What's New at Holt
Spring is bringing lots of exciting developments to the park. These are only a few of the recent happenings:
- Alex Dusza and Troop 16 gave our diamondback terrapin's enclosure a much-needed upgrade! The new 150-gallon tub features a lofted basking area, easy access ramp, and live mollusks. Stop by during a Saturday Open Nature Cabin to see the turtle enjoying every inch of it.
- Mark your calendars: the fourth weekend of March is the Youth Art Show! Just like the classic ArtsFest you know and love, this event will take place over a full weekend, with a Friday night gallery opening, Saturday activities, and Sunday workshops. Visit the ArtsFest site now to learn more.
 Program Fee Changes are happening! Some programs, such as Paint Nights and Creative Clay, will change price from $10 to $12. Other programs such as Natural World of Art have changed their price from $2 to free! Please note the price when you pre-register for programs, as they may now be different. As in the past, we take cash, checks, and money orders when you arrive for program sign-in.
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Lawn Lobsters: A Strange Sign of Spring
By Mel Tillery, Naturalist
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Maybe you've seen the chimneys: messy sculptures up to six inches tall that look like small volcanoes made out of mud. These are the work of terrestrial crayfish, also called mudbugs, yard lobsters, or chimney crayfish.
While most crayfish live in rivers, streams, or ponds, some species make their living on land, digging deep burrows that give them access to the groundwater they require to breathe through their gills. At night, they venture out into the grass to search for food. Just like their fully aquatic cousins, terrestrial crayfish aren't picky, and will dine on plants, detritus, insects, snails, worms, tadpoles, or even other crayfish.
 Species of terrestrial crayfish that may be found in Maryland include Cambarus thomai, the Little Brown Mudbug, and Procambarus clarkii, the Red Swamp Crayfish, both of which are considered invasive. In some areas where these species have been introduced, amphibian populations have declined due to crayfish predation of tadpoles.
Crayfish are not true hibernators, but they do become inactive during cold weather. As we look forward to warmer temperatures outside, keep your eye out for this unique animal architect building structures near Holt's pond.
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Upcoming Events at Holt Park
Pre-register for programs on our website here. Program space is limited! Payment is accepted as cash or check (addressed to OFRC) at time of sign-in. Registration pages are created manually and will be available for all programs soon.
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The Natural World of Art
Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7:30pm |
Free!
For all ages
Register Online |
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Discover the connection between art and nature using a variety of materials and techniques. Projects are designed to bring out the inner artist in people of all ages.
March 1: A Bird for Dr. Seuss 🐦
Create a fanciful bird to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday (March 2nd).
March 8: It's Nesting Time! 🐣
Use wire to create a nest pendant.
March 15: Origami Tadpoles & Frogs 🐸
Hear the frogs calling? Learn how to make your own.
March 22: It's Spring, What a Relief! 🌱
Create a dimensional spring scene.
April 5: Stitched Easter Egg 🥚
Use easy stitches to craft an egg-cellent ornament!
April 12: Embossed Metal Butterfly
Design your own butterfly – please bring an empty, clean aluminum beverage can.
April 19: UpCycled Flowers 🌼
Watch the magic happen as we create flowers out of plastic containers. |
April 26: Owls for Audubon 🦉
Celebrate Audubon's birthday by making an owl –please bring a clean, dry aluminum can and an unwanted CD.
May 3: Yarn-Painted Flowers 🧶
Colorful curves and coils of yarn become beautiful flowers.
May 10: Beaded Flower 🌸
Use basic beading techniques to create a flower (a great gift for a special Mom!)
May 17: Rainbow Sun Catcher 🌈
This project uses pieces of glass that may have sharp edges. Please bring lightweight gloves to protect your hands.
May 24: Floral Crown 👑
It's National Tiara Day! Use flowers to make a crown. |
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Preschool Nature Hour
Returning in March!
Wednesdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm |
$5 per family
For ages birth to 6
No pre-registration necessary! |
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 Join us each Wednesday morning beginning March 1st to explore a new nature topic with crafts, games, music, live animals, or other fun activities geared toward our youngest nature explorers. Please dress for the weather, we will be outside whenever possible!
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Creative Clay
Fridays, 6:30 - 8:00pm |
$12 per project
For all ages
Register Online |
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 Creating with clay is both relaxing and rewarding. Projects are geared to all ages and levels of experience. On the first class, we will create our project. On the second, we will add color. Join us as we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty!
🥚 March 3 & 17: Egg
Make a hollow egg.
🧁 April 14 & 28: Cupcake
A lidded container disguised as a cupcake.
📛 May 5 & 19: Name Plaque
Write your name in clay.
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Open Nature Cabin
Saturdays, 12:00 - 3:00pm |
Free for all ages
No pre-registration required |
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 Visit Holt's historic Nature Cabin to see our live animals on exhibit and enjoy a simple nature activity. No pre-registration is required for these drop-in times, but space inside the cabin is limited.
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🐦The Great Backyard Bird Count: Sunday, Feb. 19, 10:00 - 11:00am
Bring your binoculars (or borrow a pair of ours) and join a naturalist to learn about winter birds and take part in this annual global citizen science event. Participants will head out into the park to search for and tally our feathered friends. Visit www.birdcount.org for more information. (Free! For adults and children ages 4 & up.)
🔥 February Campfire: Saturday, February 25, 5:00 – 6:30pm
Bring a snack to roast over the fire and gather around for songs and games. The campfire ring is located near the pond. (Free for all ages!)
🎨 "Waiting for Spring" Crafternoon, Saturday, March 4, 2:00 - 5:00pm
Experiment with new materials and leave the cleanup to us. Drop in any time between 2 and 5 to browse our buffet of craft supplies, or bring your own project to work on! ($5 per person, for all ages.)
🍀 Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt: Sunday, March 12, 12:00 - 2:00pm
This self-guided scavenger hunt will take you around the park as you try to solve rhyming clues. Begin the hunt any time between 12:00 and 2:00. (Free for all ages.)
🔥 March Campfire: Saturday, March 18, 5:30 – 7:00pm
Bring a snack to roast over the fire and gather around for songs and games. The campfire ring is located near the pond. (Free for all ages!)
🎨 Youth ArtsFest: Weekend of March 24, 25, & 26
The Youth Art Show, sister event to Overlea ArtsFest, is dedicated to showcasing the artwork of young kids and teens in the greater Baltimore community who are between the ages of 6 and 15 years. Visit the Youth Art Show page on the ArtsFest website to find out how young artists can submit their work and join us for a weekend of creative fun!
🐣 Annual Egg Roll & Egg-Stravaganza: Sunday, April 2, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Holt's 15th annual egg event. Join us for spring crafts, natural egg dyeing, live animals, and of course the famous EGG ROLL! (The game, not the food!) Free for all ages, donations always welcome.
🔥 April Campfire: Saturday, April 15, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Bring a snack to roast over the fire and gather around for songs and games. The campfire ring is located near the pond. (Free for all ages!)
🎵 Nature's Love Songs Evening Hike: Friday, April 21, 6:30 - 7:30pm
Toads are trilling and birds are chirping their hearts out. All so they can find their true love. Take an evening stroll to hear the melodic love songs that fill the spring air at the park. End the night with a campfire. (Free! For adults and children ages 6 & up.)
🌎 Earth Day Cleanup: Sunday, April 23, 10:00 - 11:00am
Celebrate this Earth Day weekend by helping to beautify Holt Park. Learn how to identify and remove harmful invasive plants to make our parks a better place! (Free for all ages.)
🐦 Songs of Spring: Sunday, May 7, 10:00 - 11:00am
Discover the different types of birds that pay Holt a visit. Go on a hike to see our feathered friends and hear their spring songs. (Free! For adults and children ages 5 & up.)
🍄 Mushroom Garden Paint Night: Friday, May 12, 5:00 - 7:00pm
Paint a charming garden paradise at this guided paint night! All materials provided. ($12, for ages 12 and up.)
🔥 May Campfire: Saturday, May 20, 7:00 – 8:30pm
Bring a snack to roast over the fire and gather around for songs and games. The campfire ring is located near the pond. (Free for all ages!)
🐝 Wildflowers and Pollinators: Saturday, May 27, 1:00 - 2:00pm
Learn how different plants are pollinated and then venture out to our gardens to see what pollinators we can find. (Free! For adults and children 4 & up.)
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 Holt Park's Little Nature Explorer and Nature Explorer camps will be returning in July and August of 2023. Mark your calendars for these dates, and for our pre-registration opening in the last week of March!
Little Nature Explorers (ages 3 - 5): July 24 - 28
Nature Explorers (ages 6 - 11): July 31 - August 4
Pre-registration will be announced first via this newsletter, and then to our Facebook page.
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