Construction of the Nature Center

Beautiful weather is helping the staff at Buidling Systems Incorporated make progress. This video shows the south eastern view of the new nature center. What you see is the new entrance and Discovery Room. To the left of the video is where the front patio will be located. Enjoy!

Programs for the Fall 2010

Frederick County Parks and Recreation staff are so excited about the many opportunities for families and residents of Frederick County who will benefit from the new Catoctin Creek Nature Center.

These days, children are increasingly disconnected from nature- caught up in computer games, preoccupied with videos, lured by shopping malls and sometimes over-scheduled with extra-curricular activities.

Catoctin Creek Nature Center, beginning this fall, will provide opportunities to connect with nature by offering positive and constructive learning opportunities that will capture the interest of all of everyone who visits. Visitors will be encouraged to engage their senses and the staff on hand will be able to teach everyone to appreciate the interconnectedness of all living things.

Below are a few of the programs that are being developed:

Pre School and Elementary School Field Trip Programs

Middle School Field Trip programs

Girl and Boy Scout merit badge programs

Educational Birthday Party Options

Seasonal Educational activities and programs

Nature Camp for 2011

and much more...

Check http://www.recreater.com/ later this summer for more information about these upcoming programs and field trip opportunities.

Some Awesome Nature Photos

Thanks to Steve Ferendo for these recent pictures of a local red fox.

New Photos from todays construction!

Construction Photos

The Outdoor Classroom!

Catoctin Creek Park is so diverse in what can be experienced and taught by everyone who visits the park. Staff here at the Division of Parks and Recreation are actively planning activites, events, and programs that are sure to captivate everyone who ventures to the park this Fall. Creek studies for school groups, campers, and scouts are sure to be a major focus for our Environmental Education staff.

Fox on the Prowl

Though we have not spotted these at Catoctin yet, we know they are around.

The Red Fox is about the size of a large cat. In fact, although it is a member of the dog family, some of it’s habits are very cat like as well.

Appearance wise, it has a reddish coat with white underneath and a big bushy tail with normally a white tip.
Foxes live all over North America. They can live in the deepest wilderness or right in your backyard with equal ease.
Foxes are carnivores, which means that they eat other animals. Their favorite things are rodents, rabbits and small birds. If they live near people, they are famous for raiding hen houses and stealing chickens.

Construction in Action

A True Nature Park

New Video From the inside of the Nature Center

The Nature Center as of April 13, 2010

More video from the Discovery Room

Discovery Room on Video

The large shelter is under roof

The Discovery Room Takes Shape!

Construction crews worked in the heat on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to frame out the Discovery Room's outside windows and outer walls. The staff also framed out the bathrooms and layed out the electrical work for the remainder of the building.

The soon to be GREEN ROOF!