Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park

About this Nature Center

The nature center features exhibits, a classroom (40 person capacity), a children’s Discovery Room, live animal displays, interpretive gardens, a viewing pond, space for birthday parties, and a Nature Discovery Area, which is coming soon. The Center hosts year-round programs and special events, including story times, campfires, invasive plant removals and nature walks.

It’s located in a beautiful setting that offers a natural habitat for bird watching and other outdoor activities. There are sightings of everything from woodpeckers to wood ducks and warblers. Here are some beautiful photos of birds at Long Branch taken by photographer Paula Sullivan. View Photo Gallery.

Did you know that Long Branch Nature Center is a collection site for the Growing Native program? Growing Native is a year-round volunteer project that collects hardwood seeds and plants trees to help restore and protect rivers and streams in the Potomac River watershed. Long Branch stream flows through the woods, past two ponds full of frogs and turtles. Long Branch’s wooded stream valley is home to a diverse population of wildlife including raccoons, foxes, flying squirrels, salamanders and more. Should your dog play in the stream? A wide variety of butterflies and other invertebrates are also found. Find out more.

Fun fact: George Washington once owned property and surveyed his “woods” in 1785. It also was once the private home of Mae Hickman, who served for over 50 years as a wildlife rehabilitator and co-authored Care of the Wild Feathered and Furred.

Programs

View available activities at Long Branch.

Request a naturalist-led program  for your school, scout troop, preschool, etc.