August 28, 2020
Media Contacts:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
Anna Hunter, Public Information Officer, Howard County Recreation & Parks, 202-277-9412
COLUMBIA, MD – Beginning in September, children can explore the wonders of nature at Howard County’s Robinson Nature Center with a new slate of fall programs designed with virtual learning in mind.
The first of these programs, Kids Wednesdays Out at the Nature Center, allows participants 6-12 years old to enjoy a day away from home with nature walks, quiet time, visits to the Middle Patuxent River, games, and other educational activities that encourage learning and socialization. Kids Wednesdays Out at the Nature Center begins September 9. Parents may register for the program each month through January 2021.
“For nearly a decade, the Robinson Nature Center has given visitors one-of-a-kind educational experiences through their award-winning programs and dedicated staff educators. With children learning from home this fall, we know that many of the parents who regularly visit the nature center are looking for a place where their kids can enjoy social interaction with other children and time outdoors,” said County Executive Calvin Ball. “The tools and experiences young students gain from these fall activities will allow them to take their first steps into a larger world of environmental stewardship and sustainability.”
Other new programs from the center include:
- Lil’ Pine Cones Outdoor Explorers, a weekly outdoor nature program geared toward learners 4-5 years old. It will be led by certified nature preschool teacher and Robinson Environmental Education Coordinator Kelly Vogelpohl.
- Take Nature Home program kits that children can enjoy at their convenience from the comfort of home. Each kit includes materials and instructional videos. September themes include maps, navigation and landforms.
- Home school nature classes occurring on the first Thursday and Friday of each month. There are three age-appropriate sections each season (4-5, 6-8 and 9-12 years).
“The Robinson Nature Center is always on the cutting edge of environmental education,” said Raul Delerme, Director of Howard County Recreation & Parks. “This new slate of innovative fall programs is one more way Howard County is adapting to meet the needs of parents and students as we adjust to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Each new Robinson Nature Center program follows Howard County’s COVID-19 safety policies and procedures for physical distancing, facial mask use and public gatherings. These policies can be found at howardcountymd.gov/rap.
Opened in 2011, the Robinson Nature Center is a unique nature education facility situated on 18 acres of land adjacent to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area. The Center is owned and operated by Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks with financial support from the James & Anne Robinson Foundation. For additional details on Robinson’s upcoming fall programs, visit https://www.howardcountymd.gov/rnc/education.