Marshy Point Nature Center

 Today we checked another item off of our to-do list and visited the Marshy Point Nature Center in Chase, MD (for those of you that aren't locals, it's in the Middle River area... about 10 minutes from White Marsh). I've seen several friends post pictures recently and have really wanted to take the boys. Since summer is coming to abrupt end at the end of this weekend and the weather was beautiful, we couldn't resist doing something outdoors!

We spent the first portion of our visit in the Nature Center itself. It is filled with local animals (turtles, chatty birds, mice, snakes, opposums, and more). The boys are excited about an eel in this picture. In addition to animals they have several activities/centers for kids.

The staff could not have been sweeter. They were excited to talk to the boys and even went out of their way to pull out critters for the boys to see close up and pet. Not only did they get to pet the friendly opposum Virginia seen in the above picture, but they also got to pet a milk snake. The staff was careful to point out that in the wild you wouldn't want to touch a real opossum. This one has been in captivity since it was a baby (it's mother was hit by a car). Since it is used to people it was very friendly!

Part of the Nature Center includes a "Kid's Corner." Blake enjoyed playing with the toys and looking through the books.

After visiting the Nature Center we took a hike along one of the trails at Marshy Point. I was scared to take the long trail (blue/red) because our last trail experience did not go too well. I asked the boys if they wanted to do a long or short one and they both voted for the long one. I explained that once we started we couldn't turn around! Suprisingly it went  extremely well. We picked up a pocket guide and along the trail are numbered stops that  the pocket guide explains (specific trees, plants, a fox den, a tidal creek... to name a few). The boys really got into this process and were excited to find each marker. On our hike Blake spotted a turtle (that Caleb and I missed). Caleb couldn't resist picking it up! He learned quite a few new words today: estuary, nocturnal, and metamorphosis. Be sure to quiz him the next time you see him!

By the end of the hike the boys' pockets were filled with acorns, pine cones, and other treasures. While I am not an outdoorsy person (I often joke that roughing it for me would be staying at the Days Inn), I am trying to step way out of my comfort zone to give the boys as many experiences as I possibly can. I know this trip was a total success as both boys are currently napping! We hope to go back in September for their fall festival!

Tips:

• You can borrow an exploration bookbag from the Nature Center to use along the trails. I saw various bookbags, including one for collecting bugs.
• The Nature Center is open from 9:00-5:00.
• The blue trail into the red trail is the longest and is about 1.5 miles (or maybe more by the time you walk from the end of the trail to the parking lot) and took about 90 minutes. We took our time and tried to search for critters and learn as much as we could. There are other shorter trails.
• If you decide to do the trails, be sure to pick up a guide book at the beginning of the blue trail and follow along. It made the experience so much more interesting!
• There are picnic tables available at the Nature Center and one in a field of the Blue trail if you wanted to bring a lunch.
• COST=FREE
• See their webpage at www.marshypoint.org for more details! They also have a facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marshy-Point-Nature-Center/270787291581?ref=ts