It was just around the corner

While still being new to town I knew there was lots of hidden places to be discovered. Little did I know there was one just around the corner from me.  I was heading out to meet some friends and needed my gps to get me there as I had no idea where I was going, when it sent me down a road that I pass by every day but never thought to go down.  That is when I made the discovery of a fun little park with a small pond that had flowers around it in colorful patches as well as water lilies.  As I drove by I knew that I wanted to return later that day to get a closer look but it was pouring out that afternoon so I had to come back another day.

There are 5 ducks in this picture. Count them if you don't believe me.

Can you find the ducks?

I went back the next day when it was clear out and took lots of pictures of what I found.  There were families sitting out either on the benches or along the edge of the pond, and some walking along the path around the pond.  It funny that the area was called Springlake when it was too shallow to be a lake, but still beautiful. 

I did spot some animals in and a round the pond.  There were mallards (ducks), the females were swimming in the water and the males were standing on the wall of the pond. I tried to take pictures of them but the animals look blobby as they kept moving around, and they blend in, camouflaging with their surrounding. 

When I got close enough to the pond to look in it I saw something orange moving under water.  It was fish called koi, they are kind of like goldfish but bigger.  I think there were 5 in the picture I took, but with the clouds reflecting on the water, it was hard to see some of them. 

Now that I know that this little park is near me I can go visit any day and enjoy it.  Perhaps there is a park like this near where you live and you may make a new discovery like I did.  Now that it is nice out why not try going for a walk around your neighborhood on an adventure to discover how close nature is to you.  Go on, get out of the house and explore! Meet Me Outdoors

Wow! It is hot outside!

Wow is anyone else experiencing this massive heat-wave?  Lately it has been reaching as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit and it is hard to escape the heat.  While finding your local swimming pool or a nearby beach to go for a swim is a great way to keep cool there are some great tips I have learned over the years. 

First off wear light layers of cotton clothing as it is more breathable and remember to wear sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the sun.  Don't forget to reapply the sunscreen if you have been outside or in the water for long periods of time, as the sun protection wears off over time. 

Secondly, you should drink lots of water so you don't get dehydrated.  A great tip I learned from going to camp for many years is to fill a plastic water-bottle with water and stick it in the freezer at night, you will get a bottle full of ice water in the morning.  The ice will melt as the day goes on and your water will stay cold longer.  Also while the ice is in there you can hold it to your forehead help cool you off as you are waiting for some of the water to melt to drink.  Sports drinks with electrolytes also help keep you from getting dehydrated, you can freeze those, too. 

My favorite part of summer is eating things like watermelon and other fruit.  If you decide to go on a picnic, make sure to keep the fruit chilled.  Makes for a refreshing treat.  Another fun summer treat is ice cream, just be careful for drips as it the hot weather it will melt fast, unless you like being covered in ice cream.  :-)  I personally like sorbets, especially strawberry or raspberry.

Another great tip I have learned is to not be outside in the middle of the day since that is the warmest part part of the day.  If you go outside in the early part of they day or later in the afternoon it will be cooler out.  While I do encourage people to go outdoors, please know that if it is too hot it's ok to stay indoors where it is cooler.  You can do lots of fun nature related activities inside after a quick trip outside, or even in a good shaded area.  Things found in the Nature Crafts page or Explorations page can be a great start for ideas.  If you have any ideas that I didn't list and want to share email me or add a comment to this post. I love learning new ideas for having fun outdoors, and I am sure the readers do too.

Stay cool everyone! Meet Me Outdoors.

Special find

On Friday after work I walked along the harbor and spotted something really amazing. I saw two mallards, one male and one female, swimming near the edge of the water along with their baby ducklings.  The baby ducks weere so cute I had to take a picture to share it with you.  Now I know they aren't the greatest pics, but you  get the idea.

I'll be on the lookout for more great nature finds to share with you.  Maybe you can find some of your own. Have fun, Meet Me Outdoors.

Rock Creek Park of Washington, D.C.

Today I met with some friends at Rock Creek Park for a picnic and some hiking.  It was a cloudy day today and minor drizzles but that didn't keep us from having an adventure.  Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera (and my phone that has a camera ran out of battery) so I don't have any photos to share.

Rock Creek Park as lots of picnic areas and some open space too great for families or a gathering of friends.  At one part along the road, toward where my friends and I were going to eat, I saw a sign with a trivia question and farther down there was a table set up with a couple park rangers with the answer.  As some bicyclers rode by the table they shouted out what they thought the answer was, and the rangers would give a yes or no.  It certainly was entertaining.

There are a lot of trails and different kinds of paths to take, some paved and some not. We took a couple different trails that were shared by bikers and runners, it was also a equestrian (horse) trail at times (we had to look out for horse droppings along the way).  The hike was peaceful, we chatted a bit along the way but we also just wanted to "be one with nature" as they say. 

As we were walking, in my head, I kept track of items I saw that are on the Nature Bingo cards.  I saw horse tracks, fungus, some flowers, insects, a deer, even poison ivy (which I know to avoid) and much more.  There was lots to see on the walk, and I had a fun time exploring in the park. 

I learned there also is a Nature Center at Rock Creek Park that is worth checking out sometime.  We skipped over the Nature Center today, but next time I am in the area I will be sure to see what is there.  I hear they have ranger led programs for all ages and other information and educational resources there. From scavenger hunts to "meet the animals" type presentations, and short guided hikes there are lots of ways to connect with nature. If you are in the Washington, D.C. I'd recommend this as a place to explore.

Whether you want a small encounter with nature or and all out hike in the woods, find a park nearby where you live and go explore.  Come along for an adventure, Meet Me Outdoors.

Play us on SCVNGR!

In an effort to bring all of you wonderful readers to leave the tech live to spend more time outdoors, I made a way you can enjoy both.  SCVNGR is a game that can be played from your mobile phone (Android or iPhone) where the goal is not to just go places but to complete simple, quick challenges along the way.  A challenge could be to take a picture of something, answer a riddle or complete some activity and earn points.  Check out www.scvngr.com for more information on how to play SCVNGR.

I created a trek on SCVNGR called "B'More Outdoors". Be sure to check it out if you are ever in the Baltimore, MD area. If you are in Baltimore and want to play be sure to download the SCVNGR app to your phone and check out the nearby treks.  You should see a trek named "B'More Outdoors" with a photo icon with what should be a familiar picture, the same one you see here on the right.  I hope to add more places and challenges to the trek.  Click the icon on the right hand column of this blog that says "Play us on SCVNGR" to be taken to the trek's page, from there you can see where in Baltimore are the trek challenges.  I hope you enjoy playing! 

Join in the fun, Meet Me Outdoors!