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The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Maydale Nature Classroom

Maydale Nature Classroom facility from across the pond
Girl and boy looking though spotting scops.
Child cutting with scissors as adult looks on.
Children playing in sandbox
Fall leaves changing color around pond.

Within Maydale Conservation Park, Maydale Nature Classroom offers hands-on natural and cultural history programs for families, schools, and scouts.  The facility is situated on a hilltop with a wraparound deck perfect for wildlife viewing, photography, and enjoying the beauty of nature.  The deck features outdoor seating, a gazebo, and spotting scopes overlooking a meadow and pond.  The Nature Classroom is a programmatic space with no public hours of operation.

The Nature Classroom Offers

Maydale Nature Classroom, is the first facility in Montgomery Parks’ system designed for net-zero production.

The classroom is focused on sustainability both in design and function.

  • The wraparound deck is covered in solar panels.
  • The toilets are flushed using greywater harvested from rainfall on the roof and stored in an underground cistern.
  • Two Trombe Walls frame the front of the facility for passive solar heating.
  • The exterior of the classroom is covered in cement board siding and backed by 6 inches of spray foam insulation.
  • Zoned HVAC units with programmable thermostats are used for heating and cooling.
  • The parking lot and walkways are illuminated using LED lighting with dusk to dawn sensors.