Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center — Attraction in Brunswick

August 29, 2021 - Looking for OUTDOOR activities in beautiful Middletown (Maryland), stop at Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center! Great place for picnic & play with your family. . . which I rate a solid 4.8!

The mission of the Nature Center:

To provide the public with education about local environment and ecosystems.

Opened in 2011, loads of stuff:

*Nature Center building *Hiking trails over 139 acres *Sensory Trail for children *Playground for kids *Patio with picnic tables for lunch *Two pavilions with picnic tables (reserve) *Animal displays for kids *Classrooms to rent/reserve for kids *Nearby Catoctin Creek

We spent Sunday enjoying a family picnic lunch on the patio. Then hiked the Sensory Trail with our Grandson. Plenty of room to throw a frisbee or ball around. It’s free! Restrooms available open on Sunday.

I’d recommend renting their pavilion ( 2 available) for family or group outings! Set up your grills and corn hole boards, ready to party!

Suggestion: If Nature Center is closed, restrooms are closed!...

We had my sons birthday party here & overall it was a very good experience ! The animals were very awesome to see, and the room for the party was huge and plenty of space. The girl that hosted our party was so nice & friendly. The only issue we had was the main lady, was not very nice & honestly kind of rude. My daughter had let go of a balloon, and this lady stopped a random kids mom and lectured her on the balloons being around the animals. NOW. i completely understand, and it was our fault for letting her carry it out, she’s also 2, but i think it was a little unprofessional to stop a random kids mom and lecture her instead of asking for the parent who hosted the party. she felt very awkward and uncomfortable. also, for the money we spent, i think letting a balloon go is not the biggest deal & she could have been way friendlier. the two young girls were amazing, nice & friendly. I wish they ran the...

Inside the nature center you'll find several types of native animals (and a few imports like the Vietnamese walking sticks), knowledgeable volunteers and full time employees, science toys, educational programs on the wide-screen, and some really comfortable rocking chairs. Some highlights: king, black/rat, and corn snakes, lizards, and the central display, the turtle pool. The animals are frequently brought out of their habitats to meet guests, and occasionally guests are invited to help feed them. Outside, you'll find some 130 acres of varied terrain and environments to explore, including a playground, several wading areas along Catoctin Creek, a large eastern white pine grove with debris shelter displays, fire pit, hiking paths, and newly planted reforestation areas. It's fairly easy to spend several hours here, all for free! The fire pit and picnic pavilion are available for rent for...