The BICO Monthly Outings Summary

June, 2006


OUTING #1 DATE: June 3, 2006

TEAM:  Dickey Hill Elementary School & College Gardens Community Center

ACTIVITIES:  Boating on the Chesapeake Bay with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

DESTINATION:  Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) "Snowgoose", Baltimore, MD

According the Chesapeake Bay Foundation web site, the workboat Snowgoose provides a unique platform from which to study the historical and present day impacts of an urban area on the Chesapeake Bay by exploring the Port of Baltimore, the Patapsco River and the Bay. Participants investigate the needs and life cycles of species trying to survive in an ecosystem that is an integral part of the economic system of the city and state.
 
GETTING IN:  CBF generously offers the Baltimore Harbor program to us at $250 as long as we are affiliated with a Baltimore City school.  You need to contact CBF in order to ask for this.  CBF can be contacted by e-mail at  price.educationcoordinator@savethebay.cbf.org or by phone at Annapolis: 410-268-8816, Baltimore: 410-269-0481, or Washington: 301-261-2350.  There are CBF permission forms that need to be completed by all partipants.  Also, since this is a restricted water outing for BICO, National Inner City Outings approval must be gained at least 1-2 months before the outing!

DIRECTIONS: Provided by CBF

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  Mercy Medical Center
301 St Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202-2165
410-332-9000
0.40 miles from your search location

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:   It worked out well to do a joint trip with the College Gardens group and the Dickey Hill group.  I think all the kids and the adults really enjoyed the trip. It was the first time on a boat for most of the kids…and they even got a chance to drive it. Super exciting! The kids seemed to enjoy everything about the trip from the “scavenger hunts” to the hands on activities. We were aiming for 20 kids, but it worked out well to have only 14 with 4 BICO adults. We could have handled 6 more kids, but it might have been tight on the boat. 

The CBF staff, Bart and Claire, were excellent – knowledgeable and patient. We brought lunch for them too and they seemed very appreciative.  

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  Nope. CBF does a good job of running things.



OUTINGS #2 DATE: June 15-20, 2006

TEAM: Digital Harbor High School

ACTIVITIES:  Patuxent River Sojourn

DESTINATION:  Alliance for the Chesapeake Patuxent River Sojourn

Accoring to Alliance for the Chesapeake web site (www.paxriverkeeper.org):  The Annual Patuxent Sojourn is a five day guided paddling excursion for people of all ages to connect with their river--first hand. Paddlers tour a different section of the river each day, camp under the stars, meet the people of the Patuxent and forge lifelong memories. Paddlers on the Sojourn may come for a few hours, a day, several days or the entire excursion. Kayaks can be rented from the organizers if you don't already have one.

The Patuxent Sojourn is jointly organized by citizen volunteers, and several non-profit and public organizations including the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, The Patuxent Riverkeeper, Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning; Maryland State Department of Natural Resources; Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum and others.

GETTING IN:  The entire 5 day adventure in 2006 costs $120 per child and $200 for adults.  There are alliance for the Chesapeake registration forms that need to be completed by all partipants.  Also, since this is a restricted water outing for BICO, National Inner City Outings approval must be gained at least 1-2 months before the outing!

DIRECTIONS:  Provided by Alliance for the Chesapeake

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  Provided by Alliance for the Chesapeake

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:  The kids found the experience very enriching.  According to the trip leader, planning has begun for the next year.