Events in Frederick County 2026

Join us at any or all of the events below.

 

Preparing for the Challenge

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March 21

Frederick County Public Schools STEM Showcase at Tuscarora High School

9-11:30 am at 5312 Ballenger Creek, Frederick

Mobilize Frederick will share specimens that one may find during the City Nature Challenge. Plus, the tools needed to identify them. Part of the FCPS Elementary Science and Engineering Fair and Social Studies Fair. 

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April 9

iNaturalist Training with Amy Rembold at the UMD Extension Office

6:30-7:30 pm at 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick

Join an in person and hands-on iNaturalist training at the UMD Extension Office. Documenting what species are attracted to your garden is an ideal way to participate in community science. Open to the public. 

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April 14

Virtual Training: You Can Be a Citizen Scientist: An Intro to the 2026 City Nature Challenge

7:00-8:00 pm, online presentation by Capital Nature, Prince Georges County Parks and The Nature Conservancy of Maryland/D.C. 

Register here. 

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April 18

City of Frederick's Earth Day Event in Baker Park

11am - 2 pm at 121 N. Bentz Street, Frederick

Learn how to use iNaturalist and practice observing and uploading in the app; plus, visit all the great exhibitors celebrating our planet. 

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April 22

Tween Scene: Insect Mimicry (ages 8–13) at Middletown Branch Library

4-5:00 pm at 31 East Green Street, Middletown

Explore the world of insect mimicry with entomologist Michael Turell and participate in a community science demonstration with the iNaturalist app. 

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April 23

Explore, Snap, and Identify: Becoming a Community Scientist with Green Team Urbana

7:30-8:30 pm at Urbana Regional Library 9020 Amelung Street, Urbana

Learn how to use iNaturalist to identify and learn about the wildlife that exists in your own community. Understand how your observations can lead to advances for our environment and ecosystems. 

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During the City Nature Challenge

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​​April 24

Tree Walk with the Frederick Forestry Board at Gambrill State Park

12:00 pm at Gambrill State Park Trail System Parking Lot on Gambrill State Park Road after Rock Run area. (Detailed directions at registration)

Join this guided walk on the Red trail to learn about differences in forest ecosystems, succession, and tree ID. Plus, we will record wild plants, animals, and fungi using iNaturalist along the way. 

Registration is preferred. See the bottom of this page for more details. 

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​April 25

Frederick Bird Club Early Migrants and Spring Arrivals

8:30-10:30 am at C&O Canal at Lander Road and Point of Rocks

Join us along the canal to look for early early migrants and spring arrivals.
Register: by contacting Anir Bhat at frederickbirdclub@yahoo.com. 

Meeting location and other details will be sent to registered participants.​

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April 25

Bird City Brunswick

9-11:00 am at Brunswick Crossing Welcome Center

1000 Potomac View Parkway, Brunswick

Please join us for our first ever bioblitz to identify wild living animals and plants and record (photo or sound) the data using iNaturalist. We’ll explore a pond, stream, and the woods. Open to families. Bring binoculars (if you have them), a smart phone (if you want to learn how to record). You can download the iNaturalist app for free.

Contact Barb Kemerer, bkemerer1@aol.com for questions or to RSVP.

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April 25

Villages of Urbana (VOU) Family Fun Day

12-3:00 pm at 9023 Harris Street Center, Urbana

Explore and help document the life in a small forest that volunteers have been managing for beneficial habitat. In partnership with the VOU Grounds and Social Committees and Green Team Urbana.

Note: Open to VOU residents only. 

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​​April 26

Frederick Bird Club Warblers & Wildflowers at Catoctin Mountain Park

8-11:00 am  address provided upon registration

Celebrate the magic of spring on a guided hike that blends birding and botany.

Register:  by contacting JacquelineRaiford@gmail.com.

Meeting location and other details will be sent to registered participants.

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​​April 28–May 10

Identify observations for the City Nature Challenge.

Contact our team for more information.

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