Clearwater Nature Center

11401 Thrift Rd
Clinton, MD 20735

Tel: 301-297-4575

Email: clearwaternaturecenter@pgparks.com

Hours:
· Mon : Closed
· Tue-Sat : 10 am-5 pm
· Sun : 10 am-4 pm

Stairs and a ramp lead up to a long angular building surrounded by trees, with a blue domed roof above the entrance doors. At the bottom of the stairs, a wooden sign reads CLEARWATER NATURE CENTER.

A narrow rivulet of water cascades through rocks surrounded by moss, dirt, and plants.

Side view of a common box turtle with a yellow pattern on its shell and a bright orange spot behind its eye. The turtle stands on dirt among grass and tiny yellow and purple wildflowers.

A large, wooden, circular sign stands on a stone pedestal base. The sign reads CLEARWATER NATURE CENTER and features a silhouette of a turtle in the middle.

Amenities

Parking Lot
Picnic Tables
Playground Equipment
Restrooms & Comfort Stations
Trail Access

Rentals

Event Buildings & Areas

Events & Public Programs
Visit
School Programs
Rentals
Newsletters

Events & Public Programs

Clearwater Nature Center staff and volunteers provide a wide variety of seasonal and year-round interpretive nature programs to the public both at our facility and at off-site locations.

Groups of ten or more people may arrange for private naturalist-conducted, nature-themed programs. For groups with fewer than ten people, please check out Clearwater’s Programs & Events schedule. Nominal fees and/or group rates apply for programs.

Upcoming Programs

Animal Encounters at Clearwater

You don’t need to be Dr. Dolittle to speak to the animals! Meet the nature center’s l

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Wild Reading

Make a love for reading seem like second nature! Give your child a jump start in lite

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Mindfulness Nature Walk

Looking to de-stress and find a place to relax and get away from the daily grind? Com

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How To Register

Year-Round Programs

Animal Encounters

Come meet some of the nature center’s resident animals including reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey.

Family Campfires

Roast marshmallows around a campfire with a naturalist. (Roasting sticks and marshmallows will be provided.) Feel free to bring your own food/non-alcoholic drink. Call for dates and times. All ages.

Home School Nature Club

Twice a month Sep-May we host a home school club at the Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Center off Bock Rd. These classes meet on Wednesdays. Each class focuses on a different nature theme and may come with workbooks/sheets, Power Point presentations, classroom discussions, games, and more. Call for exact dates and times. For ages two to six yrs and seven to twelve yrs.

Nature Knowledge

A homeschool class! We meet the first Friday of each month Sep-May. Explore the natural world through a variety of science-related topics! These classes may include worksheets, Power Point presentations, classroom discussions, outdoor components, experiments, games and more. For ages ten to 14 yrs.

Jewelry Making: Cabochon

Learn the basics of gem cutting to create your own cabochon! This class usually meets the first Saturday of each month. For ages 18 and up.

Mindfulness Hike/Walk

Looking to de-stress and find a place to relax and get away from the daily grind? Come join us at Clearwater Nature Center and level up your hiking with our Mindfulness Walks/Hikes. Under the guidance of a certified mindfulness meditation teacher, you will go on a journey that deepens your connection with the natural world. (Please note dates are limited). All ages.

Scout Badge Projects

The Nature Facility Program Manager or Park Naturalist can assist your scout/youth group in completing some of the requirements needed for nature related merit badges. Please call at least two weeks in advance to schedule a meeting to coordinate and plan the project and/or event.

Twilight Hikes

Take a hike with a naturalist during twilight hours and search for nocturnal animals awakening form their daytime slumber. We will provide some red light flashlights but supplies are limited. Please bring your own if you have one! Call for dates and times. For ages six and up.

Wild Reading

Sit down and relax on our reading carpet while enjoying a story with a naturalist! Afterwards, get creative with a craft and/or activity. We usually meet the third Wednesday of each month Sep-May. For ages two to twelve yrs.

Community & Club Opportunities

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School Programs

Clearwater Nature center offers curriculum-related programs for school groups as well as Community Outreach programs held at your location.

How to Schedule

Some programs held at Clearwater Nature Center may include an outdoor component. Please dress accordingly. Our auditorium can accommodate 40 people; larger groups will be divided and then go through rotations. Please be aware that this will lengthen your time at Clearwater. Programs typically run 45-90 min.

Please refer to the “Program Descriptions” and “Fees” sections below before submitting your request.

Requests for programs can be emailed to ClearwaterNatureCenter@pgparks.com. Staff will respond within three days to each request in the order they are received.
Please include the following information in your request. Programs cannot be confirmed until all information is received.

Organization Name and Program Coordinator Name

Organization or Program Coordinator Contact Information:

Address

Phone Number

Requested program(s)

Will the program be at Clearwater Nature Center or at your facility?

Please list any specific subjects or themes you would like staff to touch on during your program.

Preferred dates and times

Number and age range of children

Number of adults

Program Descriptions

*Most programs can be modified for all grade levels.

Amazing Animal Artifacts: Recommended for Pre-K & Up

Explore and get hands-on with the many artifacts we have to share. Learn about the natural history of our native and non/native animals! We’ll talk about where they live, what they eat, how they survive, and more.

Animal Encounters: Recommended for Pre-K & Up

Students learn unique, interesting, and fun facts about members from our live animal collection. The Animal Encounters Program can be adapted to focus on a specific animal population and/or topic (e.g. reptiles, insects, mammals, habitats, animal behavior, etc). Please note: We do not take our live animals out on programs during the colder winter months (late October-late April). Please see our “Amazing Animal Artifacts” Program instead during those months.

Discovery Hike: Recommended for Pre-K & Up

Let’s go outside! We will take your group on a hike in the majestic Cosca forest. This program is flexible and can be customized to your interests and needs (e.g., sensory hike, fauna/flora identification hike, etc).

Flora of the Forest & More!: Recommended for K & Up

Students will learn the unique characteristics of plants and how they are beneficial to us. Topics may include plant structure, photosynthesis, pollution, erosion control, natural cycles (water, carbon, etc), and how to “read” a tree. This program may also include dynamic movement in order to help participants understand the concepts being covered. Depending on the weather and educational goals, a hike can be included.

Habitats: Recommended for Grades K & Up

Students will learn about the three main types and components that make up a habitat as well as the four main biomes. We will discuss endangered habitats, how they have been affected by human activity, and what we can do to help.

Owls & Pellets: Recommended for Grades 1 & Up

Learn about the characteristics of owls, identify bones, and study how owls hunt, eat, and digest their food. Learn about owls, how pellets are formed, why they are important, and more. Dissect an owl pellet and investigate what the owl ate. Get an inside look at food chains/webs and differences between owls and other birds of prey. This program typically runs 60-90 min. Craft and worksheets are included. *Cost is $8(R) $11(NR) onsite at our facility. Offsite $10(R) $13(NR).

Scales & Slime: Recommended for Pre-K & Up

Meet some of our reptiles and an amphibian! Students will:

observe the life cycle characteristics of an amphibian,
describe the differences between a reptile and an amphibian, and
investigate and explore the behavioral patterns of reptiles and amphibians

Fees

Programs presented on-site at Clearwater Nature Center(Minimum ten people)

Prince George’s and Montgomery County schools: $4/person
For schools in all other counties: $6/person
*Optional: simple arts & crafts can be requested for an additional $1/person

Programs presented at your school or facility (Minimum 25 people)

Prince George’s and Montgomery County schools, day care facilities, etc.: $6/person
For schools, day care facilities, etc. in all other counties: $8/person
*No arts & crafts addition available
*Price excludes Owls & Pellets Program (see program description for price).

Rentals

Newsletters

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Clearwater Nature Center

11401 Thrift Rd
Clinton, MD 20735

Tel: 301-297-4575

Email: clearwaternaturecenter@pgparks.com

Hours:
· Mon : Closed
· Tue-Sat : 10 am-5 pm
· Sun : 10 am-4 pm

Amenities

Rentals

Upcoming Programs

Animal Encounters at Clearwater

Wild Reading

Mindfulness Nature Walk

How To Register

Year-Round Programs

Community & Club Opportunities

About/Features

Accessibility

Stay in Touch

How to Schedule

Program Descriptions

Fees

Event Space Rentals

Birthday Party Package

Mount Rainier Nature Center

Watkins Nature Center

Old Maryland Farm

Bladensburg Waterfront Park

Clearwater Nature Center

11401 Thrift Rd Clinton, MD 20735

Tel: 301-297-4575

Email: clearwaternaturecenter@pgparks.com

Hours: · Mon : Closed · Tue-Sat : 10 am-5 pm · Sun : 10 am-4 pm

Amenities

Class List

Events Calendar

Rentals

Upcoming Programs

Animal Encounters at Clearwater

Wild Reading

Mindfulness Nature Walk

How To Register

Year-Round Programs

Community & Club Opportunities

About/Features

Accessibility

Stay in Touch

How to Schedule

Program Descriptions

Fees

Event Space Rentals

Birthday Party Package

Mount Rainier Nature Center

Watkins Nature Center

Old Maryland Farm

Bladensburg Waterfront Park

11401 Thrift Rd
Clinton, MD 20735

Hours:
· Mon : Closed
· Tue-Sat : 10 am-5 pm
· Sun : 10 am-4 pm