Marshy Point Nature Center is a facility of the Baltimore County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Center hosts educational field trips year-round and a wide variety of public programs.

Description:
Marshy Point is Baltimore County’s nature center on the Chesapeake Bay. Situated on a nature preserve, Marshy Point serves as a “Gateway to the Chesapeake” for the U.S. National Park Service. Its nearly 500 acres, together with other neighboring county, state, and federal land, creates a natural preserve area encompassing over 3,000 acres. The Park welcomes hikers, birdwatchers, and nature-lovers of all types from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day except Baltimore County government holidays. The Center also hosts an array of environmental recreation and education activities for all ages throughout the year.

Together with teacher-naturalists from the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks, the volunteer-based Marshy Point Nature Center Council supports a wide variety of nature programs. From summer camps and weekend canoe trips to natural history lectures and environmental clean-ups, the Center provides visitors with many opportunities to explore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. In addition, the Nature Center hosts each and every fifth grader in the Baltimore County Public School system as they participate in the Eco-Trekkers environmental education program.

History:
Marshy Point Nature Center opened in the spring of 2000. Situated on land acquired by the County through Program Open Space funds in 1982 from the Weiskittel family, the 500 plus-acre site was designated as a nature preserve. It offers stands of old forest, swatches of newly overgrown soybean fields, dense marshlands, wooded and open wetlands, and tidal creeks open to the Chesapeake Bay. Following a rich tradition of water fowling (President Harrison hunted here, as did Babe Ruth), hunters still set up blinds nearby along the creeks during the fall bird migration. Fishermen have also explored the waters of the creeks in search of bass, pickerel, perch, catfish, and the occasional rockfish. Other than recreational hunting and fishing, the Marshy Point area saw little activity during its first decade in County hands. That changed however with the construction of the Nature Center, funded by the County and designed by the architectural firm of RTKL Associates.

Since its opening, Marshy Point has moved steadily forward in creating informative and enjoyable programs for adults and children alike. There are monthly audiovisual lectures by noted naturalists. Weekends bring discovery hikes and demonstrations, and the summer season features a water-oriented camp for children. Also in place is a growing list of courses which currently include canoeing, beekeeping, and bird watching. The annual Spring Festival—which in 2006 is an adjunct of .the Baltimore County Waterfront Festival--is one of several special events. We boast a beautiful butterfly garden, and plans are underway for the construction of a dock and storage building for our canoe fleet. Currently underway also is a campaign to raise $2,000,000 for the addition of an education wing.

The Nature Center has been fortunate to have had, since its inception, the services of Robert W. Stanhope, who also was the founding director at Oregon Ridge Nature Center in Hunt Valley. Instrumental to creating both Cromwell Valley Park and Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, he brought an enormous store of experience to Marshy Point. In 2004, Stanhope was awarded the Olivia Irvine Dodge Award in recognition of his “considerable contribution to environmental education and conservation” in Maryland.

Contact people:

James Frank, Naturalist, (phone), (email) Robert Stanhope, Chief Naturalist, (phone), (email) Ginny Elliott, Administrative Aide, (phone), (email)

Address:

7130 Marshy Point Rd Middle River, MD 21220 (See a map)

Directions:

From Baltimore Beltway (I-695) west of Route 43: Take I-695 east to exit 31C for Route 43 (White Marsh Boulevard). Stay on Route 43 for approximately 9 miles to its end at Eastern Boulevard and make a left. Stay left. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Bus 24, Whispering Woods, 5 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Does this agency accept court appointed volunteers?
	No