Irvine Nature Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Irvine Nature Center |
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| Type | nature center |
| Location | 11201 Garrison Forest Road Owings Mills, Maryland |
| Area | 210 acres (0.85 km2) |
| Created | 1975 |
| Founder | Olivia Irvine Dodge |
| Hiking trails | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Website | explorenature.org |
The Irvine Nature Center is a special place in Owings Mills, Maryland, where you can learn all about nature! It's like a giant outdoor classroom spread across 210 acres (0.85 km2) of beautiful land. Here, you'll find a large "green" exhibit hall, classrooms, and even an outdoor amphitheater.
The center also has many trails for exploring. About 80,000 people visit Irvine every year. It's a great spot for families, offering fun nature programs and exciting summer camps. There's even a Nature Preschool for younger kids!
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Discover the Irvine Nature Center
The Irvine Nature Center is a fantastic place to connect with the natural world. It helps people of all ages understand and appreciate the environment around them. You can explore different habitats and learn about the animals and plants that live there.
What Can You Do at Irvine?
Irvine Nature Center offers many activities for visitors. You can hike on miles of trails, watch birds, and learn about local wildlife. The center often hosts special events and workshops. These events teach you how to protect nature and live in a more eco-friendly way.
Nature Preschool and Programs
The Nature Preschool at Irvine is unique. It helps young children learn by exploring nature directly. Irvine also hosts conferences for teachers. These events help educators learn how to bring more nature into their classrooms. This way, more kids can experience the joy of learning outdoors.
History of the Irvine Nature Center
The Irvine Nature Center was started by Olivia Irvine Dodge in 1975. It began in an old barn in Stevenson, Maryland. Olivia wanted to teach children how important it is to protect our planet. She believed that understanding nature helps us care for it.
Growing and Moving to Owings Mills
Today, Irvine is the only private, non-profit nature center in its area. Its main goal is to teach and inspire people to explore, respect, and protect nature. The center moved to its current home in Owings Mills in 2008. This new location was once part of the Rosewood Center.
In 2015, Irvine received a big gift. This gift allowed the center to buy 93 more acres of land. This new area is called Bauer Preserve. It brought the total size of the center to 210 acres.
Exploring Diverse Habitats
The land at Irvine Nature Center has many different types of natural areas. You can find open wetlands, thick forests, and sunny meadows. There are also forested wetlands and old farmland. The center is also home to the beginnings of two important waterways: the Jones Falls and Gwynns Falls. This variety of habitats makes Irvine a great place to see many different plants and animals.
Gallery
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A snake at the Irvine Nature Center.
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Birds at the Irvine Nature Center.
