The BICO Monthly Outings Summary

November, 2006




OUTING #1 DATE: November 4, 2006

TEAM: College Gardens Community Center

ACTIVITIES:  Service Project and Ice Skating

DESTINATION:  Baltimore Recreation and Parks and Mimi DiPietro Family Ice Skating Rink at Patterson Park

The Bureau of Parks is responsible for nearly 6,000 acres of land, with 300,000 street trees, 200,000 park trees, and approximately 250 playgrounds, while the Bureau of Recreation offers a vivid array of programs and special events.  In addition, Baltimore Recreation and Parks sponsors many youth service projects in the area

According to the Baltimore Recreation and Parks web site, the Dominic "Mimi" DiPietro Family Ice Skating Center, originally built in 1967, is named after the late, longtime East Baltimore City Councilman. Located at Linwood Avenue and Pratt Street, the Rink hosts many of Baltimore’s hockey teams as well as seasonal special events. It also features public skating sessions, ice hockey, broomball and sled hockey. 

The rink is full-sized measuring 200 by 85 feet and is equip with a warm-up room, fireplace, concession stand and skate shop, which makes this facility the perfect venue for private parties and group rentals. The rink is operational from October to mid-April.

GETTING IN:  The ice skating rink cost $4 for entry and $2 for skate rental for each person.  Call the ice rink at (410)396-9392 in advance for possible discounts

DIRECTIONS: 15 Minutes from Downtown Baltimore
Mimi DiPietro Family Ice Rink at Patterson Park (200 South Linwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21224).  Take expressway until it ends and changes name to President Street.  Continue on President Street until Eastern Avenue.  At Eastern Avenue, take a Left.  On Eastern Avenue go past Fell's Point (Broadway).  Continue on Eastern Avenue until you reach Patterson Park and Linwood Avenue on the left.

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY: 
For the service project, check before the outing, since the location can change.

For the Mimi DiPietro Ice Rink,
Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287-2182
Phone: 410-955-5000

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:    The nature of the service project planned by Baltimore Parks and Recreation was to perform Fall clean-up and plant bulbs and Roland Park Elementary School.  The boys and girls seemed to enjoy the work and the opportunity to mingle with other children.  After lunch the kids had fun playing in the playground at the school.  We then went to the ice skating rink at Patterson Park, where the kids skated from 3 until 5:30.  The skating was the highlight of the trip for them, although they also enjoyed the hot chocolate at the end of the day

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  As the Volunteer Coordinator at Baltimore Parks and Recreation is often extremely busy, typically scheduling a service outing with this organization can be time consuming and requires patience and flexibility.



OUTING #2 DATE: November 11, 2006

TEAM: Dickey Hill Elementary School
ACTIVITIES:  Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC) educational program

 CBEC Fantastic Feathers Program description

 Students meet live owls and hawks, then discover the special adaptations that place these hunters at the pinnacle of the food chain. During pellet dissections, students identify just what an owl ate during his last meal!

Moving to the field, students will learn to use optical equipment to observe, monitor and survey osprey and resident raptors. They will participate in a waterfowl scavenger hunt designed to reveal nesting and other life cycle behaviors and will discuss conservation practices that promote the survival of ducks, geese and swans.

While in the field, students will explore migratory bird habitats frequented by our visiting bird species--including song birds and wood ducks--to gain an understanding as to why these habitats are vital to their existence.

DESTINATION:  CBEC aka Wildfowl Trust in Grasonville, MD.

GETTING IN:  Contact CBEC to schedule program.  Fee is $11/student for 4 hour program.

DIRECTIONS:  From Baltimore
From Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington: Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (Maryland Route 50 East) to exit 43B (Chester River Beach Road). Turn right on Chester River Beach Road, then left on Route 18. Take the first right onto Perry Corner Road. The entrance to Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center is located about 1/2 mile on the right, and is clearly marked with a brown and white sign. Turn right at the sign onto a dirt road called Discovery Lane. Follow Discovery Lane until it ends at the Visitor Center parking lot.

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:
Community Services Center
204 Medical Center Rd
Grasonville, MD 21638
(410) 827-8461

OUTING ITINERARY:

09:00  Depart Dickey Hill -- Dave drives van
10:15  Arrive CBEC for Fantastic Feathers Program.
12:30   Move to lunch break in pavilion. Cook hot dogs again!
1:30  Fantastic Feathers continued
3:00 Free time bird watch.
3:30 depart
4:30 arrive DHILL

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:  

The program was very good. The weather was beautiful.  We also saw a few migratory waterfowl but the weather was too good to have large numbers around



OUTING #3 DATE: November 13, 2006 - November 15, 2006

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.  Organized clubs and affiliated groups must use group campsites. Tent-only sites, located 100-200 feet from centralized parking area. Sites have a picnic table and an upright grill. Group campsites are available for reservations year round at $30 per night per site.

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, then
Atlantic General Hosptial
9733 Healthway Dr.
Berlin, MD 21811

OUTING ITINERARY:
Friday: set-up
Saturday: 2 hikes, visitor center, campfire, and outdoor education
Sunday: pack-up

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:  The students really enjoyed the visitor center’s touch tank and the hikes.  The staff and students were flexible and therefore if the plan changed everyone was ok.