Cabin John Regional Park
7777 Democracy Boulevard
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
301-765-8660 (new phone #)
Hours: 9am - 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday
NOTE: Hours are subject to change due to events, offsite programs, etc. Please feel free to call for updated information.
Locust Grove Nature Center
Locust Grove offers quality programs featuring the natural and cultural history of Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Come visit our forest exhibit and hike one or all of our many trails.
Introducing Teacher's Thursday
Do you want to incorporate more nature themes into your classroom activities? Would you like to feel more comfortable with the natural world in your schoolyard or back yard? Join us for a monthly gathering to discuss topics naturally relevant to science and outdoor education curricula. Or just come out for a fun evening of learning, coffee, and cookies. Click here for dates, times, or to register.
Summer Camps
Some of our summer camps are still open for sign up! Click here for more information
Current Programs
Check out our Summer programs! Please note: All programs require registration unless noted otherwise.
Check out our new Nature Everywhere! programs for schools
Locust Grove and Brookside Nature Centers announce our new Nature Everywhere! programs: "Taking kids outside for science in the schoolyard."
Welcome Nature Explorers!
Make sure to visit the Nature Exploration Area. The space is designed to let children engage in free exploration with nature's loose parts. There is a sand pit for digging, logs and blocks for building, tubes for musical exploration, and a pile of pinecones to bring out the inner artist. Carved wooden bears and a snake encourage climbing, and a footbridge crossing an imaginary stream encourages imagination. Let your children freely explore this special space designed just for them while you relax and take in the sights and sounds from a tree trunk chair.
Betsy Dotson Memorial Garden
The Betsy Dotson Memorial Garden was created at the bequest of her family to honor a remarkable member of our community. Betsy was a lawyer who lobbied actively and successfully for public institutions. She was also a gardener who delighted in all manner of interesting and unusual plants. She believed strongly in experiential education and established scholarships allowing college students to visit and work with members of Congress. Betsy appreciated the peacefulness of Locust Grove and valued the fact that it was accessible to urban dwellers. In establishing this shade garden, her family hopes that Betsy’s love of nature and education will be shared with park visitors.
How trees become bears!
Playing with Bears
Carved wooden bears at Locust Grove Nature Center to be start of outdoor play area for children.
December 14, 2007. The Connection Newspapers.
Behind the cloud of sawdust is Mark Tremper as he creates a wooden snake with his chainsaw.
A family of bears carved from a fallen red oak will be the focal point of a new outdoor exploration area at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park.Moments at Locust Grove Center
Date of last update: December 12, 2008
Montgomery County Department of Parks