The BICO Monthly Outings Summary

June, 2005














DATE:
June 4, 2005

TEAM:
Franciscan Youth Center
 ACTIVITIES:  Leave No Trace Principles, Camp Setup, and Hiking
DESTINATION: Patapsco Valley State Park  Avalon Section, Catonsville,  MD  

Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 14,000 acres and five developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions.

Avalon-Glen Artie-Orange Grove Section - This area offers hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, canoeing, bicycling, tubing, rental pavilions, fishing, equestrian trails, ball fields and playgrounds. The Orange Grove Scenic Area has a two mile drive along the Patapsco to the Swinging Bridge. A fish passage has been installed at Bloedes Dam. This area is known for several historical sites – the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Thomas Viaduct, remains of the Orange Grove Mill, Avalon Iron and Nail Works and Bloedes Dam. The Avalon Visitor Center houses exhibits detailing 300 years of Patapsco history.

 DIRECTIONS: From Baltimore Approx. 0.3 Hours

Avalon/Glen Artney/Orange Grove/Lost Lake Areas - From the Beltway (I-695) Take Rt. 1 (Exit 12-A) toward Elkridge. Follow Rt. 1 South about 3 miles to South St. Turn right. Park entrance is on the left.

From I -95 take I-195 to Rt. 1 (Exit 3) toward Elkridge to South St. Turn right. Park entrance is on the left.
GETTING IN:  $2 per person!!
 NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY: North Arundel Hospital
301 Hospital Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 410-787-4000
OUTING ITINERARY: 
9:30am-10am - Opening Circle - Introductions, Safety Rules, Overview of June Outing, and Brief Overview of Cape Henlopen Trip
10am-11:15am - Leave No Trace Principles Skits and Granola Bar Snacks
11:15am-12:45pm - Tent Setup and Breakdown
12:45pm-2pm - Lunch
2pm-3pm - Hike 
3pm-3:15pm - Closing Circle
OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:  This was our first trip with the Franciscan Youth Center kids.  The kids really enjoyed doing skits regarding the ideals of “Leave No Trace”.  In fact, collectively the kids were able to remember all seven “Leave No Trace” ideals in the closing circle!  The tent setup may by helpful in the upcoming camping trip, and it also fostered some teamwork amongst the kids.  We ended the hike in the waterfall that is located on Patapsco Valley Parks “Cascade Trail.”  The kids wallowed in the cool refreshing waterfall.  The trailhead of the Cascade Trail is found near the swinging bridge.
 
 The outing was relatively inexpensive.
 OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  The “Leave No Trace” skits and the Tent Setup took only about 1.5 hours instead of the 2 hours that we allotted.  We let the kids play on the playground about 30 minutes before eating lunch to make up the time.




DATE:
June 5, 2005


TEAM:
Choice
 ACTIVITIES:  Farm Park
DESTINATION:   Kinder Farm Park, Anne Arundel County, MD

This 288-acre park offers a variety of natural and recreational activities including hiking, biking, bird watching, fishing and picnicing.  Picnic tables and grills for picnicking are located throughout the park. Kinder Farm Park has a large playground and tot-lot ideal for children of all ages.  The park has a 2.4 mile paved perimeter trail and several miles of natural trails.

A youth group camping area is available for recognized and chaperoned youth organizations.  As Kinder Farm Park is developed, it will be home to an agricultual history museum and working farm that will show past and present agricultual practices of Anne Arundel County

 DIRECTIONS: From Baltimore Approx. 0.5 Hours

>From I95 or MD 295 South: Take the I-695 EAST exit toward KEY BRIDGE/GLEN BURNIE - go 1.5 mi  Take Left exit #4 onto I-97 SOUTH toward BAY BRIDGE/ANNAPOLIS - go 3.7 mi  Take exit #14B-A onto MD-100 EAST toward GIBSON ISLAND - go 3.6 mi  Take the MD-2 SOUTH exit toward BAY BRIDGE - go 0.9 mi  Bear Right on JUMPERS HOLE RD - go 2.2 mi  Turn Right on KINDER FARM PARK RD - go 0.1 mi  Turn Left on GALI SANCHEZ WAY - go 0.3 mi  Arrive at 1001 KINDER FARM PARK RD, MILLERSVILLE, on the Left

Kinder Farm Park,
1001 Kinder Farm Park Road
Millersville, MD 21108
Office:  410-222-6115
GETTING IN:  $20 for a group of 8 kids and 8 adults

 NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY: NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY: North Arundel Hospital
301 Hospital Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 410-787-4000
OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:  Farm Animal introduction by 4H good, building hot dog fires good, bird hike fair
 OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  Use KFP for short outings




DATE:
June 12, 2005


TEAM:
College Gardens Community Center
 ACTIVITIES:  Fishing
DESTINATION:   Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge  

Patuxent Research Refuge is divided into three areas: 1) North Tract, which offers hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, trails, and many interpretive programs; 2) Central Tract, where the offices and study sites of the many research biologists are located at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; and 3) South Tract, where the National Wildlife Visitor Center and its trails are located. The National Wildlife Visitor Center and North Tract are the only areas open for visitor activities.

The Refuge offers many special programs to the public, but please check the web page for these events.  Fishing happened to be offered as a 1-day event.  

 DIRECTIONS: From Baltimore Approx. 0.5 Hours

Take Baltimore/Washington Parkway (Route 295) South to Laurel exit, Route 197. Turn left on Route 197. Follow 197 approximately 1 1/2 miles to main gate on left (opposite intersection with Powder Mill Road (stoplight)). Follow entry road into Patuxent.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708-4027, 301/497-5760
GETTING IN:  Free of Charge for entry and programs, unless otherwise posted.  Tram ride $3 per adult and $1 per child
 NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY: NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY: North Arundel Hospital
301 Hospital Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 410-787-4000
OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:  There were so many volunteers working at the center.  They had 3 stations set up to teach the kids (1) fish handling, (2) how to cast, & (3) hooking a fish.  From there we went to Lake Remington.  There were also many volunteers at this location helping the kids.  The kids caught many fish.  It was very exciting!  After this, we went on the tram ride for an hour.  We finished the day in the visitor center.  The kids really enjoyed this.
OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  Registration doesn’t start until 12, but it was great to be the 1st group because if you get there late, you will wait.  Picnic lunches are not allowed, but they approved of our group having a snack.  
Our group had only an hour to fish.  This was not on their website.  It only said that the event was from 1-4.  Luckily, there was plenty to do.  We went on the tram ride.  I do not recommend the tram for future groups unless they get another tour guide.  He did not gear much toward the children.