Sunday afternoon we headed to the National Park and did a little more fishing and some hiking too. Ava was psyched because she reeled in 3 little sunfish. She's still set on eating her catch, but luckily this was catch and release, so I haven't had to clean and fry anything yet. We hit the Towpath Trail and had a great time walking and climbing the old locks before we got soaked by the rain. I remember learning about the Erie Canal in school so it was cool to get to see some of it in person and climb on the locks that were once covered with water. I also have to say that I'm loving the all-terrain jogging stroller for these trips! Here is a little history lesson and then I put our pictures from the day into a slide show. Just click the link at the bottom.
History of the Towpath Trail
The Towpath Trail follows the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal. Before the canal was built, Ohio was a sparsely settled wilderness where travel was difficult and getting crops to market was nearly impossible. The canal, built between 1825 and 1832, provided a successful transportation route from Cleveland, on Lake Erie, to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River. The canal opened up Ohio to the rest of the settled eastern United States.
Today you can walk or ride along the same path that the mules used to tow the canal boats loaded with goods and passengers. You can still see remnants of that former scene as you pass many of the canal locks and related structures. From the vantage point of the Towpath Trail you can also enjoy the beauty of forests, fields, and wetlands flanking the path as it winds its way through the Cuyahoga River Valley.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Great Outdoors
Here is an excerpt from an article I read over the weekend:
Taking Children Outdoors
Do you have a significant relationship with a child? Maybe
you are a parent, grandparent, or other family member.
Maybe you are a scout leader, friend, or neighbor. Whatever
your role, as an adult you are responsible for creating a safe
environment in which a child can play, learn, and grow.
Sadly, our desire to protect has had unintended consequences.
Fears about strangers and germs, as well as the
lure of electronic entertainment, have driven our children
indoors. Their lives are more sedentary and removed
from nature than those of past generations. When they are
outside, it tends to be for group activities directed by adults.
Rare is the child who explores the outdoors at his or her
own pace, following a stream or flight of imagination. The
days of “come back home when it gets dark” are long gone.
Ironically, this over protectiveness is actually harmful
to children’s physical and mental health. New research
indicates that nature experiences are linked to positive
gains in cognitive development, self-discipline, creative
expression, motor and language skills, and social interactions.
Children who regularly play in nature generally
demonstrate greater self esteem, are better able to deal
with stress, and are often healthier. Many believe that
outdoor experiences are critical to the development of a
sense of wonder that, in turn, is an important motivator for
lifelong learning.
I'm not getting on my soapbox here. Admittedly, there are days that my child watches enough Playhouse Disney that she might turn into a Mouseketeer. I think this just grabbed my attention because the article reflects the way that I was privileged to grow up. I remember how magical the exploration of the woods behind our house could be. I remember building forts and hideouts with my sisters and our good friends, the Anglin kids, and catching "critters" in the the pond. Swinging on vines and climbing trees. When my mom honked the horn on the car, it was time to head home. No cell phones back then.
Certainly, I won't be turning Ava lose in the woods anytime soon. But my upbringing probably does explain why I take her hiking and "exploring" whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The DNR here has started a cool program for kids: http://www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com/ActivityGuide/explore_about/tabid/20224/Default.aspx
I particularly enjoyed the last quote from that site in the right-hand green box following the stats:
I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.
– A Fourth-Grader in San Diego
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Just some FFT this fine Tuesday.
Taking Children Outdoors
Do you have a significant relationship with a child? Maybe
you are a parent, grandparent, or other family member.
Maybe you are a scout leader, friend, or neighbor. Whatever
your role, as an adult you are responsible for creating a safe
environment in which a child can play, learn, and grow.
Sadly, our desire to protect has had unintended consequences.
Fears about strangers and germs, as well as the
lure of electronic entertainment, have driven our children
indoors. Their lives are more sedentary and removed
from nature than those of past generations. When they are
outside, it tends to be for group activities directed by adults.
Rare is the child who explores the outdoors at his or her
own pace, following a stream or flight of imagination. The
days of “come back home when it gets dark” are long gone.
Ironically, this over protectiveness is actually harmful
to children’s physical and mental health. New research
indicates that nature experiences are linked to positive
gains in cognitive development, self-discipline, creative
expression, motor and language skills, and social interactions.
Children who regularly play in nature generally
demonstrate greater self esteem, are better able to deal
with stress, and are often healthier. Many believe that
outdoor experiences are critical to the development of a
sense of wonder that, in turn, is an important motivator for
lifelong learning.
I'm not getting on my soapbox here. Admittedly, there are days that my child watches enough Playhouse Disney that she might turn into a Mouseketeer. I think this just grabbed my attention because the article reflects the way that I was privileged to grow up. I remember how magical the exploration of the woods behind our house could be. I remember building forts and hideouts with my sisters and our good friends, the Anglin kids, and catching "critters" in the the pond. Swinging on vines and climbing trees. When my mom honked the horn on the car, it was time to head home. No cell phones back then.
Certainly, I won't be turning Ava lose in the woods anytime soon. But my upbringing probably does explain why I take her hiking and "exploring" whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The DNR here has started a cool program for kids: http://www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com/ActivityGuide/explore_about/tabid/20224/Default.aspx
I particularly enjoyed the last quote from that site in the right-hand green box following the stats:
I like to play indoors better ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.
– A Fourth-Grader in San Diego
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
Just some FFT this fine Tuesday.
Gone Fishing
Saturday evening was absolutely beautiful, so we packed a picnic basket dinner and our fishing poles and headed to a nearby lake. Ava loves to fish and she got some practice in with her new fishing pole. The fish weren't biting, so Ava eventually abandoned her pole in favor of digging in the mud. Emily also managed to dig in some dirt...and eat it, while my attention was diverted. Imagine her big smile, only muddy. We still had a fun night complete with an extended bath time to remove all of the filth before bed. Can I Scotch guard my baby?
Some New Friends
Friday marked one week in our new town and we got to celebrate with a play date. Technically, I have known Stacie for almost 4 years from the mommy board that I joined when Ava was born. However, I had never met her in person until a little over a month ago when I realized that her hometown was the very same town in which I was house hunting. She was gracious enough to show me around and make us feel very welcome. Her little girl Anna is just a few weeks younger than Ava, so they were fast friends. Anna also has a big brother, Chase. We had planned an afternoon at the pool, but our Georgia-warmed blood didn't want to tolerate 70 degrees at the pool, so we headed to the zoo instead. So, here are the pictures of Ava and Emily and our new friends exploring the zoo.
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