By Michael Schneider, Baltimore County Recreation and Parks

May in Baltimore County’s 220 parks brings special events for moms, a hunt for faeries and elves at Cromwell Valley Park, a Bloomin' Art Fest in Reisterstown, a community carnival in Colgate, campout at Lake Roland, full moon hikes, and Karma Fest. Mother's Day, Memorial Day, any day is a great day in the park.

Tuesdays through June 5

After School: Nature Scouts (reservations required)    Lake Roland

Friday, May 4

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Pokémon Late Night Madness    Marshy Point Nature Center

Bookwork Story Time    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Ephemeral Wildflower Walk (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Social Dance    Therapeutic Recreation

Saturday, May 5

Gardening for Butterflies and Bees (registration required)    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Primitive Technology Weekend    Cromwell Valley Park

Watercolor Cityscape (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Native Plant Sale    Lake Roland

Yoga in the Park   Lake Roland

Workboat Trip to Hart Miller Island (registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Rock On! Painted Rocks (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Sunday, May 6

Primitive Technology Weekend    Cromwell Valley Park

Nature Quest Canoe (registration required)    Lake Roland

Cattails, The Jack of all Plants    Marshy Point Nature Center

Monday, May 7

Pre-K Nature Drop-In: Baby Plants    Marshy Point Nature Center

Tuesday, May 8

Baltimore Bird Club Walk    Lake Roland

Wednesday, May 9 through Saturday, May 12

Colgate Annual Carnival    Colgate Recreation Council

Wednesday, May 9

Natural World of Art: Vase Pendant (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Program (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Thursday, May 10

Dulcimer Workshop (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Shoots and Letter: Snakes    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, May 11

Night Out with Nature: The Maryland Biodiversity Project with Jim Brighton (registration required)    Cromwell Valley Park

Creative Clay: Silly Bird (concludes May 25 – registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Friday Stoll   Lake Roland

Morning Bird Walk (registration appreciated)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Show Choir and Jr. Show Choir    Therapeutic Recreation

Saturday, May 12

International Migratory Bird Day    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Discovering Orioles (registration required)    Cromwell Valley Park

TALMAR Gardens Mother’s Day Plant Sale    Cromwell Valley Park

BUGS!    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Bonfire and Night Hike    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Spring Family Campout (concludes May 13 - registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Mother’s Day Story, Walk and Tea (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

12^th Annual Bloomin’ ArtFest    Reisterstown Recreation Council

Sunday, May 13

TALMAR Gardens Mother’s Day Plant Sale    Cromwell Valley Park

Mother’s Day Tea    Cromwell Valley Park

Mother’s Day Bird Walk    Lake Roland

Mother’s Day Birdwalk    Marshy Point Nature Center

Mother’s Day Canoe Trip (registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Mother’s Day Story, Walk and Tea (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Monday, May 14

Pre-K Nature Drop-In: Rainbow Flowers    Marshy Point Nature Center

Nature Book Club – The Tide: The Science and Stories Behind the Greatest Force on Earth by Hugh  Aldersey-Williams (registration appreciated)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Tuesday, May 15

Baltimore Bird Club Walk    Lake Roland

Speaker Series: “The World of the Dragonfly” by Susan Minor    Marshy Point Nature Center

Wednesday, May 16

Natural World of Art: Flowers, Painted with Yarn (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Program (registration required)   Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Amphibian Walk (registration required)     Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Thursday, May 17

Dulcimer Workshop (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Shoots and Letters: Turtles    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, May 18

Spring Campout (continues through May 19 – reservations required)    Lake Roland

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Saturday, May 19

Mid-Atlantic Turtles and Tortoises Society Speaker Series   Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Wildflower Jelly Making (registration required)    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

What’s Cookin’, Mr. Banneker?    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Master Gardener Plant Sale    Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park

Spring Wildflower Walk    Cromwell Valley Park

All About Pets    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

The Hive and the Honeybee    Marshy Point Nature Center

Live Bluegrass and Country Music at Victory Villa Community Center    Middle River Recreation Council

Native Plant Swap    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Karma Fest    Oregon Ridge Park

Sunday, May 20

Faeries and Elves of the Forest    Cromwell Valley Park

Fishing the Dock (registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Karma Fest     Oregon Ridge Park

Monday, May 21

Pre-K Nature Drop-In: Honeybees    Marshy Point Nature Center

Oregon Ridge Nature Center Council Speaker Series – The View Below: Amazing Sights in Our Everyday Streams.  Keith Williams, Executive Director, NorthBay: Author; Underwater Naturalist  Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Wednesday, May 23

Natural World of Art: Soda Can Flower (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Program (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Thursday, May 24

Dulcimer Workshop (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Shoots and Letters: What lives under logs?    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, May 25

Late Spring Starry Night Campfire (registration required)    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Full Flower Moon Night Hike    Cromwell Valley Park

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Full Planting Moon Canoe Trip (registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Saturday, May 26

Moss Workshop (registration required)    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Oella History Hike (registration required)    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Drop in Gardening    Cromwell Valley Park

Girl Scouts Day (registration required)    Cromwell Valley Park

Estuary Exploration    Marshy Point Nature Center

Sunday, May 27

Corn & Dog Roast (registration required)    Cromwell Valley Park

Bluebirds on the Bay    Marshy Point Nature Center

Wednesday, May 30   

Natural World of Art: Strawberries (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Program (registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Thursday, May 31

Dulcimer Workshop (registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Shoots and Letters: What lives in the trees?    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Programs are run by Baltimore County Recreation and Parks and Nature Council volunteers. Many programs are free, but some ask for a donation or have a small fee. Be sure to check the websites to confirm times and locations.

With our parks in full bloom now, what better time to take a walk, hike or run.  Check out our over 200 Baltimore County Parks to experience the beauty and fresh air up-close and personal.  They are your parks. Enjoy them to the fullest!

 

 

By Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz

I was born, raised, live and work in Baltimore County. Here are just a few of the many things to love about our home county.

Our schools rule, with an 89% graduation rate and seven Baltimore County public high schools ranked among the region’s 25 best by Niche, a nationally recognized website that evaluates schools and neighborhoods.

The Ravens are at home here, at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills.

Craft brews from Heavy Seas, Du Claw, Key and White Marsh brewing are a great way to cheer our favorite teams.

Guinness is bringing its Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House to Baltimore County – the legendary brand’s only North America location for brewing and testing new beers.

You can be in downtown Towson and, 10 minutes later, be driving past a thoroughbred horse farm, enjoying a round of golf, or taste-testing at a vineyard.

Baltimore County boasts more than 200 miles of shoreline for waterfront dining, sailing, kayaking, and sunset celebrations, on shore and off.

Thirty percent of Baltimore County’s land is preserved as parkland and open space for recreation, green space, water protection and family farms.

Tradepoint Atlantic, one of the largest industrial redevelopments in the U.S., is bringing 10,000 jobs back to Sparrows Point.

When a Fortune 500 company brings 400 new jobs to Baltimore County, you know we’ve got something great going on here. Thanks Stanley Black & Decker.

There’s no place like home!

By Mike Schneider, Baltimore County Recreation and Parks

February is a month for heart-healthy exercise, crisp fresh air, learning and sharing experiences. Try your hand at making Mayan chocolate, learn beekeeping, and gaze at the new moon sky. From night hikes to yoga, fiber crafts to maple sugar time, check out Baltimore County Recreation and Parks’ calendar of February fun for the whole family.

Thursday, February 1

Shoots and Letters – Groundhog Day    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, February 2

Woodchuck the Weather Man Night Hike (pre-registration required)    Cromwell Valley Park

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Bookworm Story Time    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Saturday, February 3

Whimsical Nest Box Workshop    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

We’ve Got Rhythm    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Chat and Chew Series: The White House Chandeliers    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Mayan Chocolate-Making (pre-registration required)   Cromwell Valley Park

Bonfire & Night Hike    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Yoga in the Park    Lake Roland

Linoleum Block Printing and Card Making for Adults (pre-registration required – continues February 10)    Lake Roland

Whistle Pig Whimsy (pre-registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Basket Making Workshop (snow date: February 10)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Sunday, February 4

Dead Leaves, Cheese, Butter and Kimchi    Cromwell Valley Park

Fiber Crafts    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Groundhog Gets A Say!    Lake Roland

Fish Print Pillow Cases (pre-registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Wake Up Groundhog! (pre-registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Monday, February 5

Pre-K Nature Drop In – Groundhogs   Marshy Point Nature Center

Tuesday, February 6 through Friday, February 9

Trail Guide Training (pre-registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Wednesday, February 7

Habitat Restoration Team Work Day    Cromwell Valley Park

Natural World of Art: Bright Branches    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Nature Program    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Wooly Bear Club (pre-registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Thursday, February 8

Shoots and Letters – Digging in the Dirt    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, February 9

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Creative Clay: Pinch Pot Animals (part two February 23 – pre-registration required))    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Homeschool Nature Days (pre-registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

“BINGO Buddies”   Therapeutic Recreation

Saturday, February 10

African Americans Who Served During Wartime   Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Beginning Bee Keeping (pre-registration required – concludes on Saturday, February 17)    Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park

Habitat Restoration Team Work Day    Cromwell Valley Park

Maple Sugaring Weekend   Cromwell Valley Park

Valentine’s Party (pre-registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Linoleum Block Printing and Card Making for Adults (pre-registration required – continued from February 3)  Lake Roland

Before Chocolate (pre-registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Squirreling Around (pre-registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Sunday, February 11

Maple Sugaring Weekend    Cromwell Valley Park

Winter Snow Scene   Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Sundays Birdwalk (pre-registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Just for Kids, Five Senses Hike (pre-registration required)    Marshy Point Nature Center

Squirreling Around (pre-registration required)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Monday, February 12

Pre-K Nature Drop In – Valentine’s Day    Marshy Point Nature Center

Wednesday, February 14

Natural World of Art: Quilled hearts and Flowers (pre-registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Nature Program    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Thursday, February 15

Shoots and Letters – Rocks and Minerals   Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, February 16

New Moon Night Sky    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Saturday, February 17

Trace Your Roots (pre-reservation required)    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Great Backyard Bird Count    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum and Cromwell Valley Park

Tricky Tracking   Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Bird Extravaganza    Lake Roland

Maple Sugar Time    Marshy Point Nature Center

Live Bluegrass and Country Music    Middle River Recreation Council

Maple Sugaring Weekend (groups of 10+ must pre-register)   Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Sunday, February 18

Recycled Bird Feeders (pre-reservation required)    Cromwell Valley Park

Bird Extravaganza    Lake Roland

Maple Sugar Time    Marshy Point Nature Center

Maple Sugaring Weekend (groups of 10+ must pre-register)    Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Monday, February 19

Arctic Adventure Day Camp (pre-registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

School’s Out!    Lake Roland

Tuesday, February 20

Speaker Series – “The Amazing Horseshoe Crab”    Marshy Point Nature Center

Wednesday, February 21

Natural World of Art: Crescent Moon (pre-registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Nature Program    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Thursday, February 22

Shoots and Letters – Maple Sugaring   Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Friday, February 23

Friday Stroll    Lake Roland

Saturday, February 24

Maple Sugaring in Maryland    Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

Habitat Restoration Team Work Day   Cromwell Valley Park

Slate Composite Tools (pre-registration required)   Cromwell Valley Park

Birds in Your Backyard    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Donut Run    Lake Roland

Maple Sugar Time     Marshy Point Nature Center

Maple Sugaring Weekend (groups of 10+ must pre-register)   Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Sunday, February 25

Tracks on T-Shirts (pre-registration required)    Cromwell Valley Park

Afternoon Scrapbooking (pre-registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Maple Sugar Time    Marshy Point Nature Center

Maple Sugaring Weekend (groups of 10+ must pre-register)   Oregon Ridge Nature Center

Monday, February 26

Pre-K Nature Drop In – Maple Syrup    Marshy Point Nature Center

Wednesday, February 28

Habitat Restoration Team Work Day    Cromwell Valley Park

Natural World of Art: Stone Flowers (pre-registration required)    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Preschool Nature Program    Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Programs are run by Baltimore County Recreation and Parks and Nature Council volunteers. Many programs are free, but some ask for a donation or have a small fee. Be sure to check the websites to confirm times and locations.

Take in our over 200 beautiful Parks for hikes and sites and all the cool fresh air you can imagine, and indoor Nature Centers if the weather is a bit too cold. Regardless of the temperature, there’s a lot to enjoy from Baltimore County Recreation and Parks.