WHEATON, Md. – Get down and dirty at MudFest, learn to kayak, explore your creativity while enjoying a glass of wine and celebrate Pride Month. All this and more are waiting for you this June at Montgomery Parks!
June nature center programs include:
Meatless Monday Campfire Dinner | June 3 | 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Enjoy an environmentally friendly meatless campfire dinner of veggie hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon, chips and drinks. Bring a picnic blanket, extra snacks and games to enjoy while taking in the sights and sounds of the park at dusk. All ages. Registration required. $10 per person.
Beginning Recreational Kayaking for Older Adults | June 5, 9 and 12 | Various times
Black Hill Discovery Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds
Learn basic strokes, entries and exits, boat control, and more in sessions taught by certified American Canoe Association instructors. Ages 55 and older. Registration required. $55 per person.
Etch and Sip Wine Night | June 7 | 4–6 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Create a personalized wine glass using the process of chemical glass etching and then enjoy a splash of wine on the raptor deck with a naturalist-led talk. Ages 21 and older. Registration required. $20 per person.
Pride Month Campfire and Night Hike | June 7 | 8:30–9:30 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Celebrate Pride with this naturalist-led night hike referencing queer ecology and s’mores around a campfire lit with rainbow flames. All ages. Registration required. $7 per person.
Birding for All (Pride Month) | June 8 | 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda
Join us for an afternoon of birding featuring a brief overview of birding, along with helpful tips. Then participants can either join a naturalist on a guided trail walk or remain with a naturalist on the back deck. Binoculars are recommended but will also be provided onsite. LGBTQIA+, BIPOC identities, and accessibility communities especially welcome. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. Free.
Brush Strokes on the Raptor Deck: An American Sign Language Event | June 14 | 6–8 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Join local artist Ellen Mansfield as she instructs you on painting a nature scene. Attendees are welcome to bring peanut-free snacks and drinks (including alcohol). Instruction in American Sign Language. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $40 per person.
MudFest | June 15 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Woodstock Equestrian Special Park, 20207 Darnestown Road, Beallsville
MudFest is a mess of fun for the whole family! Check out the giant mud slide. Jump, slip and slide in giant mud pits. Play around the mud volcano and make mud pies and art. Enjoy music (from a DJ) and refreshments for purchase from Catalyst Hotdogs and Clayboys Shave Ice. Rain or shine. Tickets required and available for advance purchase but can also be purchased onsite. $20 per car.
How to Register for Montgomery Parks Programs, Classes, Camps, Events
Registration is through the Active Montgomery website. Users must first set up a free account on the site before registering.
Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar for a complete list of special events and programming Visit the Summer 2024 Montgomery Parks Program Guide.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org
About Montgomery Parks Nature Centers
Montgomery Parks operates five nature program sites, Black Hill Discovery Center, Brookside Nature Center, Locust Grove Nature Center, Maydale Nature Classroom and Meadowside Nature Center. The nature centers provide learning opportunities for youths and adults in a variety of ways including school, scout and public programs for all ages; special events, summer camps, birthday parties, volunteer opportunities, internships, engaging interpretive exhibits, live animal exhibits, native plant gardens, trails and nature play areas. For more information Montgomery Parks Nature Centers
Accessibility at Parks
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Program Access for more information.
###