What we’re about
Join the Natural History Society of Maryland to meet other nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, and similarly inquisitive minds. We offer a wide variety of programs for the beginner to the advanced naturalist, and from informal social events to in-depth courses.
Everyone is welcome, but membership offers many free programs and discounts on others. So join us in a search for reptiles and amphibians, a canoe trip on the Chesapeake Bay, or to learn everything there is to know about Maryland dragonflies - it's up to you!
The mission of the Natural History Society of Maryland is to foster stewardship of Maryland's natural heritage by conserving its natural history collections, educating its citizenry, and inspiring its youth to pursue careers in the natural sciences.
The Natural History Society of Maryland (NHSM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1929. Its extensive collections of Maryland flora, fauna, fossils, and minerals, dating back to the early 1800's, are a rare and valuable asset to the State of Maryland. Help us build The Maryland Naturalist Center.
Membership
Individual $25.00
Family $35.00
Contributing $65.00
Sustaining $120.00
Join Now! Follow this link to our website and become a member.
Or send a check or money order to:
The Natural History Society of Maryland
P.O. Box 18750
6908 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21206
Be sure to include your contact information. Thank you for joining!
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Guided Win Canoe Paddle among the American Lotus & Lifetime MembershipNeeds location$1.00
Win a Guided Canoe Paddle among the American Lotus!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLA7KWNBV9CN5/checkout/6XDSKXY3YMIBHBVJ362LGUROThis month’s NHSM raffle prize is a guided paddle along Mattawoman Creek Natural Area to witness the blooming beauty of the American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea)! This remarkable species is now found in only a few freshwater tidal waterways of the Chesapeake. A resilient perennial, it emerges from its rhizomes in May and bursts into bloom from late July through August. By September, its seed pods turn brown and drop into the water, where they can remain dormant for up to 200 years.
The winner and up to three companions will explore the vast wetlands and expansive beds of emerged aquatic vegetation. This unique ecosystem serves as a vital nursery and feeding ground for countless fish species, offering an experience as rich in biodiversity as it is in natural beauty. While the star of the show will be the America Lotus, you can be sure there will also be plenty of other types of natural beauty to admire. Bring binoculars!
The winner will coordinate with NHSM’s in-house canoe guide, Bex Lyons, for a paddle date in July or August that will be mutually convenient. The paddle will begin and end in Indian Head, MD. All participants will be provided with a personal flotation device (PFD) that will be required to be worn at all times. Participants may bring their own coast-guard approved PFD if desired.
PLUS
With a Lifetime Membership to NHSM (value $1000), you will receive discounts on many of our programs—from lectures, workshops, and courses offered in our museum, to canoe trips, nature walks, and fossil hunts in the great outdoors.Raffle Information and Rules
- Support us by purchasing a ticket.
- For every $5 ticket you buy your name will be entered once (i.e. $5=1 entry, $10=2 entries, etc.)
- Cut-off date to be entered is June 30, 2025 at midnight.
- The winner will be chosen at random and announced on the NHSM website and social media by July 1, 2025. The winner will also be notified via email.
- The prize is for specified items only. No substitutions.
- NHSM officers, directors and employees are ineligible to enter the Raffle. Immediate family members of NHSM employees (defined as: spouse, siblings, parents, children) are also not eligible to enter or win. Any entry from an ineligible person is void.
7. Raffle ticket purchases do not qualify as tax deductible contributions, per IRS Publication 526. - Lifetime Membership goes to one person and that person must be 18 years of age or older. Lifetime Membership is non-transferable. It will only be awarded to the person who purchased the ticket. Lifetime Membership allows the member to receive discounts on programs for him/herself, a significant other, and children under the age of 18 living in the same household.
*If you win a NHSM raffle more than once, you will only receive one Lifetime membership.
