Learn about the beauties of nature at the most fun family event of the year!
NCAC presents its 7th annual
NatureFest
Prepare to be amazed, get your hands dirty, and have loads of fun as we learn about the beauties of nature together! This is a free event for families of all ages.
When: Saturday, April 17, 10 AM–3 PM
Where: College of Southern Maryland,
8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata
Register online to save time on your arrival!
Share NatureFest with your friends and family
Our Partners
Get ready for
live bird shows
Get to know
a frog
Create a
animal-themed cup
Get out and
go on a nature scavenger hunt and win a prize
2026 Exhibitors
1treeyoga
4-H STEAM Rollers Club
Alice Ferguson Foundation
Atlantic Kayak Company
B-Fabric Art
Charles County 4-H Club
Charles County Government – Planning & Growth Management
Chesapeake Mermaid
Conservancy for Charles County
Cub Scout Pack 1786 Mechanicsville
CSM BIO Department - Owl Pellet Dissection
CSM Butterfly Masks
CSM Environmental Studies Degree
CSM Seed Library / Seed Box
CSM Student Nature Art Display
CSM Natural Dyeing
CSM Campus Nature Walks with Bill Wultich
CSM Kids' and Teen College
DarkSky
Earth Liaison
Earthly Delights Native Gardening
Ecobay Landscape
Forrest Career & Technology Center – Natural Resources Management Class
Goodman LLC | Native Plants & Conservation Consultancy
Herpetology / Amphibian Display, Keith Linville
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Maryland Bird Nerd
MD Volt Inc.
Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center
NCAC Nature Art Experiences
Owl Moon Raptor Center
Paracord Bracelet Activity
Pat Biles’ Vermicomposting
Port Tobacco River Conservancy
Rootbound Farms
Roundhouse String Band
Salted Scoop
Scouting America
Sea Drift Sculptures
SMECO EV Program
SOMD Conservation Alliance
Southern Maryland Astronomical Society
Southern Maryland Audubon Society
Tesla Owners Club of Maryland
The Hip Hop Homestead Press
Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association
Tim Hutzley, Arborist
Town of La Plata & CSM La Plata – Bird City/Bee Campus
Treasure Nest
University of Maryland Insect Zoo
University of Maryland Extension – Charles County Master Gardeners
USGS Bee Lab
Virginia Osprey Foundation
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay
Wildlife Rehabilitation-Holly Smirnoff
Yeduri
Yoga with Annah
2026 Door Prizes Supplied By
Bona Terra — Assorted Native Plants
Chesapeake Mermaid — 2 Book Bundles
Chesapeake Natives — Gift Certificate
Earthly Delights Native Gardening - Nature themed print
ECOBAY Landscape — Two potted native plants
Forrest Career & Technology Center—Natural Resources Management Class
Foster’s Grill — Gift Certificates for Family Meals
Goodman LLC — 3 Gallon Chickasaw Plum
Mission Barbeque - Sandwich coupons
Neighborhood Creative Arts Center — Five $20 gift certificates
Providence Greenhouses — Potted plant (swamp milkweed) and $50 gift card
Salted Scoop — Two gift cards
Southern Maryland Audubon Society — Stuffed Bald Eagle (approximately $30 value)
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay - Native Plant Assortment
Sponsors & Grantors
NatureFest 2026
NatureFest 2025
NatureFest 2024
NatureFest 2023
Did you miss out on NatureFest?
Watch and listen as our director, Ms. Georgia, talks about NatureFest 2023 and all of its fun!
Credit: Bill Smith, videographer
NatureFest would not be possible without the in-kind donations from these organizations over the years:
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A couple of helpful resources and fun activities!
When you attend NatureFest, your child will receive activity kits. The Charles County Master Gardeners have created these resources to help them further understand how to assemble and use their kits.
You may also reference Instructional videos here:
Charles County Extension YouTube channel
And further resources are available here:
For more fun nature-based resources, please check these out:
For more amazing online resources, check out the Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation's website.
Thank you to the following individuals who helped our first NatureFest in 2021 become a reality through their donations:
Bill and Marlene Smith
Jacqueline Jenkins
Laverne R. Madison
Lester and Bettina Bailem
Michelle Chenault
Pat Biles
Teresa Jones
Teri White
Terry Thir