I had an errand to run in Essex, MD, and I was hunting for something short and fun to do with the kiddos on my way back. I stumbled across Masonville Cove Partnership at 1000 Frankfurst Avenue in Baltimore, which is just off 895. I had never heard of it before, but it sounded up our alley with an education center and trails. I figured it was worth a visit, and the girls were game, especially when I told them that we could take a short trail down to the water to see Captain Trash Wheel. Rainbow said she’d heard of the Captain, and was curious about seeing it! The campus is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday through Saturday, and closed on Sundays. Parking is free in the lot in front of the Education Building, and admission is also free. There is a sign-in sheet on a small table to the right of the door into the Education Center, along with flyers, trail maps, program info, etc.
Once we parked, the girls wanted to check out the Education Center. I was surprised to discover that the door to the building was kept locked. We had to press a doorbell in order to gain access from the person manning the desk inside. Once inside, my girls headed into the main education room where there were a variety of turtles, snakes, and other displays. Pebble and Rainbow found a stash of puppets, and were happy giving me a small puppet show. Stormy found an exhibit on how long it takes certain items to break down in the environment. For example, a soda can can take 15 years, while a plastic bag could take 100 years. In another part of the small room, all 3 girls discovered several hula hoops leaning against a table, and had to have a contest to see who could keep the hoop in the air the longest. Rainbow was the hands down winner!
After 15 minutes or so, the girls had seen everything in this room. We stopped by the restrooms, and then headed back outside. I signed the registration sheet, and snagged a map before we clattered down the stairs to find the trails behind the building. FYI, if you can’t do stairs, there is an elevator inside the center that one can take. By unanimous decision, the girls decided we were taking the Captain’s Trail to see Captain Trash Wheel. What is Captain Trash Wheel? It is a 40-foot long machine that crunches up trash, helping keep the waters of the Patapsco River healthy. Captain is positioned at the opening of a small stream where stormwater from nearby neighborhoods meets the Patapsco River. To date, the Captain has removed more than 30 tons of litter and debris.
The trail to see the Captain was very short, and the views were great. I tried my best to make sure the girls didn’t disturb any of the birdwatchers moseying along the path. Once we had a good look at the Captain, we decided to check out the Meadow Trail, which is simply a path mown into the grass of the meadow. We got another look at the Captain, visited the pier, and wound our way back toward the Education Center in a rough circle. We couldn’t do the trails on the westward side of the program as that area was closed. The map said that there was a Nature Discovery Zone, and my kids were keen to check it out. Sadly, it wasn’t a play space, but rather an open space w/ benches where people can sit and observe the birds that come into the marshes.
By this point, Pebble was whining that this was a long walk, it wasn’t, and she wanted to be carried, nope, no way! Instead I herded the kids up the stairs past the Education Center, and headed for the car. The girls lasted an hour altogether. It is a beautiful little oasis in Baltimore, and I can see the trails being a big lure for bird-watchers. The place also has a ton of programming for a wide variety of ages. I plan to keep an eye out for any future events happening on weekends I can bring the kiddos, too. It is a cute, little place, and I’m glad we checked it out. Be careful when leaving, if you make a left out of the parking lot, the signs will direct you back up to 895, but, this route will also take you through the toll booth as if you’d just come through the tunnel. Next time we visit, I’m making a right out of the lot. Happy trails!
https://www.masonvillecove.org/