www.MontgomeryParks.org Alien Invaders
Our park’s native plants are being choked and overgrown by alien invasive plants. Help us give the park’s native plants room to grow by removing the invaders. Bring yourself, your family, or your group (please call us if you’re bringing a group). Wear long pants, closedtoe shoes, and long sleeves, and bring leather gloves if you have them or borrow ours. This is an SSL-approved project. No registration required. 247250 8 & up
1 Class FREE
11/2
Sa 9:00am-10:00am
Comet Ison
Astronomers are excited about a sun-grazing comet discovered late in 2012. Around the time of its perihelion—or closest approach to the sun—on November 28, 2013, it could become a striking object visible to the naked eye even in broad daylight. Stop by the lobby between 2 and 3 pm for information on the comet, where to see it, and how it’s progressing. 247251 All ages 1 Class FREE
11/2
Sa
Modern-day treasure hunting happens right here in our parks! Geocaches are hidden containers filled with interesting stuff that you track down using GPS units. Learn how to use a GPS unit, and spend the day on a geocaching adventure in search of local caches. Bring a snack, water, and be prepared to hike (long pants and sturdy shoes are strongly recommended). If you don’t have a GPS unit, we’ll have units for families to share. Meet at the Nature Center. 1 Class $10
11/12
Tu
Registration is required unless otherwise noted.
Educator’s Open House
Teachers, are you looking for exciting, innovative fieldtrip opportunities, outreach programs and classroom resources that are science- and naturebased? Please join us at Montgomery Parks’ annual Educator’s Open House, where regional environmental education providers will present the latest in science and environmental programs. Teachers will have a chance to talk with presenters and review resources from a wide range of area experts. Location: Brookside Gardens Visitor Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902. Please call 301-258-4034 to register. 247354 18 & up 1 Class FREE 10/10
Th
5:00pm-8:00pm
2:30pm-3:30pm
Family Geocaching Adventure
247801 8 & up
Adults
Saw-whet Owl Banding at South Mountain Join local researchers as they track the Saw-whet owl migration along South Mountain outside Middletown MD. Learn how researchers use audio lures to attract, capture, and band the owls for research. 247806 18 & up 1 Class $25
11/1
F
8:00pm-2:00am
MNC is looking for Nature Center Hosts! If you like people and love learning about local wildlife, this is the position for you! We’re looking for friendly faces to greet Nature Center visitors, answer questions, check in program participants, and more. Once a week, 6-month commitment; must be 16 years or older. SSL-approved. For more info, visit MeadowsideNature.org
3:00pm-5:00pm
Fall Volunteer Opportunities
SSL-approved! Volunteers are needed to assist with setup, facilitate activities, and cleanup at the following events:
Pawpaw Festival | 9/8, 11:15 am-4:30 pm
Help at this fun event celebrating one of America’s largest native fruit trees! Activities will include crafts, competitions, music, live animals, and more.
Apple Festival & Campfire | 9/27, 5:15-8:30 pm Assist families making fresh apple cider, learn some apple lore, and have fun assisting with other apple related hands-on activities.
Great Pumpkin Fun | 10/18, 9:15 am-1:30 pm Help program participants create fun crafts, play games, and facilitate our pumpkin trail hunt!
Owl-O-Ween Campfire | 10/25, 5:15-8 pm
Join us around the campfire ring to help participants roast marshmallows, learn about owls, and meet our mascot Otus the Owl. You must be 14 or older to volunteer. Please visit www.MeadowsideNature.org for more information.
Lecture Series Spend an evening with researchers and conservationists for an intriguing lecture series focused on local nature and conservation topics. Check-in and refreshments at 6:45 pm, then the one-hour lecture begins at 7 pm, followed by a Q & A session.
NASA’s MAVEN
The Mars Atmospheric and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) is an unmanned orbiter set to launch in the next few months. MAVEN is the first spacecraft devoted to exploring and understanding the Martian upper atmosphere. The spacecraft will investigate how the loss of Mars’ atmosphere determined the history of water on the surface. Join Nick Jedrich of Goddard Space Flight Center and a MAVEN Project Team member to learn more about the Red Planet and this mission. 247200
14 & up 1 Class FREE 9/25
W
6:45pm-8:00pm
Maryland Biodiversity Project
Join Jim Brighton, co-leader of the Maryland Biodiversity Project, whose goal is to thoroughly catalog the living things of Maryland. Already over 10,000 species, including over 2,700 species with photographs contributed by more than 120 photographers, have been cataloged. Come find out the interesting life they’ve found in our state and county and how you can get involved! 247201
14 & up 1 Class FREE
10/30 W 6:45pm-8:00pm
Browse the eGuide at www.MontgomeryParks.org/Guide, and register for Parks classes at www.ParkPASS.org
143