Howard County Conservancy: Historic Farm Sanctuary, Live Owls & Winter Nature Trails

About this adventure

Spanning 232 acres of rolling pastures, historic 18th-century stone farmhouses, and tranquil woodland valleys in Woodstock, the Howard County Conservancy at Mt. Pleasant is a premier community nature sanctuary. Over four miles of scenic hiking trails weave past winter meadows, babbling stream crossings, and a historic stone bank barn. Inside the heated Gudelsky Environmental Education Center, children can meet live non-releasable educational owls, examine an indoor working honeybee observation hive, investigate natural history touch tables (pelts, bones, pinecones), and read nature picture books by the cozy observation windows overlooking bird feeding stations. Outside, the certified Nature Explore Classroom invites toddlers to climb natural balance logs and construct shelters from branches. Clean accessible restrooms, baby changing stations, and free parking make this a warm, relaxed family visit.