Robinson Nature Center Celebrates 1st Anniversary

The James and Anne Robinson Nature Center in Columbia will be celebrating its first anniversary with a barbecue on its outdoor patio and a free open house.

The barbecue event will feature food and jazz on Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m.

A new group called Friends of the Robinson Nature Center will launch, dedicated to building support for the nature center. Tickets for the event are $50 for adults and free for children under 12.

On Sunday, the nature center will hold a special anniversary open house with free admission, live  animal demonstrations, arts and crafts and planetarium presentations. The open house will be from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. See the schedule of activities.

The Robinson Nature Center officially opened its doors on Sept. 10, 2011. The center features interactive exhibits on local wildlife and the Chesapeake Bay. The center works to protect and honor the nature inside the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area.