Group programs at Black Hill Visitor Center
Interpretive programs are offered year-round for families and individuals
of all ages, from preschoolers to seniors. We offer van trips, hikes, presentations on the pontoon and craft programs. During the school year, educational
programs are offered to schools, scouts, home-schooled children and other organized groups. We offer canoe and kayak lessons as well.
Brownies on the "Kingfisher" Pontoon Boat.
Call 301-972-5990 to make reservations.
Black Hill Visitor Center is located within Black Hill Regional Park in upper Montgomery County, near the town of Boyds. The Park and Visitor Center are operated by Montgomery Parks (part of the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission). Park Naturalists at the Visitor Center offer educational programs that make use of natural and historical resources found within the Park.
With more than 1,000 acres including 505-acre Little Seneca Lake, the park offers 10 picnic shelters, hiking, trails, and a pontoon boat for group tours. Learning opportunities can be found in the mixture of forest, field, stream and lakeside habitats found within the Park.
Group program guide
Educational program opportunities
With the Montgomery County Public School Curriculum in mind, educational programs have been and continue to be developed to suit the needs of students in pre-school through the 12th grade. We also offer programs for college students and other interested groups, such as scouts.
Field trip guidelines
- Day and Times: Monday-Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.
- Group Size: The maximum group is 30 students to include teachers and adult chaperones.
- Fees: $5 per person; there is no charge for teachers and or chaperones. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required. Checks are payable to: MNCPPC ~~ We are available to make certain presentation at your facility as an outreach program with an additional $50 charge.
- Lunches: There are covered picnic pavilions (if not already reserved) and uncovered picnic tables throughout the Park. In addition, there are playgrounds and restroom facilities within walking distance of the Visitor Center. Food and drinks are not allowed in the Visitor Center. Children’s coat hooks are outside the auditorium area.
- Weather: Our programs take place in fair weather, light rain, warm or cold weather. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for that day's weather.
- Tips: Please have children wear easy-to-read nametags.
- Program length: Varies from 1 to 2 hours, depending on program curriculum and age group.
How to schedule a program
Reservations are accepted by phone only, Monday - Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm. Please call 301-972-5990, and leave a message that includes name of your school, size of group/s, and the best time to reach your group's contact person.
- Fall: September - December
Scheduling begins the first Tuesday prior to the first day of school. - Spring: January - June
Scheduling begins the first Tuesday after January 1.
NOTE: We are available to make certain presentation at your facility as an outreach program with an additional $50 charge. After we receive your phone reservation, we'll mail you a program confirmation. Please review this information carefully.
Programs
Pontoon Boat Tours on Little Seneca Lake
Young Naturalists
Natural Science Programs
Plants and their Habitats
Earth Sciences
Cultural and Historical
Your Choice
Pontoon Boat Tours on Little Seneca Lake
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Black Hill Nature Programs
20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD 20841
Please Call 301-972-5990 for Reservations
Go on the water for a cruise abroad the Kingfisher, our 30-person pontoon boat for lake ecology studies, wildlife watching, story times, fishing workshops, sunset bats’n beavers spotting, or a program of your choice. Binoculars, both adult and child-sized, are available for use by all participants while on the tour. Fee is a $5 per person. Life jackets are provided for all, children under six are required to wear life jackets. For interpretive programs we require children be three & older.
Little Seneca Lake is a 505-acre reservoir located in upper Montgomery County. Surrounded by Black Hill Regional parklands, the lake freshwater community teams with healthy populations of plankton, insects, fish, frogs, turtles, beavers, muskrats, as well as an incredible variety of waterfowl and fishing birds such as osprey, bald eagles, great blue herons and kingfishers. The shore plant life is diverse and furnishes food, forage and shelter for the wildlife.
Pontoon boat tours include:
- Story time on the Lake (suitable for preschooler and early elementary ages)
Includes a story, and nature craft. Possible programs include: “Turtles”, “Dragonflies”, “Butterflies”, “Autumn Leaves”, “Hibiscus and Hummingbirds”, “Miss Spider’s Tea Party”, “Beavers”, “Plankton Party”, “Fish Fathers and Their Fry”, “Animals of Black Hill Regional Park” - Life on the Lake (suitable for Elementary Ages to Adult)
Observe animals and shoreline habitats from a water perspective. See beaver lodges, herons, geese, kingfishers, ducks, woodpeckers and tree swallows. Look down for bass nests in shallow waters close to shore. Watch turtles basking quietly. Look for deer feeding on the shore. - Lake Ecology (suitable for Elementary Ages to Adult)
Using a variety of equipment, explore the relationships and dynamics of freshwater ecosystems.
Young Naturalists (suggested for preschool-K)
This one-hour programs includes both indoor and outdoor activities, including interactive, naturalist-led discussions with hand-on activities, related children’s story, and video. Please choose from the following options:
- A Child’s Life in an Algonquian Village
Listen to a legend, play some Algonquian games, and learn about clothing, natural pigments, food, music, and dance. - Animal Homes
Discover where and why animals select their habitats and build their shelters. Learn the basic needs of animals—food, cover, water, and a safe place to raise young. - Animal Babies
Learn about North American animal babies and their habitats. Hike to discover the safe places animal parents choose to raise their young. - Beavers
Investigate a model beaver dam and lodge. Learn how beavers adapt to their watery habitat. Learn how beavers create new habitats for plants and animals. Hike along the shore in search of beaver activity. - Four Seasons
Take a close look at seasonal cycles; focus on the changes that occur in plants and animals during the current season. - Going Buggy
Go eye-to-eye with creepy crawlies. Use nets and hand lenses to explore and observe the marvelous details of the largest class of creatures on earth. Offered mid-April through early October. - Touching Nature
Explore the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of nature through sensory awareness activities. Offered March-November.
Natural Science Programs (grades 1st to 12th)
Explore animals and their habitats. Programs are tailored to the age and learning level of each group.
- General Nature Hike
A unique, all-outdoors program of seasonal plant and animal observation, plus nature trivia. Explore trails and make intriguing discoveries along the way. 1 to 1 ½ hrs. - Butterflies: Winged Wonders
Discover their fascinating life cycle and observe our Butterfly Garden and Wildflower Meadow. Activities include gentle catch/release using butterfly nets. - Feathered Friends
Discover what makes birds unique. Learn about special adaptations through birdcalls and songs, eggs, hands-on artifacts, video, beak/ tool activity and a hike. 1-1 ½ hrs.
Plants and their Habitats
The following programs are also well suited for scout groups. They are offered from April to October. Programs can include both indoor and outdoor activities.
- Natural Communities Study
Explore and contrast two communities at Black Hill Regional Park: the forest and the field. Topics include plants and animals, producers and consumers, energy and nutrient cycling, food chains, decomposers, and succession. 2 hrs. - Trees are Terrific
Enjoy a visit to a forest filled with hickory, oak and tulip poplar trees. Use the sense of smell and powers of deductions for tree identification. Learn about the unique characteristics of different tree species and their adaptations, and how trees are used as resources for people and wildlife.
Earth Sciences
- Rock-On! Enjoy a fun introduction to rocks and minerals. Learn their differences, how and where they are formed, and their importance to our culture. Hike to explore rock types outdoors. Year-round, 1-1 ½ hrs
Cultural and Historical
- Woodland Indians of Maryland
Take an in-depth look at the first residents of Maryland, the Algonquians. Learn how they obtained their tools, clothing, and food from plants, animals, bones and stone. Investigate a village, and how its homes were constructed, and learn about their ingenious hunting and fishing techniques. Includes hands-on opportunities with actual and simulated artifacts.
Your Choice
We can design a program to fit your needs as other topics are available. Call for special arrangements.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. M-NCPPC encourages the participation of individuals with disabilities. For accommodations such a sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, etc., please contact the Community Relations Office at 301-495-4600. TTY 301-495-1331.
Contact your nearest Nature Facility:
For additional program opportunities, including offsite and classroom visits, please view the nature centers’ websites.
Date of last update: July 31, 2008
