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(Enlarge) Gwynn Munger, 4, of Evergreen, checks out a snake at the Critterpalooza, an event held this fall to introduce the Maryland Naturalist Center to the community. The science museum is part of the Natural History Society’s new headquarters in Overlea. (Photo by Steve Ruark)

Yes, there once were mastodons in Maryland.

Along with bugs, butterflies, birds, reptiles, minerals, sharks' teeth and dozens of other collections, mastodon fossils are some of the state's natural treasures that have found a permanent home at the Maryland Naturalist Center, in Overlea.

Owned and operated by the Natural History Society of Maryland, the center is still in its birthing phase. The society bought the Overlea building at 6908 Belair Road three years ago for $625,000, after selling its previous building for $200,000 and obtaining a bank loan for $425,000.

Slowly, the society is renovating and organizing the space into an environment that promotes scientific curiosity and interaction.

High on the list of goals set out for the museum is to make residents of Maryland aware of and care about the natural wonders that surround them.

"(Natural history), really, what it means to the society is understanding the biodiversity of the state," said the society's executive director Ginger Mihalik. "We hope to educate Marylanders about our biodiversity, so that at the end of the day, hopefully, they will live a more sustainable lifestyle."

According to Mihalik, learning about the natural world outside our doorsteps and instilling a level of respect for native plants and animals in both children and adults is the first step toward their choosing to follow a path of environmental stewardship.

"If you don't know something, you don't love it, and then you don't care about it," she said.

Dem bugs

Backyard Bugs, an ongoing entomological program at the center, sprang up around an interest expressed by children from the Overlea area in learning more about the multitude of small, multi-legged creatures that reside all around them.

Mihalik described how one father, who had accompanied his son to a recent meeting, carefully held a jar containing a live black widow spider that he had captured in their own backyard.

Not knowing the spider's poisonous bite is not normally fatal, "he was wondering if maybe he should have the whole backyard professionally exterminated," Mihalik said. "But they went home and released it. After the discussion, he realized that he didn't need to be afraid of it. They had come in with a whole lot of misconceptions."

Charlie Davis, chairman of the board of trustees, emphasized that the museum is not meant to be a "standard nature center." Instead, programs developed at the Maryland Naturalist Center focus on having participants go out into the surrounding environs on specific quests after receiving guidance from the center's resident experts. They return to the center at a later date to share and discuss their findings with the other participants.

"The point is, we're going to be serving the students and the adults who have maxed-out at the local nature center," Davis said. "Our program is going to be 'place-based' because we're trying to help people understand what's in their own backyard."

Center's roots

Founded in 1929, the Natural History Society of Maryland has amassed an enormous number of collections, many of which were donated to the society by amateur enthusiasts.

Recognizing the value of their diverse stash, the society, which for many years was headquartered in a Charles Street row house in Baltimore, purchased the 9,000-square-foot building in Overlea. Its urban setting was a definite plus.

"We wanted to be accessible; we wanted the center to be in a place where we can serve the people," said Davis. "We're very near the City of Baltimore. We have public transportation to our door through the city bus service."

Lifelong Overlea resident Bud Herb currently serves as the society's treasurer. Herb became involved with the society five years ago after hearing a rumor that they were interested in buying the empty building.

"This is part of the revitalization of the area," he said. "This building was originally the town hall. In 1907, it was Kelly's Meat Market and Hardgoods Store."

David Marks, president of the Perry Hall Improvement Association, said he is pleased that the society chose Overlea as its headquarters.

"I think it's an important facility for that part of Baltimore County. That area is undergoing some changes and instead of having people moving out, this will help stabilize the immediate Overlea area," he said.

Numerous collections

Mihalik estimates that there are more than 50,000 specimens of flora, fauna, fossils and minerals housed at the center. Avid amateur collectors from all over the state have donated their life's work to the society.

"Some collections are really well documented, some are not documented at all," said Mihalik. "You're talking about a lot of Indiana Joneses out there."

The sheer volume and variety of specimens found at the center can be somewhat overwhelming, said Mihalik, who was hired as executive director in April. The collections include reptiles stored in fluid in large glass jars, colorful butterflies mounted in display cases, unpolished minerals glued onto scraps of paper, Native American arrowheads and spears.

"They keep telling me about all these things that we have," said Mihalik, with a smile. "I'm just waiting for someone to tell me that we have the real Hope Diamond down there."

High on Mihalik's priority list is hiring a curator who can help document and sort through the collections.

"That's now a question that's before the board," she said. "What are we going to keep? What will we divest of?"

Volunteers needed

The Maryland Naturalist Center hosted its first community open house, Critterpalooza, in October. The event was aimed at introducing the center to the surrounding community and stirring interest in the clubs and programs planned for the fall.

For now, The Maryland Naturalist Center is basically an old warehouse. The society has many collections still in storage containers and cardboard boxes.

Mihalik estimates the society needs to fundraise $150,000 to get the building "live" and stabilize the environment for the collections. Half of that $150,000 will go toward a furnace and basic renovation work on the building.

The society will be planning general fundraisers, but no set plans are in place. Currently, their funding comes primarily from individual donors. Membership dues, $25 for an individual and $35 for a family, will go directly toward operating expenses.

Volunteer opportunities are available.

For more information about the Maryland Naturalist Center, call 410-882-5376. A list of scheduled programs can be found at www.marylandnature.org/upcoming programs.htm.

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