Shared by Christa Kermode, Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator, as Guest Blogger.
We need to give back to our children what they don’t even know they’ve lost - a connection to the natural world. The average American child spends just four to seven minutes playing outside each day. In the last few decades, childhood has literally moved indoors with kids spending more than six hours per day in front of electronic media. Simply put, the nature of childhood has changed, and there isn’t much nature left in it.
Let’s change this by unplugging and getting outdoors! A great place to start is the 7th Annual Great American Backyard Campout® on June 25, 2011.
Trade your websites for campsites
Once a year,
Sky Meadows State Park opens the Historic Mount Bleak backyard to campers; don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate nature and the great outdoors for 24 hours! Activities will begin at Noon and run throughout the day and into the evening. Early birds are welcome to join a Bird Walk led by a volunteer from
Shenandoah Audubon at 9:00 am and then set up their campsite .
A special addition to the park’s GABC this year is local author
Rebecca P. Cohen. Ms. Cohen is a gardening and outdoor lifestyle expert whose mission is to inspire people to incorporate an active, outdoor lifestyle into their busy schedule. She is also the National Wildlife Federation’s "
Be Out There" Spokesmom, helping to inspire millions of families to re-connect with nature and enjoy the physical & mental benefits of unstructured outdoor play. You can meet this amazing inspiring mother of two; she will be at
Sky Meadows State Park on June 25th to sign copies of her brand new book
15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids from 2:00 to 5:00p.m.
Sky Meadows State Park partner and event sponsor
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports of Warrenton will also be here with the Outdoors Skills Station. Store manager Josh Warner will be available to answer questions about hiking, backpacking, orienteering and, of course, camping. You will also have to opportunity to shop for some of the outdoors gear you need for these activities.
Another great addition to this year’s event is the
Beekeepers of Northern Shenandoah. They will be here demonstrating hive construction and sharing information about beekeeping. Club president and local beekeeper Doug Morris will be on hand to answer questions about the hives here at
Sky Meadows State Park. The
Blacksmith's Guild of the Potomac will also be here demonstrating blacksmithing skills. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch members of the guild hand-forge items. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase their own hand forged marshmallow roasting fork and other items made by guild members.
Other Campout activities include: Kids Crafts, Leave No Trace classes, GPS workshops, and live animal presentations by
Blue Ridge Wildlife Center,
Raptor Conservancy of Virginia, and Marty Martin’s Rattlesnakes. Campers will finish the day with Smokey the Bear & storytelling by the group campfire, guided candlelight tours of the historic Mount Bleak House, and an opportunity to view the night sky from telescopes provided by
Northern Virginia Astronomy Club.
Come out and meet Smokey
The
Friends of Sky Meadows State Park (FOSK) will be holding a raffle during the event to help raise funds to support programs and resource management at the park. FOSK is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization that assists with identifying and promoting activities to conserve, enhance, and interpret the natural, cultural, scenic, recreational, and historical resources of
Sky Meadows State Park. Items that have been donated for the raffle include: $50 gift card from Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, a four person tent & four sleeping bags from REI, two-nights free camping at
Sky Meadows State Park, and an Annual Pass to
Sky Meadows State Park.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our event sponsors: Blue Ridge Mountain Sports of Warrenton and
REI of Bailey’s Crossroads, VA. Their generous support will help to make this the best Campout ever to be held at Sky Meadows!
Come out and join in the fun at the Great American Backyard Campout!
Hurry! Make your reservation for camping in the Mount Bleak backyard today; tents only. Advanced registration is $18.65, tax included or $30 plus tax at the gate. Space is limited so don’t wait. To make reservations, call (800) 933-PARK or visit the
Virginia State Parks camping page. For more information and a schedule of activities call the park at 540-592-3556.
