Brookside Nature Center at Wheaton Regional Park

The cozy building that houses Brookside Nature Center was originally a residence and was converted to a nature center in 1960. It serves as a complement to the nearby Brookside Gardens and provides a hands-on discovery area for children. Displays include live reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, mammals and an observation beehive. Self-guided nature trails take you along interpretive boardwalks, wildlife viewing areas and bird, butterfly, and native plant gardens.

The center is conveniently located within walking distance to the 50-acre gardens, which provide extensive opportunities for all ages to explore hundreds of varieties of plants and flowers. The nearby park has picnic areas, a train, a carousel, an ice rink, indoor/outdoor tennis courts, lighted ball fields, hiking trails and horse stables.

Brookside Nature Center offers unique programs featuring flying squirrels. Special boxes with feeding stations help the center maintain a plentiful population of flying squirrels. The squirrels usually come out to the feeding stations at night and programs are scheduled at times that people are likely to catch a glimpse of the squirrels scurrying from tree to tree.

Find out about upcoming events by viewing the Montgomery County Guide.

Location
Brookside Nature Center is located at [link u rl=http://dc.about.com/od/marylandparks/a/WheatonRegional.htm]Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 (301) 946-9071

Hours
Tuesdays - Saturdays: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sundays: 1 - 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and all major holidays.
Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.