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Upcoming Programs and Events

  • Basic Vegetable Gardening

    • 02 Apr 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 6
    Register

    Basic Vegetable Gardening
    with Master Gardener Norman Cohen
    Wednesday, April 2; 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
    Starting a vegetable garden is great family fun! This class will provide you with the necessary information to create your own successful garden. Best practices in site planning, soil preparation, seed and plant selection, garden maintenance and pest management topics will be presented.
    Adults and children 12+
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Advance Registration Required

    This is an in-person program at Oregon Ridge Nature Center. A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests several days prior to the program.

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  • Oregon Ridge Dulcimers - Spring Session

    • 03 Apr 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 1
    Registration is closed

    Oregon Ridge Dulcimers – Spring Session
    Thursdays; 6:30 - 8 p.m.
    April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; and June 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-serve basis. (Performance at the ORNC Council Music in the Wood Event)

    Adults and children 16+
    $35 per person ($25 for ORNCC Members) Price includes 10-week session

    Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, April 1st.

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

    This program will take place in the Lake Pavilion or Oregon Ridge Nature Center Library; decisions will be made weekly based on weather. 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 series.



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  • Stewardship Work Day

    • 05 Apr 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 29
    Register

    Stewardship Work Day
    Saturday, April 5; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    We need your help to restore habitats and remove invasive plants in the park! A brief overview of some of our offenders will be presented and we will begin to manually remove them along the Red Trail at the future site of the Woodland Restoration Garden. We will branch out into other areas of the park, hoping to encourage the return of our lovely native plants. Tools will be available, but you are welcome to bring your favorites along with work gloves. 
    Adults
    FREE

    Registration for this program closes on Friday, April 4th.

    EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE MUST BE REGISTERED AND ON OUR ROSTER. A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program.

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  • Babes in Backpacks – Weekend Edition!

    • 06 Apr 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 21
    Register

    Babes in Backpacks – Weekend Edition!
    Sunday, April 6; 9:30 - 11 a.m.
    A great opportunity for parents or caregivers to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying nature along the trail with their little one. This hike will be approximately 2 miles at an adult pace, with a stop along the way for a story and snack.
    Adults with children in a wearable carrier
    (We will not be able to accommodate siblings that are not in a wearable carrier, we will be travelng at an adult hiking speed.)
    $5 per family (Up to tw adults and chilren from the same household)
    (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Registration for this program closes on Friday, April 4th.

    IMPORTANT! Please register your child first, then register the adult or adults. This will prompt our registration system to register the child with no fee due. If you sign up for a membership, please make sure the membership is in the adult's name. The registration system will autofill the members name, but that can be changed to the child's name during the registration process.


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  • Me and My Pup on the Ridge

    • 08 Apr 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 2
    Register

    Me and My Pup on the Ridge
    Tuesday, April 8th; 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
    $4 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    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, April 6th.


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  • Beyond Basic Vegetable Gardening

    • 09 Apr 2025
    • 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 9
    Register

    Beyond Basic Vegetable Gardening
    with Master Gardener Norman Cohen
    Wednesday, April 9; 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
    Want to build on your knowledge from last year's gardening experience! This class will provide growing tips on specific vegetables, information about composting and fertilizers, and specific ways to deal with pesky weeds, animals, insects and plant diseases.
    Adults and children 12+
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, April 8th.

    This is an in-person program at Oregon Ridge Nature Center. A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests several days prior to the program.

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  • Senior Stroll

    • 09 Apr 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 4
    Register

    Senior Stroll
    Wednesday, April 9; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature's seasonal highlights... route and difficulty level will be determined based on the needs of registered participants with options for flat meadow, paved wooded or natural surface wooded trails.
    Adults
    $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, April 7th.


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  • The Natural Science Book Club – The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human

    • 14 Apr 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 4
    Register

    The Natural Science Book Club –
    The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human
    Monday, April 14; 7 - 8 p.m.     (in person at the Oregon Ridge Nature Center Library)
    An entertaining and profound look at the lives of birds by Noah Strycker. The Thing with Feathers illuminates their surprising world – and deep connection with humanity.
        Birds are highly intelligent animals, yet their intelligence is dramatically different from our own and has been little understood. As we learn more about the secrets of bird life, we are unlocking fascinating insights into memory, relationships, game theory and the nature of intelligence itself.
    Adults
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes at noon on Saturday, April 12th.

    A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program

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  • Babes in Backpacks

    • 16 Apr 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 24
    Register

    Babes in Backpacks
    Wednesday, April 16; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    A great opportunity for parents or caregivers to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying nature along the trail with their little one.
    Adults with children under the age of 4
    (Child must be carried in a wearable carrier for the entire hike.)
    $5 per adult (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Two adults with one child is acceptable, but all guests must be registered and paid.

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, April 14th.

    IMPORTANT! Please register your child first, then register the adult or adults. This will prompt our registration system to register the child with no fee due. If you sign up for a membership, please make sure the membership is in the adult's name. The registration system will autofill the members name, but that can be changed to the child's name during the registration process.


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  • Senior Stroll

    • 23 Apr 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 11
    Register

    Senior Stroll
    Wednesday, April 23; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature's seasonal highlights... route and difficulty level will be determined based on the needs of registered participants with options for flat meadow, paved wooded or natural surface wooded trails.
    Adults
    $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, April 21st.


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  • ORNC Council Speaker Series – Container Gardening with Native Perennials and Shrubs

    • 23 Apr 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 50
    Register

    ORNC Council Speaker Series –
    
Container Gardening with Native Perennials and Shrubs
    Carrie Engel, Greenhouse Manager, Valley View Farms
    Wednesday, April 23; 7 - 8:30 p.m. (in the Oregon Ridge Nature Center Auditorium)
     This program will discuss using natives in a somewhat non-native environment (in pots) to draw beneficial insects and wildlife, including butterflies and hummingbirds, to the garden. Planning and designing various ways to use natives in this setting will be demonstrated using perennials and shrubs. Our presenter will discuss correct potting mixtures, feeding plants and troubleshooting any challenges that might be presented over the season.
       Carrie Engel is the Greenhouse Manager at Valley View Farms, where she has worked for many years, beginning in high school. Carrie has appeared on WBAL TV since the 1990’s as the Sunday Gardener. Carrie loves gardening, enjoys working with challenges in the garden and promoting plants for physical and mental health.
    Adults
     $10 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, April 21.

    Members may only register guests who are covered by their membership. All other guests must register separately as a non-member. This program will be presented in-person at Oregon Ridge Nature Center. 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 the day before the program.


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  • Stewardship Work Day

    • 03 May 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 28
    Register

    Stewardship Work Day
    Saturday, May 3; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    We need your help to restore habitats and remove invasive plants in the park! A brief overview of some of our offenders will be presented and we will begin to manually remove them along the Red Trail at the future site of the Woodland Restoration Garden. We will branch out into other areas of the park, hoping to encourage the return of our lovely native plants. Tools will be available, but you are welcome to bring your favorites along with work gloves. 
    Adults
    FREE

    Registration for this program closes on Friday, May 2nd.

    EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE MUST BE REGISTERED AND ON OUR ROSTER. A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program.

    Show details

  • Native Plant Swap

    • 10 May 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 27
    Register

    Native Plant Swap
    Saturday, May 10; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    It's time to split your native perennials. Bring your extras to the park and trade with others. We'll have identification resources available and would love to talk native plants with you as you trade with others.
    We request that all plants arrive labeled and in pots, preferably potted a week or more prior to the event. If you do not have plants to swap, please arrive at 11:30 or later to choose from the plants that are left after the swapping participants have selected their plants.
    (All ages)
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes on Friday, May 9th.

    This is an in-person program at Oregon Ridge Nature Center. A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program.

    Show details

  • Me and My Pup on the Ridge

    • 13 May 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 2
    Register

    Me and My Pup on the Ridge
    Tuesday, May 13th; 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
    $4 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    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, May 11th.


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  • Senior Stroll

    • 14 May 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll
    Wednesday, May 14; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature's seasonal highlights... route and difficulty level will be determined based on the needs of registered participants with options for flat meadow, paved wooded or natural surface wooded trails.
    Adults
    $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

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


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  • Babes in Backpacks

    • 21 May 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 24
    Register

    Babes in Backpacks
    Wednesday, May 21; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    A great opportunity for parents or caregivers to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying nature along the trail with their little one.
    Adults with children under the age of 4
    (Child must be carried in a wearable carrier for the entire hike.)
    $5 per adult (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Two adults with one child is acceptable, but all guests must be registered and paid.

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, May19th.

    IMPORTANT! Please register your child first, then register the adult or adults. This will prompt our registration system to register the child with no fee due. If you sign up for a membership, please make sure the membership is in the adult's name. The registration system will autofill the members name, but that can be changed to the child's name during the registration process.


    Show details

  • Senior Stroll

    • 28 May 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll
    Wednesday, May 28; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature's seasonal highlights... route and difficulty level will be determined based on the needs of registered participants with options for flat meadow, paved wooded or natural surface wooded trails.
    Adults
    $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

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


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  • The Natural Science Book Club – Travels in Alaska

    • 02 Jun 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 18
    Register

    The Natural Science Book Club –
    Travels in Alaska
    Monday, June 2; 7 - 8 p.m.     (in person at the Lake Pavilion or Nature Center Library depending on weather)
    John Muir ranks among America's most important and influential naturalists and nature writers. Devoted to the preservation of wilderness areas, Muir founded the Sierra Club and was active in the establishment of Yosemite National Park. Travels in Alaska, one of his most popular works, will delight environmentalists and nature lovers with its exuberant observations of Alaska and its inhabitants.
    Adults
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes at noon on Saturday, May 31st.

    A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program

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  • Me and My Pup on the Ridge

    • 10 Jun 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 3
    Register

    Me and My Pup on the Ridge
    Tuesday, June 10th; 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
    $4 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    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, June 8th.


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  • Senior Stroll

    • 11 Jun 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll
    Wednesday, June 11; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature's seasonal highlights... route and difficulty level will be determined based on the needs of registered participants with options for flat meadow, paved wooded or natural surface wooded trails.
    Adults
    $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

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


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  • Babes in Backpacks

    • 18 Jun 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 24
    Register

    Babes in Backpacks
    Wednesday, June 18; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    A great opportunity for parents or caregivers to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying nature along the trail with their little one.
    Adults with children under the age of 4
    (Child must be carried in a wearable carrier for the entire hike.)
    $5 per adult (FREE for ORNCC Members)

    Two adults with one child is acceptable, but all guests must be registered and paid.

    Registration for this program closes on Monday, June 16th.

    IMPORTANT! Please register your child first, then register the adult or adults. This will prompt our registration system to register the child with no fee due. If you sign up for a membership, please make sure the membership is in the adult's name. The registration system will autofill the members name, but that can be changed to the child's name during the registration process.


    Show details

  • Oregon Ridge Dulcimers - Summer Session

    • 19 Jun 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 13
    Register

    Oregon Ridge Dulcimers – Summer Session
    Thursdays; 6:30 - 8 p.m.
    June 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7 and 14
    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-serve basis. (Final session is a performance at Emory Grove)

    Adults and children 16+
    $35 per person ($25 for ORNCC Members) Price includes 10-week session

    Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, June 17th.

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

    This program will take place in the Lake Pavilion or Oregon Ridge Nature Center Library (location will be determined weekly based on weather). 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 series.



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  • Senior Stroll

    • 25 Jun 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 12
    Register

    Senior Stroll
    Wednesday, June 25; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
    Join us for a walk in the woods as we explore nature's seasonal highlights... route and difficulty level will be determined based on the needs of registered participants with options for flat meadow, paved wooded or natural surface wooded trails.
    Adults
    $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)

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


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  • The Natural Science Book Club – The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year

    • 21 Jul 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 16
    Register

    The Natural Science Book Club –
    The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
    Monday, July 21; 7 - 8 p.m.     (in person at the Lake Pavilion or Nature Center Library depending on weather)
    In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons – from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring – what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer.
    Adults
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes at noon on Saturday, July 19th.

    A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program

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  • The Natural Science Book Club – The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth

    • 08 Sep 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 16
    Register

    The Natural Science Book Club – The Light Eaters:
    How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth
    Monday, September 8; 7 - 8 p.m.     (in person at the Lake Pavilion or Nature Center Library depending on weather)
    It takes tremendous biological creativity to be a plant. Scientists have learned about their ability to communicate, recognize their kin and behave socially, hear sounds, morph their bodies to blend into their surroundings, store useful memories that inform their life cycle, and trick animals into behaving to their benefit.
         Zoe Schlanger’s, The Light Eaters is an immersion into the drama of green life and the complexity of this wild and awe-inspiring world. In looking closely, we see that plants, rather than imitate human intelligence, have perhaps formed a parallel system.
    Adults
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes at noon on Saturday, September 6th.

    A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program

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  • The Natural Science Book Club – What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological and Cultural Significance of Seeds

    • 20 Oct 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Oregon Ridge Nature Center
    • 18
    Register

    The Natural Science Book Club – What We Sow:
    On the Personal, Ecological and Cultural Significance of Seeds
    Monday, October 20; 7 - 8 p.m.     (in person at the Lake Pavilion or Nature Center Library depending on weather)
    In What We Sow, Jennifer Jewell brings readers on an insightful, year-long journey exploring the outsize impact one of nature's smallest manifestations – the simple seed. She examines our skewed notions where "organic" seeds are grown and sourced, reveals how giant multinational agribusiness has refined and patented the genomes of seeds we rely on for staples like corn and soy, and highlights the efforts of activists working to regain legal access to heirloom seeds. Throughout, readers are invited to share Jewell's personal observations as she marvels at the glory of nature.
    Adults
    FREE (donations appreciated)

    Registration for this program closes at noon on Saturday, October 18th.

    A reminder email with details will be sent to all registered guests prior to the program

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