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Upcoming Programs and Events

  • Oregon Ridge Dulcimers - Winter Session

    • 08 Jan 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 17
    Register

    Oregon Ridge Dulcimers – Winter Session

    Thursdays; 6:30 - 8 p.m.

    January 8, 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 19, 26 and March 5

     An old-fashioned dulcimer meet-up and workshop. You only need an interest in this instrument to participate. Beginners welcome, no musical experience necessary. Loaner dulcimers are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Performances:

    • Friends of Oregon Ridge Pancake Breakfast on Saturday; February 28; from 8 to 10 a.m.

    • Fork United Methodist Church on Sunday; March 8; at 9:30 a.m.


    Adults and children 16+
    $35 per person ($25 for Friends of Oregon Ridge Members)

     Price includes 9-week session.

    Members may only register guests who are included in their membership.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.



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  • Me and My Pup on the Ridge

    • 13 Jan 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 9
    Register

    Me and My Pup on the Ridge

     Tuesday, January 13; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

     Here’s your chance to bring your pup on a Naturalist led hike! Friendly, leashed pups (with a waste clean-up bag) and their owners are invited to join us for a hike on the trails at Oregon Ridge. 

    Adults along with their pup
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration is limited to one pup per person. Two people with one pup is acceptable, but all human guests must be registered and paid.

    Registration for this program closes on Sunday, January 11th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

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  • Senior Stroll

    • 14 Jan 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll

    Wednesday, January 14; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

     Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature’s seasonal highlights with a Naturalist... this program is open to adults of all ages. Route and difficulty level will be adjusted to the ability level of the registered participants.

    Adults 
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, January 12th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

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  • Annual Seed Swap Celebration

    • 25 Jan 2026
    • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 138
    Register

    Annual Seed Swap Celebration
    at Oregon Ridge Nature Center

    Sunday, January 25; 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

    This is a drop-in event, attend any time between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

    Join us for our Annual Seed Swap Celebration, sponsored by the Friends of Oregon Ridge. Learn how to collect, prepare, store, plant and grow seeds from Maryland Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists.

    Why Save and Share Seeds?
    • Problems with the current supply of seeds
    • Sustain biodiversity and biosecurity
    • Preservation of heirloom varieties
    • Promote native plant propagation
    • Save money
    • Share the love of gardening

    We will have gardening magazines, seed catalogs and books to give away. Please bring seeds to share with others!

    All ages
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge Members)
    No charge for children under the age of 3 – Do not register these children, just list them in the children under the age of 3 prompt.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the start of the program.



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  • Natural Science Book Club – A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey

    • 26 Jan 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 16
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    A Most Remarkable Creature:
    The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey

     Monday, January 26; 7 - 8 p.m.

    Jonathan Meiburg provides a captivating blend of science, travelogue and history that investigates the caracara, a group of clever, crow-like falcons from South America, tracing their evolutionary history, unique intelligence and the mystery of their limited distribution, picking up where Charles Darwin left off in puzzling over these audacious, omnivorous birds that fill the niche of large crows and challenge traditional views of raptors.

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, January 24 at midnight.



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  • Senior Stroll

    • 28 Jan 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 10
    Register

    Senior Stroll

    Wednesday, January 28; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
     Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature’s seasonal highlights with a Naturalist... this program is open to adults of all ages. Route and difficulty level will be adjusted to the ability level of the registered participants.

    Adults 
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, January 26th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

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  • Me and My Pup on the Ridge

    • 10 Feb 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 9
    Register

    Me and My Pup on the Ridge

     Tuesday, February 10; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

     Here’s your chance to bring your pup on a Naturalist led hike! Friendly, leashed pups (with a waste clean-up bag) and their owners are invited to join us for a hike on the trails at Oregon Ridge. 

    Adults along with their pup
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration is limited to one pup per person. Two people with one pup is acceptable, but all human guests must be registered and paid.

    Registration for this program closes on Sunday, February 8th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

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  • Senior Stroll

    • 11 Feb 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll

    Wednesday, February 11; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
     Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature’s seasonal highlights with a Naturalist... this program is open to adults of all ages. Route and difficulty level will be adjusted to the ability level of the registered participants.

    Adults 
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, February 9th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

    Show details

  • Senior Stroll

    • 25 Feb 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll

    Wednesday, February 25; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature’s seasonal highlights with a Naturalist... this program is open to adults of all ages. Route and difficulty level will be adjusted to the ability level of the registered participants.

    Adults 
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, February23rd.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

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  • Natural Science Book Club – Take to the Trees: A Story of Hope, Science and Self-Discovery in America's Imperiled Forests

    • 02 Mar 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 17
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    Take to the Trees:
    A Story of Hope, Science and Self-Discovery in America's Imperiled Forests

     Monday, March 2; 7 - 8 p.m.

    Take to the Trees by Marguerite Holloway is a book that blends memoir, science, and environmental reporting, following the author as she learns tree climbing at a women's workshop while exploring the threats facing American forests and her own grief. The book combines personal reflection on her late mother and brother with scientific information about tree diseases and climate change, highlighting the work of arborists and the resilience of nature, ultimately offering a message of hope through community and stewardship. 

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, February 28 at midnight.



    Show details

  • Me and My Pup on the Ridge

    • 10 Mar 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 9
    Register

    Me and My Pup on the Ridge

     Tuesday, March 10; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

     Here’s your chance to bring your pup on a Naturalist led hike! Friendly, leashed pups (with a waste clean-up bag) and their owners are invited to join us for a hike on the trails at Oregon Ridge. 

    Adults along with their pup
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration is limited to one pup per person. Two people with one pup is acceptable, but all human guests must be registered and paid.

    Registration for this program closes on Sunday, March 8th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

    Show details

  • Senior Stroll

    • 11 Mar 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll

    Wednesday, March 11; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature’s seasonal highlights with a Naturalist... this program is open to adults of all ages. Route and difficulty level will be adjusted to the ability level of the registered participants.

    Adults 
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, March 9th.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

    Show details

  • Senior Stroll

    • 25 Mar 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll

    Wednesday, March 25; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature’s seasonal highlights with a Naturalist... this program is open to adults of all ages. Route and difficulty level will be adjusted to the ability level of the registered participants.

    Adults 
    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, March 23rd.

    All fees paid are considered donations and are not refundable unless Oregon Ridge Nature Center cancels the program. If we need to cancel the program due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, your payment will be credited to your account for use toward a future program.

    Show details

  • Natural Science Book Club – Your Atomic Self: The Invisible Elements that Connect You to Everything Else in the Universe

    • 13 Apr 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 19
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    Your Atomic Self:
    The Invisible Elements that Connect You to Everything Else in the Universe

     Monday, April 13; 7 - 8 p.m.

    Curt Stager brings us a science book that explores the profound connections between human beings and the universe through the atoms that compose us, tracing elements like oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and iron through natural cycles and showing how we are physically linked to everything from ancient oceans to stars. The book uses an "atomic field guide" approach to reveal the hidden, elemental story of life, explaining how the atoms in our bodies are constantly being recycled and are part of the larger cosmic fabric, making us more than just flesh and blood. 

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, April 11 at midnight.



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  • Natural Science Book Club – The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect

    • 01 Jun 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 19
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    The Language of Butterflies:
    How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect

    Monday, June 1; 7 - 8 p.m.


    Wendy Williams explores the history of human fascination with butterflies, blending natural history with the stories of the people who studied them, from collectors and scientists to citizen scientists. It covers their intelligence, resilience, and critical role in ecosystems, highlighting how their biology inspires new technologies and how their decline serves as a warning for climate change, urging conservation efforts. 

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, May 29 at midnight.



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  • Natural Science Book Club – Tales from the Ant World

    • 20 Jul 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 20
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    Tales from the Ant World

    Monday, July 20; 7 - 8 p.m.


    Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson takes us on a thrilling myrmecological tour across continents and through time, inviting us into his decades-long scientific obsession with ants. Animating his observations with personal stories, Wilson hones in on twenty-five ant species to explain how these creatures talk, smell, taste, and crucially, how they fight to determine dominance. Richly illustrated throughout with depictions of ant species and photos from Wilson’s own expeditions, Tales from the Ant World is a fascinating personal account from one of our greatest scientists – and a necessary volume for any lover of the natural world.

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, June 18 at midnight.



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  • Natural Science Book Club – The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World's Most Misunderstood Mammals

    • 14 Sep 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 19
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    The Secret Lives of Bats:
    My Adventures with the World's Most Misunderstood Mammals

    Monday, September 14; 7 - 8 p.m.


    Merlin Tuttle’s memoir and natural history book chronicles the author's lifelong career studying and photographing bats, revealing their intelligence, complex social lives, and vital ecological roles, challenging common fears through stunning photography and adventurous anecdotes. The book highlights how bats benefit humans by eating pests and pollinating plants, saving billions in agriculture, and details Tuttle's daring expeditions to document them globally. 

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, September 12 at midnight.



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  • Natural Science Book Club – The Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World

    • 26 Oct 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 19
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    The Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World

    Monday, October 26; 7 - 8 p.m.


    Physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski that explains the ocean's complex systems, from currents and temperature to marine life, revealing how they sustain the planet while facing urgent threats.     It combines scientific explanation with history and culture, exploring how the ocean's engine, powered by sunlight, drives global flows of energy, water, and life, from plankton to whales. The book won the 2024 Wainwright Prize for Conservation. 

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, October 24 at midnight.



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  • Natural Science Book Club – The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race

    • 07 Dec 2026
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 20
    Register

    Natural Science Book Club
    The Code Breaker
    Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the future of the Human Race

    Monday, December 7; 7 - 8 p.m.


    This 2021 non-fiction book by Walter Isaacson chronicles the discovery and development of CRISPR gene-editing technology, focusing on Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators. The book explores the science behind this revolutionary "cut-and-paste" tool for DNA, its potential to cure diseases, and the profound ethical questions it raises about altering the human genome. It's considered a major work on the "life-science revolution" that follows the digital age. 

    Advance registration required.

    Adults

    $5 per person (FREE for Friends of Oregon Ridge)

     This program is not an author meet and greet; it is a social gathering to discuss the book.


    Registration for this program closes on Saturday, December 5 at midnight.



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