Montgomery Parks Announces January Special Events and Programs

Montgomery Parks has a varied lineup of special events and programs in January, including New Year’s hikes, Three Kings Day celebration, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day volunteer opportunities and lots of outdoor adventures. It’s a new year and there’s always fun to be had and new things to learn at Montgomery Parks.

January events in Montgomery Parks include: 

New Year’s Day Hike | January 1 | 9:30 – 11 a.m. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

Start the new year off on the right foot with a brisk park naturalist-led hike through Wheaton Regional Park. There will be space and time for setting intentions and reflecting on the year ahead. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $10.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park Hike | January 7 | 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841

Take a hike on a moderately-challenging route with an experienced naturalist. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $2.

New Year Retreat at Brookside Gardens | January 8 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

Join yoga instructor, Tanory Ateek, for a day of yoga, meditation and visioning for the new year. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $75.

Winter Open House: Lodge at Little Seneca Creek | January 8 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek, 14500-A Clopper Road, Boyds, MD 20841

Come tour The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek, which sits on 26 acres of wooded parkland. The venue is the perfect natural setting for special occasions, as well as business meetings. Meet staff and vendors from all over the DC area, including caterers, event planners, designers, hair and makeup artists, florists and DJs. Attendees who RSVP will be eligible to win door prizes, such as complimentary passes to some Montgomery Parks facilities and more. Free.

Winter Birding at Black Hill | January 14 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.  Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841

Bird watching will begin at Little Seneca Lake and then participants will be driven to other viewing locations to see tundra swans, great blue herons, kingfishers, bald eagles and more. Bring your own binoculars, spotting scope provided. Registration required. $12 (FOBH $11).

Make & Take Upcycle Winter Journal | January 14 | 10 – 11 a.m.  Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD 20855

Create an upcycled nature journal. After assembling the journal, participants will create their first entry with a guided “zoom in and zoom out” activity. Registration required. Ages 8 and older. $7.

Treasure Hunting in Wheaton Regional Park | January 14 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.  Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

Have fun geocaching! Hike Wheaton Regional Park looking for and finding caches with the help of a park naturalist. Registration required. Ages 8 and older. $7.

 Jug Bay and Merkle NRMA | January 15 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841

Observe visiting winter waterfowl at Jug Bay Natural Area and Merkle Natural Resources Management Area. Bring a bagged lunch, water, binoculars and money for dinner. Registration required. Ages 18 and older. $50.

 

Weed Warrior MLK Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service events | Various dates, locations and times

 Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a volunteer park cleanup:

• Saturday, January 14, from 10 a.m. –12 p.m., Long Branch Local Park. Registration required.
• Sunday, January 16, from 9 – 11 a.m., Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreational Park. Registration required.
• Sunday, January 16, from 12 – 2 p.m., Matthew Henson Trail. Registration required.
• Sunday, January 16, from 1 – 3 p.m., Little Falls Parkway. Registration required.
• Saturday, January 21, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Elmhirst Parkway Neighborhood Conservation Area. Registration required.

American Sign Language Paint Night | January 18 | 6 – 8 p.m. Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD 20855

Join local artist Ellen Mansfield and learn the basics of acrylic painting. Participants will receive a pre-sketched canvas to take home and can bring drinks (including alcohol) and nut-free snacks to the class. Ages 21 and older. Registration required. $40.

 

Wild Forest Time | January 22 | 1 – 3 p.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841

Drop in at the campfire circle anytime during the program to join in on the fun. Build a fort, climb a tree, learn about woodland critters, create some art, or just explore the woods how you want. Registration required. Ages 3 and older. Free.

 

Woodpeckers of Winter Introduction | January 25 | 7 – 8 p.m. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

Learn what woodpeckers can be found in Montgomery County, what makes woodpeckers special, who to see this time of year and what can be done to support woodpeckers in the wild at this virtual program. Want to see woodpeckers in person? Register for the hike ($10) on Sunday, January 29, associated with this program. Registration required. $10.

 

Wild Child Hike | January 27 | 1 – 2 p.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841

Scamper like a squirrel, balance like a billy goat and run like a rabbit as we go on and off the trail on a hiking adventure. Registration required. Ages 4 to 12. $6 (FOBH $5).

 

Montgomery Parks is a co-sponsor of the following event taking place in parks during the month of January:

MLK Day Weed Warriors Cleanup: January 14 @ Mathew Henson Trail from Winding Creek Local Park

Visit the Winter 2022 Montgomery Parks Program Guide. Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar to view a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery.