Watkins Nature Center

I've written before about our love of Watkins Park. Now, however, the carousel and miniature train are closed for the season and it is getting a bit too chilly to hang out at the playground or enjoy a picnic. But that doesn't mean that Watkins Park doesn't have great activities to offer you and your family! In fact, the Watkins Nature Center might just be the perfect place to visit if you're looking for a fun and easy indoor activity!

Lucas and I visited the Nature Center last week and he had a blast looking at the snakes, turtles, reptiles and owls. He even put on a little puppet show for me. Outside you can see several large birds of prey and look for frogs in the ponds. Visiting the Nature Center during regular hours is free!

If you're looking for a more structured activity, the Nature Center offers plenty of those as well at very reasonable prices. Here are some programs taking place through November. Please note that advanced registration is required for all of these programs.

Friday, October 16, 11am-12pm (SMARTLink #146193)
Campfire! Ages 2 and up will enjoy roasting marshmallows, hearing stories and seeing a live animal show. Parents/chaperons must also register.
$2 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $3 non-resident

Saturday, October 24, 10-11am (SMARTLink #146180)
Nature Craft: Ages 2-10 will enjoy a story, meet a live animal and make a craft
$2 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $3 non-resident

Friday, October 30, 10-11am (SMARTLink #146211)
Live Animal Show: Ages 2 and up will meet some of the center's animals up close. Parents/chaperons must also register for this program.
$1 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $2 non-resident

Friday, November 6, 10-11am (SMARTLink #146190)
Small Fry Club: Ages 2-4 will enjoy stories, crafts, games and hikes around the theme of Down on the Farm.
$3 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $4 non-resident

Saturday, November 7, 10-11am (SMARTLink #146173)
Family Discovery Hike: Ages 4 and up can join a naturalist and enjoy a seasonal hike while looking for wildlife and plant life. Parents/chaperons must also register for this program.
$1 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $2 non-resident

Saturday, November 21, 10-11am (SMARTLink #146186)
Creature Feature: Raptors: Ages 2 and up will meet and learn about various birds of prey, including hawks and owls. Parents/chaperons must also register for this program.
$1 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $2 non-resident

Wednesday, November 25, 1-2pm (SMARTLink #146184)
Puppet Show: Ages 2-10 can enjoy a seasonal themed puppet show and meet a live animal
$2 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $3 non-resident

Saturday, November 28, 10-11am (SMARTLink #146212)
Live Animal Show: Ages 2 and up will meet some of the center's animals up close. Parents/chaperons must also register for this program.
$1 resident of Montgomery or Prince George's County, $2 non-resident

Additional Information:

Watkins Nature Center
301 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

http://www.pgparks.com/
301-218-6702

Regular Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-5 pm; Sundays & Holidays: 11 am-4 pm

Visiting the center is free. Most programs cost a small fee and require advance registration.

To register for programs requiring advanced registration, you must have a SMARTLink account. There is no fee to set up the account but proof of residency and age verification is required. (This means a birth certificate for children.) You can set up an account at most MNCPPC public facilities such as community centers, sports center and the nature center.

Original post by Out by Ten. Thanks for reading!