Such a fun place to explore! The nature center is very informative and interactive. The trails are well maintained and the views are awe inspiring. Our kids loved the outdoor classroom, the bird viewing blinds, and the replica Native American huts. On one of our trails they even found a cool vine to swing from! Great experience even on a chilly January day. We look forward to returning in the Spring and Summer!

what a beautiful place to explore! well marked trails and beautiful meadows to stroll. the staff is super friendly. i’ll be back! ☺️

This review is about the nature trails at the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, MD. I can't comment on the indoor exhibits because I didn't go indoors. They have a large tent with transparent plastic sides that can be used as a wedding venue. There are trails through the woods. The trails are well maintained and covered with wood chip mulch. We were told by our guide that the wood chips come from their own trees. Twice a year, their arborist goes through the forest with his crew. They identify the trees and large branches that are likely to fall into the trails and take them down before they fall down. They put those through a wood chipper, and they spread those chips onto the trails. They also have a bird motel where they care for injured birds until they're capable of being released back into the woods. If a bird's injuries are too severe for effective rehabilitation, they allow the bird to live out their life at the facility. We had the opportunity to see the birds that are being cared for on a permanent basis. Those birds are in the pictures below. Our tour guide was Brian, the bird man of the Irvine Nature Center. I highly recommend the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, MD. Just so you know, the vulture who is picking at Brian's shoelace wasn't actually injured. That bird is there because a person took him in when they found him as a baby bird that fell out of his nest. The person thought he was a raven and decided to keep him because the guy was a Ravens football fan. Then the baby bird grew up. This story is the opposite of the story of the ugly duckling. This bird was cute when it was a baby but not as cute as an adult vulture. And it was pooping all over the guy's garage. So he donated the bird to the nature center. Now, the vulture thinks he's a human being, and he'll never be able to learn how to survive on his own. The lesson Brian was giving us is that when a bird falls out of its nest, people should leave it alone. The parent birds will continue to feed it until it can fly, and then they'll teach it how to survive in the environment.

Absolutely great great nature center from amount of activities, the grounds, and the staff. All the exhibits a very nice and there are plenty of stations. The outdoor area is fantastic and full of things to do. The day we visited, they were offering free hot chocolate and guided hikes through the woods. Best nature center in the area, and that's saying something.

Excellent trails & trail maintenance. The aviary is nice, the wildlife blind is full of birds, the bird & pollinator habitat is extremely well done, and the composting bathroom on the Bauer Path is awesome. I saw tons of warblers yesterday! $5 goes a long way here.

Our family attended today’s magic maple event, where we learned about maple syrup making process, starting from tree identification, hands-on activities to interactive demonstration. Kids enjoyed the whole experience, and we spent another 40-50mins for the indoor exhibits, which we love as well. We look forward to coming back soon. Thank you for organizing such wonderful seasonal events!

Great place for kids with many little adventurous activities. Many active reptiles. The aviary and butterfly exhibit was closed in the free Friday - go figure.

Beautiful place with lots of trails. A great way to get outside while still having to be socially distant.

It has been a pleasure working with Courtney and the whole Irvine Nature staff. My company has attended a few events that Irvine hosts and it is always well done and a great time to bring the community together. They have an amazing indoor and outdoor space for kids of all ages to learn!

Great location and affordable rate to rent outdoor tent. We plan to rent space for bridal shower.

Irvine Nature Center is a gem in this community. I've attended a wedding, a memorial service, a birthday party and my kids even attended camp. The location is beautiful, the trails are awesome and it's versatility is priceless. My family will definitely return.

Nicely maintained trails with a cute place for kids to run and play! I brought my 18 month old here for a hike and lunch. We hiked around and saw lots of wildlife. She loved looking at the bird enclosure. The outdoor classroom is great for running free and exploring, especially with the kid sized picnic tables. We will be coming back!

As of mid August some of the trails are blocked off for maintenance and the visitor center is currently closed for renovation as well. The butterfly house is open from 11-1pm from Tuesday to Saturday but you can see in when not open. During the summer expect to see many kids around for camp activities.

Our group just came back from a homeschool field trip. My first communication with them I was concerned that they would have been too rigid with their program or rules. But after today, I am mostly impressed with their organization and love for education. They were so accommodating and flexible in the whole process. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Would definitely recommend others to sign up for a field trip with them! Thank you Irvine Nature Center for a wonderful day!