Meadowside Nature Center
5100 Meadowside Lane
located (in Rock Creek Regional Park)
Rockville, Maryland 20855
301-924-4141
Located in Rock Creek Regional Park, Meadowside Nature Center offers hands-on natural and cultural history programs for families, schools, and scouts. Visitors can spend their time hiking our 8 miles of Nature Trails or visiting our owls, hawks, and American Bald Eagle in our Raptor Aviaries. Inside visitors can explore the diverse habits found in Maryland as they crawl through a cave or look at the world from a fish's point of view in our Legacy of the Land Exhibit. Our Curiosity Corner discovery room contains books, games, puzzles, and more live animals for young naturalists to explore nature in child-friendly environment. Visitors can also experience the lives of the Maryland pioneer and Eastern Woodland Indian families in our Legacy of the People exhibit were they can try on clothes, play games, and touch animal skins.
Hours
Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Sundays and Mondays
Park and Trails open: sunrise to sunset
NOTE: During inclement weather, Nature Centers follow Montgomery County Public School closures, delayed openings and early releases. If school is closed due to inclement weather, all children's programs are cancelled. Cancellation of Adult programs is determined on a case-by-case basis. Please call the nature facility to check on adult program status.
Self-guided groups are welcome to tour the Nature Center September through mid-June FREE. There is a $1 per child fee for self-guided groups of 10 or more from mid-June through August. Reservations are required for all groups visiting the nature center.
Featured
Summer Programs
Check out our Summer programs online or download a copy of The HOOT (PDF), our Nature Center publication, that is filled with current programing, nature activiteis, puzzles, games, and much much more!
NOTE: To make registration easier make note of the course #
and register at ParkPASS.
Upcoming Events!
Owls, Hawks and Eagle Lunchtime and Talk
Observe Meadowside’s hawks, owls, vulture, and bald eagle during their feedingtime and ask questions! Get a chance to
speak with a Naturalist about our birds of prey, and learn some of the stories about Meadowside’s own raptors on exhibit.
These talks will begin at the Raptor Walkway behind the nature center. No registration required!
6/13 Saturady 12:00pm-12:30pm-FREE
7/11 Saturday 12:00pm-12:30pm-FREE
8/8 Saturday 12:00pm-12:30pm-FREE
Meadowside Movies by the Fire
Spend a summer night around Meadowside’s campfire ring and enjoy tasty roasted marshmallows and a short film.
We supply the marshmallows and graham crackers, you bring your own chocolate and we together, we’ll make s’mores!
Cat in the Hat
#75649 3 &up $5 6/25 Thursday 8:00pm-9:00pm
Click here to be waitlisted! - FULL!
Paul Bunyan
#77449 3 &up $5 7/9 Thurday 8:00pm-9:00pm
Click here to register!
Splish Splash Stream Study!
Explore Rock Creek with aquatic gear, looking for crayfish, salamanders, fish, and more. Be prepared to get wet!
#75957 7-12yrs $5 7/18 Saturday 10:00am-11:30am
Click here to register!
Nature notes from Meadowside!
The Butterflies are Back!
The beginning of summer brings an abundance of butterflies to Meadowside Nature Center each and every year.
The best place for viewing our flighted friends is in our butterfly garden adjacent to the Nature Center. Some of
the many butterflies already spotted include Cabbage Whites, Tiger Swallowtails, and Monarchs. What butterflies
can you find on your visit to Meadowside?
Date of last update: June 20, 2009
Montgomery County Department of Parks