The BICO Monthly Outings Summary

November, 2005


OUTING #1 DATE: November 18, 2005 - November 20, 2005

TEAM: Digital Harbor High School

ACTIVITIES:  Camping

DESTINATION:  Assateague Island National Seashore    
This destination is a favorate amongst young and older campers alike.  The group campsites are right on the beach, and open fires are allowed on the beach.  We fall to sleep amongst the sound of the crashing waves, and wake to the sunrise.  We  also hike and bike amongst the wild ponies that  inhabit the islands.

GETTING IN:  Visitors to the Maryland district of Assateague Island may enjoy a variety of camping opportunities. The National Park Service provides year round camping in oceanside and bayside campgrounds. These campgrounds are first-come, first-served from October 16 through April 14 ($16.00/night).  Reservations are recommended April 15 through October 15 ($20.00/night). There is a 50% discount for visitors with Golden Age or Golden Access passes.  Entry fees are $10 per vehicle.

DIRECTIONS: 3 Hours from Baltimore
From the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), Take I-97 South to U.S. - 50 East Towards Annapolis.  Follow U.S. - 50 East across the Bay Bridge and south and east past Salisbury, MD.   When close to Ocean City, MD, exit U.S. - 50 East onto MD Route 611 South.  Assateague's north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, MD.

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  Assateague Island Ranger Station

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:   One student was able to enjoy to see the ocean for the first time.  The students loved the campfire and being on the beach.  



OUTING #2 DATE: November 19, 2005

TEAM: College Gardens Community Center

ACTIVITIES:  Washington D.C. Museum Tours

DESTINATION:  Natural History Museum  and  United States Botanical Garden,  Washington, DC
These two museums, about a half-mile apart on the National Capital Mall, offer world class educational opportunities to learn about earth and biological sciences.  

GETTING IN:  Basic Museum Rate is ... FREE.  To catch an IMAX movie at the at the Natural History Museum though can be as much as $10 per person.  If one has a membership to the Smithsonian, then this can be reduced to $6.50 for up to 14 "guests".

DIRECTIONS: 1 Hour from Baltimore
>From Baltimore on MD Route 295 South towards Washington, DC.  Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto US-50 [New York Ave] towards Washington.  Road name changes to US-1 Alt [US-50]. Road name changes again to US-50 [New York Ave NE].  Turn LEFT (South) onto 6th or 7th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.  Take a LEFT onto Pennsylvania and bear to the RIGHT at fork that leads toward the U.S. Capital Building.   This road will take you to a parking lot near the the U.S. Capital reflecting pool.  Park in this lot.  All of the Smithsonian Museums are within walking distance of this lot. 

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  Alert a museum offical.

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:   Getting to see a flower that blooms once every 14 years was really interesting and the kids got to see hands on how flowers grow.
The kids were really excited about going to Washington, DC. The IMAX theater and the museum of Natural History were a huge success and kids were divided into groups based on the type of exhibit they wanted to see. One group went and looked at dinosaurs and the others looked at gems and minerals.  The 3-D IMAX film was a popular choice and many of the kids tried to reach out and touch the fish that appeared to be floating by their eyes.

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  The distance between the Botanical Center and the museum received a few complaints, especially during the end of the trip when the kids were getting tired.  A suggestion is to give a short break between to museums for kids to play on the grassy areas of the National Mall or just rest.