Free Fishing Days!

Want to enjoy a fishing day with your family but, do not want to purchase fishing licenses for the adults? Maybe you can't afford it right now, or you simply just want to try it out before purchasing. 

Now is your chance to do so. Every year the Department of  Natural Resources holds a couple days where you can go fishing for free with out a license. 

Please note it is always free for Children 16 and under to fish with out a license in Maryland. 

**Please check individual state licence age requirements.   

Maryland Free Days

June 3, June 10, July 4

Other Nearby States Free Days

West Virginia: June 10, June 11

Pennsylvania: July 4

Virginia: June 2, June 4

Looking for a state I didn't list....Check here!

Our 2016 Summer Bucket List

Now that we are less than a month away from the boys getting out of school, I am starting to get excited for some fun in the sun this Summer.  Every year the boys and I get together and make a list of Summer activities we want to fit in. There are some favorites we always add and some new activities we have added this year. We can not wait. If you don't know our family, we live in Maryland so a lot of these ideas are based on where we live. Hopefully, you can find these activities available in your area as well.

Park Quest

Camping
Bowling

(There is a really awesome program where you can bowl once a week for only the small price of your shoe rental.)

Blueberry/Strawberry picking

Fishing

Swimming

Hiking
Jr. Ranger's Program

Go to a Baseball Game

$1 Movies

Summer carnival
Police Academy

Utz Factory

Sky Zone

Leesburg Water Park

Gymnastics

Catoctin Zoo

Tubing

Climb a Tree
Walk a Slackline

Watch Fireworks

Have a picnic lunch

Build a butterfly garden

Drink a slushie

Run a race

Make Smores

Pop popcorn on a fire

Catch fireflies
Eat watermelon
Lurray Caverns
Skyline Drive
Lake visits
Eat Crabs
Make Ice cream
Ride bikes
Creek fun
Camping party
Visit the library
Ice skating
Play tennis
Visit Harpers Ferry
Visit the Butterfly Gardens
High Wheel Race
Wooden Slide
Visit the Airport
Summer Concert
Outdoor movie

Giggles and Grass Stains Family Summer Bucket List 2014

Our family is really excited about Summer. Every Summer we sit down and put together a list of things we want to do during Summer. If your from Maryland and live near Frederick we have a lot of fun day trips on our Pinterest page. Here is our list for this year!

Giggles and Grass Stains Summer Bucket List 2014
* Park Quest

* Camp in a Cabin

* Go to a Baseball Game
* Visit the Zoo
* Visit the Lake
* Tire Park
* Hold a Shrimp boil party

* Visit the Water Park
* Bowling
* Summer Reading
* Summer Concert Series
* Lunch at the Airport
* Pump it up

* Visit the pool

* Fishing

* Hiking
* Collect shark teeth
* Walk on the boardwalk
* Go to a museum
* Camping in Tent
* Biking
* Have a picnic outside
* Movies
*Outdoor Movie
* Make your own Sunday
* Carnival

* Make our own Pretzels
* Make minnow traps and use them to fish
* Canoeing
* Chalk driveway drawing
* Library
* Catch lighting bug
* Roast Marshmallows
* Flashlight Tag
* Learn new cooking techniques

* Camping party
* Tie Dye shirts
*  Take a special interest class

We will hang this list up on our fridge so we can add more and cross off ones we've completed! 

Park Quest #3: Cunningham Falls State Park

For our next Park Quest we visited Cunningham Falls State Park (Manor Area) with some friends.  The Park has two different areas about 10-15 mins apart from each other. We visited the campground areas where Super Storm Sandy hit and unfortunately did quiet a bit of damage to the area.

This quest was a self guided quest where we had to follow clues to different locked boxes with more clues. Each clue gave us a new letter where we then had to unscramble to make up the word of our last locked box with a stamp for us to stamp our passports.

Throughout this quest we learned about Myth Busters. For example, Do snakes give off a smell?!? Can you hurt a turtle by touching it's shell? We also took a hike to the Catoctin Furnace where we took a bridge that was over the highway. The kids loved that!

Cunningham also has a tire park and an aviary that we visited.

Here are some pictures of our quest!

                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                             

Park Quest #2: Seneca Creek State Park

I mentioned last week we crossed off another Park Quest and Bucket List activity! Canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park.

I wanted to give more detail about the quest and post some pictures!

The quest was at the beautiful Seneca Creek State Park located in Gaithersburg, MD. Because we are part of the Park Quest program and have our trusty Park Quest passport, we were allowed to check out two canoes, kayaks, or paddle boats. We opted for the canoe and, we only needed one for the 4 of us. We were given a map, a pencil, directions, an animal identification sheet and, life jackets!

The directions that were given to us stated we needed to follow the map to find 7 different posts. On those posts would be 3 different pictures of animal species found at Seneca Creek or in MD. We would then need to identify that species and write it down. If you get stumped there was an animal identification sheet that helped out.

Conner knew most of the animals names, he needed a little help with the different fish names. Carson enjoyed the ride and putting his hands in the water. The paddle around the lake took us about 1.5 hours. We were lucky to have a little bit of a breeze to help us along the way. If you go on this quests  or just to paddle around the lake, keep an eye out for a blue heron that hangs out there. He was so pretty. When we found him he was hunting for fish!

 After the quest we let the boys play at the fun tire park. While at the park a park ranger came over and held a short lesson on animals in MD. The boys got to identify animals by their skulls and fur.

Overall, we had a blast at this quest!

Semi Wordless Wednesday!

This past weekend we crossed off another Park Quest. We also crossed off another one of our Summer Bucket List activities!!

Canoeing!!!

Summer Fun doesn't have to break the bank!

Since making our Summer bucket list, I have had a lot of people telling me they can't make a bucket list because they don't have a lot of money to spend this Summer.

This Summer our family has decided to try and save as much money as we can. Last year, we spent a lot on trips, gas, and treats. We wanted to prove to those people it can still be done.

I have already mentioned some free programs and low cost activities already in the past month. Dig into Reading, Library visits, Park Quest, and Slip n slide fun. Some more that we enjoy are lake visits at a local State Park, Swimming, crafts, water balloon fights, playing in the creek, chalk drawing, park visits, free bowling, and so many more. There are a ton of ways you can still be budget friendly while having fun this Summer.

Last weekend, we tried out another free program for the first time. The Build and Grow program that Lowes puts on at their stores. They hold these workshops on specific Saturdays throughout the month. During your visit you are given all the supplies to make that weeks activities and a patch of completion. At your first visit you are also given a certificate, an apron and safety goggles. My boys had a fantastic time and were begging to go back. Everything is free but, you do need to go online and register for a spot at your local store.

My boys made a Monster's University wooden treasure chest. Then, they decorated them with stickers. Their chests both turned out amazing!!

Park Quest #1: South Mountain/Weverton Cliffs

We finally had time to go out on our 1st Park Quest of this Summer.  We chose the South Mountain quest that listed in the description, would be a 2 mile hike to the Weverton Cliffs. We were going with another family who also had a smaller child Carson's age. We were hesitant about making the full 2 mile hike up to the cliffs because we were told it was a hard hike. In the Park Quest book it describes it as a not for the faint and a 4 "Hat" difficulty. We decided we would hike to as far as we could and come back down.

We were pleasantly surprised by the young ones. They never once complained they were tired or wanted to quit. The older boys were super stars leading the way and even leaving the parents in the dust. The 2 mile hike taught us about the Appalachian trail, thru-hikers, about erosion and, switch- backs. The Cliffs overlooked the Potomac River, CSX Railroad, West Virgina, Virginia and, Maryland. It was such a beautiful view. 

We ended our quest with a trip to South Mountain Creamery which has some of the best ice cream! The boys both opted for mint chocolate chip while I got caramel sundae!

What a great 1st Quest! We can't wait for the next one!

Summer Bucket List #3: Library Passport

As I have mentioned previously, the boys are signed up for a local Reading program through the Summer. It is a free program being offered though our public library.

As bad as it sounds we have a library right down the road that we have never visited before. We used to be members at a library in another county where we lived but, since moving we haven't been to a library. We decided to take the boys to the local library down the street to get them their own library cards. We wanted to show them how to be responsible for the books and be rewarded by getting new books.

The boys learned where the children's section was, that they had fun computer games to play, Conner read Carson a book in a cool play house and, we checked out some fun books. I was very surprised to see that Conner wanted history books!?! He wanted to learn about different world history. No idea where that came from but, he is enjoying the book so far. Carson chose a shark book while, I chose him an alphabet book, counting book and, a shape book!!

While we were there we got our passport stamped for visiting the 1st of 8 libraries in our area. The boys also got to pick a prize from the treasure chest for completing their 1st of 3 lines on their "Dig into Reading" book.

They had a great time and can't wait to go back! I see lots of visits to the library in our future!

To read more about the program see my previous post here!

Dig into Reading

Now that school is coming to an end here, we will be taking time during the Summer to keep up with our learning. We joined two different reading clubs to help keep the reading skills fresh as well as, reading independently and, as a family.

Here in Maryland, our public library has a program called Dig into Reading. It has a couple different components to it.  The first is to complete each burrow of 6 reading activities. Once finished and crossed off,  you can bring in your sheet and receive a prize. There are 3 rows of 6, resulting in 3 prizes.  Another component is, each participant is to try and read 600 minutes or more in 3 months to earn an additional prize. Lastly, there are 8 different libraries within our county. If each participant visits all 8 they will be entered in a drawing to win a grand prize.

Both of my boys are signed up for this program for the first time this year. We look forward to visiting each library for events/programs.  It will also be the first time Carson will have a library card! He is very excited to be able to check out books.

There is also a free program being offered through Barnes and Noble. Each child (grades 1-6) is asked to read 8 books and record them in their journal (downloaded) and to let them know to whom you would recommend each book, and why. Once you have done that, you can turn in your journal for a free book of your choice. (Off the suggested list)

Great Outdoors Month: June

June is Great Outdoors Month!

Governor O'Malley's Partnership for Children in Nature kick off in June. He invites everyone to discover the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.

"June marks the end of school, the excitement and anticipation of summer, and the perfect time to encourage our children to connect with nature through outside activities,” said Governor O’Malley. “Celebrate Maryland Outdoors Days reminds everyone to take the time to enjoy and explore the unique sights, sounds and recreation our natural world provides.”


The activities start off on June 1st with National Trails Day!

It continues with free days of Fishing on June 1st and, June 8th.  During a free fishing day, a person may catch and possess fin-fish in the tidal and non tidal waters of the State for recreational purposes without an angler's license, Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license, or any fishing stamp normally required by the State, but shall otherwise observe all fishing laws and regulations.

Also on June 8th is National Get Outdoors Day!

Rounding out the Great Outdoors Month is The Great American Backyard Camp Out on June 22nd.

Check out more events going on in June in the State of Maryland here and here!

Park Quest 2013

Excitement has hit the Giggles and Grass Stains house! Once again we have made it in to the Park Quest Program that Maryland Department of Natural Resources puts on every Summer.

Park Quest is a free program where families sign up to participate as a team (Needs to be at least one adult and a child under 16) to complete at least 10 of 24 different quests at different State Parks located in Maryland. The "quests" consist of activities like, canoeing, how to use a compass, learning Maryland's history during different periods, hiking, learning facts about flora and fauna in Maryland and, so much more. They only allow up to 1,000 teams enter the program. Registration took place last Monday at 6pm and was filled up within the first hour.

We have participated in Park Quest for 2 Summers now. It has been such a fun way to get the kids active and learning during the Summer.  We can't wait to start again. We have decided to add some additional activities to Park Quest this year to really expand our fun.  We are even hoping to add a couple minor league ball games to our trips this Summer. Visiting some local ball parks we haven't been to yet.  Here's a list of activities we hope to do before during or after park quest this year.

*Make Team T-Shirts
*Start a Park Quest Journal
*Visit Local Ball Parks
*Go Geo-caching
*Collect State Park pins/patches

*Iron on patches/pins to Park Quest duffel bags.

Here's a couple pictures from our favorite quests last year! 

Do you Park Quest? What's your team name?