Winter Adventures Camp

 When:   Friday, January  13-14

**camp begins Friday at 9am, and goes to 9am Saturday**

Location:  Flag Ponds

Grades:   grades 3-5

Fee:  $60.00/BCNES members $45.00 per child  

 This short but intense camp will be a real adventure.  During the day, we will trek thru the woods and to the beach looking for bones, tracks, and other mysteries – stopping to play some games on the trail or maybe to build a fort.  After the sun goes down, we will head out into the quiet winter woods for a night walk to search for owls and to check out some stars. A campfire and s’mores will put the finishing touches on our day. Don’t worry about getting too cold – this camp will include indoor, as well as outdoor activities and plenty of hot chocolate and time by the fire.  The overnight will be in the education building.  Dinner, breakfast, and some snacks included.

Scouts Only Programs

Each month we will offer a program just for Scouts!  These programs are open to boys or girls who belong to a scout troop.  Your troop leader can sign up an entire troop (up to 20) or you can sign up individually.  If you have a program you would like to request, let us know.  Location:  Battle Creek Cypress Swamp   Fee - $3/$1 BCNES members per scout.

Classification (for those in 2^nd-3^rd grade)

Saturday, January 14                    1:00-2:00 p.m.

             The way an animal looks can tell you about where it lives, what it eats, and how it moves.  Learn about basic classification of animals into large groups like insects, reptiles and mammals and how to determine which group an animal belongs to.

Owl Night Hike

Friday, January 27          7:00-8:30  p.m.

             Join a naturalist at Cypress Swamp for an exciting winter night hike.  With the crescent moon and the stars to light our way, it will be a picturesque evening as we search for owls throughout the park.  Please dress for the weather and bring flashlights.    Fee: $3.00/1.00 BCNES members, per person

Location: Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

Pizza and Program

 What Big Teeth You Have!

Location:  Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

Friday, February  3          

Time:  6:30—8:00 p.m.

            Take a big bite of pepperoni pizza and let your teeth go to work.  Then examine some teeth of our animal specimens.  Find out how teeth work, and how you can determine who eats what by their teeth.  Handle actual animal skulls to get an up-close look at their chompers!  Fee:  $5.00/3:00 BCNES members, per person/under age 2 free

Scouts Only Programs

Each month we will offer a program just for Scouts!  These programs are open to boys or girls who belong to a scout troop.  Your troop leader can sign up an entire troop (up to 20) or you can sign up individually.  If you have a program you would like to request, let us know.  Location:  Battle Creek Cypress Swamp   Fee - $3/$1 BCNES members per scout.

Maple Sugaring (for those in 4^th-5^th grade)

Saturday, February 11    

(Session 1)                      noon-1:30 p.m.

(Session 2)                      2:00-3:30 p.m.

Learn to identify a maple tree, even in winter!  Take a hike along our Maple Tree trail to see our tapped trees.  Try your hand at using an old-fashioned brace and bit to drill a hole.  Cook down some sap to make syrup. 

The Status of the Eastern Coyote

When:  Friday, March 2  

Time:  7:00—8:30 p.m.

Location:  Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

         Join Jim Bennett, Habitat Manager with Maryland DNR, Wildlife and Heritage Service as he discusses Coyotes in Maryland. The program will cover how Coyotes arrived in the State over the last several decades, where they are present today and their relative abundance across Maryland. Learn about their life history and some interesting facts about this new addition to our native wildlife. NO CHARGE

Scouts Only Programs

Each month we will offer a program just for Scouts!  These programs are open to boys or girls who belong to a scout troop.  Your troop leader can sign up an entire troop (up to 20) or you can sign up individually.  If you have a program you would like to request, let us know.  Location:  Battle Creek Cypress Swamp   Fee - $3/$1 BCNES members per scout.

Herp Atlas Community Service Project (all ages)

Saturday, March 3              1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

             The Maryland DNR and Natural History Society began a five year state-wide survey of reptiles and amphibians (herps) in 2010. We are enlisting the help of volunteers to report sightings and search for herps in their area and report the information to the study. Join a naturalist to learn more about which herps are found in our area and how to go about looking for them and reporting sightings. We’ll even spend some time outside  actively searching for  early spring salamanders and frogs.

Campfire: Marvelous Maples 

Where:  Kings Landing Park

Saturday,  March 10

Time:  2:30-4:00 p.m.

            Did you ever wonder where maple syrup comes from?  Real maple syrup takes time and patience – but end result is well worth it!  Gather round a campfire to find out more about maple trees, how to tap them, and sample a variety of syrups (including real maple syrup) to see which you like best.  Dress for the weather and wear your hiking shoes for a walk to visit the maple trees.  Fee:  $5.00/3:00 BCNES members, per person/under age 2 free