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• Eagle Spotting at Loch Raven Field Experience

  • When
    05 Jan 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loch Raven, Towson MD
  • Spaces left
    0

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  Spotting a bald eagle brings a sense of joy, whether you’re spotting one for the first time or your hundredth. Join NHSM’s naturalist Nick Spero to watch for eagles on a winter day, the perfect time of year to find those who migrate here to spend the winter months. We may spot other birds, too, such as widgeon, lesser scaup, hooded mergansers, common mergansers, buffleheads, and redhead ducks.

  Here’s an eagle recovery fact. Eagle numbers skyrocketed to an estimated 3,000 breeding pairs, up 1,000 pairs from 2016. Maryland is a base for so many eagles, that the state stopped surveying in 2004. Four hundred breeding pairs were counted then, surpassing population goals. And why do we have so many eagles? The Chesapeake Bay supports three populations of bald eagles: those that live in the region year-round, those that come here from the Southeast to spend the summer months, and those that winter here from farther northeast.

  Our trip leader Nick Spero loves to hunt and fish, and primitive technology has piqued his interest since he was a child. You can view a video produced by NPR about Nick here.

  Difficulty: Moderately strenuous with the combination of cold weather and trails

  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Don’t underestimate the cold. Dress according to the weather. Layers with non-cotton clothing work best.
  • Pocket hand or toe warmers may take the edge off the cold, too.
  • Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
  • Bring water, snacks, and a camera with accessories.
  • Bring binoculars and a hand lens or loupe, if you have them.
  • Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
  • No pets, please.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

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• First Sundays Open House - January 2025

  • When
    05 Jan 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  By popular demand, NHSM is expanding our public exhibit hours. Come for the Ice Age in Maryland exhibit featuring our wooly mammoth, and linger for more fossils, seashells, gemstones, archaeological artifacts, and other treasures. You never know what the curators will bring out.

  Admission is always free! Join us between 10 AM and 2 PM!

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• Wingspan - Learn and Play or Just Play

  • Start
    05 Jan 2025
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • End
    02 Feb 2025
  •  
    2:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  During select open days at the museum, NHSM’S Game Master, Tabbie, will be on hand to teach new hatchlings, guide recent fledglings, and challenge experienced birds. Two tables will be set up, one for learning, one for playing (depending on demand, additional tables may be added).

  Free, but please RSVP for planning purposes. If you are new to the game, please plan on arriving promptly at the start for lessons. 

  Released in 2019, Wingspan is an award-winning, competitive, card-driven board game that has sold over a million copies. In Wingspan, you, the player, control a small wildlife refuge, a little patch of ground with some forest, some grassland, a marsh. Your job is to populate the preserve with a flourishing array of birds. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE GAME.

  

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• Shark Laws: Managing the Atlantic Shark Fishery

  • When
    09 Jan 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  The Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is responsible for the management of the US federal shark fishery in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Federal management of the Atlantic shark fishery began in 1993, and the management measures established at that time are the basis for those in place today, including permitting and reporting requirements, management complexes, commercial quotas, and recreational bag limits. This session will provide an update on the current state of the Atlantic shark fishery.

  Ann Williamson is a fishery management specialist in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division. In this position she develops and implements regulations for the sustainable management of Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries. Previously, Ann coordinated clearance of all NOAA Fisheries regulatory actions and was a fisheries observer in the Northeast groundfish and Atlantic scallop fisheries. Ann received her master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy from American University and her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Eckerd College.

  

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• Something Smells: How We Can Use Plant Odors to Fight Crop Pests

  • When
    16 Jan 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Can plants talk? If so, what are they saying? Who are they talking to? In the past three decades, researchers have found that plants use chemical odors (volatiles) to communicate with other plants, repel attacking herbivores, and attract insect predators and parasitoids. In this presentation, Dr. Russavage will discuss the secret language of plants and how entomologists and crop breeders are using it to their advantage to stop agricultural pests.

  Emily Russavage is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on biological control, which is the use of insect predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to control pests in agricultural systems. She obtained her PhD in Entomology from Texas A&M University, where she studied plant volatiles and their use in pest management and crop breeding.

  

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• Birds and Brews Winter Edition

  • When
    18 Jan 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Laytonsville, Waredaca Brewing Company
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  You could be so busy birding that you won’t notice it’s chilly on this winter bird hike at Waredaca Brewing Company. With the predicted winter irruption of birds headed south searching for food, the trails may be extra busy with viewings. Possible sightings could include ducks such as redhead or American coot, hawks like rough-legged, red-shouldered, and red-tailed, horned larks, dark-eyed juncos, finches, Eastern bluebirds, woodpeckers, nuthatches, wrens, cardinals, titmice, evening grosbeaks, and yellow-rumped warblers. Extra special sightings could include snowy owls and snow buntings. And with our hike ending in the taproom, those cold fingers will thaw while enjoying lunch with a tasty beverage. The total hike length will be two to three miles.

  The Waredaca site was originally a boys camp named the WAshington REcreational DAy CAmp, or Waredaca. The site grew into a premiere equestrian center and is now the first farm brewery in Montgomery County. The property is certified by the Maryland Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program, one of 20 horse farms in the state to receive the designation.

  Here is a link to Waredaca’s menu, www.waredacabrewing.com.  Each beer made on-site is named after the family, the stories, and the horses of Camp Waredaca and Waredaca Farm.

  Our trip leader is Sean McGuinn, a Maryland native and avid birder and amateur nature photographer for the last 15 years. He currently works as an environmental educator with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, teaching environmental literacy to kindergarteners. Sean lives in Annapolis with three kids and a white lab, Clover. Pelicans are his favorite.

  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
  • Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
  • Bring water, snacks.
  • Bring binoculars, if you have them.
  • Bring your guidebooks, if you have them.
  • Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
  • No pets, please.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

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• The Jar Basket with Joan Betzold

  • When
    19 Jan 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    14

  Register

  

  This is weaving around a mold, a skill that is transferable to other objects. This basket is formed around a half-gallon mason jar that is provided. (Once the basket is completed, the jar can’t be removed.) There will be lots of opportunities to customize the baskets by using ash strips and color. Beginners are welcome. You can do this.

  Joan Betzold, a basket weaver and weaving teacher for over 30 years, attends 40+ art, folk art, colonial, fiber, and gardening shows each year. She has been honored as the Featured Artist at several nationally recognized shows. Joan designs, dyes the fibers, and weaves her original baskets using centuries-old techniques without nails, glue, staples or molds. She is well known for her award-winning custom designs as well as unusual baskets incorporating vintage tools, kitchen items, antlers, or a treasured piece from a loved one. She teaches weaving at many local museums as well as privately. For several years she has been asked to serve as the basket weaving judge at the Maryland State Fair. Learn more: http://www.partnershipcrafts.com/

  Terms and Conditions: Open to adults and older teens. Every student will need to bring a basin or bucket that will hold 2 gallons, a spray bottle for water, an old towel, 12 large clip-type clothes pins, a sharpened pencil, a measuring tape, a brick or something heavy wrapped in plastic wrap, and a pocket knife. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You may bring lunch or snacks and water.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  

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• Painting with Bacteria - Agar Art Workshop with BUGSS, Baltimore Underground Science Space

  • When
    19 Jan 2025
  •  
    4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  Agar Art is a perfect marriage of biology and art that everyone and anyone can get into. Living masterpieces are created by painting different microbes onto an agar agar filled petri dish. Unlike other media, the picture needs a few days to grow. The folks at Baltimore Underground Science Space will lead the workshop, bringing a special collection of microbes that produce an array of beautiful and striking colors. New to agar art? Check out the Bacterial Art and Yeast Art sites for some inspiration and a hefty dose of awe. Perhaps your artwork has what it takes to enter the annual national ASM contest and win!? For full contest details (including Terms and Conditions) and examples of previous winners, see the Agar Art Website.

  AGES 14 and up.

  CANCELLATIONS with full refund available more than 7 days prior to the start of the class minus a 5% processing fee. No other refunds are available.

  

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• Preserving Maryland’s Natural Treasures: The quest to create a natural history museum

  • When
    23 Jan 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Natural history collections are invaluable resources, yet Maryland is one of a few states that still lack a state-wide natural history museum. Since 1929, members of the Natural History Society of Maryland
  (NHSM) have worked tirelessly to preserve Maryland’s natural treasures. Learn about the history of our organization and the important role it has played in environmental education through the years. Amy Young, NHSM historian-in-training, will share her insight into how natural history collections are a naturalist’s legacy.

  Amy Young is the Outreach and Stewardship Manager for Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, a Baltimore County-based land trust and watershed restoration nonprofit. She enjoys connecting people to
  environmental stewardship opportunities, especially those that promote native plants. Amy has a B.A. in Biology (Swarthmore College) and a M.S. in Plant Biology (University of Georgia). As a field ecologist, she studied plants in desert, mountain, prairie, wetland, rainforest, coastal dunes, and Fall Line Sandhill communities. Amy was first introduced to the Natural History Society of Maryland (NHSM) in 2010. She
  managed their quarterly newsletter for several years and served on their Board of Trustees from 2011-20. Her husband, Dr. James Young, is the curator of NHSM’s invertebrate collection. Amy is in the
  process of expanding her “85 Facts about the Natural History Society of Maryland” into a book in time for the Society’s centennial in 2029.

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• More than Stars: How Culture Influences our Stories of the Night Sky

  • When
    24 Jan 2025
  •  
    8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Towson University
  • Spaces left
    36

  Register

  

  We all look to the night sky. Our culture or location makes no difference. Do our stories about the night sky differ? Let’s learn the answer at a film screening of One Sky at Towson Planetarium.

  This documentary is an international collaboration designed to increase our understanding of cultural and Indigenous astronomy, its historical and modern applications, and how our One Sky connects us all.

  One Sky is a collection of short films focusing on Indigenous cultures in Greece, India, Northern Canada, Japan, the Pacific Islands, and the Navajo people in the US. Each chapter is presented in an original style, featuring the work of international artists. Each film stands alone as a short story or in combination as a longer narrative.

  
  

  Planetarium Director Christian Ready will moderate the screening and also lead us outside for a telescope observation after the show using their 16-inch diameter Ritchey-Chrétien telescope and other portable telescopes, if the weather permits. The Towson Planetarium is an all-digital system, newly built in 2021,​ and features a 24-foot diameter dome, 4K-by-4K ultra-high-definition image, and a quadrophonic sound system.

  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

  More information on The One Sky Project can be found here:

  https://oneskyproject.org/.

  View a short video from the California Academy of Sciences highlighting the theme of One Sky here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAcgjxxoQA8

  Professor Ready fell in love with outer space at a young age. His desire to become an astronomer was fueled by watching reruns of the classic television show, Star Trek.  He works as the planetarium director and lectures in Towson Univeristy’s Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences.  A video about Prof. Ready can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/779700944.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

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• Bald Eagles at Conowingo Dam Field Experience

  • When
    25 Jan 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Darlington, Fisherman's Park, Maryland
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  Conowingo Fisherman’s Park holds a top spot in the US for viewing bald eagles. Eagles can be found year-round here, but during the winter months, their numbers soar. Eagles dot the trees and soar over the rapids, watching for shad, herring, and eels to bob up to the water’s surface, stunned by the dam’s turbines. Their numbers range in the hundreds, with birds migrating here from Canada and New York. In addition to the easy feeding opportunities, the eagles are drawn to the dam’s trailrace, which remains unfrozen in the winter. Several nests are located in the park and on the island near the center of the river. Peak eagle viewing is in early winter, but eagles can still be abundant in January.

  While known for eagles, this area is also popular for overwintering cormorants, various other waterfowl, woodpeckers, winter wren, and peregrine falcon. We will begin our trip with plenty of time to watch from the dam overview areas, then we will continue down the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Trail for about three to four miles, out and back. The trail follows the river along a rail bed, an abandoned line that allowed the Susquehanna Power Company to transport heavy equipment to the dam from the B&O Railroad in Havre de Grace during its construction. The trail is wide and flat.

  Eagles are the main attraction here, but the Conowingo Dam is impressive to view as well. Conowingo is listed as Maryland’s largest renewable energy source since its operation began in 1928. Owned and operated by Constellation Energy, the dam has 11 turbines, which can produce up to 572 megawatts of electricity, enough power to supply 165,000 homes under normal operating conditions.

  Our trip leaders are Dave Webb and Dr. Dennis Kirkwood. Dave is an editor with Maryland Biodiversity Project which is a non-profit organization dedicated to cataloging the flora and fauna of Maryland. The project promotes conservation, science, and education by building a nature study community. Check out the project here: https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/.  Dave also edits BugGuide.net, vetting the identifications of arthropods photographed by other outdoor enthusiasts, including his photos.  Dr. Kirkwood is the past president of the Harford County Bird Club and a member of several environmental associations. He and his wife Jean have conducted birding trips throughout the New World tropics and within the United States.

  Participants may choose to hike a shorter distance and are welcome to walk back on their own at any point.

  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Children over the age of 10 are welcome.
  • Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
  • Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
  • Bring water, snacks, and your camera with accessories. Any size cameras are welcome, but no tripods, please.
  • Bring binoculars if you have them.
  • Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
  • No pets, please.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

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• Nature Connections: Nature's Glow

  • When
    26 Jan 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  You may have just put away your Christmas lights but we still can light up your night! There are many animals, plants, minerals, and algae that glow in the dark. Some, like scorpions and calcite, only appear different under ultraviolet light. Others, like dinoflagellates and fireflies, are visible to the naked human eye. This may sound like an otherworldly phenomenon, but most can be found right here in Maryland! Join the Natural History Society for an afternoon of luminescence and fluorescence in nature. Our theme comes highly reviewed: Guests at the Ladew Garden Glowfest couldn’t get enough.

  Presentation, 1:30PM: Fluorescent Minerals by Chris Luzier

  Want to know about (non hazardous) glowing rocks? Learn about fluorescent minerals from our guest speaker, Chris Luzier! Over 500 minerals have been discovered to exhibit some kind of fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. These include obscure minerals like hardystonite (which glows a deep midnight blue) and common ones like fluorite (glows in various possible colors) which is in your toothpaste!

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• The Summit of the Years - An exploration for those 70 adjacent

  • When
    28 Jan 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  “From the summit of the years, I look back over my life and see what I have escaped and what I have missed.” Published in 1913, Summit of the Years is a collection of essays John Burroughs penned when he turned 70. It is a contemplative exploration of transition that looks back and forward, with nature as guide and companion.

  “The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world. I hardly know which feeling leads, wonderment or admiration. After a man has passed the psalmist’s dead line of seventy years…if he is of a certain temperament, he becomes more and more detached from the noise and turmoil of the times in which he lives…. More and more is he impressed with life and nature in themselves and the beauty and the grandeur of the voyage we are making on this planet.”

  Seventy years is a remarkable point in the human experience. The comedian George Carlin explained in one of his routines on aging, “You become 21. Turn 30. Push 40. Reach 50 and make it to 60. You’ve built up so much speed that you hit 70!” It’s a collision of time and space of wisdom and uncertainty of joy and pain, fear and peace.

  NHSM is reaching out to those in its Community of the Curious who are 70 adjacent (65-75 years) to engage in an exploration of this unique human experience using John Burrough’s writings as a starting point. Part book club, part writing club, part sharing our wisdom of life. The structure of this sharing will be built by the participants, all of a certain age, who all find wonder and comfort in nature. We will gather by Zoom so that neither night nor weather nor need for transportation will hinder us. Our inaugural gathering will be Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 PM. It is free, but you must RSVP to receive the Zoom details.

  If you are unfamiliar with John Burroughs here are a few links you may wish to explore.

  • Summit of the Years is in the public domain and is available online free of charge here: babel.hathitrust.org
  • John Burroughs Association: www.johnburroughsassociation.org
  • “The Long Brown Path: What Happened to John Burroughs?”
  • John Burroughs the Catskill Guru (Film) on YouTube
  • Books by John Burroughs

  “How can one help marveling at the voyage we are making on this planet? One has to lift one’s self up and use one’s imagination to see that it is a voyage, and that our course lies through the star-paved abysses of infinite space.”

   

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• Volunteer Orientation

  • When
    29 Jan 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  Volunteers have been and remain central to our success. Volunteers lead outings, teach classes, share nature with the public, help at community events, build/design exhibits and educational materials, greet visitors, work in the gift shop, help with social media, take pictures, and much more. We are grateful for our volunteers that generously donate their time to support our mission.

  Whether you’re a new or a continuing volunteer, we’d like to invite you to an upcoming volunteer orientation, where we cover the basics of what you need to know and do. And for current volunteers, it will include an overview of our new volunteer management system, Helper Helper.

  Here are some topics we’ll cover:

  • ·       Background on NHSM history
  • ·       Meet the staff
  • ·       Descriptions of programs
  • ·       Upcoming opportunities
  • ·       Volunteer benefits
  • ·       Introduction to the Helper Helper volunteer management system
  • ·       Time to tour the exhibits and ask questions

  Attending this orientation session is a required first step for new volunteers. If you’re a continuing volunteer, THANK YOU. Attending this volunteer orientation is not required, but you are invited to attend especially if you want to learn the new volunteer management system, Helper Helper.

  VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION DATES:

  • May 29, 2024
  • July 31, 2024
  • October 30, 2024
  • January 29, 2025

   

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• Aquatic WILD & Professional Development for Educators

  • When
    01 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    14

  Register

  

  Water covers 2/3 of planet Earth, is essential for every living thing, and can be used to teach all subjects. If you aren’t integrating water into your curriculum, water you waiting for?

  The Aquatic WILD program, a subset of Project WILD, is for formal and non-formal educators (PreK-12^th Grade) interested in teaching young people about aquatic wildlife and ecology. All curriculum materials are backed by sound educational practices and theory and represent the work of many professionals within the fields of education and natural resource management from across the country.

  Through hands-on activities and simulations, participants will get a chance to model different Growing Up WILD activities while also learning about local nature. Participants in this 5-hour workshop receive the Aquatic WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide. The guide contains field investigations, In Step With STEM activity extensions, connections to wildlife careers, new activities on fish conservation and angling, and an increased focus on outdoor activities. NOTE: Participation in the workshop counts towards MAEOE Green School certification/recertification requirements.

  Lessons in the GUIDE include but are not limited to:

  • A Whale of an Issue
  • Alice in Waterland
  • Aquatic Roots
  • Dam Design
  • Dragonfly Pond
  • Eat and Glow
  • Fishy Who’s Who
  • Hooks and Ladders
  • How Wet Is Our Planet?
  • Kelp Help
  • Marsh Munchers
  • Mermaids and Manatees
  • Migration Headache
  • Pond Succession
  • Puddle Wonders!
  • Riparian Retreat
  • Silt: A Dirty Word
  • Turtle Hurdles
  • Water Safari
  • Watershed
  • Wetland Metaphors
  • Where Have All the Salmon Gone?

  

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• First Sundays Open House - February 2025

  • When
    02 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  By popular demand, NHSM is expanding our public exhibit hours. Come for the Ice Age in Maryland exhibit featuring our wooly mammoth, and linger for more fossils, seashells, gemstones, archaeological artifacts, and other treasures. You never know what the curators will bring out.

  Admission is always free! Join us between 10 AM and 2 PM!

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• Wingspan - Learn and Play or Just Play

  • When
    02 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  During select open days at the museum, NHSM’S Game Master, Tabbie, will be on hand to teach new hatchlings, guide recent fledglings, and challenge experienced birds. Two tables will be set up, one for learning, one for playing (depending on demand, additional tables may be added).

  Free, but please RSVP for planning purposes. If you are new to the game, please plan on arriving promptly at the start for lessons. 

  Released in 2019, Wingspan is an award-winning, competitive, card-driven board game that has sold over a million copies. In Wingspan, you, the player, control a small wildlife refuge, a little patch of ground with some forest, some grassland, a marsh. Your job is to populate the preserve with a flourishing array of birds. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE GAME.

  

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• Bark– Species ID and Ecology Online Short Course

  • Start
    03 Feb 2025
  •  
  • End
    10 Feb 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  

  Many people know how to identify trees by their leaves, but what about when those leaves have fallen or are out of reach?

  Through our learning process you will deepen your ability to notice details and you perception of trees. You will learn about a system for noticing the beautiful variety of bark characteristics and for using these traits to identify tree species in any season. We will practice using the identification key in our text, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.

  You will also discover the function and ecological role of bark. Why do some species have smooth bark, while on others it is thick and broken? Why does bark peel?

  Between sessions participants will be assigned a few sections to read from our text and asked to choose a tree near their home to study and photograph so that they can share their observations with our group during session 2.

  • Two-Part Workshop – via zoom, with individual study
  • February 3rd  – 7:00 to 9:00
  • February 10^th – 7:00 to 9:00

  required text: Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast– can be ordered form Michael at: https://knowyourtrees.com or from your local bookstore.

  About Michael Wojtech: As a freelance naturalist, writer, photographer, illustrator and educator, Michael strives to share the science and beauty of natural history in an accessible and compelling fashion through presentations, participatory activities, and outdoor exploration. He writes and teaches about the structure, growth processes, and ecology of trees—including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood—for audiences at all levels of experience, and explores how knowing the natural history of the places we live and love fosters connection and the feeling of home.

  Michael earned his masters degree in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England in Keene, NH. He is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast and co-author of Drawing Leaves and Trees: Observing and Sketching the Natural World.

  NEW – Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  

   

   

   

   

   

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• Darwin Day Talk: Epigenetics and Mammalian Evolution

  • When
    05 Feb 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Natural History Society of MD, Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  In anticipation of Darwin Day 2025, the NHSM Fossil Club is pleased to host Dr. Charles Breeze for an exploration of how cutting-edge advances in epigenetics and molecular biology shed light on mammalian evolution. By examining the role of regulatory elements—genetic “switches” that control gene expression—we’ll delve into how these elements drive evolutionary adaptations and help shape the diversity of mammals. This talk will connect key concepts in molecular biology with evolutionary data, providing fresh perspectives on how complex organisms evolve and adapt over time. Discover how understanding these mechanisms brings us closer to grasping the dynamic history of mammalian life on Earth.

  Dr. Charles Breeze is an Honorary Assistant Professor at University College London whose research focuses on epigenetics, genomic diversity and mammalian evolution. He has published many papers in scientific journals, contributed chapters to edited books, led studies on comparative genomics across mammals, and presented at numerous scientific conferences. He has also developed multiple computational methods to analyse genomic and epigenomic data. Dr. Breeze is a member of the encyclopedia of DNA elements (ENCODE) and International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC).

  This online program is free and open to the public, although donations are always appreciated. After you register, you’ll receive the Zoom link and passcode via email with your registration confirmation. Email the club coordinator (mfalk@marylandnature.org) with any questions or concerns.

  Natural History Society of Maryland’s Fossil Club is a group of novice and more experienced collectors who meet to exchange knowledge, help with fossil identification, and discuss fossil locations and other fossil-related topics. Monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month and are open to all.

  If you are a fossil enthusiast, please consider joining. NHSM membership is $35 for individuals, $50 for families. The Natural History Society of Maryland is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, so the fee you pay will go directly to support the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible. Learn more about NHSM Clubs: https://youtu.be/pIA7naRjXws

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• Snail-Killing Flies

  • When
    06 Feb 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Local naturalist George Foster will share his lifetime love for snail-killing or marsh flies, a family of highly evolved flies in the superfamily Sciomyzidae. Adult female flies lay their eggs in water or on vegetation near the water where snails are found. The larvae hatch and quickly attack freshwater or terrestrial snails or their eggs. Immature individuals of a few species attack slugs or fingernail clams. Snail-killing flies have been used as biological control of pest snails in those parts of the world where they are vectors for diseases.

  At the age of 15, George Foster started discovering the natural world of insects. His brother was attending the University of Maryland, College Park, and taking an introductory entomology course. One of the requirements of the course was to make an insect collection. George’s brother asked him for help, and a passion for insects was born. Homing in on flies, George has now been collecting for over 40 years. That collection will soon find a permanent home at the Natural History Society of Maryland, where it will be used to teach and learn.

  George earned a B.S. in entomology from UMD but went into a 40-year career in scientific instruments and lab equipment. Missing entomology, George contacted a mentor at the Smithsonian and began doing projects in the mid-1990s, including several papers on beach flies, sun flies (from the beautiful Southwestern US), marsh flies, and now grass flies (a difficult family of tiny flies). George has described and named a little over 40 new species of flies so far.

  

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• Seals and Birds Winter Weekend

  • Start
    08 Feb 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    09 Feb 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Bombay Hook NWR, Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware
  • Spaces left
    1

  Register

  

  Winter at the beach. No scorching sand. No sticky sunblock. No annoying crowds. Only us and the birds. And the seals. And whatever else we find on this two-day exploration of the Delaware coast near Rehoboth Beach.

  We will spend Saturday on the lookout for wintering birds at Cape Henlopen State Park and the Indian River Inlet, and on Sunday, we’ll cruise the wildlife drive at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. We’ll mix up birdwatching with a Saturday afternoon boat cruise to view harbor and gray seals and possibly pelagic birds in Delaware Bay with the Marine Education, Research, and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR). The seals rest between meals on the bay’s inner and outer breakwater walls, forming colonies of 50 to 75 or more seals during winter. February is also when the seals begin to pup. This seasonal colony is the most southerly population of gray seals in any abundance, making it a significant and unique study group. Find more info on MERR here:  https://www.merrinstitute.org/.

  Possible bird sightings may include buffleheads, dunlins, mergansers, snow geese, tundra swans, sanderlings, loons, cormorants, harriers, bald eagles, and, possible yet rare, snowy owls. We will carpool when needed to reduce our impact on parking. A detailed itinerary with exact birding locations will be emailed a few days before the trip.

  Cameras of all styles and sizes are welcome, but bring a tripod only if necessary. Tripods take up standing room and extra time to setup/take down when moving between areas.

  We have a reduced group rate for rooms at the Hyatt Place Dewey Beach for Friday, Saturday, or both nights. The group rate is $119/night for a king or queen/queen room type.  The cut-off date to book rooms is January 24^th, 2025.  After that date, the group rate will be honored based on room availability. Reservations may be placed by clicking on the following link or by calling 855-556-1297 and using the group code G-BIRD.  Booking link here: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/ILGZD/G-BIRD.

  About our Leaders: We are excited to offer this trip with the help of three leaders: Gene Scarpulla and Marcia Watson, a husband-wife duo who will lead our birding excursions, and Barbara Saffir, who will share her passion and talent for nature photography.

  Gene Scarpulla is the editor of the journal Maryland Birdlife and was also regional co-editor of the American Birds journal. He also served as a state director for the Baltimore Bird Club. Gene’s birding passions are gulls and shorebirds. He retired after 30 years as a biologist at the City of Baltimore’s Reservoir Natural Resources Section, and he spent the last eight years serving as Baltimore’s watershed manager. Gene and his wife Marcia Watson met while watching gulls at Conowingo Dam and are now both retired living near the shores of Loch Raven Reservoir in Phoenix, Maryland.

  Marcia Watson serves as the editor of the Maryland Ornithological Society’s online guide, Birder’s Guide to Maryland and DC, and currently serves as secretary of the MOS Sanctuary Committee. She served as president of the Patuxent Bird Club. She retired from her career as an academic administrator and biology professor at the University of Delaware and later at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

  Barbara Saffir is a certified master naturalist, seasoned hike leader, and award-winning photographer, as well as the author of Walking Washington, DC. See her blog here: https://www.barbarajoansaffir.com and her photostream here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/olympusbjs/K8U8LL9K5K.​

  • Watch for details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Appropriate for ages 18 and up.
  • Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Wind and water can make for extremely cold situations.
  • This trip may be canceled due to weather. An alternate date may be offered or refunds made.
  • Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
  • Bring water, snacks, and a packed lunch for Saturday. An option to stop at a nearby deli/store will be possible on Saturday morning.
  • Bring your camera with accessories. No tripods, please.
  • Bring spotting scope with a tripod, if you have one.
  • Bring binoculars, if you have them.
  • Bring your guidebooks, if you have them.
  • Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
  • No pets, please.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

   

   

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• Mammoth Movie Day!

  • When
    08 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Registration is closed

  

  In March the NHSM will have to say farewell to our beloved mammoth. But its last month can still be full of fun! Join us for a family friendly movie about different species coming together to survive- including the large, tusked star of our museum!

  Ice Age (2002) will be screened on February 8th, 2025 from 10am to 12pm, complete with no fee and free popcorn! Although this event is free, please RSVP for planning purposes.

  Snow date is Feb. 22nd.

  Subtítulos disponibles en español.

  

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• Invasive Earthworms in Maryland and their Effects on Temperate Forest Soils

  • When
    13 Feb 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  

  Less than 10% of forest cover in the United States can be classified as old growth. These “elderly forests” are biodiversity hotspots because there are some niches only time can provide. Scientists are unsure if it is even possible for a secondary forest to return to a primary state, nor how long that would take.

  Here on the East Coast, only half a percent of the primary forest remains. Most forests in Maryland are secondary forests. Once the primary state was logged, the land was used for agriculture. Growing crops and grazing animals leave a signature on forest soils, detectable long after agricultural abandonment. Non-native earthworms, dominating urban and rural forests in the region, further modify soil properties, pushing the system to a different evolutionary trajectory.

  Dr. Szlavecz and her team have been conducting observations and experiments on the physical, chemical, and biological soil properties at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) for two decades. SERC includes a patchwork of forest stands of different ages which serves as an excellent natural laboratory to study forest regeneration. In this presentation, she will summarize the main results of research into the effects on forest soil development of historical land use, stand age, and two separate earthworm invasion events.

  Katalin Szlavecz is a soil ecologist and Research Professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD. Her research focuses on how past and present human activities affect the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. She conducts field studies in temperate forests, agricultural fields, and the diverse urban landscape. As Research Associate at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, she has been studying the effect of invasive earthworms on forest soils. At JHU she teaches courses on global environmental change, general ecology, and soil ecology.

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• Maryland's First Wildflower, Eastern Skunk Cabbage

  • When
    15 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    Gunpowder Falls State Park - Hereford Area
  • Spaces left
    15

  Register

  

  Is February too early for wildflowers in Maryland? Surprisingly, no. The Eastern Skunk Cabbage has evolved many traits over the last 72,000 years, and blooming in cold weather is only one of many abilities that make it unique in the plant world. Join us for a hike to learn more about how this remarkable plant has adapted to life in our wetlands with ecologist John Canoles.

  Be prepared for cold weather, mud, and soggy conditions. We will manage our footsteps around the area to leave limited traces of our admiring presence. Hiking poles can help with stability in mucky areas. Hiking distance should be one to two miles.

  John Canoles is an ecologist who focuses on the identification and assessment of natural resources and the creation of natural upland and wetland habitats. He is also involved in nature education, having helped design the nature walk and Butterfly House at Ladew Gardens and the Accessible Trail at Cromwell Valley Park, and has taught “Introduction of Birdwatching” classes for Johns Hopkins Odyssey Program, Community College of Baltimore County, and Cromwell Valley Park. John also writes a monthly Nature Notes column for the Baltimore County Country Chronicle newspaper. He is a member of the Harford Bird Club and the Harford County Land Trust and is on the board of Trustees for Ladew Topiary Gardens.

  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best.
  • Wear sturdy closed-toe hikingswith non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
  • Bring water, snacks, and a camera with accessories.
  • Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
  • No pets, please.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

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• Turtles of Maryland Workshop

  • When
    15 Feb 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    2

  Register

  

  Maryland is home to 17 types of turtles. Of those, 12 species are threatened by habitat loss, and 9 are experiencing population decline. All four sea turtle species found in Maryland are protected by the Endangered Species Act. In this presentation, you’ll learn how to tell turtles apart, and you’ll learn about dangers that turtles face, about native species and habitats, and about common non-natives in the state. Of course, no presentation on turtles would be complete without live turtles.

  Children aged 12 and older are welcome if accompanied by adult. 

  Katrina Smith, author of the book Red-Eared Sliders (Animal Planet Pet Care Library), received a BS in biology from Eastern New Mexico University. She has been the adoptions coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society (MATTS) in Maryland for 24 years, where she has been involved in the care and adoption of over 2000 turtles.”

  Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society (MATTS)

  NEW – Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

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• Winter Walk for Tree ID Field Experience

  • When
    22 Feb 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Towson University Glen Arboretum
  • Spaces left
    14

  Register

  

  Boots, gloves, winter tree key. Check! Time to learn about woody plant ID from Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp, associate professor in botany at Towson University. This field experience challenges us to look beyond the leaves and focus on other features used to distinguish tree species. Let’s learn about bark texture, leaf buds, and leaf and bundle scars that vary from species to species. Peek into the pith of a twig to see how its chambers help us identify species. And look up to observe the canopy shape and branching patterns while we walk about Glen Arboretum. We will use a dichotomous winter tree key, learning the parts of the branch and their roles. If you’re wondering how a dichotomous key works, please see the first page posted in the photos section of this description. Printed keys will be available for use.

  Our hike will end inside the Science Building at the botany lab. Stations will be available to practice identifying sample branches using the supplied key.

  Our hike will be low-impact, on mostly flat ground, and with some uneven grass, slopes, and stairs. Glen Arboretum encompasses ten acres of green space on the Towson campus. Established in 1936, the arboretum is the largest and most vegetated green space on campus. A Southern Red Oak and an Umbrella Magnolia grow here, both registered for the Big Tree Program, sponsored by the Maryland Dept of Natural Resources. For other Big Tree specimens on campus, look here https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/86582d1d189f4b8faec8f60ebcea2cea. 

  Our field trip leader, Dr. Beauchamp, received her  Ph.D. in plant biology from Arizona State University and her bachelor’s in biology, from the University of California, Irvine. Her research involves work as a plant community ecologist and looks at deer impacts and forest succession, ecology and impacts of invasive plant species, and restoration of riparian and wetland habitats.

  • Children 10 and up are welcome.
  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best.
  • Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
  • Bring water, snacks, and a camera with accessories.
  • Bring binoculars and a hand lens or loupe, if you have them.
  • Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
  • No pets, please.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

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• Nature Connection: Shells

  • When
    23 Feb 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

  Register

  

  Shells in Maryland are not just found in Ocean City! Join us for an afternoon on one of the nature’s most endearing symbols. Did you know that Maryland’s state fossil is a shell? Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae is an extinct species of snail that lived in Maryland 5 million years ago! We’ll have specimens for both display and sale!

  ABOUT NATURE CONNECTIONS: Nature Connections is a signature program offered to you by the Natural History Society of Maryland with financial support from the Citizens of Baltimore County. Programs, held on select Sundays, are free and open to the public. Each Nature Connection focuses on a different natural history topic.

   

  Learn from presentations and displays from local experts and organizations • Explore specimens and artifacts from natural history collections • Hear about related citizen science projects • Talk to scientists who can answer your questions and guide your discoveries of the natural world • Enjoy games, art, crafts, stories, music, and drama for all ages

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• Wonders in the Sky

  • When
    28 Feb 2025
  •  
    8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Location
    Banneker Planetarium, Catonsville
  • Spaces left
    36

  Register

  

  The sun and moon rise every day or night. We take it for granted. But should we be complacent about our closest star and Earth’s only satellite planet? Let’s learn from Banneker Planetarium’s Director Dave Ludwikoski about the lunar eclipse and blood moon occurring in March and the solar superstorms predicted for 2025. Information will be shared in a discussion format for the eclipse, followed by a presentation of the film, Solar Superstorms. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, the film features one of the most intensive efforts ever made to visualize the sun’s inner workings, including a series of groundbreaking scientific visualizations computed on the giant supercomputing initiative, Blue Waters, based at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois.

  After the presentation, we will move outside with an opportunity to view our night sky using a telescope, weather permitting.

  This activity is recommended for ages 12 and up.

  • Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
  • Watch for additional details in a welcome email a few days before the date.
  • No use of portable electronic devices during the show
  • Food and drinks are strictly prohibited in the planetarium.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.

  While this program is offered at a low-cost option, please know that your suggested donation directly supports the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible. No refunds are available for cancelations.

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• The Craft of Nature Journaling - An Introduction

  • When
    15 Mar 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    18

  Register

  

  The art and science of field sketching and biological illustration combine beautifully in the craft of nature journaling. Join naturalist and nature journalist Peggy Eppig for a museum session in sketch techniques that capture scientific and interpretive data. Learn how to set up a phenology journal that tracks seasonal changes in the natural world. Explore the history of field art and nature journals and how the past is important in understanding climate change impacts we face today.

  Bring your favorite blank book, sketchpad, or artist’s journal. Some materials will be provided, but do bring a selection of your own drawing/painting materials you like to work with or would like to learn how to use.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  

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• PYSANKY: Ukrainian Egg Decorating Workshop - Art & Nature

  • When
    29 Mar 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  

  Considered by many to be a “sacred magical art,” the creation of a talisman with specific intentions written into the life-giving egg, the Pysanky is an ancient means to celebrate the cycles and events in nature and in life. Created using motifs rooted in nature and the cycles of life, designs are made with simple instruments (made of wood and copper) called kistkas, the humble materials of beeswax and candlelight, and intensely vibrant dyes.

  Create a beautiful egg in the time-honored Ukrainian tradition of Pysanky, or create a symbolic piece of art to invoke a new world vision. This workshop will explore the art in a free form, using symbolism that tells a specific story and holds a deliberate intention. Each participant will receive a Pysanky kit containing the basic tools and materials required for the class. Instructors Kerry Palumbo and Coreen Weilminster have been making Pysanky for over 30 years.

  TERMS and CONDITIONS: This is an adult only class. Participants must bring an empty egg carton to transport their piece home safely. Because kits are being purchased for each participant, the cost of the kit can not be refunded if you cancel your registration. Cancellations made more than 7 days before the course will receive a refund, minus the cost of the kit. No cancellations are allowed within a week of the course date.

  

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• Insect Study Merit Badge Class

  • When
    03 May 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD
  • Spaces left
    15

  Register

  

  Insect Study merit badge provides Scouts with a glance into the strange and fascinating world of insects and their relatives. At any given time there are approximately 10 quintillion (that is 1 with 18 zeros) insects living on the planet. Scouts will learn about some of these tiny creatures with strange and amazing abilities, see insects that undergo startling changes in habits and form as they grow, and learn how insects see, hear, taste, smell, and feel the world around them. If you are prepared, and have read the pamphlet, this class will help you fulfill most of the requirements for this badge.

  Pre Work: Requirements 5, 6 (create a scrapbook of insects you have personally observed in the wild), and 9 (rear an insect) cannot be entirely completed on the day of this course. If possible, try to complete these requirements prior to the class. For requirement 9, rearing mealworms or super worms from the pet store is probably the easiest option (https://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Mealworms). Take a few pictures along the way to show completion.

  The course is being taught by a professional entomologist who is also a Merit Badge Counselor and Scout Master.

  Requirements:

  • Registered Scout with a Troop
  • Permission of a Parent or Guardian
  • (Preferred) Approval from Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster on BSA Blue Card

  Things to remember to bring for this Merit Badge Class:

  1. Prework
  2. Merit Badge Blue Card properly filled out and preferably signed by your Scoutmaster
  3. Insect Study Merit Badge Pamphlet (available from the Scout shop or online)
  4.  Class A Scout Uniform
  5. Weather appropriate clothing for the time of year and location of the class for outdoor participation
  6. Supporting documentation or project work pertinent to this merit badge which may also include a Merit Badge Workbook for reference with notes (http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Insect-study.pdf)
  7. A positive Scouting focus and attitude
  8. Packed lunch that will be eaten outside (weather dependent)

  Most merit badges are not designed to be completed in a single session with an instructor, so it is not always possible to walk away with a completed and signed blue card at the end of a program.

  Almost every badge requires some independent work by your scout. We call this “pre-work” because, if these requirements are performed prior to our program, we can complete and sign the merit badge card. Otherwise, those requirements that were completed will be signed off on the blue card and the partial card can be completed by any qualified counselor at a later date.

  ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Dr. James (Jim) Young is the curator of primitive Lepidoptera at the National Museum of Natural History as well as the curator of arthropods for the Natural History Society of Maryland. I primarily work on the identification of immature stages of Lepidoptera encountered in international commerce. Jim is a certified merit badge counselor and has been active in Scouting for many years at many levels.

  Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

  

   

  The Natural History Society of Maryland is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, so the fee you pay will go directly to support the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible.

  Thank you for your support!

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