OCTOBER 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.
Every Thursday: Story Hour
Hilton Nature Center 11 a.m.-noon (Rain or shine)
Join us for nature-themed stories read by one of our naturalists. These events are geared toward children 10 years and younger, but all ages are welcome. Occasionally there is an optional craft afterward for $2.
Oct. 1: Patapsco Fun Series
Glen Artney Area 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Shine only)
Join us for a day of trail work. Lunch will be provided.
Oct. 1: Feathered Friends
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center Noon-1 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Are you curious about birds of prey? Join us as we discuss one of our fascinating avian educators. Come with lots of questions and prepare to learn. Fun for the whole family!
Oct. 1: Tracks and Scat
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 1-2 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Learn how to identify some of the common evidence of animal activity you may find within the park. We'll make our own set of footprints for you to take home as a souvenir. Dress for a bit of a mess. $3/person.
Oct. 1: Rocky Raccoons
Hilton Nature Center 2-3 p.m. (Rain or shine)
On this International Raccoon Appreciation Day, learn about these familiar furry creatures and their role in our forests through hands-on activities and crafts.
Oct. 5: Bark Patrol
Soldiers Delight Overlook 3:30-5 p.m. (Shine only)
Lace up your walking shoes and leash up your four-legged friend; it’s National Walk Your Dog Week! Enjoy a 1-mile hike along the Choate Mine Trail with a naturalist. Come prepared with water for you and your companion. All fitness levels and breeds are welcome. Meet at the overlook on Deer Park Road.
Oct. 6: Talking Turtles
Glen Artney Shelter 33 10 a.m.-noon (Rain or shine)
Get hands-on with shells, meet live turtle ambassadors and visit Lost Lake to look for wild basking turtles. This program is eligible for the Model B Junior Ranger Program. $5/person.
Oct. 7: 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 their biology, conservation, diet and habitat. $5/person.
Oct. 8: Feathered Friends
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center Noon-1 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Are you curious about birds of prey? Join us as we discuss one of our fascinating avian educators. Come with lots of questions and prepare to learn. Fun for the whole family!
Oct. 8: Patapsco’s Artifacts
Avalon Area Shelter 106 2-3:30 p.m. (Shine only)
The Patapsco River is bursting with historical artifacts from Native American pottery shards to pieces of homes washed away in the floods of previous centuries. Come learn about past archaeological surveys of the area and what information was collected. This program is eligible for the Model B Junior Ranger Program.
Oct. 8: Birding 101
Hilton Nature Center 3-4 p.m. (Shine only)
Fall migration brings many birds to the area. Learn the basics of birdwatching and where to find them through activities and a short walk around the Sensory and Santee Branch trails. Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours (supplies limited).
Oct. 11: Turtle, Turtles, Turtles!
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 4-5 p.m. (Rain or shine)
How did the turtles of Soldiers Delight end up in our care? What do they eat? How long do they live? What can you do to help? Find out! $5/person.
Oct. 14: Soaring Hawks and More
Hilton Area Pavilion 231 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Learn about hawks, falcons, owls and other raptors as they fly through each fall. We'll have activities and a short hike to search for migrating birds of prey. This program is eligible for the Model B Junior Ranger Program.
Oct. 14: Stargazing
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 8-10 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Join the Westminster Astronomical Society for their monthly program. Telescopes will be provided, or you are welcome to bring your own. Setup assistance is available.
Oct. 15: History Hike
Avalon Area Ridge Trail Entrance 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Shine only)
Join a naturalist as we journey back to the 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corps traversed the park's grounds. Suitable for all ages.
Oct. 15: Who is That? Tracks and Scat!
Hilton Nature Center 3-5 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Discover how to identify animal tracks in the park! Make your own track imprints and take home a souvenir. Dress for a mess, with good hiking shoes. This program is eligible for the Model B Junior Ranger Program. $2/person.
Oct. 20, 21: Haunted History Hike
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 7-9 p.m. (Shine only)
A guide will lead you by lantern through the park after dark, narrating ghostly tales of local lore. Meet in the Visitors Center and wear close-toed shoes. Tours will leave every 20 minutes, with the last group departing at 9 p.m. Recommended for adults and families with children 8 and up. $5/person. Reservations are highly encouraged!
Oct. 21: BioBlitz
Hilton Nature Center 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Shine only)
Join park and National Aquarium staff for a fun-filled day surveying animals and plants. This family-friendly event will help you learn how to identify species and conduct citizen science that benefits the park and community. Come wearing sturdy, close-toed shoes and clothes to get dirty. This program is eligible for the Model B Junior Ranger Program.
Oct. 22: Feathered Friends
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center Noon-1 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Are you curious about birds of prey? Join us as we discuss one of our fascinating avian educators. Come with lots of questions and prepare to learn. Fun for the whole family.
Oct. 22: Vulture Culture
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Just in time for Halloween, we invite you to meet a few of nature’s carrion-eaters: the American crow and turkey vulture. Learn about the importance of detritivores and scavengers as well as a few associated legends and myths. $5/person.
Oct. 27, 28: Haunted History Hike
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 7-9 p.m. (Shine only)
A guide will lead you by lantern through the park after dark, narrating ghostly tales of local lore. Meet in the Visitors Center and wear close-toed shoes. Tours will leave every 20 minutes, with the last group departing at 9 p.m. Recommended for adults and families with children 8 and up. $5/person. Reservations are highly encouraged!
Oct. 28: Spooky Spiders
Hilton Nature Center 2-4 p.m. (Rain or shine!)
Spend your Saturday exploring these wonderful arachnids and why they are important to our environment. We'll have activities, and go on a walk to look for spiders and their webs.
Oct. 28: Pumpkin Carving
Soldiers Delight Visitors Center 6-8 p.m. (Shine or only)
Join a volunteer ranger to learn about the history of pumpkin carving and some cool tricks to make your own. Bring your own pumpkins; all other supplies will be provided. Ideal for adults and families with children 8 and up. (Children must be old enough to handle carving knives with parental supervision.) Limited space is available. Registration is recommended! $5/person.
Oct. 29: Owl-O-Ween Celebration
Hilton Area Shelter 201 1-3 p.m. (Rain or shine)
Learn all about owls, coyotes and other creatures of the night that will be out and about this time of year. We’ll have activities, games and a visit from an owl ambassador.
Oct. 29: Mining History Hike
Soldiers Delight Visitor Center 2-4:30 p.m. (Shine only)
Join volunteer ranger and mining historian Johnny Johnsson on a 2-mile hike to the Choate chromium mine. Learn about the area's mining heritage while using historic methods to pan and buddle chrome sands (similar to panning for gold). This program is family-friendly for ages 10 and up. Registration is recommended!
Next month...
Wednesdays: Story Hour at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Sundays: Feathered Friends at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 1: Thomas Viaduct History Talk at Patapsco, Avalon Area
Nov. 3: Whooo's Poo at Patapsco, Hollofield Area
Nov. 4: Skull Detectives at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Nov. 4: Flower Power at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Nov. 4: Owl Prowl at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 5: Treemendous Tree Hike at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Nov. 6: Patapsco's Artifacts at Patapsco, Avalon Area
Nov. 6: Autumn Exploration at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 11: Go Nuts for Squirrels at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Nov. 11: Beginning Bird Hike at Patapsco, Soldiers Delight
Nov. 11: Stargazing at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 12: Survival Skills at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Nov. 15: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 16: Let's Take a Hike at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 18: Talking Turkey at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
Nov. 18: Terrific Turkeys at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 30: Wildlife Story Time at Soldiers Delight
Nov. 30: Sunprint Making at Patapsco, Hilton Nature Center
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