Fort Frederick Hosts Get Into Nature Weekend

Annual Event Provides Outdoor Fun for All Ages Sept. 1-4

Visitors can explore the wild side of Fort Frederick State Park during the annual “Get Into Nature Weekend,” featuring staff-led nature activities for all interest levels and ages throughout the Labor Day weekend.

“It is important that people spend time in the great outdoors to discover the natural world around them,” Fort Frederick State Park Naturalist Charlie Sullivan said. “The weekend’s programs will give visitors a chance to experience a number of different habitats in the park as well as learn ways to become better stewards of our environment.”

Events run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday. All activities start at the Nature Center, located next to Captain Wort’s Sutler Shop. Scheduled events include:

Sept. 1
• Field and Forest Walk, 10 a.m. to noon
• Wildflowers and Insect Pollinators, 1 p.m.
• Herb Gardening Activity, 2 p.m.
• The Water Cycle, 3 p.m.

Sept. 2
• Potomac River Walk, 10 a.m. to noon
• Insect Choices, 1 p.m.
• Insect Decomposer Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.
• Bug Bingo, 3 p.m.
• Gardening for Monarch Butterflies, 4 p.m.

Sept. 3
• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath Walk, 10 a.m. to noon
• Owl Food Chain Activity for Children, 1 p.m.
• Owl Pellet Dissection, 2 p.m.
• Bird Bingo, 3 p.m.
• Nature Center Tour, 4 p.m.

Sept. 4
• Plantation Trail Walk, 10 a.m. to noon
• Mammals of Fort Frederick State Park, 1 p.m.
• Hiking the Appalachian Trail, 2 p.m.
• Milkweed Ecology, 3 p.m.

Additional parking is available at the Visitor Center. Food, gift, and souvenir items are available at Captain Wort’s Sutler Shop.

There is a service charge of $3 per car for residents and $5 for non-residents. Disabled access is available; however, most of the event activities are situated on grassy areas that may present difficulty.