CURIOUS WHAT A NATURE PRESCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS LIKE? WONDERING IF IRVINE'S NATURE PRESCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR YOU? Prospective families are invited to join us for a family open house - SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 10-11:30AM The Nature Preschool is designed to help your child develop cognitive and problem-solving skills, while cultivating social skills and building their... Read more »
Spring is the perfect time to forage for nutrition-filled wild foods. In this workshop, we will learn how to correctly identify many different edible wild greens, often dismissed as weeds. After foraging wild greens, we will prepare our harvested leaves, then create pesto. Combine leaves of varying ‘spice’ with oil and optional foraged nuts to... Read more »
Join us for a nature-inspired presentation by Irvine's Master Naturalist, Clare Walker, PhD, plus enjoy a delicious catered lunch from ACE Catering and themed mocktails. This program is part of Irvine's 3-part Lunch & Learn series. Queen Bumble Bees are one of the first bees to emerge in early spring. Their warm, fuzzy coats and... Read more »
Introducing FREE FRIDAYS at Irvine Nature Center! We invite the community to discover all that Irvine has to offer – hiking, exploration, connection – ALL ARE WELCOME! While at Irvine, Hike the 8+ miles of trails, Visit the 8 resident raptors in the Aviary, Play in the Outdoor Classroom, Discover the Native American Site, Observe the diversity in Maryland’s ecosystems in the meadows, wetlands and... Read more »
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tales & Tails will begin at 10AM starting on June 7th! Join us most Fridays for a FREE story time & an animal encounter in the Outdoor Classroom (or indoors in inclement weather.) This ‘caregiver and child’ program will allow you to build connections with nature and your neighbors in an outdoor learning environment. Visitors are... Read more »
Come for an early hike at Irvine on one of the best days for seeing birds. We will take a gentle stroll looking and listening for warblers, orioles and more. See who is setting up home in our bird houses and listen for the warbles of wood thrushes. Finish with a stroll through the woodland... Read more »
You won’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away to celebrate May the Fourth with Irvine. Go on an adventure through the Understory Loop of ‘Endor’ as we hunt for Ewoks with the help of Princess Leia. Then learn about the closest animal Maryland has to Ewoks: bears! Finally we’ll try our hand... Read more »
Through Qigong and Tai Chi, participants will explore the ancient practices of moving meditation to align body, mind, and spirit and build a deeper connection to nature. In addition to learning and practicing these healing arts, we will also experience one or more additional components of the following: qigong forest bathing, qigong walks, mindfulness meditation,... Read more »
If you are looking for occasional classes for your homeschooler, Bauer Explorers is perfect! Join a small group of nature loving kids, as they learn through exploration, throughout Irvine's 211 acres. Offered select Tuesdays throughout the year. Register for a specific date or for the year-long series and save! Membership discounts apply! All classes are... Read more »
Are you looking for a preschool that encourages adventurous play, discovery, outdoor exploration, and connection with others for your toddler? The Nature Preschool at Irvine, offers children ages three to five a supportive, safe learning environment that emphasizes discovery, experimentation and connection through play in and with nature. A variety of schedule options are available... Read more »
Introducing FREE FRIDAYS at Irvine Nature Center! We invite the community to discover all that Irvine has to offer – hiking, exploration, connection – ALL ARE WELCOME! While at Irvine, Hike the 8+ miles of trails, Visit the 8 resident raptors in the Aviary, Play in the Outdoor Classroom, Discover the Native American Site, Observe the diversity in Maryland’s ecosystems in the meadows, wetlands and... Read more »
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tales & Tails will begin at 10AM starting on June 7th! Join us most Fridays for a FREE story time & an animal encounter in the Outdoor Classroom (or indoors in inclement weather.) This ‘caregiver and child’ program will allow you to build connections with nature and your neighbors in an outdoor learning environment. Visitors are... Read more »
Want to help butterflies and bees but need advice on how to start? Or want to reduce maintenance requirements for an existing garden? In this workshop you will discover how to support the full lifecycle of both bees and butterflies. Get ideas on where to locate your garden, the easiest way to start and plant... Read more »
Through Qigong and Tai Chi, participants will explore the ancient practices of moving meditation to align body, mind, and spirit and build a deeper connection to nature. In addition to learning and practicing these healing arts, we will also experience one or more additional components of the following: qigong forest bathing, qigong walks, mindfulness meditation,... Read more »
A weekend version of our popular caregiver and child class, Little Birds. Children birth to 3 years will delight in the natural world alongside a caregiver as we experience animal encounters, nature walks, songs, stories, and art. This program includes primarily outdoor experiences and is a perfect introduction to our approach to learning in The... Read more »
On this Mother’s day, celebrate your love of nature together at Irvine. Gather for an easy nature hike to explore and collect natural materials, where we will stop along the way for a reading of the Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Then each mom, grandma, or motherly figure and their child will work together to... Read more »
Carnivorous Plants and How to Grow Them Explore the fascinating world of Carnivorous Plants with award winning horticulturalist Michael Szesze, as he shares his 50 years of experience growing these curious plants. Learn about the different types of carnivorous plants and their unique habitats. Learn how to successfully grow and cultivate some of the world’s... Read more »
Introducing FREE FRIDAYS at Irvine Nature Center! We invite the community to discover all that Irvine has to offer – hiking, exploration, connection – ALL ARE WELCOME! While at Irvine, Hike the 8+ miles of trails, Visit the 8 resident raptors in the Aviary, Play in the Outdoor Classroom, Discover the Native American Site, Observe the diversity in Maryland’s ecosystems in the meadows, wetlands and... Read more »
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tales & Tails will begin at 10AM starting on June 7th! Join us most Fridays for a FREE story time & an animal encounter in the Outdoor Classroom (or indoors in inclement weather.) This ‘caregiver and child’ program will allow you to build connections with nature and your neighbors in an outdoor learning environment. Visitors are... Read more »
Volunteers are an essential part of Irvine's operations; your efforts support our mission to provide the community with valuable experiences in nature. Help support Irvine in our mission and make a positive impact on our environment. Join us for our Volunteer Community Day of Service on May 18th 1:00-3:00 PM. Volunteers will help by pulling... Read more »
Through Qigong and Tai Chi, participants will explore the ancient practices of moving meditation to align body, mind, and spirit and build a deeper connection to nature. In addition to learning and practicing these healing arts, we will also experience one or more additional components of the following: qigong forest bathing, qigong walks, mindfulness meditation,... Read more »
Come enjoy story time in the woods at Irvine! We will read a story in our Outdoor Classroom. After the story, we’ll go on a nature walk to see what we can find from the story right here at Irvine. If you and your little ones love stories and nature, this will be the perfect... Read more »
Join us for Nature Art: Spring Florals at May's Pride Outside! This month's group will use nature's beauty to create art with the help of some spring florals. Pride Outside is a monthly gathering for Queer teens, of any sexual or gender identity, and LGBTQIA+ allies. The meetup will include a hike to a new area... Read more »
Celebrate your love for turtles with an art class. Irvine’s animal ambassadors include the Maryland State Reptile, the Diamondback Terrapin! Learn to draw and paint this rare species and your other favorite turtles. All experience levels and ages welcome, ages 13+ recommended. Instructors: Brittany Roger, Irvine Educator and MICA-trained artist Thursday, May 23rd 6:00 – 8:00PM... Read more »
Introducing FREE FRIDAYS at Irvine Nature Center! We invite the community to discover all that Irvine has to offer – hiking, exploration, connection – ALL ARE WELCOME! While at Irvine, Hike the 8+ miles of trails, Visit the 8 resident raptors in the Aviary, Play in the Outdoor Classroom, Discover the Native American Site, Observe the diversity in Maryland’s ecosystems in the meadows, wetlands and... Read more »
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Tales & Tails will begin at 10AM starting on June 7th! Join us most Fridays for a FREE story time & an animal encounter in the Outdoor Classroom (or indoors in inclement weather.) This ‘caregiver and child’ program will allow you to build connections with nature and your neighbors in an outdoor learning environment. Visitors are... Read more »
Sunday, May 26th will be a #FREEadmission day at Irvine Nature Center. Come on out and enjoy time in nature! Explore the 211-acre property and take in the views this spring. Visit the indoor and outdoor exhibits. Observe Irvine's many animal ambassadors. On this #FREEadmission day, we invite you to: Hike the 8+ miles of... Read more »
Introducing FREE FRIDAYS at Irvine Nature Center! We invite the community to discover all that Irvine has to offer – hiking, exploration, connection – ALL ARE WELCOME! While at Irvine, Hike the 8+ miles of trails, Visit the 8 resident raptors in the Aviary, Play in the Outdoor Classroom, Discover the Native American Site, Observe the diversity in Maryland’s ecosystems in the meadows, wetlands and... Read more »