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Hello, and thank you for reading the Carrie Murray Nature Center's monthly newsletter! Our newsletter has tons of exciting announcements about fun upcoming events, volunteer programs, and important news that involves the
Gwynns Falls Leakin Park community.

Below is a picture from this year's annual Rock Fest event at the Center! Click on the picture to check out other special moments on our Instagram account.

Upcoming Events - March 2019

CMNC Mother Nature Story Time
Friday, March 1, 10 - 10:45am
Age: 0 – 5, Cost is Free
Drop-in with your little one to hear stories about nature, sing, and meet a live animal! Story hour will either take place outside, or inside next to a warm fire.

CMNC Art In the Park
Sunday, March 10, 10:30 - 12pm
Age: All, Cost is Free
Join founder Heidi Grundman for a morning of art in the park! Meet at Carrie Murray Nature Center and enjoy a trail walk filled with art using only natural materials sourced from the grounds.

CMNC Urban Garden Series: Fruits and Veggies in Small Spaces
Sat., March 23, 2 - 4pm
All Ages, Cost is Free
Join us in the first of our three-part spring gardening series to learn about growing fruit and veggies in small spaces and containers. Bring your questions for this “how-to” series!

CMNC Peepers Are Calling!
Saturday, March 30, 11am – 1pm
All Ages, Cost is Free
Explore the park in search for peepers and other signs of early spring life. It will be muddy, so wear your boots! And don’t forget to pack a lunch to enjoy out on the wild trails.

March (Recurring)

CMNC Feeding Time w/ Live Animals
Saturdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
12:30 - 1:30pm, All Ages, Cost is Free
Help prepare and feed delicious salads to live turtles and lizards. Watch our animal friends gobble up their tasty meals.

parkrun: FREE 5k timed run/walk
Saturdays, Mar. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 9am
We always run rain or shine. Please register before your first run! www.parkrun.us/leakinpark/
Meet at 5200 N. Franklintown Rd.

Gentle Hikes
Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28
9 - 10am, All Ages, Cost is Free
Meet at Winans Meadow - weather permitting. Gentle walks are guided, are about 2 miles, and explore different trails in Gwynns Falls Leakin Park. For information contact Heide at hgrundot@aol.com or (410) 945-0586.

CMNC Invasive Vine Removal
Thursday, March 7, 14, 21, 28
9 - 11am, Age: Adults, Cost is Free
CMNC staff will be leading a volunteer group to support local tree health.

Coyote Homeschool Nature Series
Thursdays, Mar 7 - May 30 (off 4/18) 1:30 - 4pm, Age: 5-8 years old
Cost is $295 for 12-week series
Coyotes love to learn in our weekly series which focuses on developing a strong sense of science, art, math, and literacy in our forest. Children hike, discuss observations, learn about conservation, and document lessons gleaned from nature. Howl with us!

CMNC Volunteer Naturalist Training: Spring Field Trips
Tues. and Thurs. March 19, 21, 26, 28
9:30 - 12pm, Age: Adults
Costs is $25 deposit, returned after leading three field trips
If you love working with children and nature, become a volunteer naturalist! This training provides information about wildlife in the park and how to lead spring field trips for Baltimore students. Volunteer naturalists generally lead three field trips each season.

Little Wild Hearts: Spring Session
Fridays, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 6/7, 6/14, from 10:30am - 12pm
Age: 18mon – 3years with caregiver
Cost is $150 per 8-week series
Songs, art experiences, and hands-on nature play abound! This 8-week session meets outdoors and you will also meet other nature-loving parents while introducing your tot to local plants and animals.

On the Horizon

Starting in May, the Nature Center will begin hosting its own volunteer Master Naturalist class in conjunction with the University of Maryland! By taking the class, participants receive expert training on a variety of environmental topics such as native wildlife and human impacts on our local land. Upon completing the course, participants are certified as Master Naturalists and perform forty service hours with the Nature Center each year. Service hours directly support Gwynns Falls Leakin Park and support positive environmental education in Baltimore. The class will meet every Tuesday, from May 14th through October 1st! To apply, please fill out an application!

Also, don't miss out on registering your young ones for Summer Camp this year!

Volunteer Programs

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors and teaching young students about nature? Spring is just around the corner, and that means that the Nature Center will begin hosting Baltimore City Public School field trips soon! If you are interested in helping us lead weekly field trips, please send an email to cmnc.volunteers@baltimorecity.gov. Our goal is to inspire a sense of wonder for nature in our youngest generation and your help would be much appreciated!

Seasonal Changes

The month of March brings so many amazing changes to our Park! On sunny days, you will start to see Mourning Cloak butterflies enjoying the warmer temperatures. Red Maples typically mark the beginning of spring by sending out their first buds during March. Near the end of the month, some of the earliest bloomers, like Hepatica, will begin to emerge in wooded areas. Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs, which are both native to Maryland, will soon begin to croak and appear in wet areas around Gwynns Falls Leakin Park!

Wrap Up

We'll see you around the Park! Please use the buttons below to visit our website, Facebook page, Instagram pictures, or to send us an email! And, as always, please visit us in person - the Carrie Murray Nature Center is located at 1901 Ridgetop Rd. Baltimore, MD 21207.

Nature Center Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9am - 4pm
Saturday: 10am - 3pm
Second Sundays: 10am - 3pm

Thank you!