Sunday, July 5; 1:00pm-3:00pm Primitive Technology: Osteotechnology – Ages 18+. Primitive man used and made tools from bone. Join a naturalist to make an awl and then sew a small leather pouch. $5.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Saturday, July 11; 1:00pm-2:30pm Shell-A-Brate – Ages 2-10 with an adult. How do turtles communicate? By using their shell-phones! Meet our resident turtles and make a "turtly" awesome craft to take home. $2.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, July 12 at 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Signs of Nature – Ages 5+. Have you ever wanted to learn some American Sign Language? Well now is your chance. Join a naturalist on a guided hike to learn how to sign names of different flora and fauna. All skill levels are welcome! FREE REGISTRATION
Thursday, July 16th - 5 pm - 7 pm Join us for an evening hike for women and non-binary folks. We’ll hike a loop of 4 miles at a moderate pace, exploring the park’s beautiful woodland trails and old-growth meadows. We’ll cross a couple of streams and climb a hill or two – a nice
Saturday, July 18; 1:00pm – 3:00pm Earth Oven Berry Shortcake Ages 5+. Join a Naturalist to pick berries in the park. Then come back to the Willow Grove Nature Center to create a cool treat with the fruits we collected. $6.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, July 19; 10:00am-11:30am World Snake Day – All Ages. Join a naturalist for a fun “snake safari” as we look for native snakes in Cromwell Valley Park. FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Saturday, July 25; 1:00pm-3:00pm Frog Roundup – All Ages. Hop along with a naturalist to the bubbling spring to look for our amphibian friends. We'll try to capture some to examine, then release them! $2.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, July 26; 1:00pm-2:30pm Amazing Hummingbirds – Ages 8+. Join a naturalist to learn about the tiny and mighty ruby-throated hummingbird. We'll look for them in our Childrens' Garden, then return to the Willow Grove Nature Center to make hummingbird feeders! $6.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Friday, July 31; 8:00pm-9:30pm Buck Full Moon Hike – Ages 8+. During this time of year, male deer are sporting antlers covered in velvet that help their antlers reach full size. As they mature, the velvet falls away to reveal amazing antlers! Join a naturalist to explore the park in the dark under the summer
Event Registration: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/cvpchikingandbirdingevents/event/hikethroughhistory8-1/ Saturday, August 1st at 9:00 am Join us for narrated Hike through History of Cromwell Valley Park. Enjoy a narrated hike of 3.5 miles at a moderate pace, exploring the park’s beautiful woodland trails and old-growth meadows, while learning about its architectural and farming history. Distance: 3.5 miles Elevation Change: 300 feet
Saturday, August 1; 10:00am-12:00pm Hidden Trails Hike – Ages 8+. Join a naturalist as we discover some of the lesser-known trails in the park. $2.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, August 2; 1:00pm-2:30pm Discovering Dragonflies – All Ages. Did you know that dragonflies are apex predators of the insect world? Learn fun facts about these "hawks of the insect world" as we search for them! FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Three Summer Events! Register for one or for all! Join other 30-year olds for a casual hike (2 miles) scouting for non-migratory resident birds of Cromwell Valley Park along the Minebank Run and in some of our old-growth fields. Get your appetite whet for fall migration, with more dates coming soon! Cost is
Saturday, August 8; 1:00pm-2:30pm Mean Green Meat-Eating Machine – Ages 10+. Meat eating plants?! Learn about these other worldly native plants that trap and kill prey in order to survive. Bring one home to raise as your own! $6/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, August 9; 12:00pm-1:00pm Cyanotype Prints – Ages 10+. Join a naturalist on a guided hike to collect leaves, flowers, and sticks. With a little sun and some special paper, you can leave your mark with your own cyan print! $3.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Tuesday, August 11th at 5:45 pm Join us for an advanced-level 5 mile hike on the upper trails of Cromwell Valley Park. Enjoy an evening hike at a moderate pace from the Sherwood House up to highests elevation in the park and then back to the Sherwood House. Please only register if physically able
Saturday, August 15; 1:00 pm-2:00pm Lunch For Our Feathered Bunch – All Ages. Join a naturalist to help us feed our feathered friends and to discover that they are not picky eaters! $3.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, August 16; 10:00am-11:30am Insect Sing-a-Long – All Ages. Many insects are just now getting their voices, even though they were there all along. Why sing now? Join a naturalist to find these insects and learn why they are beginning to make themselves heard. We have the nets! FREE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Saturday, August 22; 1:00pm-3:00pm Adults 18+. The sling has been used for thousands of years. It can make a rock go from zero to 90 miles an hour. That is what made it a formidable weapon. Join us to make one to take home! $12.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join us for an evening hike for women and non-binary folks. We’ll hike a loop of 4 miles at a moderate pace, exploring the park’s beautiful woodland trails and old-growth meadows. We’ll cross a couple of streams and climb a hill or two – a nice challenge! This hike is a dedicated, welcoming space for
Friday, August 28; 7:30pm-9:00pm Campfire Cooking Under the Full Moon – Ages 8+. Enjoy a night hike under the full Sturgeon Moon and learn how to cook delicious, simple meals over an open flame! Participants prepare classic campfire dishes while practicing safe fire-building and cleanup techniques. $6/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join us for some guided hiking in Cromwell Valley Park. Meeting place: We’ll begin from the Sherwood side. Cromwell Valley Park has two entrances. Please use the first entrance off Cromwell Bridge Road (if coming from the Beltway) - 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Parkville, MD 21234. Meeting at the picnic tables in front of the
August 15 10 am-noon August 29 10 am-noon September 12 10am-noon September 26 10am-noon We will remove invasive plants from the park and in warmer weather, also plant natives and maintain restored habitat – great opportunities for high school students for community service and volunteers who like to work outdoors. We usually meet at the
Saturday, August 29; 1:00pm-3:00pm Migrating Monarchs – Ages 5+. An animal that migrates thousands of miles with no map?! How do they do it? Where do they go? Join us as we observe, capture, tag, and release these delicate insects to help track them for science. $3.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join other 30-year olds for a casual hike (2 miles) scouting for migratory birds of Cromwell Valley Park along the Minebank Run and in some of our old-growth fields. Anything goes during Fall Migration! Cost is $5 per person with all funds supporting Cromwell Valley Park Council, Inc., the 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Sunday, August 23; 9:00am-11:00am Forest Bathing – Ages 16+. A technique by which one becomes attuned to the environment through mindful concentration. Based on the Japanese practice known as shinrin-yoku. $12.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Sunday, August 30; 1:00pm-2:30pm Terrarium Building Workshop – Ages 8+. Build your own miniature world! Participants design glass terrariums using soil, moss, rocks, and plants while learning how these small ecosystems work. A relaxing, hands-on activity that combines creativity, ecology, and a beautiful take-home creation. $12.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Fridays, September 4 at 10:00am-11:00am Trails with Tots 5+ w/Adult - Join the naturalists this fall on the 1st and 3rd Friday, September-November, from 10:00am-11:00am, and enjoy the benefits of being active outdoors with your little ones! FREE! REGISTRATION REQUIRED
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU VOLUNTEER WITH CROMWELL VALLEY PARK. Please join Cromwell Valley Park Council as we host volunteer service days to scrape and paint the Sherwood Fence through these dates in September. This year, due to the construction that has closed the Willow Grove entrance to the park, visitors for the Fall
Saturday, September 5 at 12:00pm-1:00pm Escape from Sherwood House – Ages 12+. Join us for a spooky tour of the Sherwood House and try to find the clues to secure your escape! $6.00/person REGISTRATION REQUIRED
When: Saturday September 5th, 2:00 until 4:30 pm Summer Jam Session - Ages 16+. Play along with old time tunes or just stop in for a listen! Bring your instrument and a chair, and join us in the Beech Grove on Sherwood Lawn. In inclement weather, the fun will continue inside Sherwood House or the
Sunday, September 6 at 10:00am to 11:30am The Secret Life of Vines– Ages 12+. Vines are some of the forest’s most fascinating climbers. On this program, we’ll explore the park to discover how different vines grow, climb, and compete for sunlight. Along the way, we’ll learn to identify several common species and talk about their
Monday, September 7th - Slow-birding for Migration 8:15 am - 10:00 am Join us for the height of fall migration for a slow-paced bird walk around the Minebank Run trail looking for migratory birds. What is Mindful Birding and Who Should Attend? This slow, mindful birding and nature observation event is for beginner birdwatchers and
Sunday, September 7 at 1 PM to 2:30 PM Meadow Singers – All Ages. These important fall flowers are important to pollinators. Join a naturalist on a meadow walk to learn more about the benefits of these fall bloomers. Then return to the nature center to make a flower craft. $3/person. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join other 30-year olds for a casual hike (2 miles) scouting for migratory birds of Cromwell Valley Park along the Minebank Run and in some of our old-growth fields. Anything goes during Fall Migration! Cost is $5 per person with all funds supporting Cromwell Valley Park Council, Inc., the 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU VOLUNTEER WITH CROMWELL VALLEY PARK. Please join Cromwell Valley Park Council as we host volunteer service days to scrape and paint the Sherwood Fence through these dates in September. This year, due to the construction that has closed the Willow Grove entrance to the park, visitors for the Fall
Join us for some guided hiking in Cromwell Valley Park and Loch Raven. Members-only event. Meeting place: We’ll begin from the Sherwood side. Cromwell Valley Park has two entrances. Please use the first entrance off Cromwell Bridge Road (if coming from the Beltway) - 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Parkville, MD 21234. Meeting at the picnic
Saturday, September 12 at 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Golden Truths About Goldenrods and Aster – All Ages. Take a history tour of the Sherwood Mansion and get a little “behind the scenes” look at this home that was built in 1935. Join us at the end for a brief English-style teatime. $3/person. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Join other 30-year olds for a casual hike (2 miles) scouting for migratory birds of Cromwell Valley Park along the Minebank Run and in some of our old-growth fields. Anything goes during Fall Migration! Cost is $5 per person with all funds supporting Cromwell Valley Park Council, Inc., the 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Sunday, September 13 at 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Earth Skills Workshop Rendezvous – Ages 10+ -- Have you ever wanted to try your hand at flint knapping - the ancient practice of shaping stone into projectile points? Or learn to make a survival bow from natural materials that will help keep you alive in
Mondays April 6- Oct. 26 8:30am-10:30am & Thursdays April 9 - Oct. 29 8:30am-10:30am Ages 18+. Do you enjoy gardening, but don’t have the space or a deer-proof fence? Join like-minded green thumbs (and beginner brown thumbs) to grow your own vegetables, herbs and flowers and tend to our shared garden plots. We’ll provide the
Tuesdays, September 15 to October 20 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Polliwogs! - Ages 2 to 5, with an Adult. Discovering nature is a lifelong journey. In this class, you and your little one will explore the natural world through hands-on activities, nature play, stories and crafts. Non-mobile siblings only, parent/guardian must be an
Wednesdays, September 2 to November 25 at 9:30 to 10:30 AM Autumn Senior Stroll – Ages 55+. Walking in nature provides benefits to both the mind and body. Enjoy a relaxing stroll with one of our Naturalists along some of Cromwell Valley’s less strenuous trails. Meet at Sherwood House. FREE! REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Wednesdays, September 16 to October 21 at 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Polliwogs! - Ages 2 to 5, with an Adult. Discovering nature is a lifelong journey. In this class, you and your little one will explore the natural world through hands-on activities, nature play, stories and crafts. Non-mobile siblings only, parent/guardian must be an
WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS! Mindful Outdoor Experience A Shared Journey of Movement, Mindfulness, and Connection with the Land 1 hour yoga $25 for Members / $30 non-Members Step into a restorative outdoor experience designed to reconnect you with the wisdom of the natural world, your body, and community. Through brief place orientation, off-the-mat yoga movement, an easeful
Friday, September 18 at 10:00am-11:00am Trails with Tots 5+ w/Adult - Join the naturalists this fall on the 1st and 3rd Friday, September-November, from 10:00am-11:00am, and enjoy the benefits of being active outdoors with your little ones! FREE! REGISTRATION REQUIRED
September 18, 2026 – Dr. Wayne Bell "The Chesapeake Working Landscape: Past, Present, and a Hopeful Future" A history of land use on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, from pre-colonial times to the present, and insights that land use changes provide for bird conservation. Background - Dr. Bell is Senior Associate and former Director of the
Saturday, September 19th from 8 am - 10 am Join us for the height of fall migration with celebrity birder, Kojo Baidoo. Winner of the World Series of Birding in 2022 and has been featured in NPR when his Princeton team (Tiger Shrikes) spotted 205 species of birds in a 24-hour period! Kojo has had
Sat, Sept. 19, 9am-11am Drop in Gardening! – Ages 13+, with an Adult. Join us for a morning in the garden. We provide direction, gloves, tools, and water. You bring a hat, sunscreen and a little energy. Drop-in program. FREE!
Saturday, September 19 at 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM Farmer Kids: From Garden to Table – Ages 5-12 with an adult. Monthly gardening series where kids plant, harvest, cook, and eat! At each session, we’ll learn what can be planted at that time of year and the proper way to plant it. Then we’ll harvest
Cromwell Valley Park Office
(Sherwood House)
2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd
Parkville, MD 21234
GPS: 39.415, -76.552
Phone: 410-887-2503
TDD: 410-887-5319
Willow Grove Nature Education Center
2175 Cromwell Bridge Rd
Parkville, MD 21234
GPS: 39.417, -76.548
Please remember that the Park itself is open only during daylight hours, sunrise to sunset.
In case of inclement weather, the Nature Center and activities follow Baltimore County Pubic Schools. Check the BCPS Website for the latest information on closing. If closing early, all evening activities at the Park are cancelled.
On Saturdays and Sundays when the office is closed, you may call the Nature Education Center.
Note: The addresses (2002 and 2175) are really for Post Office use. If used on a GPS, they may take you to a strange place in the park, or leave you on the main road. Use the GPS coordinates instead.
The Cromwell Valley Park Council (CVPC) is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship of Cromwell Valley Park as a public space for passive recreation and School Programs. The CVPC works in cooperation with the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks and other entities to maintain, preserve and protect the natural environment and historic structures in the Park.
The Cromwell Valley Park Council is not an official site for Baltimore County Government.