The BICO Monthly Outings Summary

December, 2006


OUTING #1 DATE: December 2, 2006

TEAM: College Gardens Community Center

ACTIVITIES:  Environmental Education/Holiday Party

DESTINATION:  Recreation Equipment Incorporated (REI)    
The kids participated in a PEAK program (Leave No Trace Training) presented at REI-Timonium, MD.  

According to the PEAK web site, the PEAK program is the result of a unique partnership between REI (Recreation Equipment Incorporated) and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and is designed to educate children about the outdoors and responsible enjoyment of our shared public lands. The PEAK program is based on the seven principles of Leave No Trace and aims to teach minimum impact outdoor skills and ethics to children ages six to twelve.

GETTING IN:  This particular program was free of charge to BICO.

DIRECTIONS: 0.5 Hours from Baltimore
Take I83 North to Exit 24 Towards Timonium/York PA
Take the TIMONIUM RD EAST exit, EXIT 16A, toward TIMONIUM
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto W TIMONIUM RD.
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto W AYLESBURY RD.

NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY:  Greater Baltimore Med Center
6701 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21204-6892
Phone: 443-849-2000

OUTING HIGHLIGHTS:   REI has some good visual displays.

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  It was a mixed success, would maybe be better for kids just a little older but I think our kids still learned a lot about Leave No Trace.



OUTING #2 DATE: December 9, 2006

TEAM: Dickey Hill Elementary School and Digital Harbor High School

ACTIVITIES:  Canton City Orienteering and Ice Skating

DESTINATION: Canton Neighborhood and Mimi DiPietro Family Ice Skating Rink at Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD

At BICO, a volunteer developed a city orienteering course through the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore.  The course/scavenger hunt has 17 stops that begin at Canton Middle School (801 S Highland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224) and end at Mimi Dipietro Family Ice Rink at Patterson Park (200 South Linwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21224).

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
Canton Middle School
From I-83 (Jones Falls Expressway) - 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 Highland Avenue.  At Highland Avenue, take a Right. Canton Middle School is about 3 or 4 blocks on the Left Hand Side on Highland Avenue.

Mimi DiPietro Family Ice Rink at Patterson Park
From I-83 (Jones Falls Expressway) - 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:   Instead of Starting at Canton Middle School, we chose to start the oreinteering course at Patterson Park at 11:45 am and broke up into 4 different groups.  None of the elementary students had completed it before.  We spent some time orienting ourselves and then let the kids lead the way.  Some groups were more successful than others, but the activity was very appropriate and engaging for them.  The groups then were required to find Tutti Gusti in Canton for pizza.  All the groups made it and enjoyed the pizza.  We walked back to Patterson Park for the 3-5 open skate.

OUTING SUGGESTIONS:  Update the map for new developments in the Patterson Park/Canton area.  Combine with a service outing (trash clean up, park beautification) like we have done in the past.