Bear Branch Nature Center - Carroll County Government

The Nature Center is open year round and hours of operation are WednesdayWednesday-Saturday 11am11am-5pm, and Sunday 12pm12pm-5pm. All Nature Center
Center
programs require prepre-registration with Recreation & Parks (see form in back). For All Ages and youthyouth-Adult programs, youth must be accompanied by a
paying adult. Organized groups MUST schedule a separate program directly with the Nature Center; phone or email bearbranch@ccg.carr.org.
bearbranch@ccg.carr.org.
Hashawha’s trails are open to the public from dawn until dusk 365 days a year. Parking is only available at Lake Hashawha or Bear
Bear Branch Nature
Center. There is no entrance fee to the park.
PLEASE NOTE:
NOTE: The Hashawha Environmental Facility is not open to the public except through reservation. Please do not enter the Hashawha
Hashawha gates
gates
or the posted restricted areas. For more information about group rentals of this facility, phone 410410-386386-3560 or email Hashawha@ccg.carr.org.
Hashawha@ccg.carr.org.
In case of inclement weather…
weather… should inclement weather be in the forecast, please call the Nature Center before coming to your program to see if it
has been canceled or postponed. We follow school weather closings - please see our Inclement Weather Policy at the back of this brochure for
complete details. Note also that the Nature Center is closed when Carroll County Government offices are closed.
****** All programs meet at the Bear Branch Nature Center unless otherwise indicated*****
HOORAY FOR HUMMINGBIRDS
#15BB19 Saturday, June 6, 2–3pm
Hummingbirds are known as ‘flying jewels’. Learn
some more fun facts about these quirky little birds
and find out how to attract them to your yard. Make
a feeder to take home.
5–9 years / 1 session / $7 child
BEAR CUBS CLUB
Thursday, 10–11am
#15BB20 June 11 - Lake Life
#15BB21 July 9 - Log Life
#15BB22 Aug 6 - Monarchs
Does your little one love nature? Let them explore
the great outdoors through games, songs, and hands
-on activities. Encourage your young naturalist with
our Bear Cubs Club! No tag-alongs please, parent
participation is required for this program.
3–6 years / 1 session / $5 child
MEET THE BEEKEEPER
Saturday, 10–11am
#15BB23 June 13
#15BB24 July 18
#15BB25 August 8
Learn all about this amazing insect.
Are there boy bees? What do beekeepers do? Do
bees really dance? How is honey made? Learn the
answers to these questions and more. Meet a real
beekeeper!
All Ages / 1 session / $5 person
PLANETARIUM SHOW
Saturday, 7:30–8:30pm
#15BB26 June 27
#15BB27 July 25
#15BB28 August 22
Join the Westminster
Astronomical Society under
the star dome to learn the
stars and constellations of the
night sky. Following the show, we invite you outside
for a Star Party to observe the nighttime sights.
Bring your own telescope or look for one of ours.
8–Adult / 1 session / $5 person
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FLUTTER BY, BUTTERFLY
SUMMER SOLSTICE NIGHT HIKE
& CAMPFIRE
#15BB29 Friday, June 19, 7:30–9pm
Summer is here at last! Come celebrate the
beginning of the season with a campfire and s’mores.
We’ll talk about the customs for celebrating the
solstice and take a hike. Bring blanket/lawn chairs.
All Ages / 1 session / $7 person
LIFE AT THE LAKE
#15BB30 Sunday, June 21, 2–3:30pm
Lake Hashawha is alive! Check out the cool critters
that call the lake home. We will take a walk to see
who lives above the lake and then use nets to see
who lives below the surface. Wear shoes that can
get wet and clothes that can get dirty.
All Ages / 1 session / $5 person
RAPTOR RENDEZVOUS
#15BB31 Saturday, June 27, 1–2:30pm
Take a hike to Hashawha’s raptor cages to learn
more about our resident birds of prey. Find out more
about wild raptors and get up close and personal with
these amazing creatures. Cameras are welcome!
All Ages / 1 session / $5 person
BUSY BEAVERS HIKE
#15BB32 Friday, July 17, 7–8:30pm
Beaver alter their environment more than any other
creature on Earth (except people). Learn some fun
facts about this amazing mammal before hiking to an
active beaver dam. **Please note that this is
moderately strenuous-be prepared to hike! Bring a
flashlight.
6–Adult / 1 session / $5 person
HIKING HASHAWHA …
The Stream Trail
#15BB33 Sunday, July 19, 11am–12:30pm
Hashawha’s Stream Trail wanders through fields and
meadows offering great opportunities for bird and
other wildlife watching. We’ll wander past Lake
Hashawha and stop by the historical Martin Cabin.
6–Adult / 1 session / $5 person
#15BB34 Saturday, July 25, 1–2:30pm
Butterflies are beautiful and amazing creatures. Take
a hike with a naturalist through the meadows of
Hashawha in search of these fluttering insects.
Learn about a butterfly’s life cycle and find out how to
attract more butterflies to your own backyard.
5–Adult / 1 session / $5 person
STREAM SEARCH
#15BB35 Saturday, August 1, 1–3pm
What better way to cool off on a hot summer day
than playing in a refreshing creek? Hunt for fish,
crawdads, and other creatures as we play in Bear
Branch stream. Please wear close-toed shoes and
clothes that can get wet and dirty!
5–Adult / 1 session / $5 person
TOAD ABODES!
#15BB36 Sunday, August 2, 1–2pm
Toads are fun and cute critters. Meet a toad in
person and make a fun toad house to take home.
All Ages / 1 session / $7 person
UNDER THE STARS CAMPOUT
#15BB37 Sat-Sun, August 15-16, 7pm–8am
Join us under the stars
for a fun-filled camp out!
Enjoy campfire cuisine
and stories. Take a hike
to enjoy the evening and
keep an eye to the sky for
a ‘shooting star’ courtesy
of the Perseid meteor shower. Bring your own tent
or use one of ours—please note that you need one!
Fee is for immediate family members only-must
designate full name and age of each participant upon
registration.
5–Adult / 1 session / $50 family
CATERPILLAR QUEST
#15BB38 Sunday, August 29, 1–3pm
It’s that time of year again! Help us prepare
for the upcoming Monarch Madness festival
by searching the meadows for Monarch
butterfly eggs and caterpillars. First, we’ll learn all
about this amazing insect and then we’ll look for
caterpillars to add to our Monarch Lifecycle display.
All Ages / 1 session / $5 person
- - NO Early Bird or Senior Discount for Bear Branch Nature Center programs - -
410-386-3580, or bearbranch@ccg.carr.org
We have numerous volunteer opportunities. contact
us for more information about these and other
upcoming volunteer opportunities or special events.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
HELPING HANDS AT HASHAWHA
June 28, 1-3pm OR Jul 25 & Aug 1, 9-11am
Age: 8 & up
Hashawha is everybody’s park. Come out and give us a hand
as we work to clear invasive species, pick up litter, garden, and
take care of other projects to help keep the park beautiful.
Children under 12years old should be accompanied by an
adult.
CAMP COUNSELOR TRAINING
Sunday, June 5, 1-3pm
Age: 14+
Assisting with Bear Branch’s summer camps is a great way for
students to earn service learning hours! Teens interested in
volunteering at one or more of our summer camps are
REQUIRED to attend this training. Volunteer camp counselor
applications are available, call today.
MONARCH BUTTERFLY TAGGING
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Sun, August 30, 1-3pm
Age: 12+
Learn all about Monarch Watch, safely catch, tag, and release
butterflies, and record crucial data to help track the migration of
the Monarch butterfly. Participants are REQUIRED to
volunteer at the Monarch Madness Festival on Sunday,
September 11th.
SPECIAL
E V E N T S:
MONARCH MADNESS
FESTIVAL
Sunday, September 11
10:30am – 3pm
See our FALL PROGRAM GUIDE
in August or more details.
SUMMER CAMP Registration is underway for 2015 Summer Camps!
There are six different sessions to choose from for ages
6-15. Please call or visit us online at:
ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/recpark/hashawha.
- - NO Early Bird or Senior Discount for Bear Branch Nature Center programs - -
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