WHEATON, Md. – March roars in like a lion at Montgomery Parks nature centers. We have family friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, hikes, fire making programs, no-school day activities, a book club, and more.
March nature center programs include:
St. Patrick’s Day fun
St. Patrick’s Day Quest for Gold | March 14 | 5-6 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville
Search for a pot of gold, make a rainbow and learn about the tiny plants that leprechauns call home on this self-guided hike. All ages. $7 per child. Register for St. Patrick’s Day Quest for Gold.
Special Events at Maydale: St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Hunt | March 15 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Maydale Nature Classroom, Colesville
Search for leprechauns and find their pots of gold. Ages 3-8. $6 per person. Register for Special Events at Maydale: St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Hunt.
Celebration Station: St. Patrick’s Day Edition | March 15 | 1-4 p.m.
Black Hill Discovery Center, Boyds
Are you as lucky as a leprechaun? Test your problem-solving skills to solve the clues and earn a prize. Stop by anytime during program hours to choose your quests ranging from challenge pages to hikes around the park. All ages. Free. Register for Celebration Station: St. Patrick’s Day Edition.
Exhilarating hikes
Hike Club | March 1 | 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Black Hill Discovery Center, Boyds
Improve your fitness, make new friends, and experience trails and awe-inspiring nature. All ages but children must be able to walk at least 3 miles or be carried. $2 per person. Register for Hike Club.
My Dog and Me | March 8 | 10-11 a.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
Bring your furry friends for a leisurely hike on natural surface trails in Wheaton Regional Park. All dogs must be on-leash, current with vaccinations and comfortable around other dogs and people. Ages 8 and older (humans); All ages (dogs). Free. Register for My Dog and Me.
Woodcock Walk | March 11 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Black Hill Discovery Center, Boyds
Catch the spring display dance of the American Woodcock. Also observe wood frogs, spring peepers, and spring migrants. Ages 18 and older. $14 per person ($13-Friends of Black Hill). Register for Woodcock Walk.
In the Field: Community Science: LGBTQIA+ Nature Hike | March 22 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda
Embark on a guided hike to explore the flora and fauna of the park with a park naturalist. All ages. Free. Register In the Field: Community Science: LGBTQIA+ Nature Hike.
Spring Wildflower Walk | March 23 | 10-11:30 a.m.
Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda
For just a few magical weeks in the spring, the forest floor is studded with beautiful woodland wildflowers, including spring beauties, bluebells, and bloodroot. Take a leisurely stroll through the park with our master naturalists who will interpret this spectacular show before it disappears. Ages 16 and older. $7 per person. Register for Spring Wildflower Walk.
Learn to build a fire
W.A.N.D.E.R‒ Fire Building Skills | March 15 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville
W.A.N.D.E.R. (Women and Non-binary individuals Deepening their Environmental Relationships) In this hands-on class, students will learn several fire-starting strategies and practice them. No experience required. Each participant will take home a fire-starting kit. Ages 18 and older. $20 per person. Register for W.A.N.D.E.R – Fire Building Skills.
Campfire 101 | March 15 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
Join a park naturalist and learn different ways to stack logs, lighting techniques and fire safety. Participants are encouraged to bring a snack for roasting. Ages 8 and older. $7 per person. Register for Campfire 101.
School’s Out activities:
Teen Outdoor Adventure Challenge | March 31 | 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Maydale Nature Classroom, Colesville
Unique activity for a no-school day. Teens will spend the day working together on fun outdoor activities and challenges. Ages 12-14. $50 per person. Register for Teen Outdoor Adventure Challenge.
School’s Out, Nature’s In! | March 31 | 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
School’s out! Join us for a fun-day of nature-themed games and exploration in Wheaton Regional Park. Kids will enjoy lunch around the campfire, create a few projects to take home, and make some new friends. Ages 6-11. $57 per person. Register for School’s Out, Nature’s In.
…And more
Escapadas de Tortugas | March 8 | 2-3:30 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
Help us find one of our lost box turtles. Participate in this fun scavenger hunt at Brookside Nature Center. Program in English and Spanish. Ages 8 and older. Free. Register for Escapadas de Tortugas.
Nature Night In | March 15 | 4-7 p.m.
Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda
Enjoy a parent’s night out. Kids will have a fun-filled night with nature-based games, crafts, a picnic dinner, and a hike, weather permitting. Parents must provide a nut-free dinner, snack, and water. Ages 4-10. $20 per person. Register for Nature Night In.
Etch and Sip Wine Night | March 21 | 5-6:30 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville
Decorate your own nature-themed wine glass and enjoy your next drink in style. Ages 21 and older. $20 per person. Register for Etch and Sip Wine Night.
Black Hill Bookworms | March 27 | 6-7:30 p.m.
Black Hill Discovery Center, Boyds
Our book discussion group meets in-person every fourth Thursday of the month, March through October to discuss science and nature books. The March selection is “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter” by Ben Goldfarb. Ages 16 and older. Free. Register for Black Hill Bookworms.
Programs for 55+
- Inspired by Nature: Art Journaling | Wednesdays, March 5–26 | 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
$15 per person. Register for Inspired by Nature: Art Journaling.
- Nature on Wheels: Hike to Parks Unknown | March 14 | 1–2:30 p.m.
Rock Creek Regional Park, Rockville
Intermediate level. $10 per person. Register for Nature on Wheels: Hike to Parks Unknown (Intermediate).
- Nature on Wheels: Hike to Parks Unknown | March 16 | 9:30–11 a.m.
Fairland Recreational Park, Fairland
Beginner level. $10 per person. Register for Nature on Wheels: Hike to Parks Unknown (Beginner).
- Warm Up Woods Hike | March 22 | 1:30–3 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
$7 per person. Register for Warm Up Woods Hike.
- The C&O Canal by Bike: Dickerson Conservation Park to Point of Rocks | March 26 | 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Dickerson Conservation Park, Dickerson
$25 per person. Register for The C&O Canal by Bike: Dickerson Conservation Park to Point of Rocks.
Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar for a complete list of nature center programs. Visit the Winter and Spring 2025 Montgomery Parks Program Guides.
Register on Active Montgomery
ActiveMontgomery is a program and facility reservation system that allows users to register online for classes, camps, programs and lessons offered by Montgomery Parks. Users must go to ActiveMontgomery and create an account before registering.
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, visit Montgomery Parks Nature Centers website.
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.
Accessibility at Montgomery 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.
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