Events in Frederick County

Join us at any or all of the events below.

We'll be adding to this list periodically so check back soon!

Thank you to Sam Droege, USGS biologist and pioneer of the bioblitz, who inspired us all at the Kickoff Event on April 2. 

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​April 17-April 26

Storytime at Frederick County Public Libraries

Read books about nature, sing songs, and learn about plants and animals found in our community. Then participate in a mini bioblitz using the iNaturalist app.​

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Myersville Community Library

April 24 @ 10:30 am

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Urbana Regional Library 

April 25 @ 10:15 am

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Middletown Branch Library

April 25 @ 10:30 am

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Thurmont Regional Library​​

April 26 @ 11:00 am​​​​

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April 25

Tree Walk with the Forest Conservancy District Board at Gambrill State Park

1:00 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 Maple trail to learn about differences between trees, ecosystems, and forest succession. Plus, we will record wild plants, animals, and fungi using iNaturalist along the way. 

Registration is required. 

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April 25

Catoctin Creek Park Meet-Up

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Catoctin Creek Park 2929 Sumantown Road, Middletown

Meet at Pavilion 1

Meet up at Catoctin Creek Park to walk the trails, explore the creek and document every living thing we can find. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. This event is a meet up and is not sponsored by or organized by Catoctin Creek Park and Nature Center.

Register: email lkcoyle@yahoo.com

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April 25

Discover wildlife with Park Rangers at Urbana 

6:00-7:00 pm at Urbana District Park, 3805 Urbana Pike, Urbana. Shelter 3.

Join the County Rangers at Shelter 3 to learn about the wildlife that can be found in Urbana and then visit areas of the park to document wildlife for the City Nature Challenge using the iNaturalist app.

Register here. 

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April 26

Audubon Society of Central Maryland Nature Hike

9:00-11:00 am at the Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary in Mt. Airy 

13030 Old Annapolis Road, Mt. Airy, Maryland

Join a hike led by wildlife biologists. Download the iNaturalist app on your phone, and come on out to see what you can find to share. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Groups larger than five must contact ASCM at info@centralmdaudubon.org to make alternative arrangements.

*Please note that there are no restrooms or other facilities on the sanctuary property. 

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April 26

Discover insects in the Pollinator Garden at Fountain Rock

This event has been cancelled. 

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April 26

Explore a Native Plant Garden in a Frederick City Lot with Wild Ones

12:00-3:00 pm in downtown Frederick. Address provided after registration.

Join the Wild Ones Greater Frederick Maryland chapter to document the pollinators that depend on this refuge in the middle of the city. Plus, learn about native plants and how to use iNaturalist. 

Register here. This event is full; email wildonesgreaterfrederickmd@gmail.com to put your name on the waiting list. 

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April 26

Wildlife at Sunset and Beyond at The Reed Center

7:00-10:00 pm 1932 Mountain Church Road, Middletown MD 21769

We'll begin with a crepuscular walk to observe wildlife as the day transitions to night. Then, as dusk deepens, we'll set up a mothing station with an expert to discover the fascinating world of moths. Learn about their diversity, ecological importance, and how to use iNaturalist to document your findings.  

Registration is required. This event is full. Please email mobilizefredericked@gmail.com to put your name on the waiting list.  

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April 27

Bird Walk with Frederick Bird Club

8:30-10:30 am at Gambrill Mill Parking Lot, 4823 Urbana Pike, Frederick

Join the bird walk at Gambrill Mill in Monocacy National Battlefield! This field, forest, board walk and mill site along the Monocacy River is also a bird migration hotspot. The group will stick together identifying birds for eBird and iNaturalist.

*Please note that the address in GPS are not an exact match; we suggest entering "Gambrill Mill" as the destination. 

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April 27

Monocacy River Wings and Wild Things 

9:00-11:00 am at Riverside Park, 1801 Monocacy Blvd, Frederick

​Come join Sustainable Frederick and friends at Riverside Park for a morning filled with fun and excitement. Master Naturalists will lead you on a bird and bug expedition as a part of the City Nature Challenge. Explore the wonders of the Monocacy River and learn about the fascinating wildlife that calls it home. What you’ll learn:

• How to identify plants, flowers, birds, and bugs with iNaturalist

• What kinds of wildlife live by and in our streams

Supplies are limited. Bring your own binoculars (if you have a set!)

*This is a bilingual event that includes a Spanish speaking guide.

Register here.

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April 27

ThorpeWood Nature Hike

9:00 am-12:00 pm at 12805A Mink Farm Road, Thurmont

Come to the farm at ThorpeWood and explore nature on our trails. We’ll meet at the pavilion, make sure everyone knows how to use iNaturalist, and head out from there. A great event for all ages. ​

Register here.

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April 27

ERUCC Green Team Walkersville Watershed Exploration

4:00-6:00 pm at 902 Chestnut Grove Rd

​As a Creation Justice Church, ERUCC aims to be good stewards of the earth. A key step in caring for the earth is learning about the plants, animals and fungi in our natural ecosystems. We can't care for that which we don't know! The ERUCC Green Team will lead a community science hike in the Walkersville Watershed to document as many living things as possible using the iNaturalist app. The hike will take us past a pond, new growth forest, streams, wetlands and mature forest on dirt trails. The Walkersville Watershed can be accessed from Chestnut Grove Rd. We will meet in the parking pull-off area at the bottom of the steep hill. (From Frederick, travel east on Rt 26, turn left on Chestnut Grove Rd. Go past the homes then down the steep hill. Parking is on the right) ***A Boy Scout camping area is located in a different section of the Walkersville Watershed. We will not be going into the areas typically used by the scouts.

Everyone is welcome but children must be under adult supervision.

RSVP to lkcoyle@yahoo.com

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April 27

Amphibian Biodiversity for FCPS Teachers and Staff

6:00-9:00 pm Frederick Municipal Watershed

Join Maryland Sea Grant Assistant Director for Education, J. Adam Frederick, to learn about local amphibian biodiversity and the impact populations have on forest ecosystem health.

This event is by invitation; email mobilizefredericked@gmail.com for more information. 

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April 28

Catoctin Mountain Park City Nature Challenge sponsored by The Nature Conservancy

2:00-4:00 pm Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center 14707 Park Central Road, Thurmont

As part of this year's theme of "Love Your Federal Lands", we will explore the beautiful Catoctin Mountain Park. We will meet at the visitor center, get oriented with iNaturalist, and then explore nearby trails either as a group or on our own--your choice! 

Register here. 

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April 29–May 4

Identify observations for the City Nature Challenge.

Contact our team for more information.

May 13

Jim Brighton of the Maryland Biodiversity Project and special guests will share Frederick County’s observations and their significance.

6 pm at RAK Brewery in Frederick

Our post-event results will be featured at the ThorpeWood Nature on Tap series.