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Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Robinson Nature Center

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Columbia, MD
Robinson Nature Center

This is the official page for Howard County Government’s Robinson Nature Center. Please also visit: www.howardcountymd.gov/robinsonnaturecenter

The Robinson Nature Center is a unique nature education facility operated by the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks. Visitors will find interactive exhibits, nature trails, a Children's Discovery Room and our NatureSphere - a digital planetarium and full-dome movie theater. Robinson is one of only a handful of LEED Certified Platinum buildings in the state of Maryland with features inc

luding geothermal heating/air-conditioning, porous paving, solar panels which generate 15% of electric needs, innovative water conservation methods and more. The mission of the Robinson Nature Center is to facilitate the enjoyment and understanding of our natural resources and to bridge the gap between people and nature. Development of the facility and grounds was made possible through the foresight and generosity of James and Anne Robinson and the James & Anne Robinson Foundation. Come see for yourself all that the center offers! We welcome you and your comments to Howard County Government’s Robinson Nature Center’s page. The purpose of this site is to present matters of public interest to Howard County, including its many residents, businesses and visitors. We encourage you to submit your questions, comments and concerns, but please note this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum. You may also contact us by phone at 410-313-0400. The comments expressed on this site do not reflect the opinions and position of Howard County Government or its officers and employees. If you have any questions concerning the operation of this online moderated discussion site, please contact the Office of Public Information at [email protected]. To view Howard County Government’s “Social Media Comments Policy,” visit www.howardcountymd.gov/socialmediapolicy.

06/07/2026

Happy National Trails Day! Robinson Nature Center is home to trails that pass through meadows, cross over streams, and share space with the trees of the forest. Join us soon and see what wildlife and plants you can spot, but be sure to leave no trace by packing out any food or trash and staying on the trail!

Here are some photos from our trails this spring!

06/05/2026

Looking for FREE family-friendly activities this Saturday June 6th? Come on down to Robinson Nature Center!

Join us for Annie's Outdoor Puppet shows in our puppet theater area. These are short, 10-15-minute puppet shows about "Life Underground." There will be one showing at 10am and one at 10:30am.

Or, participate in Saturdays in the Children's Garden any time from 10-11:30am, where Robinson Nature Center volunteers guide families through garden-related explorations, crafts, and more!

06/04/2026

Robinson Nature Center invites families in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to join us TOMORROW (June 5) as we celebrate Pride Month at the Rainbow Campfire: Colors in Nature event! Learn how plants and animals use colors to send messages in nature. Team up with participating friends and family to compete in a scavenger hunt across the property to search for all the colors in the rainbow.

Learn more and sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/RainbowCampfire

05/29/2026

🐾All this rainy weather has led to some excellent track sightings on the trails at Robinson Nature Center! How many tracks can you find in these photos? What animals do you think they belong to? Share your answers in the comments! 🐾

05/27/2026

Looking to explore the outdoors with your toddler? Bring your tot to Robinson Nature Center for "Toddler Time" to investigate sights, smells, textures and sounds of spring. This program is perfect for toddlers ages 1-2 1/2 years old and their caretakers! Class meets Tuesday, June 2 and 16 for 45-minute sessions. At each session, we facilitate unique themed-play activities that help your child explore the great outdoors! Follow the link to learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/TodTimeJune

05/23/2026

🐢Happy World Turtle Day! 🐢
Robinson Nature Center is home to three species of native turtles that you can visit: the Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), and the Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).
Turtles, like all reptiles, have scaly skin, lay eggs, and are cold-blooded. However, a turtle's shell makes them unique from other reptiles. These shells are connected to their body via their vertebrae and help to protect turtles from predators. Stop by the Nature Center this weekend to meet our turtles!

05/16/2026

🦋🐦🐝Buzz on over to Robinson Nature Center on May 24 for a Pollinator Party! Our monthly Nature Buddies class for caregivers and kiddos is diving into the world of pollinators — butterflies, birds, and bees, oh my! This session includes themed hands-on activities. Explore the meadow in search of pollinators and leave with native plant seeds for your garden.

🔗Follow the link to learn more and register: https://tinyurl.com/NatureBuddiesPollinatorParty

05/15/2026

Today is Endangered Species Day -- a day to raise awareness surrounding our country's endangered and vulnerable species. Pictured are Robinson Nature Center's Boh and Gordy, our two male diamondback terrapins. While Boh and Gordy will be living their 30-40-year lifespan here at Robinson Nature Center as they are not eligible for release into the wild, it's important to do our part to protect their wild cousins.

Unfortunately, Diamondback terrapins are internationally recognized as a vulnerable species and are a protected species here in Maryland. One of the best ways to help protect this species is to protect our waterways. This means making sure trash and recycling are disposed of properly, keeping litter out of our storm drains and off of our beaches.

05/11/2026

Situated on 18 acres of park land adjacent to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, the Robinson Nature Center features geothermal heating and air-conditioning, porous paving, solar panels, water conservation methods, and native plant gardens that make it a model of sustainable design.

Built in 2010 and awarded LEED Platinum certification in 2012, the facility also includes 169 solar panels with 40.5 kWh capacity, helping power a center that inspires residents to connect with and care for the natural world.

05/08/2026

We've moved tomorrow's FREE Bookworm Bash at Robinson Nature Center to the Meadow Pavilion and our staging area — just look for the tents. Be sure to join us from 10am-noon at Robinson and enjoy games, a community craft project, local authors and story times.

Howard County Library staff and the creator behind Upper Room Prints will be located under the front awning near our main doors.

No registration necessary. Admission to the nature center is required if you choose to enjoy our building exhibits. Questions? Call us at 410-313-0400.

Address

6692 Cedar Lane
Columbia, MD
21044

Opening Hours

Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14103130400

Website

http://www.howardcountymd.gov/RobinsonNatureCenter.htm

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