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James and Anne Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, MD

Photo: Sarr Cat, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sports & Outdoors

James and Anne Robinson Nature Center

A Howard County nature education center with indoor exhibits, a planetarium, and wooded trails beside the Middle Patuxent River.

6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044 · Columbia, MD

About James and Anne Robinson Nature Center

The center sits on about 18 acres next to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area and is run by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. Indoor exhibits cover the Chesapeake Bay watershed, local land use history, a forest through the seasons, and backyard wildlife habitat. Visitors can also explore a children's discovery room with live animals, a full-dome digital planetarium, and a nature play area called Nature Place. Roughly one mile of trails winds through wooded terrain, with a stream crossing and river views, and the paved sections are accessible by wheelchair and stroller. The building is known for its green design, having earned LEED Platinum certification. Dogs are asked to stay away, though service animals are welcome.

  • #nature center
  • #planetarium
  • #trails
  • #wildlife
  • #LEED Platinum

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