit the front entrance of the Discovery Center to begin your journey through our most accessible areas of the park which are stroller friendly, with shaded areas and locations to rest. All ages are welcome but prompts and materials are geared towards children aged one to three. Registration required.

What lives in a stream? Wade into the water and use nets to see what insects, fish, frogs, and other animals we can find. Please wear boots or closed-toe shoes that you don't mind getting wet (no flip-flops, please!). All children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the gravel Boat Launch parking lot on Black Hill Road. Registration required. FOBH $7

Come play in our backyard! Dance and run through sprinklers. Make bubbles with giant bubble wands. Splash in water play stations designed for the littlest of revelers. This is what summer is all about! Bring sunscreen, a towel and a change of clothes.

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 email you with the hike's location and other important information.

Want to join the 45 million other bird-watching Americans, but don’t know where to start? We’ll start with the basics of bird identification and go over how to select and use binoculars. Then we’ll go do some birding! If you have your own binoculars, please bring them along. And be sure to dress for the weather. Meet at the Discovery Center. FOBH $11

Join a naturalist for a night hike and firefly search at Black Hill Regional Park. Bring your bug boxes for catching these awesome insects. Meet at the Discovery Center for a brief talk, and then we'll head out into the twilight. FOBH $7

Stop by the Discovery Center Information Desk to pick up a themed pack and start exploring Black Hill Regional Park. Let your curiosity lead you as you follow the activities. No registration required; drop in anytime during program hours. Supplies are limited and loaned out first come, first served. One pack per family. Please return packs by 3 pm.

Strike a pose and say cheese! Drop by for a unique photo op at the Discovery Center. We’ll provide some fun props, and a staff member will take your photo on instant film, just like those original instant photos (shaking optional). Take home a memory you will never forget. No registration required; drop in anytime during program hours. Supplies are limited; first come, first served.

When is the last time you climbed a tree, went fishing or kayaking, made a journal, waded in a stream, or enjoyed a pontoon boat ride? Too long? Then join us and other grown-up “kids” to relive some of those summertime memories and create some new ones. It’s your chance to explore and play outside just like when you were a kid. A welcome letter with details will be sent before the start of camp. FOBH $170

Help the environment by doing your part! Learn how to repurpose items from home to create beautiful art pieces. Each program will focus on paper, plastic, or fabric. Materials will be provided but participants are welcome to bring their own. All attendees must register. Be sure to check Brooksidenature.org for day-of event status.

Join us for the magic of the full moon for a hike and campfire on each Friday nearest to the full moon. Feel free to bring your own food to warm over the fire and we'll provide marshmallows. The hike will be about a half mile on a natural surface trail. Ages 5 and up. All attendees must register.

Join us in the park after dark to celebrate National Moth Week! We’ll set up a mothing station designed to attract these beautiful yet secretive nocturnal animals. Our insect enthusiasts will be on hand to help us identify what we find as we collect data for an ongoing study. Bring a lawn chair and extra layers, as well as a headlamp or flashlight. The mothing station will be set up a short walk from the parking lot. You must be comfortable walking in the woods at night on natural surface trails. Bring your own snacks and drinks to keep your stamina! Participants may leave at any time and do not have to stay for the duration of the program. In the event of rain, we cancel.

Join a naturalist for a reading of a seasonal story, participate in a hike, and make a craft to take home. Enroll in the entire series or individual sessions.

Explore the great outdoors with a naturalist-led hike. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly hike around Maydale, or want to learn about nocturnal animals during a night hike, or enjoy a scavenger hunt with your family there is a hike for you.

Insects make the world go round. They pollinate the food we eat, keep other insect pests in check, and act as sanitation experts, cleaning up our waste. Learn more about these important creatures and how they help. Sign up for one or the entire series of family-friendly programs.

Enjoy a summer evening around the campfire with your family while taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Each campfire is unique with its own theme. Register for one or the entire series.

Soil supports life! Join us as we survey different soil samples at Maydale to determine if their properties are sustainable for all plants and animals.

Join us as we set out on a half-mile walk to one of our local fishing holes! Once there, we’ll provide you with your own fishing pole, bobber, and bait, as well as teach you a few basics, including casting and reeling, and you’re all set! Please note that we catch and release fish and that there are is no bathroom or water at the pond. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Come and learn how our Naturalist Staff care for our amazing birds of prey! Discover what raptors eat for lunch, what raptors do for fun, and how trainers build relationships with these incredible animals.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This summer the M-NCPPC Arts and Cultural Heritage Division is thrilled to present "A Midsummer Night's Dream", directed by newly appointed Artistic Director Randy Snight. Love is in the air, but it's tangled in a romantic web involving four young Athenians. Venture into the mystical woods where fairies stir up a potion that turns the lovers' world upside down. Get ready for an unforgettable experience of whimsy, wonder, and weddings as the enchanting tale of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" comes to life on stage in this 90-minute production. Bring your lawn chair, a picnic, and enjoy the Bard under the stars.

Come by our Nature Playspace and watch Gilly the Vulture train with her caretakers! Ask vulture questions, volunteer in a training session, or just relax and enjoy a vulture visit. 

Celebrate the beauty of summer with a night under the stars! Enjoy glowing campfire treats before walking down to the Meadowside Pond to experience nighttime frog songs and the flicker of fireflies.  Bring a flashlight and be prepared for natural surface trails.

Make your very own creation with clay and imprints of live fern fronds and fiddleheads! This hands-on program will include instruction, all materials and a naturalist led stroll to discover Maryland’s magical ferns. This event takes place at Meadowside Nature Center.   

Celebrate the insects that make our food possible on World Honeybee Day! Taste different types of honey, learn about our local bees and pollinators, and take home a bee craft. This event takes place at Meadowside Nature Center.