Schedule of EventsWILLOW GROVE NATURE EDUCATION CENTER The Willow Grove Nature Education Center, located at Willow Grove Farm, is open for public visitation every Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The public is invited to visit the Nature Education Center and iew the native reptiles and amphibians housed there, visit the Discovery Room, and enjoy the other exhibits at the Center. Visitors can observe and learn about some of the native turtles, frogs and snakes that call Cromwell Valley home. The Discovery Room has games, puzzles, field guides and hands-on natural objects for both kids and adults to enjoy while learning about the natural history of the Park. Saturday, August 13 at 8 AM to 11 AMHABITAT RESTORATION TEAM WORK DAY – Please join the team as they remove the invasive nuisance 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. Ages 13+. Reservations NOT required. Sherwood Farm Barn Saturday, August 13 at 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM TREES COMPANY – CVP is home to a variety of woody plants. Hike the trails and learn to identify the top 20 and what makes them special. Ages: Adults and kids 10+. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, August 20 at 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM SAVE THAT CHIP BAG! – Want to do something cool with that empty potato chip bag? Learn how to make a snack bag into a chain bracelet! Bring an empty large chip bag and ruler and you will have a cool new bracelet in no time. Ages 8+. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Hawk Watch Site Friday, August 26 at 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM 
MARVELOUS MIGRATING MONARCHS - We will capture, tag and release Monarchs as they head south for the winter. Ages 7+. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, August 27 at 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM BUTTERFLY WORKSHOP - Join us for an afternoon all about butterflies - observing, identifying, and starting a collection. Randy Voith will be sharing the collection he started as a youngster in Baltimore. Dress for the weather! Ages: Adults & kids 6+. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday Morning Bird Walks Habitat Restoration Team JOIN THE AFTER SCHOOL F.O.X. CLUB! MARVELOUS MIGRATING MONARCHS - Help us tag and release the migrating monarchs and learn about their life of disguise, poison and international travel. Families ages 5+. $2 members/$4 non-members. Reservation required. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, September 10 at 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday, September 11 at 12 PM to 5 PM Arts in the Park - The Cromwell Valley Park Council is pleased to host the Towson ARTS Collective “Arts in the Park” days showcasing local fine artists, fine crafters, literary art, music, wine, food, and classic cars. The event will take place on the front lawn of the Sherwood House. $5 per car donation. Sherwood Farm Wednesdays, Starting Sept. 14 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM NATURE, MOM & ME! - Sign up for all 6 classes - 9/14, 9/21, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26 & 11/9. You and your preschooler will investigate a different topic in each class through hands-on activities, stories, crafts & hikes. Be sure to dress for the weather, including sturdy shoes. Ages 3 - 6 with adult. Reservations required. $15 members/$20 non-members for all 6 sessions. Willow Grove Nature Education Center JOIN THE AFTER SCHOOL HAWK CLUB! SCHOOL FIELD TRIP VOLUNTEER TRAINING - Do you enjoy spending time in a natural setting? Do you like interacting with children? Concerned that many children are not developing a sense of place and a love of nature? Please consider becoming a volunteer to assist with school field trip programs in the Park. No experience necessary; we provide training and mentoring with Naturalists and seasoned volunteers. Lunch will be provided! Field Trip programs run 9:30 – 11:30 AM & 12:45 – 2:45 PM during the school year. We could use your help, whether it’s once a week or once a month, morning or afternoon. Call Maureen at 410.887.3014 to register. FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL TRAIL DAY - Groups & individuals 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. Ages 13+. NO reservations required. Sherwood Farm Saturday, October 22 at 11 AM to 1 PM MAKE A SCARECROW - – We’ll supply the straw; you bring the creativity, a set of old clothes, pantyhose and maybe a hat. An annual favorite for the whole family. All ages. Reservations required. $3 members/$5 non-members per project. Willow Grove Barn Saturday, October 22 at 7 PM to 8:30 PM FALL NIGHT HIKE & CAMPFIRE – Enjoy a crisp 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! RAINDATE OCT. 29th. Ages 6+. Reservations required. $3 member/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, October 29 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM DORA THE EXPLORER PUMPKIN DAY - At the Park, we go on adventures -- just like Dora! Explore the fall garden through games, clues and activities and take a pumpkin from our pumpkin patch home with you! Ages 3-6. Reservations required. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Sunday, October 30 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM CREEPY CRAWLY HALLOWEEN CUISINE! - Explore the world of insects through all 5 senses. YES, EVEN TASTE! Test your palate with some yummy recipes which make use of a few of the 1,417 species of EDIBLE INSECTS...if you dare!!!! All ages. Reservations required. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Friday, Nov. 4 at 5 PM to Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 AM FALL FAMILY CAMPOUT - Introduce your family to the camping experience close to home. Program will include an evening campfire and night hike. Families should provide own camping gear, BUT if you need a tent, REI has donated 4-four person tents for your use (call to reserve). BYO supper and breakfast will be provided. Rain date is Sat. 11/5 to Sun. 11/6. Reservations required. All ages. $15 members/ $20 non-members families. Willow Grove Family Campsite Saturday, November 12 at 10:30 AM to 12 PM HOLIDAY CANDY MAKING – Learn how to make homemade chocolate dipped nuts, dried fruits, & other confections to give as holiday gifts. Ages 18+. Reservations required. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Cente Sunday, November 13 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM WHY DO LEAVES CHANGE COLOR? – We will read the story Why Do Leaves Change Color, by Betsy Maestro, Illustrated by Loretta Krupinski, then go on a hike collecting different leaves found in the Park. How many colors will you find? How many shapes and sizes? Children will then get to make their own trees to take home. Ages 6 - 10. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, November 19 at 10:30 AM to 12 PM THE WILDERNESS GAME – Do you have what it takes to survive outdoors? Test yourself by learning how to build a fire, wilderness first aid, wild edibles and navigate your way back to civilization. Ages 7–12. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, November 19 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM GETTING READY FOR WINTER - We will be exploring how animals survive winter with stories, games and a hike. Ages 4 - 7. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, November 26 at 10 AM to 4PM THANKSGIVING NATURE QUEST - Bring the family and weekend visitors for a 1 hour self-guided hike to see the fabulous fall features here at Cromwell Valley Park! All ages. Reservations NOT required. FREE! START AT THE Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, December 3 at 10 AM to 1 PM HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE – Find all of your holiday excitement on one farm. Come help decorate the Sherwood House for the holidays & stop by Talmar for your tree & poinsettia! Seasonal crafts, cookie decorating, refreshments, music, and visit with SANTA! Reservations required. All ages. $2 per person. Sherwood House Saturday, December 10 at 4 PM to 5:30 PM OWL PROWL - Join a Park Naturalist & our expert birders to learn about owls in the Park. We’ll hike some trails to look and listen for these nighttime predators. Reservations required. Ages 8+. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, December 17 at 11 AM to 12:30 PM THE ART OF PAPER CUTTING - 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 and cider and try your hand at some paper cutting decorations great for the winter season! Reservations required. Adults & ages 12+. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, January 7 at 12 PM to 4 PM OLD MAN WINTER NATURE QUEST - Don’t let the cold weather stop you. Complete a 1 hour self-guided hike/hunt to CVP “hot spots” and return to the Nature Center for a warm drink and small prize. Reservations required. Ages 8+. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, January 14 at 1 PM to 3 PM MAKE YOUR OWN GINGERBREAD HOUSE - Did you run out of time in December? 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. Reservations required. Ages 5+. $3 members/$5 non-members per project. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 AM to 12 PM SOUPS ON! - Join us in the kitchen at the Willow Grove Nature Education Center to share recipes & techniques for making tasty, nutritious soups from scratch, just like “mom’s”. Ages 18+. Reservations required. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Sunday, January 29 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM NATURE DETECTIVES - Come learn how to use clues to figure out which animals call Cromwell Valley Park home. We’ll learn which animals live in the Park and how to recognize their tracks, scat, sounds and more. Of course we will also put our new skills to work! Ages 6+. Reservations required. $2 members/$4 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, February 4 at 5 PM to 7 PM HOWLING AT THE MOON - Have you ever noticed the moon during the day? What does the saying “once in a blue moon” mean? Who is the man on the moon? Learn the answers to these questions and much more as we explore the phases of the moon. Make a flip book of the moon’s phases to take home with you. We will go outside to gaze at the moon, so dress for the weather! Reservations required. Ages 6 - 10. $3 members/$5 non-members. Willow Grove Nature Education Center Saturday, February 11 at 2 PM to 3:30 PM WHERE’S THE WOODCHUCK? -Celebrate Groundhog’s Day at the Nature Center with a story and craft, then find out what the Park’s groundhogs and cousins are up to outside. Dress for the weather. Reservations required. Ages 4+. $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. |