Summer Camp Registration Now Open!
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Our Popsicle Plunge Photo Contest entries are still available here!
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WELCOME TO MARSHY POINT NATURE CENTER
Marshy Point Nature Center is Baltimore County’s pristine waterfront nature center on the Chesapeake Bay. Situated on the nature preserve of Dundee and Saltpeter Creeks Park, and serves as a “Gateway to the Chesapeake” for the U.S. National Park Service. Marshy Point’s nearly 500 acres, combined with neighboring county, state, and federal land, creates a natural preserve encompassing over 3,000 acres. MPNC welcomes hikers, birdwatchers, and nature-lovers of all types from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day except Baltimore County government holidays. Throughout the year, the Nature Center also hosts an array of environmental recreation and education activities open to all ages.
The volunteer-based Marshy Point Nature Center Council supports a wide variety of nature programs and is supported by teacher-naturalists from the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. From summer camps and weekend canoe trips to natural history lectures and environmental clean-ups, the Center provides visitors with many opportunities to explore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Every fifth grader in the Baltimore County Public School system visits Marshy Point through the Eco-Trekkers environmental education program. The Nature Center also partners with local schools to support the Maryland Green Schools initiative.
Browse our site to find out how to join us for one of our many nature programs!
We hope to see you at the Nature Center soon!
What’s New
Spring Festival!
On Saturday, April 26th from 10am-4pm, Marshy Point Nature Center welcomes you and your family to celebrate Earth Day with us at our 6th annual Spring Festival. You can explore the beauty of the upper bay by taking a boat ride or canoe tour on Dundee Creek, or you could take a walk on the wild side by hiking one of our scenic nature trails! Learn about the newly popular sport of geocaching— scavenger hunting using GPS technology—or simply relax and listen to live music performed by Bobby & the Street Rods and the Middle River Concert Band. Bring the whole family to enjoy our reptile exhibits, wildlife discovery programs, crafts and activities, great food (and snowballs!), games, fishing contests, and so much more! Admission is free, so come out on to enjoy a fantastic day of fun!
Education Wing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is a Success!
On April 3rd, County Executive Jim Smith, County Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, and Recreation and Parks Director Bob Barrett joined us for the inauguration of Marshy Point’s brand new education wing. The education wing will serve as a fantastic location for education programs at Marshy Point, and according to County Executive, Jim Smith, it will be a useful tool in exposing young students to one of Baltimore’s greatest hidden waterfront treasures and further inspiring them to become stewards of the Chesapeake Bay. Following a number of presentations, MPNC Director, Bob Stanhope, was asked to make an impromptu speech. Without hesitation, he simply said, “It couldn’t be better than this!”
Marshy Point Nature Center is Granted Green Status
After applying for certification to become a Green Center by the Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education, Marshy Point Nature Center has been granted Green status. This coveted designation is awarded to nature centers that support local and regional Green School initiatives, apply environmental management practices to their buildings and grounds, and offer a variety of community environmental-learning opportunities. Fitting the requirements, MPNC is delighted to join the already certified sixteen centers in the state, and will be the first Baltimore County Recreation and Parks facility to be designated with the honor.
Marshy Point Thanks the University of Maryland!
On March 18th and 19th, nine students from the University of Maryland visited Marshy Point Nature Center as part of their Spring Break trip through the Chesapeake Bay watershed. From Washington D.C., to Crisfield, to Baltimore and back, the students spent their eight day vacation doing community service projects in various watershed communities where they enjoyed learning about the history, ecology, and future of the Chesapeake Bay. Marshy Point would like to thank these students and their coordinators, Christian Melendez and Emma Williams, for their tremendous efforts and hard work with various projects at the nature center.
Senior Hike Program
Although many of the programs of the Marshy Point Nature Center are geared for children, we also offer many programs for all who are interested in getting outdoors to learn about nature. Once or twice each month, usually on Saturdays or Sundays, we even have organized outings for seniors, 55 and older. Come hike with us as part of a fitness routine or to learn about the birds and wildflowers that grace the park. These hikes follow easy to walk, maintained trails that wander through woods and fields bordering wetlands and marshes. Allow about two hours for the planned activity, and bring water and walking shoes. Come on, take a break from working, parenting, and grand-parenting; get outside and get moving and learning. Check the calendar for the date and time of the next scheduled senior event.
Film Nights at Marshy Point Nature Center!
Whether you watch in a theater, at a drive-in, or in your home, watching movies is a fundamental part of American culture. But did you know that you can watch movies at the Marshy Point Nature Center? The MPNC Council carefully selects films that inform, educate, and entertain audiences of all ages about nature and the world around us. The first Friday of each month is Family Movie Night. Bring the whole family out for an entertaining nature film; a MPNC naturalist is on hand to answer questions. Admission is $2 per person, or $5 for a family of three, and includes popcorn and beverages. During warm weather months, conditions permitting, films may be shown outdoors. Check our calendar to find out what’s playing next at the Marshy Point Nature Center!
Also, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, MPNC presents “Learning to Live Better: A Series of Motivating Films”. Many of these films address contemporary environmental issues such a population growth, resource utilization, and climate change; others are presented because of their historical significance to the development and growth of environmental awareness. The films, often produced by leading filmmakers, are intended to be thought provoking and are intended for teens and adults. A member of the MPNC Council introduces each film and leads a post-screening discussion. There is no charge for admission, and the Council provides refreshments. See the calendar for the next screening of Learning to Live Better: A Series of Motivating Films.
Upcoming Speaker, Kent Mountford, May 20th at 7:30p.m.
Kent Mountford, PhD, is a respected and well-known authority on the history and ecology of Chesapeake Bay. A life-long sailing enthusiast, he has explored virtually every nook and cranny of the Bay. His training and experience as an environmental scientist provides him with the background and insights to help understand the Bay’s complexities, as well as the causes and implications of the changes he has observed over the past 37 years. Dr. Mountford’s interests in sailing, ecology, and the history of the Bay have converged in his effort to better understand the Bay as it was in 1608, when Captain John Smith and other Jamestown colonists boldly set out to explore the Chesapeake.
Arriving on the shores of the Chesapeake in 1971, shortly after earning a doctoral degree from Rutgers University, Dr. Mountford studied primary productivity in the Bay and its tributaries. At that time, the historical degradation of the Bay was already apparent, and he began thinking how the Bay might have looked to the Native Americans and early European explorers. What were its characteristics and attributes prior to the ensuing four centuries of human-wrought changes? Such thinking gave rise to the development and use of ecosystem models to access past and predict future changes in the Bay and its watershed.
With the advent the Chesapeake Bay Program in the 1980s, Dr. Mountford worked to expand the program to include Washington, DC. Later, he managed the Program’s portfolio of research and pollution mitigation grants, helped to establish environmental indicators used to characterize the health of the Bay and participated in a host of education and outreach initiatives. Dr. Mountford is frequently called upon to speak about the Bay, and his knowledge, insights and wit resonate throughout the watershed. He writes the “Past as Prologue” column in Alliance for Chesapeake Bay’s Bay Journal. He co-authored the recently published book, John Smith’s Chesapeake Voyages, 1607-1609.
New Canoes for the Marshy Point Fleet
MPNC just ordered ten new canoes from Swift Canoes to expand its current fleet. Each canoe is 17 feet long and sufficiently lightweight to be easily carried to the end of the dock. The MPNC Council gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Rosedale, Bengies-Chase, and Middle River Recreation Councils that contributed funds for purchasing a number of the new canoes. A special thanks to MPNC Council Vice President Ray Reiner who observed a recent birthday by asking well wishers to contribute to the canoe fund instead of purchasing gifts; Ray’s friends and relatives generously underwrote the cost of one of the new canoes. We are seeking additional donations to purchase paddles, life jackets, and to help offset the costs of the other canoes. Those who contribute $100.00 or more will be invited to the christening of the fleet, which includes lunch, on Sunday, May 4th from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
More Generous Donations
Gary Hirsch, photographer extraordinaire and one of the leaders of our Nature Photography Club, recently donated some of his works to the Center, including a set of insect photographs. His prints highlight the colorful diversity of creatures that live with us at Marshy Point and on the shores of the Chesapeake. Gary also donated a photomural of Minnow Branch. The beautiful image, “stitched” together from 12 digital frames and printed on a canvas 12 feet long and 2 feet wide, is easy to mistake for an oil painting. The mural stunningly captures the beauty and texture of the tidal marsh and uplands that define the character of Marshy Point. Gary’s work is on display at the Nature Center; make a point of checking it out on your next visit.
Allee Dyes, an MPNC intern from the Carver Center for Arts and Technology, contributed an exquisitely mounted red fox to the Center’s growing collection of animal specimens. The fox has a beautiful, rich red coat and is mounted in a crouching position as if peering under a shrub in search of prey. The specimen will be a valuable aid in helping visitors to learn about this surprisingly common and stealthy animal.
The MPNC Council thanks Gary and Allee for their generosity in providing the Center with items that will enrich our programs and enhance our ability to educate visitors about the unique world of Marshy Point.
Marshy Point Nature Center Gifts
Is Marshy Point one of your favorite places or a favorite of someone you know? Then let the world know by wearing a Marshy Point Nature Center logo-emblazoned shirt or hat, or by using a Nature Center mug. A jar of fresh, savory Nature Center honey, complements of our busy bees, is a great gift for anyone with a sweet tooth. Check out these items and other great Marshy Point gifts at the Nature Center. Your purchases help support our programs and activities, and increase public awareness of the Center.
Tee Shirt - |
Sweatshirt - $15 each |
Hooded Pullover Sweat - $20 each |
Ball Cap - |
Safari Hat - |
Mug - $5 each |
Patch - $3 each |
Honey - $3 each |
Jams/Jellies: |
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(Gift baskets are available upon request)
Cattails
Members of the Marshy Point Nature Center Council receive our newsletter, Cattails, four times a year. The four to six page publication features updates on Center activities, interviews with naturalists and articles about animals and plants that are found in the preserve. Mail your completed membership form now to join the Council and begin your subscription to Cattails! Back issues of Cattails are accessible online:
A History of the Marshy Point Nature Center
Marshy Point Nature Center, a Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks facility, opened in the spring of 2000. Located on land acquired by the County in 1982 from the Weiskittel family, the 500 plus-acre site was designated as a nature preserve. Situated in the Dundee and Saltpeter Creeks Park, it offers stands of old forest, swatches of newly overgrown soybean fields, dense marshlands, wooded and open wetlands, and tidal creeks that open to the Chesapeake Bay. In following with a rich tradition of water fowling (President Harrison hunted here, as did Babe Ruth), hunters still set up blinds along the creeks during the fall bird migration. Fishermen have explored the waters of the creeks in search of bass, pickerel, perch, catfish, and the occasional bluefish. Other than recreational hunting and fishing, the Marshy Point area saw little activity during its first decade in County hands. That changed, however, when the county constructed the Nature Center, which was designed by RTKL Associates.
Since opening in 2000, Marshy Point Nature Center has moved steadily forward in creating informative and enjoyable programs for adults and children alike. There are monthly audiovisual lectures by noted naturalists, and weekends bring discovery hikes and demonstrations. During the summer season, a fantastic water-oriented camp is held for children. Also in place is a growing list of courses, which currently include canoeing, beekeeping, and bird watching. The annual Spring Festival is one of several special events. The Nature Center features a beautiful butterfly garden, canoe launching dock and boathouse, trails, and a powerboat for field trips. MPNC is currently being expanded to provide classrooms and support facilities for our ongoing education programs.
Since its inception, the Nature Center has been fortunate to have the services of Robert W. Stanhope, who also was the founding director at Oregon Ridge Nature Center in Hunt Valley. Instrumental to creating both Cromwell Valley Park and Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, he brought an enormous amount of experience and expertise to Marshy Point. In 2004, Stanhope was awarded the Irvine Nature Center’s Olivia Irvine Dodge Award in recognition of his “considerable contribution to environmental education and conservation” in Maryland.