The BICO Monthly Outings Summary

October, 2005


OUTING #1 DATE: October 1, 2005

TEAM: Digital Harbor High School

ACTIVITIES:  Mountain Biking on the Northern Central Railroad NCR Trail

DESTINATION:  NCR Trail and Sparks Nature Center    
Maryland's Northern Central Railroad Trail (NCRT) extends 20 miles, stretching from Ashland Road in the Hunt Valley area to the state line. The trail is 10 feet wide with a stone dust surface. The most popular activities on the trail are hiking, jogging, bicycle riding and horseback riding. The trail also provides access for fishing.

GETTING IN:  Bike have often been rented at Chakra Cycles, which is a full service cycling shop, offering bike rentals, sales, service and repairs.  Hourly and full day rentals available.  Call for rental charge.  Chakra Cycles, 1235 Paper Mill Road, Cockeysville MD 21030, 410-527-0593

Another option is to go further north and rent bikes in Monkton.  The bike shop is at the center of the very small town that lies along the NCRT. Monkton Bike and Tube Rental
1900 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 21111 (410) 771 4058

DIRECTIONS: From Baltimore Approx. 30 min.
Go North from Baltimore on I-83 (Exit 20A-B off I-83).  At exit 20A-B, turn RIGHT onto Ramp towards Shawan Road / Cockeysville.  Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto Shawan Rd towards Shawan Rd East / Cockeysville.  Keep RIGHT onto Local road(s).  Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-45 [York Rd].  Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-145 [Ashland Rd].  Ashland Road eventially changes name to Paper Mill Road.

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  St. Joseph Medical Center,  7601 York Rd., TOWSON, MD 21204 (410)337-1000

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:   The day was beautiful weather wise. The kids love to bike. We could have stayed longer then we did and they wouldn’t even have been tired.

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  Trail users should note that the southern end of the trail receives heavy use on weekends. Parking areas from Monkton south are often filled. The trail is less congested and parking is more available at the northern end during peak times.  Pack lunch before the bike ride so the kids can eat when you stop midway on the trail.



OUTING #2 DATE: October 15, 2005

TEAM: Franciscan Youth Center and Digital Harbor High School

ACTIVITIES:  Living Classrooms Shipboard Education Program

DESTINATION:  Living Classrooms Foundation    
On this sailing trip in Baltimore's historic inner harbor, leadership and teamwork are key objectives as students work together to raise and lower sails, trawl for marine life, perform scientific tests, and explore the commerce, natural resources, and ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay.  The more detailed list of the activities that we did were:
Water Quality - Students utilize wet chemistry and Hydrolab equipment to determine important water quality parameters.
Marine Life - Students help to set and retrieve a trawl net and identify and research and release what they catch.
The Oyster - Students examine and dissect live oysters while exploring and researching the health and stability of an oyster sanctuary.
Watershed - Students utilize a working model of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to gain an understanding of issues surrounding the watershed.
Navigation/Helm - Students take control of the vessel, plot and steer compass courses, and learn basic rules of the road.
Buoyancy - Students explore the physics of buoyancy, gravity, and displacement by building simple boats and exploring the dynamics of which is most buoyant.

GETTING IN:  These trips are meant for youth groups.  For rates contact Jennifer Riley, Scheduling & Marketing Coordinator, (410) 685-0295, E-mail: jennifer@livingclassrooms.org .

DIRECTIONS: In Baltimore
From north of the inner harbor, take I-83 (Jones Falls Expressway) South. Go to end of I-83 (street becomes President St.), at the light turn right onto Lombard Street. Go one block to the next traffic light and take a left onto Market Place. At the next intersection, take a left onto Pratt Street and the Columbus Center will be on the right hand side. Please pull into the bus lane. The address of the Columbus Center is 701 East Pratt Street.

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  Church Hospital Corporation, 100 N BROADWAY, BALTIMORE, MD 21231, (410) 522-8000

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:   The day was beautiful weather wise. We spent five hours on the shipjack called the Sigsbee.  The crew was attentive, safety conscious, knowledgeable, and energetic.  The kids were engaged the entire day on the activities outlined by living classrooms.  We were generously given the opportunity this year as a result of a grant given to living classrooms.

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  Pack lunches the day before the outing to eliminate the mess on the ship.  Good to bring a few extra clothes, because it could be colder and more windy on the water.