Calendar of EventsReservations are required for all programs unless otherwise noted. Scroll to the bottom of this page for details. Saturday, August 11 at 8 AM to 11 AMHabitat Restoration Team Work Day - Individuals/Families ages 13+. Please join the team as they remove the unwanted invasive plants, and replant some areas with native plants suitable for the Park. We provide tools, but you should wear appropriate clothing with long sleeves for working in the woods. You will end the morning with the satisfaction of knowing you made a positive contribution to conserving the natural environment - and we guarantee a good workout! Reservations NOT required. Sherwood House Saturday, August 11 at 10 AM to 12 PM Senior Adventures - Stream Stroll - Adults 40+. Why should the kids have all the fun? Join us for one of several adventures for the mature set this summer. We’ll take the nets and buckets to the stream & search for aquatic insects, fish and other critters. Wear shoes that can get wet. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Sunday, August 12 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM Summer Stream Search - Individuals/Families ages 6+. What critters live in Mine bank Run? Who visits for a drink? On a warm summer day, we’ll take the nets and buckets to explore the stream. Wear water shoes, or boots and clothes that can get wet. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, August 18 at 1 PM to 3 PM Binocular Basics - Individuals/Families ages 13+. How do they work? What should I buy? If you’re looking to purchase binoculars, you’ll want to learn the basics and what’s best for you from Mark Miller, a CVP volunteer, birder & optics expert! FREE! Willow Grove Nature Education Center Sunday, August 19 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM Greening the Garden - Adults. Learn about creating backyard habitat, vermiculture, and the art of seed bombs! $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Wednesday, August 22 at 1:30 PM to 3 PM Marvelous Migrating Monarchs - Ages 7+ with Adult. We’ll capture, tag and release monarchs as they head south for the winter. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, August 25 at 10 AM to 12 PM Senior Adventures - Butterfly Flutterbys - Adults 40+. 
Why should the kids have all the fun? Join us for one of several adventures for the mature set this summer. Try your luck with a butterfly net as we hike several different habitats in the Park, searching for and identifying butterflies, with a special focus on the up-coming monarch migration. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, August 25 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM Galls - Friend or Foe? - All ages. Uncover the secrets of what’s inside some of the insect galls found in the Park and make a tasty reminder to take home. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center
Saturday, August 25 at 10 AM to 5 PM Recycled Crafts - Beads & Bracelets! - Families/Individuals ages 12+ Do you have old newspapers, magazine or wrapping paper that hasn’t made it to recycle bin yet? Learn how to make that old paper into colorful beads! No need to go to the store to buy beads for that bracelet you want to make this summer. All you need is some old paper, drinking straws and yarn and you will have a cool new bracelet in no time! $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Wednesdays, starting September 5 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Nature, Mom & Me! - Ages 3 - 6 with adult Sign up for all 6 classes - 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/24, 10/31 & 11/7. You and your preschooler will investigate a different nature topic in each class through hands-on activities, stories, crafts & hikes. Be sure to dress for the weather, including sturdy shoes. $15 members/$20 non-members for all 6 sessions. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Wednesdays, starting September 5 at 4 PM to 5:30 PM Saturdays, starting September 8 Saturdays, starting September 8 Drop in Gardening - Adults/Individuals ages 13+. Join us in the Children’s Garden for a fall spruce-up and to put the garden to bed for the winter. We supply the gloves, tools, a little training & a BIG smile. Saturdays Sept. 8, Oct. 27 & Nov.17 at 9 AM until 12 PM. Reservations NOT required. For more information contact Justine Schaeffer 410.887.3014/Justine@cromwellvalleypark.org Saturday, September 8 at 7 PM to 8:30 PM Harvest Dance - All ages. We will gather in the barn and learn to do-si-do and promenade your partners! Enjoy some hot cider to quench your thirst. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Barn Wednesdays, starting September 12 at 4 PM to 5:30 PM SCHOOL FIELD TRIP VOLUNTEER TRAINING Do you like nature? Do you enjoy working with children? School field trips are conducted daily in the Fall and Spring. We need your help to make these trips possible. No experience necessary. For more information, contact Maureen Larkin at 410.887.3014/Maureen@cromwellvallepark.org Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, September 15 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM Marvelous Migrating Monarchs - Individuals/Families ages 6+. Be a part of our citizen science effort by helping us tag and release the migrating monarchs. Learn about their life of disguise, poison. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, September 22 at 10 AM to 4 PM DAM JAM ~ A Baltimore City DPW Event! - All ages. Learn to appreciate all the work that goes into providing you the best drinking water possible & the responsibility we share in protecting & preserving our water supply. Music, Food, Fun, Art, Historic Re-enactors & Native Wildlife Presentations. Take a shuttle ride to the Dam! Reservations NOT required. FREE! Willow Grove Farm & Nature Education Center Friday, September 28 at 7 PM to 8:30 PM Fall Night Hike & Campfire - Individuals/Families ages 6+. Enjoy an autumn evening under the stars at CVP. Join us for a night hike to explore the Park after sunset and have s’mores over a campfire. Feel free to bring your favorite campfire treat! RAIN DATE 9/29. $3 member/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Hawk Watch Site Saturday, September 29 at 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM Youth Birding Workshop - Ages 8 to 15 (with adult if under 11). Enjoy a morning of spotting birds in a variety of habitats in the Park, followed by indoor & outdoor activities focusing on bird study skills, including high tech birding helps. Brought to us by Marty Brazeau, the youth birding coordinator for the Baltimore Bird Club. Bring your own binoculars or borrow ours. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center
Thursday, October 4 at 7 PM to 9 PM (Part 1) Saturday, October13 & Sunday, October 14 Fall Family Campout - All ages. A camping experience close to home that includes a night hike & campfire. Families should bring camping gear BUT, if you need a tent, we may have one for your use (call to reserve). BYO supper. Breakfast will be provided. RAIN DATE Sat. 10/20 to Sun. 10/21. $15 per family members/$20 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, October 20 at 11 AM to 1 PM Make a Scarecrow - All ages. We’ll supply the straw, you bring a set of old clothes (kid’s overalls, or bunny suit work great!), pantyhose and maybe a hat to stuff to make a decorative scarecrow. $2 members/$4 non-members per project. Willow Grove Barn Saturday, October 27 at 10:30 AM to 12 PM Why Do Leaves Change Color? - Ages 6 - 10 with adult. We will read the story Why Do Leaves Change Color, by Betsy Maestro, illustrated by Loretta Krupinski, then go on a hike to collect different leaves found in the Park. How many colors will you find? How many shapes and sizes? After the hike, kids will get to make their own trees to take home. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Sunday, October 28 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM Magical Herbalism - Individuals/Families ages 10+. Were the witches of our past really just Master Naturalists? Find out as we discover “magical” plants all around us. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, November 3 at 10 AM to 12 PM Trail Day - Groups/Individuals ages 13+. You are invited to work with the Trail Club to maintain & improve trails in the Park. Help clear trails & prevent erosion to keep our trails in tip top condition. Reservations NOT required. Sherwood House Parking Lot Sunday, November 4 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM A-maize-ing Grain - Ages 5-7 with adult. Corn is an a-maize-ing grain. It sweetens our foods; powers our cars; feeds our cattle, hogs, & poultry; and cooks our foods --- just to name a few of its many uses. Join us as we shuck corn & grind kernels to make cornmeal, taste cornbread & make a craft from corn. $3 members/$ 5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, November 10 at 1 PM to 3 PM Foraging in the Fall Forest & Fields - Individuals/Families ages 10+. The season has changed and so have the wild foods. Join us as we search for roots, nuts and other edibles and sample some favorite recipes. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, November 17 at 10 :30 AM to 12 PM Holiday Candy Making - Ages 18+. Learn how to make homemade chocolate dipped nuts, dried fruits, & other confections to give as holiday gifts. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Starting Friday, November 23 TALMAR’s Tree Sales Begin! Bring the family to visit the greenhouse & enjoy hot chocolate, coffee or tea while selecting your Premium Fraser Fir Tree, Wreath, Poinsettia, Roping and Seasonal Arrangements. For more details, call 410.825.2020, or visit TALMAR’s website www.talmar.org. TALMAR Greenhouse is located off the Sherwood Entrance to Cromwell Valley Park. Saturday, November 24 at 10 AM to 4PM Thanksgiving Nature Quest - All ages. Drop in the Nature Center with the family and weekend visitors for a 1 hour self-guided hike to see the fabulous fall features here at Cromwell Valley Park! Reservations NOT required. FREE! START AT THE Willow Grove Nature Education Center
Saturday, December 1 at 10 AM to 1 PM Owl Prowl - Individuals/Families ages 8+. We’ll hike some trails to look and listen for these nighttime predators, following a brief introduction indoors. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, December 15 at 11 AM to 12:30 PM The Art of Paper Cutting ~ Wreaths & Gift Boxes - Individuals/Families ages 12+. Go back to Colonial America and learn about this popular art form. Learn how paper cutting was a fun way to decorate the home with intricate designs depicting rural life. Paper cutting was often a fun social activity discussed over tea. So, come to CVP & have hot tea & cider and try your hand at some paper cutting decorations great for the winter season! Bring old greeting cards to make your gift boxes. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, December 22 at 1 to 3 PM Apple Head Dolls & More! - Individuals/Families ages 3+. Learn the homespun art of making dolls from natural materials. Corn-husk dolls, wooden dolls, gourd & shell dolls will be discussed. Everyone will make an apple head doll to take home! $2 members/$4 non-members . Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, December 29 at 1 to 3 PM Natural Ornaments - Individuals/Families ages 5+. Drop in the Nature Center & let your imagination go wild and create fanciful holiday ornaments with our natural materials. Bring a box or bag to carry home your ornaments. $2 members/$4 non-members for 2 ornaments. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, January 19 at 1 PM to 3 PM Make Your Own Gingerbread House - Individuals/Families ages 12+. Back by popular demand! Gingerbread houses are just as much fun to make in January! We’ll use graham crackers. Bring a bag of small candies to share and a shoe box to take your creation home. $3 members/$5 non-members per project. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, January 26 at 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Catch Those Dreams! - Individuals/Families ages 10+. Native Americans believed that dream catchers enhanced their sleeping by allowing good dreams through while keeping out the bad dreams. Dream catchers made from natural materials remind us that we are all connected in the web of life. Make your own personal dream catcher. Natural materials will be provided, but feel free to bring any small natural objects that have special meaning for you. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, February 2 at 11:30 AM to 1 PM Who’s Been Here? - Ages 4 to 7 with adult. . We’ll learn about the clues that animals leave behind & hike to see who’s been out & about in the middle of winter. A story, tracking game and craft, and hike for youngsters. Dress for the weather! $2/members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Sunday, February 3 at 2 PM to 4 PM Build A Model Tree House - Ages 8+ with adult. Let your imagination soar while you build a tree house using natural materials. For inspiration, we’ll first watch a clip of the best tree house ever, from the movie Swiss Family Robinson. We’ll provide the base and “tree” - you create the rooms, platforms, bridges, ladders & amenities. The sky’s the limit! $3/members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, February 16 at 11 AM to 2 PM Great Backyard Bird Count - Individuals/Families ages 5+. Become a citizen scientist for an afternoon as we identify and count the birds at our feeders and collect data for a nation-wide survey. Make a valentine craft for the birds! $2/members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CROMWELL VALLEY PARK COUNCIL AND ENJOY MONEY SAVING BENEFITS ON DESIGNATED PROGRAMS! View printable membership form (PDF document) Reservations are required for all programs, unless otherwise specified. Payment must be made within 5 business days of your reservation or the reservation will be yielded to the waiting list. All payments are donations and non-refundable unless CVP cancels the program. To make your reservations, please call the Park Office: 410.887.2503, TDD: 410.877.5319, or Email us at info@cromwellvalleypark.org. All programs and events are rain or shine unless a rain date is specified. Program leaders will call registered participants only in the event of cancellation at least 1 hour before program start. Make checks payable to: Cromwell Valley Park Council (CVPC). Mailing Address: Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Baltimore, MD 21234. |