Historic Sotterley in Hollywood, Md., partners with the Southern Maryland Folklife Center, St. Mary’s County Public Library, and local author Nocola Williams to present a week-long series of hands-on Spring Break activities from March 30 through April 3, 2026, offering families low-cost opportunities to explore early Marylanders’ use of natural resources through interactive daily programs.
All sessions run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, and require advance registration. Tuesday through Friday programs cost $5 per attendee per day, while Monday’s session is free, supported by St. Mary’s County Public Library and an anonymous donor. Parents or guardians must purchase a ticket and stay with children throughout each program. Activities suit ages 3 and up, focusing on outdoor exploration, learning, and take-home projects tied to historical survival practices in Southern Maryland.
The schedule begins Monday, March 30, with “Pollinator Party!” Children meet Nocola Williams, author and beekeeper, for a reading of “Bugzee and the Bees,” highlighting pollinators’ environmental role. Participants then rotate through stations to learn pollination mechanics, how bees perceive the world, the waggle dance, and plant pollinator-friendly seeds to take home. The day emphasizes pollinators’ importance to local ecosystems and simple ways kids can help protect them, led by Williams, the St. Mary’s County Mobile Library team, and educator Dorothy Birch.
Tuesday, March 31, features “Wild Food, Wild Fiber, Wild Medicine,” where participants explore Sotterley’s woods and fields to identify plants and fungi used by Native peoples, colonists, and enslaved individuals for food, fiber, and medicine.
Wednesday, April 1, “Gardening for Good Health” examines plants grown by women in historical gardens for family medicine, with attendees exploring, potting, and taking home specimens.
Thursday, April 2, “A Wild Year in Maryland” involves creating a month-by-month calendar of natural events in the region—when early inhabitants harvested wild plants and animals, planted seeds, and read nature’s cues throughout the year.
Friday, April 3, “Dyeing from Nature” teaches pre-commercial dyeing methods using plants and natural materials to color take-home bandanas.
These programs immerse families in Southern Maryland’s historical and ecological heritage, connecting past resource use to present-day conservation and curiosity. Registration and full details are available at www.sotterley.org/events, with individual Eventbrite links for each day confirming the lineup and ticketing.
Historic Sotterley, a preserved 18th-century plantation and National Historic Landmark, regularly hosts educational events that blend history, nature, and community learning. This Spring Break series builds on that mission by providing accessible, engaging alternatives during school recess, encouraging outdoor activity and family bonding in a region rich with natural and cultural resources.
