Croydon Creek Nature Center is home to many animals, exhibits, activities, books and even some art. Visit the center and discover what it has to offer.
A colorful mosaic that covers an entire wall greets visitors as they enter the center. The mixed media mosaic titled Gaea's Corner is the work of local artist Deirdre Saunder. It focuses on local wildlife and environmental features. It's fun to find the fish eating another fish, a rabbit, three eels, a school of fish, an owl, two dragonflies and two butterflies.
 Rover is an Eastern box turtle who received his name by virtue of having a dog eat part of his carapace (top shell). Without these crucial couple of inches, Rover would be a sitting snack for any raccoon, fox or dog since there is nothing to protect his head or front legs. Rover and Carolina, our other box turtle, will live out their entire lives at the nature center, which could be another 80 years!
Currently, the nature center is also home to 4 different species of water turtles, 3 species of snakes, a salamander, toads, minnows and a tree frog – all native to this area. Most of our captive animals are permanently injured and could not survive in the wild. To learn more about these and other wildlife you may find in your backyard, come to Croydon Creek Nature Center! Bird watch through the binoculars, relax on the oak and hickory bent-wood benches, leaf through nature magazines, or see what venomous snakes are (and are not) found in Maryland. Become a high-tech birder, using the computer program "Maryland Birds." You can hear the bird calls, learn about their habitats, and more. Visit with our live critters to observe up-close some of the animals that live in and around Rockville. You'll see snakes, turtles, toads, and more. Don't miss the albino corn snake! Explore the displays inside the naturalist desk, or make a picture from our granite rubbing tiles with nature themes. Puzzles and books abound.
Through the sale of environmentally responsible, socially responsible and educational products, we raise funds for exhibits and programs at Croydon Creek Nature Center.
Immediately surrounding the nature center are native plants attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The meadow is a work of nature in progress with a bit of help from a community planting project.
Outside the nature center, the John G. Hayes Forest Preserve offers marked and unmarked trails through the forest and along the creek for hikers of all ages to explore the natural beauty of the park. Trail Map
There is more than meets the eye at Croydon Creek Nature Center. Did you know we have a lower level with an exhibit space? A watershed themed exhibit opened in October 2009 and gives visitors a tour of our local watershed along with ways we can all positively impact watershed health. The space downstairs includes additional restrooms, a program room, work room and naturalist library. 
"Insects Fascinate" portrays selected insects native to Montgomery County. It was created in the spring of 2011 inside the Alfred D. Noyes Children’s Center in Rockville by some 45 youth working with professional artists Peter Krsko and Alicia Cosnahan. The project was a collaboration between Class Acts Arts and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.
Watch this Rockville 11 news segment to get a sneak peek about this unique Rec & Parks camp!
Plants, Animals and TV Cameras! It can only mean one thing...Nature Center TV is back again! Watch the full Rockville 11 production that was produced in partnership with Croydon Creek Nature Center and NCTV campers!
See also: NCTV 2010 Edition | NCTV 2009 Edition
| 
