Learn about the beauties of nature at the most fun family event of the year!
NCAC presents its 6th 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, May 30, 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
Get ready for
live animal shows
Get to know
a frog
Create a
Get out and
go on a nature scavenger hunt and win a prize
Thank you to our 2025 exhibitors
121 Creations
Alice Ferguson Foundation
American Chestnut Land Trust
Amos Cozy Creations
Art of Belle
Calvert Kettle Corn
Calvert Nature Society
Caretta Inspired Journeys
CC Planning and Growth Management
Chesapeake Bay Laboratories
Chesapeake Bay Trust
CSM BIO DEP Owl Pellet Dissection—Pollinator Garden Scavenger Hunt
CSM Environmental Studies Degree—Bottle Cap Art
CSM Seed Library
CSM Vertical Agriculture
Earth Liaison
Ecobay
Face Painting
Forrest Career and Technology Center
Herpetology and Amphibian Display
Kid's College Display
King's Kingdom
Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA)
Maryland Bird Nerd
MD Volt Inc.
Microcope Critters Display
Monarch Display
Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center
Nurture Natives
Owl Moon Raptor Rescue
Paracord Bracelets by Nathan Daetwyler
Port Tobacco River Conservancy
Pottery Inspired by Nature
Robert Ramos Photograpy
Roundhouse String Band
Salted Scoop Ice Cream Truck
School House Pottery
Sensory Table by Ashton Gordon
SMECO-EV Program
Southern Maryland Astronomical Society
Southern Maryland Conservation Alliance
Southern Maryland Engineering Partnership with Christine Owens
The Conservancy for Charles County
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association
Town of La Plata and CSM La Plata—Bird/Bee City, Bird/Bee Campus
UMD Extension Charles County Master Gardener
UMD Extension 4-H
USGS Bee Lab
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay
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
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.
NatureFest would not be possible without the kind donations from these organizations:
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Thank you to the following individuals who helped NatureFest 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