Tour guide: Keely Shaughnessy, Brookside Gardens staff

Join us for a walking tour of Brookside Gardens’ late spring blooming shrubs and deciduous plants. Explore our colorful collection of azaleas and rhododendrons while learning how to incorporate them into your own home garden.

Instructor: Ana Ka’ahanui, certified Forest Therapy Guide

Connect with nature through a forest bathing walk among the beautiful springtime blossoms and newly leafing trees. Stroll the grounds and neighboring forest at a measured pace that allows you to notice the small miracles of nature unfolding. We’ll close the walk by enjoying hot tea and healthy snacks.

About Forest Bathing:
The Forest Agency of Japan began promoting forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, in the 1980s as a response to the stresses of urban living and long work hours. This nature-oriented mindfulness practice, which is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for the natural world, has since become popular all over the world, bringing joy and improved mental and physical health to millions of people. Numerous health studies have confirmed forest bathing’s benefits and doctors and nurses in our region are taking note. Many are prescribing “Nature” to their patients.

*NOTE: This class will be held in the Visitor Center Auditorium located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue. No walk-ins will be accepted. Class size limited to 25 people.

Instructor: Charles Votaw

Tai Chi is an ancient, Chinese form of exercise perfect for adults seeking stress reduction while strengthening muscles, improving balance, and increasing flexibility. The Forms are repetitive patterns that emphasize slow, flowing motions and controlled movements. Classes will help beginners to learn the Forms while providing regular practitioners the guidance of an experienced instructor.

*NOTE: This class will be held in the Visitor Center Auditorium located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue. No walk-ins will be accepted. Class size limited to 20 people.

Instructor: Sherry Weber

These series of classes feature foundational yoga poses that are designed to support better breathing, walking, and space orientation. Yoga movements help build muscle, bone density and core strength while improving balance, posture, and flexibility. Mats are not included.

*NOTE: This class will be held in the Visitor Center Auditorium located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue. No walk-ins will be accepted. Class size limited to 20 people.

Instructor: Tanory Ateek

For those who want to continue their practice throughout the colder months, we're bringing our popular Saturday yoga series indoors. Designed to increase flexibility and physical strength and to cultivate mental focus, these classes are a beautiful and relaxing way to begin your weekend. Mats are not included.

Connect with and care for your inner self through the Strolls for Well-Being, an evidence based program that promotes emotional healing and wellness through connection to nature. Over the course of eight weeks, you will complete twelve walks individually in Brookside Gardens, on your own schedule and with a beautiful full-color, 110-page journal as your guide. Each walk has its own theme, reflected in the journal with readings and writing prompts encouraging you to slow down, be present, and look inward. Those struggling with difficulty, stress, or transition may particularly benefit. Dates listed are for group meetings at the beginning, middle, and end of the program, where you will receive important information/materials and share insights with other participants (before registering, please be sure that you can commit to attending all three sessions).

Further information available at www.brooksidegardens.org/wellness. Note: Strolls for Well-Being and accompanying materials were created by mental health professionals but Brookside Gardens is not a mental health service provider.

Bring your little ones to this series of fun, garden-related yoga movement classes. Physical exercise and mindfulness will awaken your senses, boost your energy, and give you good garden vibes to start your day. Classes are outdoors and either moved indoors or canceled in cases of inclement weather. Bring your own mat or borrow one of ours. Adults must accompany children. Meet at South Terrace.

Instructor: Christopher Elenstar, Brookside Gardens staff

Whether you’re looking to create a new garden or blend in plants with your existing one, this lecture will help you develop a habitat that attracts and supports a range of wildlife year-round. Learn how to make informed plant selections based on their characteristics and how they uniquely sustain birds, butterflies, and pollinators. A deeper understanding of local ecosystems will inform design strategies for layering plant combinations and placement to create a functional and beautiful landscape. Plant lists provided.

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.

Discover ways to garden more sustainably while getting to know our staff horticulturists. From native plants and organic practices to stormwater management, see firsthand how we are beautifying Brookside Gardens while protecting the environment.

Get a head start on spring gardening! You’ll appreciate the high-quality perennials, shrubs, and small trees grown at Montgomery Parks’ Pope Farm and local nurseries. Enjoy a wide selection of plants, including native ecotypes, and get expert advice from staff horticulturists. Proceeds support ongoing efforts to beautify Brookside Gardens.

Check out the latest in eco-friendly landscaping tools including electric mowers, trimmers, and blowers. Learn about Montgomery Parks’ efforts to replace all gas-powered landscaping equipment with electric and get inspired to “green up” your own garden care. You’ll have the chance to engage with Brookside Gardens’ horticulturalists during hands-on demonstrations.

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

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.

Gardening has been proven to improve physical health, mental wellness, and cognitive ability! Join us for this 5-session series to learn how to grow native plants, herbs, or vegetables. This program is designed to support aspiring gardeners with disabilities. We will supply guidance and all materials, including accessible garden beds, worktables, and ergonomic garden tools. At the end of our program, you will have acquired the skills, and plants, to take home and continue your garden adventures. Participants will be asked to complete a Modification Intake Form upon registration to ensure appropriate support from Program Access. 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.

We need your help at the park! Celebrate Earth Day by working on some projects around the Discovery Center and in Black Hill Regional Park. Join us for a variety of projects which can earn Student Service Learning hours or come out to help because it just feels good to volunteer. As the workday draws closer, check out our Facebook page for detailed information on today's project. Can’t make it to this workday? Watch for other opportunities to be announced on Facebook or contact us through the Parks’ volunteer website ParksVolunteers.org. Parents must accompany children 13 and under. Groups are welcome too! Interested groups should email [email protected]. Registration required. Please register through www.ParksVolunteers.org.

Come join us for a woodland adventure full of adventurous play, nature lessons, and wild skills. Each month we'll explore what nature has to show us and spend some time learning new wild skills. We will also have time, space, and materials for unstructured play in the woods around our campfire circle. Students will be able to self-select what they would like to focus on from the activities provided. We will meet at the campfire area by Shelter F on Parking Lot 3, in Black Hill Regional Park. FOBH $11

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.

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.

This freestyle session is for figure skaters age 18 and older only who are at a Free Skate 1 or Teen and Adult 3 level.

This list of activities are for the Cabin John Ice Rink's schedule for Stick and Puck Sessions for ALL AGES. Full gear is required for all skaters under at 18. All skaters must wear a helmet and hockey gloves. No scrimmaging is allowed on stick and puck sessions. Players need to bring their own pucks.
Coaching is strictly prohibited on these sessions except with a Cabin John Ice Rink contracted coach.

This list of activities are for the Cabin John Ice Rink's schedule for Pick Up Hockey Sessions for ages 18 & up. Full Gear is required

Join us for a guided tour of the grounds at Josiah Henson Museum and Park to learn about the features and artifacts that inform our understanding of Rev. Josiah Henson’s life at the Riley Plantation. This 30-minute tour is appropriate for ages 6 and up.

Pre-registration is not required. Admission, $3 per person. Tickets available onsite on the day of tour. Does not include admission to museum.

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.

Join a Park Naturalist for an off-site hike and get to know a new park! Includes 80 minute hike and social chat at the end. The Nature on Wheels vehicle will provide seating, water and bathroom access (using stairs). This month we will be meeting at the Rachel Carson Conservation Park. This event is for experienced hikers. Trail may be rocky or steep and distance will be over 2 miles.

Need a break? Drop the kids for a Nature Night In and enjoy a Parent’s Night Out. We will have a fun filled night with natured based games, crafts, a picnic dinner, and a hike on natural surface trails if weather permits. Children must be potty trained and dressed appropriately for weather. Please pack a nut-free dinner, snack, and a water. Register each child for this program

Check out all of these fun birding programs at Locust Grove Nature Center. We offer a variety of birding programs through out the year focusing on different aspects of birding.

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.

Growing native plants encourages beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife in your community. Support your back-yard ecosystem with this fundraising event benefiting Maydale Nature Classroom. Online sales begin Monday, April 8th with plant pickup Saturday, April 27th. Online sales only.

These classes are designed to teach young children and their caregivers more about wildlife and nature right in their own backyards through activities, explorations, games, hikes, and take-home crafts.

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.

Celebrate Earth Day with tiny “green grenades” of native herb, flower, and vegetable seeds that create pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators in your garden! Come make your own seed bombs using colored paper and native wildflower seeds and take them home to plant in your garden or neighborhood.