Shoots and Letters – Sea Turtles Thursday, August 11; 10 - 11 a.m. Join us as we explore a different nature theme each week. Each session starts with a related story followed by hands-on learning, outdoor adventures, games and crafts. Ages 2 - 10 with a participating adult Please note that this program is designed for ages 2 - 5. $3 per child (includes one participating adult who is registered for the program) Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, August 9th.
Everyone in attendance (Adults and Children) must be registered and on our roster. Please enter adult name first then use the "add guest" button (lower left) to add child(ren). Please make sure to accurately enter names and ages. Registration for this program is set up so no fee is applied to the first person (adult). The fee will apply to all guests (children) who are entered.
Waitlist entries must also be entered as described above.
Morning Bird Walk Friday, August 12; 8 - 9:30 a.m.The early bird gets the most sightings. Join a naturalist for this early morning bird walk to find and identify birds in the park. Bring your binoculars (or borrow some from us) and wear comfortable shoes for hiking. Adults FREE (donations appreciated) Registration for this program closes on Wednesday, August 10th.
A Summer Evening Paddle Friday, August 12; 6 - 8 p.m.Enjoy a paddle on the lake taking in the sights and sounds of the park just before the sun sets. Adults and children 8+ Registration is per boat – minimum 2 people, maximum 3 people, one of which must be a non-paddling child under the age of 12. $10 per person ($8 for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, August 9th.
Flying Mammals Night Hike Saturday, August 13; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Let's discover some fascinating flying mammals at night. Join a naturalist around the campfire as we learn about bats and flying squirrels and ways we can help them. Then we'll head out to the meadow in search of these nocturnal flying mammals. Adults and children 6+ $6 per person ($4 for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, August 9th.
Awesome Archers! Sunday, August 14; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Spend some time on our archery trail learning archery tips and tricks with a Naturalist. Adults and children 8+ $5 per person ($3 for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, August 11th.
Awesome Archers! Sunday, August 14; 1 - 3 p.m. Spend some time on our archery trail learning archery tips and tricks with a Naturalist. Adults and children 8+ $5 per person ($3 for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, August 11th.
Shoots and Letters – Eels Thursday, August 18; 10 - 11 a.m. Join us as we explore a different nature theme each week. Each session starts with a related story followed by hands-on learning, outdoor adventures, games and crafts. Ages 2 - 10 with a participating adult Please note that this program is designed for ages 2 - 5. $3 per child (includes one participating adult who is registered for the program) Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, August 16th.
Summer Morning Hike in the Park Sunday, August 21; 9 - 10 a.m. Take in the sights and sounds of the park in the morning as we hike a different part of the park each month. Learn a little about park history and seasonal happenings in the park from a park naturalist. All ages $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, August 21st.
Stream Searchin' Sunday, August 21; 1 - 3 p.m. Enjoy a fun hike to Oregon Branch, get your feet wet and immerse in some stream exploration to look in the water and under the rocks to see who calls this stream their home. Adults and children 4+ $5 per person ($3 for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, August 18th.
Nature Book Club – The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks Monday, August 22; 7 - 8 p.m. The fascinating stories behind the discoveries that shook the foundations of geology. Donald R. Prothero recounts the scientific detective work that shaped our understanding of geology. Prothero follows in the footsteps of the scientists who asked geology's biggest questions: How do we know how old the earth is? How did ocean rocks end up at the top of Mount Everest? What can we learn about our planet from meteorites and moon rocks? He answers these questions through expertly chosen case studies, such as the granite outcrops that led a Scottish scientist to theorize that the landscapes he witnessed were far older than Noah's Flood; the salt and gypsum deposits under the Mediterranean Sea that indicate that it was once a desert; and how trying to date the age of meteorites revealed the dangers of lead poisoning. Each of these breakthroughs filled in a piece of the greater puzzle that is the earth, with scientific discoveries dovetailing with each other to offer an increasingly coherent image of the geologic past. Adults FREE (donations appreciated) Registration for this program closes at noon on Friday, August 19th.
Shoots and Letters – Shells (aquatic) Thursday, August 25; 10 - 11 a.m. Join us as we explore a different nature theme each week. Each session starts with a related story followed by hands-on learning, outdoor adventures, games and crafts. Ages 2 - 10 with a participating adult Please note that this program is designed for ages 2 - 5. $3 per child (includes one participating adult who is registered for the program) Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, August 23rd.
Nature Quest Guided Hike Saturday, August 27; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Join the county-wide Nature Quest fun by heading out with a Naturalist on the trails to find the Nature Quest post on the red trail together. Adults and children 5+ $3 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, August 25th.
Nature's Treasure Box Sunday, August 28; 1 - 3 p.m. Create a nature treasure box! We will explore the park to collect natural objects to create a small nature collection. Adults and children 5+ $5 per person ($3 for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, August 25th.
Trail Guide Training Wednesday, September 7; Thursday, September 8; Friday, September 9; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.The Nature Center is in need of volunteers to help with school field trips, Tuesday thru Friday, year-round. Volunteers lead small groups of students around the park for a hands-on nature experience! No minimum time commitment required. This season's topics include Intro to Trail Guiding, Chesapeake Bay and Native Americans. Adults $20 for first time participants (FREE for past participants) Registration for this program closes on Friday, September 2nd.
Oregon Ridge Dulcimers Thursdays, September 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10 an 17; 6 - 7:30 p.m. 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. Adults and children 16+ $25 per person (price includes all 10 sessions) Registration for this program closes on Tuesday, September 13th.
ORNC Council Speaker Series – Climate Change: Already in your Neighborhood Dr. Sara Via, Professor and Climate Extension Specialist, UMD College ParkMonday, September 19; 7 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom Climate change is real and it’s here right now. We can see the signs of climate change all around us in the freakishly wild weather, the rising seas and the warming winters, to name just a few of the signs. There is no scientific controversy about climate change and no need for additional studies. We know what is happening, and what will occur in the future if we don’t do anything to stop it. We know what to do and most of the solutions we need are available now. Dr. Via is a biologist and frequent speaker on climate change and its impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, suburban landscapes, gardens, health and agriculture. Adults $10 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, September 15th.
Nature Book Club – The Wild Places Monday, October 3; 7 - 8 p.m.Are there any genuinely wild places left in Britain and Ireland? That is the question that Robert Macfarlane poses to himself as he embarks on a series of breathtaking journeys through some of the archipelago's most remarkable landscapes. He climbs, walks and swims by day and spends his nights sleeping on cliff-tops and in ancient meadows and wildwoods. With elegance and passion, he entwines history, memory and landscape in a bewitching evocation of wildness and its vital importance. Adults FREE (donations appreciated) Registration for this program closes at noon on Friday, September 30th.
ORNC Council Speaker Series – Introduction to Nature Informed Therapy Zoe Jack; Manager of Program and Partnership Development for the Center for Nature Informed Therapy and licensed psychotherapist at Chesapeake Mental Health CollaborativeMonday, October 17; 7 - 8:30 p.m. (In-person presentation at Oregon Ridge Nature Center - Lake Pavilion)Are you curious about how a person's relationship to nature is now being used in mental health therapy? Join us for an introduction to the quickly growing field of nature informed/ecotherapy. We’ll also cover the current research backing up nature informed mental health. Participants will leave with increased knowledge of how a relationship with nature impacts their mental health and with a few tools for integrating nature-informed therapy practices into their day to day lives. Zoe Jack specializes in nature informed and client centered work with children, adolescents and adults. As a former wilderness therapy field guide and a behavior interventionist at a trauma informed school, Zoe incorporates the teachings of the natural world into her treatment approach with individuals and groups. Zoe holds a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and is beginning her doctoral studies focusing on nature informed methods at Rutgers University this fall. Adults $10 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, October 13th.
ORNC Council Speaker Series – Coming Climate Crisis and What You Can Do David M. Saunders, Climate Change Professional (CC-P), certified by the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) and the State of MarylandMonday, November 21; 7 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom How might climate change impact your life? What can you do to prepare? What can be done to prevent catastrophic outcomes? This workshop will provide scientific evidence of climate change; discuss legal, social and political issues; and suggest actions for prevention. You will learn the requirements for becoming a certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P). You will also learn how to calculate and lower your carbon footprint by switching to 100% wind (easily done for Maryland residents). Now retired, David M. Saunders was the Senior Director of Quality for ResCare, a human services company with 45,000 employees. Before ResCare, David was a consultant at ARBOR specializing in research and training on gathering, understanding, and deploying the voice of the customer.Adults $10 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members) Registration for this program closes on Thursday, October 17th.
