JULY 2017 PROGRAM CALENDAR
Come out and play at Patapsco Valley State Park and Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area!
Events are free unless otherwise noted; donations are always welcome.
Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Please call 410-461-5005 for additional information or to register.
Every Wednesday: Story Hour
Hilton Nature Center 11 a.m.-noon (Rain or shine)
Join us to hear a nature-themed story read by one of our naturalists! These events are geared toward children 10 years and younger, but all ages are welcome.
July 1: Owl Prowl
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 8-10 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Meet an ambassador owl from our aviary and take a night hike to listen for owls. Learn about owl biology, conservation diet and habitat. $5/person. Fun for all ages!
July 4: Soaring Eagles
Hilton Nature Center 1-2 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Celebrate Independence Day by learning about our national bird though activities, crafts and video clips. Fun for all ages!
July 5: Turtle Trek
Avalon Area 2-4 p.m. (Shine only)
Meet at Lost Lake to enjoy a short walk to look for and learn about the turtles of Patapsco. Fun for all ages!
July 6: Flower Power
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 1:30-3 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Join a naturalist to discover the parts of a flower and complete a corresponding coloring activity to identify the parts of a flower. Then paint a flower pot and grow your own flower to take home! $7/person. Geared toward school-aged children.
July 8: Art in Nature, Nature in Art
Orange Grove Area Shelter 106 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Rain or shine)
Create your own 16x20 painting on canvas under the guidance of an enthusiastic painter and volunteer ranger. Instruction will be provided with nature-themed pictures for ideas. All art materials will be supplied. Bring water to drink and wear old clothes; the paint will stain. $15/person. For ages 10 and up; children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
July 8: Dried Flower Art: Making Garden Angels
Hilton Nature Center 10 a.m.-noon (Shine only)
Come discuss flowers in the area with an expert! Dried flowers will be available to make your own take-home project to show off and spread your newly gained knowledge! For ages 6 to 12.
July 8: Milkweed: Monarchs and More
Hilton Nature Center 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Shine only)
Take a short hike with park naturalists to uncover the diverse world of the milkweed ecology—a sanctuary hidden in plain sight—and identify butterflies and beetles. Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes with high socks. Be sure to check for ticks afterward. Fun for all ages!
July 8: Night Photography
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 6-11 p.m. (Shine only)
Bring your camera and a tripod to learn to shoot the moon and stars in the night sky. (Don't forget to enter the Natural Resource photo contest!) Dress for cooler night weather. Please call 410-917-2239 for details.
July 8: Stargazing
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 8-10 p.m. (Rain or shine)
An indoor program will precede an outdoor viewing of the cosmos. Telescopes will be provided by Westminster Astronomical Society, or you are welcome to bring your own. Setup assistance is available. Fun for all ages!
July 11: Flower Power
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 1:30-3 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Join a naturalist to discover the parts of a flower and complete a corresponding coloring activity to identify the parts of a flower. Then paint a flower pot and grow your own flower to take home! $7/person. Geared toward school-aged children.
July 14: Talking Turkeys
Hilton Nature Center noon-1 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Trot on over to talk about wild turkeys! We’ll have feathers to touch, a fun craft and other activities. Fun for all ages!
July 15: Make Your Own Walking Stick
Hilton Nature Center 10 a.m.-noon (Shine only)
Join us in making your very own walking stick! Afterward, put it to use alongside an expert who will lead a short hike and discuss hiking safety. $2/person. Ages 6 to 12.
July 15: Thomas Viaduct History Talk
Avalon Area 4-5 p.m. (Shine only)
Meet near the restrooms for a short walk underneath the Thomas Viaduct. Discover the history behind the bridge, its importance to American industry and how the area contributed to the building of this country. Fun for all ages!
July 16: Beautify your Backyard
Hilton Nature Center noon-2 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Join us to learn how to start your own compost bin and rain barrel. Find out the many ways in which you can replenish your yard sustainably through these fun methods. $3/person. Fun for all ages!
July 16: Storytelling Hour
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 1-2 p.m. (Rain or shine)
A volunteer ranger will read short stories with a nature or animal theme. These events are geared toward children 10 years and younger, but all ages are welcome.
July 18: Dazzling Dragonflies
Avalon Area 11 a.m.-noon (Shine only)
Meet in the Lost Lake parking lot to search for dragonflies! You will be equipped with your very own sweep net to conduct a species survey and learn about the amazing hunting adaptations possessed by these aerial acrobats! Fun for all ages!
July 20: Naturalist Sketchbook Session
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 3-5 p.m. (Rain or shine)
A naturalist/artist will give a brief presentation on naturalist journaling/sketchbooking. Then, we’ll hit the trail for a short hike and drawing session. In case of rain, event will be held indoors. $3/person. Ages 14 and up.
July 21: Microscopic Discoveries
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 10 a.m.-noon (Rain or shine)
Discover our smallest neighbors in different sources of water. We’ll take a moderate-to-easy, guided hike to take samples along the trail. Back at the visitor center, we’ll see who calls these puddles and streams home. For ages 7-13, but all are welcome.
July 21: Treemendous Trees Hike
Hilton Nature Center 10 a.m.-noon (Shine only)
Learn how to identify trees on a moderate 1-mile hike along the Forest Glen, Pigs Run and Santee Branch trails. Dress for a moderately difficult hike and bring plenty of water. Fun for all ages!
July 22: Art in Nature, Nature in Art
Orange Grove Area Shelter 106 9:30-11:30 a.m. (Rain or shine)
Create your own 16x20 painting on canvas under the guidance of an enthusiastic painter and volunteer ranger. Instruction will be provided with nature-themed pictures for ideas. All art materials will be supplied. Bring water to drink and wear old clothes; the paint will stain. $15/person. For ages 10 and up; children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
July 22: Owl Pellet Dissection
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center noon-1:30 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Owls swallow their prey whole but do not digest the fur, feathers and bones. Instead, they regurgitate pellets approximately 12 hours after eating. Tweezers, magnifying glasses and dissection guides will be provided. Fun for all ages!
July 22: Creek Critters
Hilton Nature Center noon-2 p.m. (Shine only)
What critters live in Pigs Run, and what do they tell us about the health of the creek? Find out by joining us on a short, moderate hike to catch crayfish, frogs and macro-invertebrates. Dress to get wet! Fun for all ages!
July 22: Moth Mania
McKeldin Area Shelter 600 8:30-10:30 p.m. (Shine only)
Celebrate National Moth Week at this special, after-hours event! Discover the beauties of the night using special lights and a sugar concoction to lure them and other night-flying insects. Fun for all ages!
July 28: Invasive Species Task Force
McKeldin Area 9 a.m.-noon (Shine only)
Join us for a fun, informative morning removing invasive plants! A ranger will explain how to identify three common and aggressive species and why they are such a threat to our ecosystem. Wear long pants, long sleeves and sturdy boots, and bring plenty of water! Please call ahead for more information. Ages 10 and up.
July 29: Make Your Own Ice Cream
Hilton Nature Center noon-2 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Ice cream in the park has been a favorite tradition for visitors since the 1930s! Learn how to make your own frozen treat. $1 per person. Fun for all ages!
July 30: Storytime: Birds and their Coats
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 1-2 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Why are some birds are more colorful than others? How did they get their coats? A naturalist will read stories and share tales of how birds got their colors and their significance. Geared toward children 10 years and younger, but all are welcome.
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