Summer Camp Registration Now Open!
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Scholarships are available for summer camps. Please contact us to inquire.
Our Popsicle Plunge Photo Contest entries are still available here!
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WELCOME TO MARSHY POINT NATURE CENTER
Marshy Point Nature Center is Baltimore County’s pristine waterfront nature center on the Chesapeake Bay. Situated on the nature preserve of Marshy Point Park, and serving as a “Gateway to the Chesapeake” for the U.S. National Park Service, Marshy Point’s nearly 500 acres, combined with neighboring county, state, and federal land, creates a natural preserve encompassing over 3,000 acres. MPNC welcomes hikers, birdwatchers, and nature-lovers of all types from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day except Baltimore County government holidays. Throughout the year, the Nature Center also hosts an array of environmental recreation and education activities open to all ages.
The volunteer-based Marshy Point Nature Center Council supports a wide variety of nature programs and is supported by teacher-naturalists from the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. From summer camps and weekend canoe trips to natural history lectures and environmental clean-ups, the Center provides visitors with many opportunities to explore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Every fifth grader in the Baltimore County Public School system visits Marshy Point through the Eco-Trekkers environmental education program. The Nature Center also partners with local schools to support the Maryland Green Schools initiative.
Browse our site to find out how to join us for one of our many nature programs!
We hope to see you at the Nature Center soon!
What’s New
Council Member and Volunteer Thank You Fish Fry – Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Mark your calendar for MPNC’s annual Fish Fry, the Council’s way of saying thank you to the members and volunteers who greatly contribute to the Center’s success. Join us from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. for fish, chicken, macaroni salad, and other delectable fare. Them Eastport Oyster Boys will be there to serenade us with delightful songs about the Chesapeake Bay. Due to limited space, reservations are required, so RSVP to the Center office, 410-887-2817, by Friday, June 13th, and bring a dessert to share. If you are not already a Council Member, sign up now, and meet your friends and neighbors at the Fish Fry. Family Memberships are just $15.00, Individual Memberships are $10.00, and Student Memberships are $5.00. Click here for an Application Form
Support a Sustainable Lifestyle
Global warming, carbon emissions, rising energy costs, toxic chemicals – the news is full of disturbing reports about environmental problems that concern us all. But you can make a difference! Translate concern into action by finding opportunities to reduce your impact on the environment. Where to begin? Find out how big your ecological footprint is at www.earthday.net/footprint. Eliminate paper and plastic bags by using durable bags made from recycled materials to transport your groceries or other consumer goods. Want to know what gadgets and mechanical systems are available to reduce energy costs in your apartment or house? Home Depot, among others, has an Eco-Options web page, check it out – www.homedepot.com/ecooptions. Participate in Baltimore County’s curbside recycling program, or haul your discards to the County landfill for recycling. Look for Green-labeled cleaning and other products at your favorite retailer. You can make a difference!
Chesapeake Bay and Global Warming – Special Program June 17, 2008
Experts agree that the much discussed changes in global temperatures that are likely to occur during the coming decades will profoundly affect the way we live, how we utilize natural resources, and how we exercise our stewardship of the planet. This special program, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on June 17th, will focus on the National Wildlife Federation’s 2007 report on how the Chesapeake Bay is changing, what further changes may be in store, and what these changes mean for those of us living in the watershed. An expert from NWF and representative of the State’s Critical Area Commission will discuss the report and what the State is doing in response to the challenge of global warming. The program will also feature exhibits by numerous organizations and vendors specializing in eco-friendly products and services. For more information and to reserve a place, call the Center office, 410-887-2817.
Canoeing for Fun and Environmental Education
Get to know Marshy Point up close and personal by joining us for any of the canoe outings that are scheduled for June, July, and August. There’s no better way to gain an appreciation for the marshes and wildlife that frequent our shores than from a canoe. Our June 4th guided trip will explore the dynamic relationship between tides and marshes. On June 15th, celebrate Father’s Day by bringing Dad to explore life along the shoreline. We’re offering a week long ACA Canoe Certification Course from June 16-20; skills learned in this course will last a lifetime. For a real memory-making experience, come camp under the stars at MPNC on June 21st and paddle Dundee Creek by the dawn’s early light. Other outings are planned for July 5th, August 2nd, and August 16th. Check our Calendar [www.marshypoint.org/calendar/indecx.asp] to register and to find details, policies, and procedures. Have fun, get some exercise, and learn about the environment!
Marshy Point Nature Center is Granted Green Status
After applying for certification to become a Green Center by the Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education, Marshy Point Nature Center has been granted Green status. This coveted designation is awarded to nature centers that support local and regional Green School initiatives, apply environmental management practices to their buildings and grounds, and offer a variety of community environmental-learning opportunities. Fitting the requirements, MPNC is delighted to join the already certified sixteen centers in the state, and will be the first Baltimore County Recreation and Parks facility to be designated with the honor.
New Art Work Donated to the Nature Center
Long-time Council member and MPNC volunteer Dal Bunker recently donated a bas-relief carving to the Nature Center. Dal, an accomplished woodworker, started the project during the 2007 MPNC Spring Festival and finished it earlier this year while wintering Florida. Carved in an old poplar door and framed with aged fence boards, the 22-inch high, six-foot wide carving depicts the recently expanded Nature Center, the new boathouse, and the bridge over Minnow Branch. Dal used architectural drawings, a cardboard model, and photographs taken from the dock to sculpt this exquisite work. Stop by the Center to see this wonderful new addition to our collection of Marshy Point-inspired art, and if you see Dal, don’t forget to thank him for his hard work and generous donation.
Senior Hike Program
Although many of the programs of the Marshy Point Nature Center are geared for children, we also offer many programs for all who are interested in getting outdoors to learn about nature. Once or twice each month, usually on Saturdays or Sundays, we even have organized outings for seniors, 55 and older. Come hike with us as part of a fitness routine or to learn about the birds and wildflowers that grace the park. These hikes follow easy to walk, maintained trails that wander through woods and fields bordering wetlands and marshes. Allow about two hours for the planned activity, and bring water and walking shoes. Come on, take a break from working, parenting, and grand-parenting; get outside and get moving and learning. Check the calendar for the date and time of the next scheduled senior event.
Film Nights at Marshy Point Nature Center!
Whether you watch in a theater, at a drive-in, or in your home, watching movies is a fundamental part of American culture. But did you know that you can watch movies at the Marshy Point Nature Center? The MPNC Council carefully selects films that inform, educate, and entertain audiences of all ages about nature and the world around us. The first Friday of each month is Family Movie Night. Bring the whole family out for an entertaining nature film; a MPNC naturalist is on hand to answer questions. Admission is $2 per person, or $5 for a family of three, and includes popcorn and beverages. During warm weather months, conditions permitting, films may be shown outdoors. Check our calendar to find out what’s playing next at the Marshy Point Nature Center!
Also, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, MPNC presents “Learning to Live Better: A Series of Motivating Films”. Many of these films address contemporary environmental issues such a population growth, resource utilization, and climate change; others are presented because of their historical significance to the development and growth of environmental awareness. The films, often produced by leading filmmakers, are intended to be thought provoking and are intended for teens and adults. A member of the MPNC Council introduces each film and leads a post-screening discussion. There is no charge for admission, and the Council provides refreshments. See the calendar for the next screening of Learning to Live Better: A Series of Motivating Films.
Marshy Point Nature Center Gifts
Is Marshy Point one of your favorite places or a favorite of someone you know? Then let the world know by wearing a Marshy Point Nature Center logo-emblazoned shirt or hat, or by using a Nature Center mug. A jar of fresh, savory Nature Center honey, complements of our busy bees, is a great gift for anyone with a sweet tooth. Check out these items and other great Marshy Point gifts at the Nature Center. Your purchases help support our programs and activities, and increase public awareness of the Center.
Tee Shirt - |
Sweatshirt - $15 each |
Hooded Pullover Sweat - $20 each |
Ball Cap - |
Safari Hat - |
Mug - $5 each |
Patch - $3 each |
Honey - $3 each |
Jams/Jellies: |
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(Gift baskets are available upon request)
Cattails
Members of the Marshy Point Nature Center Council receive our newsletter, Cattails, four times a year. The four to six page publication features updates on Center activities, interviews with naturalists and articles about animals and plants that are found in the preserve. Mail your completed membership form now to join the Council and begin your subscription to Cattails! Back issues of Cattails are accessible online:
A History of the Marshy Point Nature Center
Marshy Point Nature Center, a Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks facility, opened in the spring of 2000. Located on land acquired by the County in 1982 from the Weiskittel family, the 500 plus-acre site was designated as a nature preserve. Situated in the Dundee and Saltpeter Creeks Park, it offers stands of old forest, swatches of newly overgrown soybean fields, dense marshlands, wooded and open wetlands, and tidal creeks that open to the Chesapeake Bay. In following with a rich tradition of water fowling (President Harrison hunted here, as did Babe Ruth), hunters still set up blinds along the creeks during the fall bird migration. Fishermen have explored the waters of the creeks in search of bass, pickerel, perch, catfish, and the occasional bluefish. Other than recreational hunting and fishing, the Marshy Point area saw little activity during its first decade in County hands. That changed, however, when the county constructed the Nature Center, which was designed by RTKL Associates.
Since opening in 2000, Marshy Point Nature Center has moved steadily forward in creating informative and enjoyable programs for adults and children alike. There are monthly audiovisual lectures by noted naturalists, and weekends bring discovery hikes and demonstrations. During the summer season, a fantastic water-oriented camp is held for children. Also in place is a growing list of courses, which currently include canoeing, beekeeping, and bird watching. The annual Spring Festival is one of several special events. The Nature Center features a beautiful butterfly garden, canoe launching dock and boathouse, trails, and a powerboat for field trips. MPNC is currently being expanded to provide classrooms and support facilities for our ongoing education programs.
Since its inception, the Nature Center has been fortunate to have the services of Robert W. Stanhope, who also was the founding director at Oregon Ridge Nature Center in Hunt Valley. Instrumental to creating both Cromwell Valley Park and Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, he brought an enormous amount of experience and expertise to Marshy Point. In 2004, Stanhope was awarded the Irvine Nature Center’s Olivia Irvine Dodge Award in recognition of his “considerable contribution to environmental education and conservation” in Maryland.