Quantum Internet Services has graciously offered their services to Charlotte's Quest Nature Center.

OPENING FOR THE SEASON
Monday, March 1, 2010

Charlotte's Quest Nature Center reopens. Programs begin Friday, March 5, 2010 with Outdoor Classroom for children ages 6 through 10. The nature center Interpretive Building is open on the first Sunday of each month March through December from 12:30 pm until 4 pm. The nature center and Pine Valley Park grounds are open and available 365 days a year by parking at the gate and entering on foot. For more information please see our Online Calendar.

UPCOMING EVENTS

EASTER ADVENTURE EGG HUNT
Saturday, March 27, 2010

Rain Date: Saturday, April 3, 2010
Time:10:00 AM Sharp
Ages: walking through age 12 welcome to participate

Children up through age 12 will take part in an Egg Hunt with plastic goody-filled eggs filled. There are four age groups: walking to age 3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 that will be looking for the "prize egg" in their designated hunt areas throughout the park. Those who locate the "prize egg" win the grand prize for their age group. The hunt starts promptly at 10:00 AM, please plan to be here by 9:45 AM.

Fee: NONE. DONATIONS MOST APPRECIATED.
Check this website for possible postponement.

SPRING FEST 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Sunday, May 2, 2010

Time:12:00 PM - 4 PM Sharp
Ages: all

Food, crafts, games, exhibits, vendors, face-painting and more.
Music provided by Aspen Run Bluegrass.

Master Gardeners will showcase live cockroaches. Learn to make birdfeeders and paper. Quality Deer Management specialist Ed Grimes will talk to you about the whitetail deer and its habits. Smokey Bear will make an appearance. Archaeologist Stephen Israel will be on hand to talk about the excavations at Charlotte's Quest Nature Center & Pine Valley Park. Visit the Environmental Information booth that provides information about Carroll County's watershed restoration efforts. Marilyn Mause will be doing a presentation on the program Wild Acres: Backyard Wildlife. Power Take-Off 4H Club of Hampstead and Deep Run 4H Club will be providing food, a petting zoo and pony rides for minimal fees to help raise funds for their organizations. A day filled with fun for the entire family. We look forward to seeing you.

The Manchester Parks Foundation's Annual Spring Fest Celebration
for Charlotte's Quest Nature Center
to date is sponsored by:

D. E. Trump, LLC
Lineboro-Manchester Lions Club
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church
Trinity United Church of Christ
Long View Nursing Home
Butch & Ellen Frey
Aspen Run Bluegrass Band
Miller's Food Market
Manchester Pharmacy
Hughes Trash Removal

For more information please see Charlotte's Quest Nature Center's Online Calendar.

FUND-RAISING OPPORTUNITY

With no cost to you!

Our group is participating in a recycling fundraiser by collecting used cell phones and empty ink cartridges to be good stewards of our environment and to raise money to further the studies at Charlotte's Quest Nature Center teaching about conservation and preservation of our natural resources, protection of our area water sources, and how we can restore the native plants and animals that are vital to our environment.
Unlike other fundraising projects, there is nothing to buy. This recycling program is an easy way for us to raise money and to help the environment at the same time by reducing the amount of non-biodegradable waste in our landfills.

Can we count on your help? It's easy! Please collect used cell phone and empty inkjet cartridges, laser toner, copier toner, fax toner and multi-functional printer cartridges from your home, work, co-workers and neighbors.

Collection boxes are located in the NATURE CENTER'S INTERPRETIVE BUILDING. PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE SIDEBAR, Email Us OR CALL 410-374-3395 for our scheduled open days and times. You may also drop these off at the MANCHESTER TOWN OFFICE, 3208 York Street, Manchester, MD or contact us for more information.

Please erase all data on your cell phone. No need to worry--as an extra security measure, the recycling company will double check to make sure all of your data is deleted before reuse.

There is no cost to our group to participate in this recycling program, so 100% of the proceeds will benefit Charlotte's Quest.

Our goal is to ship out our first collection of cell phones and cartridges on June 1, 2008, so could you please help us out by giving us your used cell phones, accessories and used ink cartridges? All will be recycled. Even if they are no longer useable, they will be dismantled and recycled.

With your help, this is going to be a great way for us to raise money and to help the environment at the same time.

This is an ongoing fundraiser; so when you have more cartridges and cell phones ready, please drop them off in the available collection boxes!

Thank you for being a good steward of your environment and for your support!

Did you know?

• For every ink or laser cartridge collected and recycled, two quarts of oil are kept out of the landfills;
• The number of ink and laser toner cartridges thrown away in one year is enough to circle the earth;
• It takes 1,000 years for an ink or laser cartridge to decompose in a landfill;
• Recycling ink or laser toner cartridges helps to decrease the amount of waste that goes into landfills and helps reduce the amount of toxic chemicals absorbed into the Earth;
• Printer cartridges create over 1.9 billion pounds of non-biodegradable waste;
• Over 100 million cell phones will be thrown out this year alone; and
• One cell phone can pollute up to 34.9 gallons of water

WHERE CAN YOU DROP OFF THE INK CARTRIDGES?

The ink cartridges may be dropped off during the week at the Manchester Town Office located at 3208 York Street in Manchester, during the first Sunday of the month or during program hours at the nature center. Do your part for the environment and help support environmental education at the same time.

Thank you in advance for helping to save the environment and for supporting Charlotte's Quest Nature Center's teaching.

All cartridges and cell phones can be recycled, although not all will have a monetary benefit for Charlotte's Quest, we will be helping to save our environment and that is what Charlotte's Quest Nature Center is all about.

LINKS

If ever a line is not working as it should, please contact me as soon as possible, so I can find out why and repair the link if necessary. I appreciate your cooperation in making sure that this site works as it is intended. It is my goal to make our site user-friendly, information-packed, and convenient for you. If you have any ideas of how I can improve our site please do not hesitate to let me know. If you notice any errors or broken links please inform me.

Email Webmaster

NATURE CENTER NEEDS

Charlotte's Quest is always in need of your help. What help can you be? You can aid us in lots of ways, whatever best suits you. You can donate your money, time, and gifts, even services. Serve on the Board of Directors or become a member of the Manchester Parks Foundation.

WISH LIST:

QUANTUM INTERNET SERVICES DONATION

Quantum Internet Services of Manchester, Maryland has AGAIN graciously donated to the Manchester Parks Foundation/Charlotte's Quest Nature Center our Internet Services, hosting of our web site and our domain name www.charlottesquestnaturecenter.com for the year 2009.

THANKS QUANTUM!

Quantum Internet Services
2975-B Manchester Road
Manchester, Maryland 21102

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Charlotte's Quest
NATURE CENTER
A Non-Profit Organization

Charlotte's Quest NATURE CENTER
3400 Wilhelm Lane
Manchester, Maryland 21102
410.374.3395

Email Us


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HOURS OF OPERATION

Charlotte's Quest is under the direction of the Manchester Parks Foundation and the Town of Manchester. Charlotte's Quest Nature Center is operated by volunteers and one paid staff member, the Naturalist, and is maintained by donations, grants, memberships, and in-kind gifts. No government funding is received.

The Nature Center's Interpretive Building will be open the:

First Sunday of each month: 
12:30 PM until 4 PM (except holidays)
and during special events and programs

Weekdays: 
are by appointment

Our 4 1/2 miles of trails, Walnut Pond, the Stream of Life, the natural springs and forests are open everyday from dawn until dusk. Feel free to park at the gate and to walk in during the hours that the Interpretive Building is not open.

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MISSION

It is the mission of the Manchester Parks Foundation to be stewards of the environment by protecting the watershed area and our precious natural resources, by teaching environmental education to the public, by the restoring of the native plants and animals, and by maintaining a diverse natural world.

The Manchester Parks Foundation is the caretakers of Charlotte's Quest Nature Center and Pine Valley Park.

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CHARLOTTE'S QUEST
NATURE CENTER
and Pine Valley Park

RULES AND REGULATIONS

These rules are intended to secure the fullest enjoyment of the facilities for our visitors. The commission of offenses under local ordinances or state law shall be cause for arrest.

• Park grounds are open to the public from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week.
• Park facilities are available for public use on a first come, first serve basis except for areas that have been previously reserved.
• No fires permitted without prior permission
• Vehicles are restricted to designated roads and parking areas only.
• No alcoholic beverages allowed on park property.
• No dumping or littering on park property, all trash must be carried out.
• All pets must be under owner's control at all times. (Please carry doggie do out with you.)
• No weapons or firearms (including BB guns) allowed on park property.
• No person may hunt, trap or endanger animals in any way.
• No boating or swimming allowed in park.
• Cutting of timber is prohibited
• Fishing is catch and release only.
• No sales, solicitations, or placement of any signs within the park without prior permission.
• Disturbing habitat of animals is prohibited.
• Structures, plants and natural features may not be removed, damaged, or defaced.
• A person may not camp or lodge without prior permission from the Manchester Parks Foundation.
• Loitering in vehicles is prohibited.