Bear Branch Nature Center -
- Parent agency
- Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks
- Street address
- 300 John Owings Road
Westminster, Maryland 21158
- Phone number
- 410-386-3580
- Fax number
- 410-848-2567
- Office hours
- Wed-Sat 11-5, Sun noon-5
- Contact 1
- Jenna Mele
Park Naturalist
410-386-3580 - voice
bearbranch@carrollcountymd.gov
- Purpose
- To connect people, parks, and programs in support of a strong, healthy community and natural environment.
- Service
- Bear Branch Nature Center is open Wednesday - Saturday from 11am - 5pm, and on Sundays from 12-5pm. The center features interpretive exhibits about local plants and animals, an outdoor water feature and play area, a Discovery Room for children, an observation beehive, live animals including an eagle, hawks, owls, snakes, salamanders, turtles, frogs, and toads, a planetarium and observatory. The nature center hosts field trips for K-12 students, public programs and festivals for all ages, birthday parties and private programs. The nature center is adjacent to Hashawha Environmental Center, a residential facility that is also operated by Carroll County Recreation & Parks. Hashawha Environmental Center is home to Carroll County Public Schools' Outdoor School, a residential environmental education program open to every sixth grade student in the county. The two facilities are located on 320 acres, with more than five miles of multi-use trails, a restored 19th century cabin, a lake, a pond, and access to both Bear Branch and Big Pipe Creek.
- Fees
- Free Admission
- Subjects
- Astronomy, Children - Activities/Entertainment, Meeting Rooms/Receptions, Nature Study, Volunteers - Needed, Wildlife
- Last update