Our mission: To promote and enhance the knowledge, understanding, appreciation and protection of the natural resources through quality interpretive programs and exhibits for the citizens of Rockville.

Just minutes away from Rockville Town Center are 120 acres of beautifully preserved forest, open meadow areas and a winding creek bustling with a variety of wildlife. The City of Rockville has added a feature to this natural wonder—the Croydon Creek Nature Center.

Filled with excitement and discovery, the nature center highlights nature in the urban setting. Interesting exhibits and informative programs provide educational opportunities to help visitors understand the importance of “thinking globally and acting locally.”

Outside the nature center, Rockville Civic Center Park offers marked and unmarked trails through the forest and by the creek for hikers of all ages to explore the natural beauty of the park. Trail Map

What's Inside?

The Mayor and Council approved the Cultural Arts Commission's choice of Gaea's Corner, the mixed media mosaic designed by local artist Deirdre Saunder. The mosaic covers an entire wall inside the nature center and, as the artist's rendering shows, the mosaic focuses on local wildlife and environmental features. See if you can find the fish eating another fish, a rabbit, three eels, a school of fish, an owl, two dragonflies and two butterflies.

Snakes and turtles, oh my!

Homer was named in honor of being found on the stage at Hometown Holidays 2001.  Found as a juvenile, Homer, a black rat snake, had gray markings with black blotches and was only 18 inches long.  Today, he measures over 5 feet in length. Black rat snakes, Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta, are Maryland’s largest snake species – the average is between 6 and 8 feet long.

Rover is an Eastern box turtle who received his name by virtue of having a dog eat part of his carapace (top shell).  Without these crucial couple of inches, Rover would be a sitting snack for any raccoon, fox or dog since there is nothing to protect his head or front legs.  Rover and Carolina, our other box turtle, will live out their entire lives at the nature center, which could be another 80 years!

Currently, the nature center is also home to 4 different species of water turtles, 3 species of snakes, a salamander, toads, tree frogs and insects – all native to this area.  Most of our captive animals are permanently injured and could not survive in the wild. To learn more about these and other wildlife you may find in your backyard, come to Croydon Creek Nature Center!

Exhibit Room
Bird watch through the binoculars, relax on the oak and hickory bent-wood benches, leaf through nature magazines, or see what venomous snakes are (and are not) found in Maryland.  Become a high-tech birder, using the computer program "Maryland Birds."  You can hear the bird calls, learn about their habitats, and more.

Discovery Room
Visit with our live critters to observe up-close some of the animals that live in and around Rockville.  You'll see snakes, turtles, toads, and more.  Don't miss the rare albino corn snake!  Explore the displays inside the naturalist desk, or make a picture from our granite rubbing tiles with nature themes.  Puzzles and books abound.  Like computer games? Come be challenged by Geo-Safari.  Our new wall mural by Lauren, one of our naturalists, will enchant you.

Nature Notions Gift Shop
Our Mission: through the sale of environmentally responsible, socially responsible and educational products, we raise funds for exhibits and programs at Croydon Creek Nature Center.

What’s Outside?

Grounds
Immediately surrounding the nature center are native plants attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.   The meadow is a work of nature in progress with a bit of help from a community planting project.

Trails
Outside the nature center, the John G. Hayes Forest Preserve offers marked and unmarked trails through the forest and along the creek for hikers of all ages to explore the natural beauty of the park.  Trail Map

Hours of Operation

Tuesday through Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m.

Croydon Creek Nature Center is closed Mondays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
 
For more information on the nature center or how you can become part of this exciting program, please call 240-314-8770.   

Coming Soon!

A portion of the lower level construction is now completed — more restrooms!  Future plans include adding a program/meeting room and a permanent exhibit area, when funding is acquired.  (See the "Sponsors" section).

Rain garden/wetland
The rain garden was created as a way to manage and utilize stormwater runoff.  Loose soil allows for quick infiltration of stormwater while native plantings attract local wildlife.  Our garden was installed during the summer of 2006 by a dedicated group of volunteers led by Lauren Katz, who sponsored this garden in celebration of her becoming Bat Mitzvah.

Interpretive Boardwalk 
The nature center believes one of the best ways to interpret the environment is while you are experiencing it!  Part of our long-range outdoor interpretive plan includes a recycled plastic lumber boardwalk that will be accessible to all.  Recycled plastic lumber is initially very expensive compared to wood lumber.  However, the long term benefits far outweigh this initial cost.  The benefits include: it closes the recycling loop by using items with recycled content, it has a lifespan measured in decades, it is extremely low maintenance, and it remains user friendly even when wet bcause it's less slippery underfoot than wood!

 Directions | Field Trip Program Guide | Nature Notions | Nature Programs | Parties at Croydon Creek

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