Want to help preserve our regional biodiversity? Bring your work gloves, kneeling pads, favorite weeding tools, and some elbow grease to remove unwanted plants from the garden. As you work, you'll learn how to identify common weeds and understand why protecting native plants is so critical for wildlife. Meet at the native plant garden near the Lake House. Please bring your own water bottle, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
Sang Run State Park presents Haunted Hikes on October 2nd & 9th, 2026! Enjoy a 1½-mile historic tour filled with tales of the unexplained under the park's dark skies. The hike begins sharply at 6:30 PM (please arrive by 6:15 PM). Terrain is light to moderate; sturdy shoes and a flashlight or red-light headlamp are required. Questions can be directed to reillee.beeman@maryland.gov.
The discovery table is as diverse as nature itself. The lessons and subjects change week by week, so be sure to come back for something new! Come to this event anytime during the time frame. Meet at the Swallow Falls Canyon Trailhead.
Visit Herrington Manor's nature center to watch the weekly feeding of our resident rat snake, eastern painted turtle, and juvenile common snapping turtle. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
Goat yoga is so last year. Enjoy a relaxing visit and get to know the resident turtles of the Herington Manor Nature Center. Story time, animal calls, fun facts, and more, but with the company of TURTLES!
Join Ranger Hannah on this challenging 4-mile hike and experience the revitalizing effects of outdoor exercise. This is a great way to rack up miles for the Miles for Maryland Trail Challenge!
Join a ranger on a short walk where we will investigate logs and flip stations to see what slimy friends are hanging out. Learn to identify the diverse and unique animals that call this area home, and practice proper handling techniques. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station. Afterwards, be sure to join us for a salamander craft program!
Design your own salamander based on the many unique kinds found in the region or what you discovered during the previous Salamander 101 walk. This program has a $5 fee to participate (for supplies), payable at the front desk of the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
The discovery table is as diverse as nature itself. The lessons and subjects change week by week, so be sure to come back for something new! Come to this event anytime during the time frame. Meet at the Swallow Falls Canyon Trailhead.
Visit Herrington Manor's nature center to watch the weekly feeding of our resident rat snake, eastern painted turtle, and juvenile common snapping turtle. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
Show off your Halloween costumes on this 1.5-mile self-guided hike, where kids ages 12 and under can Trick or Treat along the way. Participants must register by October 13 to ensure an adequate candy supply. Email hannah.muir@maryland.gov to register. This event is sponsored by the Friends of New Germany. There is no fee, but donations are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The Orchard Loop is not stroller-friendly.
Come check out The Discovery Center after dark on October 17, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM! The reptile ambassadors will be out to greet you, with some crafts and a few spooky things to do while you're visiting. Look out for updates in October, when we get closer to the event!
October 17 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM New Germany State Park Lake House (weather dependent) 403 McAndrews Hill Rd Grantsville, MD 21536 If you're up for a spooky adventure, don't miss this 1.5-mile self-guided haunted hike. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp to get to and from the trail safely. Be sure to drop by the Nature Center before or after your hike for hot cocoa, while supplies last. This event is sponsored by the Friends of New Germany. There is no fee, but donations are welcome. NOTICE: This activity will include frightening scenes, startling sounds, and walking on uneven terrain after dark. It may not be suitable for young children. Pets are not allowed. Photo by John Holt
Goat yoga is so last year. Enjoy a relaxing visit and get to know the resident turtles of the Herington Manor Nature Center. Story time, animal calls, fun facts, and more, but with the company of TURTLES!
Join a ranger on a short walk where we will investigate logs and flip stations to see what slimy friends are hanging out. Learn to identify the diverse and unique animals that call this area home, and practice proper handling techniques. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station. Afterwards, be sure to join us for a salamander craft program!
Design your own salamander based on the many unique kinds found in the region or what you discovered during the previous Salamander 101 walk. This program has a $5 fee to participate (for supplies), payable at the front desk of the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
The discovery table is as diverse as nature itself. The lessons and subjects change week by week, so be sure to come back for something new! Come to this event anytime during the time frame. Meet at the Swallow Falls Canyon Trailhead.
Visit Herrington Manor's nature center to watch the weekly feeding of our resident rat snake, eastern painted turtle, and juvenile common snapping turtle. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
Join Rangers Noah and Hannah for an afternoon of pumpkin carving, just in time for Halloween! All supplies and pumpkins will be provided, as well as complimentary s'mores for afterwards, courtesy of the Friends of New Germany. To ensure we have enough supplies, registration is required. You can register by emailing hannah.muir@maryland.gov by October 24. All participants 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Goat yoga is so last year. Enjoy a relaxing visit and get to know the resident turtles of the Herington Manor Nature Center. Story time, animal calls, fun facts, and more, but with the company of TURTLES!
Embrace the beauty of the forest under a full moon on this 1-mile hike with Ranger Hannah. This "Hunter's Moon" will be the second full moon of autumn. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp. Photo credit: Luke Mongrain.
Join Ranger Noah on this challenging 4-mile hike and experience the revitalizing effects of outdoor exercise. This is a great way to rack up miles for the Miles for Maryland Trail Challenge!
Join a ranger on a short walk where we will investigate logs and flip stations to see what slimy friends are hanging out. Learn to identify the diverse and unique animals that call this area home, and practice proper handling techniques. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station. Afterwards, be sure to join us for a salamander craft program!
Design your own salamander based on the many unique kinds found in the region or what you discovered during the previous Salamander 101 walk. This program has a $5 fee to participate (for supplies), payable at the front desk of the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a Trapper Education Course on Saturday, November 1, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at New Germany State Park Lake House. Anyone who wishes to trap furbearers under the authority of a Furbearer Permit must first obtain a certificate of trapper education. In order to pass this course and obtain a Maryland trapper certification card, participants must: 1. Participate in trap handling/field exercises; and 2. Pass a written test (50 questions) with a score of at least 70%. Participants under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The course is free, but registration is required. For more information, please call the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service at 301-777-2136.
Do we have cryptids in Maryland? Some people think so! Join Ranger Hannah on this nighttime adventure and learn about mysterious creatures that may... or may not...lurk in the forest. This program will include a presentation on local cryptids and folklore, followed by an easy-to-moderate 1-mile hike on the Orchard Loop. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp, and a sense of adventure. Illustration by James Point Du Jour, Maryland DNR
Anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a member of the Friends of New Germany State Park is encouraged to attend this quarterly meeting. Schoolhouse volunteers are invited to stay for an additional meeting at 10:15 a.m. For more information, please email or visit the Friends on Facebook.
Join Ranger Noah on this challenging 4-mile hike and experience the revitalizing effects of outdoor exercise. This is a great way to rack up miles for the Miles for Maryland Trail Challenge!
Grab your binoculars if you have them and join a ranger to observe and identify migratory waterfowl currently residing at Herrington Lake. We also have spotting scopes for participants to use. Dress warmly; these birds like it cold! Meet at the Herrington Manor Boat Launch. If the road to the Boat Launch is closed, meet at the Herrington Manor Lake House.
Visit our nature center to watch the weekly feeding of our resident rat snake, eastern painted turtle, and juvenile common snapping turtle. Meet at the Herrington Manor Ranger Station.
