Rarely is there an animal more beloved by humanity than the turtle. At World Turtle Day at the Natural History Society of Maryland, part of our Nature Connections series, meet and interact with over a dozen species of turtles, learn about the latest conservation efforts, and see specimens from the NHSM collections. Engage in hands-on educational activities, play turtle games, make turtle crafts, dress in your finest turtle gear, and feed a giant tortoise.
Check-in Times
At registration, please select one of these check-in times to begin your visit:
- 10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 12:00PM
- 1:00PM
- 2:00 PM
Please arrive during your selected time slot and head to the check-in tent. There is no limit to how long you can stay, so enjoy your visit! Kids 3 and younger – FREE.
Keynote Speaker at 2:45 pm – admission is included with your ticket!
Our keynote speaker for World Turtle Day, Dr. Nicole Barbour, will share her experience tracking leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica and green sea turtles in the Cayman Islands. As a movement ecologist, her research focuses on innovative quantitative approaches to understanding animal movement and its implications. Her work with many different species, including turtle species, continues to inform conservation and management strategies for non-profit and governmental conservation organizations. Dr. Barbour currently teaches and conducts research at Towson University.
History of World Turtle Day
World Turtle Day was created in 1990 as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect these beloved creatures and their vanishing habitats around the world. There are 17 types of turtles that call Maryland home. Of those, 12 species are threatened by habitat loss and 9 are experiencing population decline. All four sea turtle species found in Maryland are protected by the ESA.
About Nature Connections
Nature Connections is a signature program offered to you by the Natural History Society of Maryland with financial support from the Citizens of Baltimore County. Programs, held on select Sundays, are free and open to the public. Each Nature Connection focuses on a different natural history topic. At Nature Connections events, you will:
Learn from presentations and displays from local experts and organizations • Explore specimens and artifacts from natural history collections • Hear about related citizen science projects • Talk to scientists who can answer your questions and guide your discoveries of the natural world • Enjoy games, art, crafts, stories, music, and drama
Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events with fees of $10 or less are not refundable unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.
Registration
Levels:-
Blue Star Families : $0
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America to offer special admission rates to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer. The military ID holder and up to five family members. The military ID holder can be either active duty service member or other dependent family member with the appropriate ID card. The active duty member does not have to be present for family members to use the program. Just bring your DD Form 1173 ID Card, or DD Form 1173-1 ID Card, for active duty military family members. - NHSM Herp Club Members : $0
- NHSM Member : $5
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Non-Member : $7
Become a member today. Memberships start at $35/year - Kids (3-12 years old): $2
- COMP: $0
- Classroom Teachers: $2
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Museums for All: $0
The Museums for All national initiative encourages all Americans to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. Through Museums for All, visitors presenting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards receive reduced admission, ranging from free to $5.00, to more than 1,600 participating museums of all kinds.