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Rock Creek Park Carter Barron Amphitheatre
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Rock Creek Park
Ranger Led Programs

February 2012 schedule
Please call (202) 895-6070 for more information.

Wednesday, February 1
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Young Planetarium  This introduction to the night sky for the youngest of astronomers is a shortened version of our Winter Night Sky Program. Ages 4 and older.

Friday, February 3
• 3:00 PM Nature Center Ranger Reads Join a ranger for story time and learn about different aspects of Rock Creek Park! Books will vary weekly. All ages.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Creature Feature  Become acquainted with the nature center's live animals and assist in their feeding. All ages.

Saturday, February 4
• 9:00 AM Nature Center Rock Creek Civil War Round Table  Join the Fort Stevens Working Group for a discussion about new research findings about Civil War Washington.
• 11:00 AM Nature Center Fort DeRussy Hike  Discover what life was like for Union soldiers encamped at Fort DeRussy on this one-mile hike. Learn how the fort helped defend Washington, DC. Ages 8 and older.
• 12:00 PM Nature Center Night Sky to Freedom  Learn about the Underground Railroad and discover how enslaved African Americans used the night sky to escape northward during this 30-minute planetarium program. Ages 10 and older.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  Visit the only planetarium in the National Park System and explore the wonders of the night sky. View the brightest stars, planets, and constellations of February and learn their stories. Ages 5 and older.
• 2:00 PM Nature Center The Civilian Story  Explore the civilian struggles of women, children, slaves, and freedmen in Washington during the American Civil War. Ages 10 and older.
• 2:00 PM Georgetown Waterfront Park Georgetown Through Time  Georgetown has experienced many changes in its history. Join a park ranger for a walk through history and examine the town's transformation. Ages 8 and older.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  Join us for a series of planetarium programs exploring the universe.  Topics for these programs include the sun, moon, stars, planets, and other space phenomena. Ages 7 and older.

Sunday, February 5
• 11:00 AM Dumbarton Oaks Park Backyard Birds  Discover the variety of birds that live in Dumbarton Oaks Park during the winter months and how they survive the cold climate. Ages 5 and older.
• 12:00 PM Peirce Mill Flour Power  Come explore the city's last remaining 1800s grist mill. Discover how this giant machine used water power to make flour and helped advance the industrial revolution. All ages.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  Visit the only planetarium in the National Park System and explore the wonders of the night sky. View the brightest stars, planets, and constellations of February and learn their stories. Ages 5 and older.
• 2:00 PM Old Stone House Black Georgetown Hike  Explore stories of sacrifice, adversity and success on this tour of Herring Hill, a vibrant 1800s  African-American community in the heart of Georgetown. Ages 8 and older. 
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  Join us for a series of planetarium programs exploring the universe.  Topics for these programs include the sun, moon, stars, planets, and other space phenomena. Ages 7 and older.

Wednesday, February 8
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Young Planetarium  This introduction to the night sky for the youngest of astronomers is a shortened version of our Winter Night Sky Program. Ages 4 and older.

Friday, February 10
• 3:00 PM Nature Center Ranger Reads Join a ranger for story time and learn about different aspects of Rock Creek Park! Books will vary weekly. All ages.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Creature Feature  Become acquainted with the nature center's live animals and assist in their feeding. All ages.

Saturday, February 11
• 10:00 AM Nature Center Saturday Morning Cartoons in the Planetarium  Bring your sleeping bag, pillow, and astronomical mind and discover the cartoon characters in the night sky. This unique planetarium program is open to only 25 people. To secure your free tickets, contact Ranger Scott at 202-895-6227. Ages 4 and older.
• 11:00 AM Nature Center Planetarium Film for Kids: Down to Earth Deliria littered Earth with her trash millions of years in the past. Travel back in time to see if the Zula Patrol can stop her, and learn about the geology of our planet on the way. Ages 3 and older. 
• 12:00 PM Old Stone House Black Georgetown Hike  Explore stories of sacrifice, adversity and success on this tour of Herring Hill, a vibrant 1800s  African-American community in the heart of Georgetown. Ages 8 and older. 
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  See description for Sunday, February 5.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  See description for Sunday, February 5.

Sunday, February 12
• 10:00 AM Fort Stevens Lincoln in Action  Explore how President Abraham Lincoln used executive power in a time of crisis to influence the direction of the Civil War. Ages 8 and older.
• 12:00 PM Peirce Mill Flour Power  Come explore the city's last remaining 1800s grist mill. Discover how this giant machine used water power to make flour and helped advance the industrial revolution. All ages.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  See description for Sunday, February 5.
• 2:00 PM Nature Center Night Sky to Freedom  Learn about the Underground Railroad and discover how enslaved African Americans used the night sky to escape northward during this 30-minute planetarium program. Ages 10 and older.
• 2:00 PM Georgetown Waterfront Park Georgetown Through Time  Georgetown has experienced many changes in its history. Join a park ranger for a walk through history and examine the town's transformation. Ages 8 and older.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  See description for Sunday, February 5.

Wednesday, February 15
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Young Planetarium  See description for Wednesday, February 8.

Friday, February 17
• 3:00 PM Nature Center Ranger Reads See program description for Friday, February 10.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Creature Feature  See program description for Friday, February 10.

Saturday, February 18
• 10:00 AM Old Stone House Black Georgetown Hike  Explore stories of sacrifice, adversity, and success on this tour of Herring Hill, a 1800s African-American community in the heart of Georgetown. Ages 8 and older. 
• 12:00 PM Peirce Mill Theodore Roosevelt Hike   Take a rigorous two-mile hike up the Teddy Roosevelt Trail to Pulpit Rock and return to Peirce Mill via the Valley Trail. Participants will discover the story of the Jusserand Memorial, dedicated to one of Roosevelt's closest friends. Ages 8 and older.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  See description for Sunday, February 5.
• 2:00 PM Nature Center Night Sky to Freedom  Learn about the Underground Railroad and discover how enslaved African Americans used the night sky to escape northward during this 30-minute planetarium program. Ages 10 and older.
• 2:00 PM Georgetown Waterfront Park Georgetown Through Time  Georgetown has experienced many changes in its history. Join a park ranger for a walk through history and examine the town's transformation. Ages 8 and older.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  See description for Sunday, February 5.

Sunday, February 19
• 10:00 AM Georgetown Waterfront Park The Conservation President In honor of Presidents Day, discover how Theodore Roosevelt laid the groundwork to preserve and protect the country's natural and cultural resources for future generations.  Ages 8 and older.
• 12:00 PM Old Stone House By Dawn's Early Light  Stroll through historic Georgetown to the Francis Scott Key Memorial and learn the inspiring story that led to the writing of our national anthem. Ages 8 and older.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  Visit the only planetarium in the National Park System and explore the wonders of the night sky. View the brightest stars, planets, and constellations of February and learn their stories. Ages 5 and older.
• 2:00 PM Peirce Mill Park for the Presidents Hike Several American presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, have enjoyed Rock Creek Park. Discover which U.S. presidents did what in Rock Creek Park on this moderately strenuous, Presidents Day Weekend two-mile hike. Ages 7 and older.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  Join us for a series of planetarium programs exploring the universe.  Topics for these programs include the sun, moon, stars, planets, and other space phenomena. Ages 7 and older.

Wednesday, February 22
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Young Planetarium  This introduction to the night sky for the youngest of astronomers is a shortened version of our Winter Night Sky Program. Ages 4 and older.

Friday, February 24
• 3:00 PM Nature Center Ranger Reads Join a ranger for story time and learn about different aspects of Rock Creek Park! Books will vary weekly. All ages.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Creature Feature  Become acquainted with the nature center's live animals and assist in their feeding. All ages.

Saturday, February 25
• 11:00 AM Nature Center Planetarium Film for Kids: Down to Earth Deliria littered Earth with her trash millions of years in the past. Travel back in time to see if the Zula Patrol can stop her, and learn about the geology of our planet on the way. Ages 3 and older. 
• 12:00 PM Old Stone House By Dawn's Early Light  Stroll through historic Georgetown to the Francis Scott Key Memorial and learn the inspiring story that led to the writing of our national anthem. Ages 8 and older.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  See description for Sunday, February 19.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  See description for Sunday, February 19.

Sunday, February 26
• 10:00 AM Old Stone House Black Georgetown Hike  Explore stories of sacrifice, adversity and success on this tour of Herring Hill, a vibrant 1800s African-American community in the heart of Georgetown. Ages 8 and older. 
• 12:00 PM Nature Center Night Sky to Freedom  Learn about the Underground Railroad and discover how enslaved African Americans used the night sky to escape northward during this 30-minute planetarium program. Ages 10 and older.
• 1:00 PM Nature Center Winter Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star  See description for Sunday, February 19.
• 2:00 PM Georgetown Waterfront Park The Escape on the Pearl  Experience the hope, fear, and tragedy of the largest attempted slave escape in the country. Ages 10 and older.
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Exploring the Universe  See description for Sunday, February 19.

Wednesday, February 29
• 4:00 PM Nature Center Young Planetarium  See description for Wednesday, February 22.

 

 

All ranger-led programs are free and open to the public. All programs start promptly at the scheduled time.

Hours of operation and contact information:

  • Nature Center Located at 5200 Glover Road, NW (off Military Rd.), Open Wed - Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 202-895-6070
  • Old Stone House Located at 3051 M Street, NW (in Georgetown), Open daily 12:00 Noon - 5:00 PM 202-426-6851.
  • Peirce Mill and Barn Located at the corner of Tilden Street and Beach Drive. Open Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM 202-895-6070

    If you would like to receive our monthly calendar of events, please call 202- 895-6070 or email us at
    e-mail us.
 

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Last Updated: January 31, 2012 at 10:14 MST