Seneca Creek Schoolhouse and other historic venues
Seneca Creek Schoolhouse is located at 16800 River Rd, Poolesville, about half an hour away. The girls role play life in a one room school house in the 1880's. It is part of the Historic Medley District Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in western Montgomery County. Scouts get to enjoy a “back in time” experience of visiting and attending classes at a one room school – without a computer. A carefully researched 19th century school day program is taught by a trained and costumed teacher. The session is given from 10 to 2 o’clock with time out for lunch and outdoor games. This field trip is designed for fourth grade students as local history, but can be tailored to any age, including mixed-age groups.
Rock The Mall
Over 200,000 Girl Scouts from around the world gathered at the National Mall in June of 2012 to sing songs, trade SWAPS, watch performances, and meet fellow Girl Scouts for the 100th anniversary of girl scouting. Rock the Mall is held every five years so put it on your calendar!
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Group Programs
They have a variety of different programs, for different age groups, centering on environmental issues. Programs can be tailored to your needs.
Piscataway Park
The Accokeek Foundation partners with the National Park Service to steward 200 acres of Piscataway Park which covers, in total, approximately 5,000 acres, from Piscataway Creek to Marshall Hall on the Potomac River. The full conservation area protects a wealth of environmental, cultural, and historic resources, from wetlands to farms to nationally significant historic sites. The park is open daily to visitors who enjoy a quiet landscape for recreation and reflection. Annually, thousands of children visit for farm-based education, learning about environmental stewardship through a historical lens.
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
1600 acres of tidal freshwater wetlands, forests, meadows, and fields along the Patuxent River. Their mission is to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of estuarine ecosystems through education, research, and stewardship. Set up a scout program with them!
Sandy Spring Adventure Park
The Adventure Park offers family fun for ages 5 and up. This aerial forest adventure is fun, exciting and safe for all participants. We provide a harness and equipment and give you a safety briefing that demonstrates how to climb and zip line in the park. There are 13 separate courses of varying levels of difficulty. Each course has zip lines but primarily consist of “bridges” between tree platforms made of rope, cable and wood configurations creating over 150 unique challenges. You will develop skills, endurance, and confidence during your time in the Park. Trained Adventure Park staff members monitor the Park and are there to assist if needed.
Montgomery Parks Nature Centers and Campfire Ring Rentals
Montgomery Parks offers campfire ring rental and programs for scouts at many of their Nature Centers. You can find one at a center that is close to you.
Locust Grove Nature Center
Brookside Nature Center
Meadowside Nature Center
Black Hill Nature Center
Clara Barton House
Learn all about the amazing courage of Clara Barton during the Civil War and all her achievements with the American Red Cross. You can take an hour long tour of the final home of Clara Barton.
Glen Echo Fire Department Tours
Take a tour of the fire station. Scout programs on fire safety and prevention are available.
Bureau of Printing and Engraving
Tour the facility and find out how the country makes all its paper money. You've never seen so much moolah!
Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show
At Montgomery County Fairgrounds every mid-March. Great activity for troops (or just to do with your kids). They have wonderful educational exhibits on minerals, gems and fossils (used to have a scavenger hunt for kids, maybe they still do) and older kids can do some lapidary work. The fluorescent exhibit in the black light tent is always a hit. There are also demonstrations on faceting, jewelry making, flint knapping, micromounts, mineral identification, and fossil collecting. Free specimens for kids and door prizes too. Children 11 and under and scout in uniform are free.
Rose Hill Manor Park and Children's Museum
The park and museum present the daily life of Thomas Johnson, Maryland’s first Governor, and the individuals who lived on the property as well as the history of agriculture and transportation in Frederick County.
You can take nature walks on many different trails in Bethesda and find leaves, trees, and creatures. You could make your own nature scavenger hunt, pretend you are character from a book, or just simply take a walk. Here are some trails and directions.
http://www.rundc.com/Doc/MD/Montgomery/Bethesda.htm
Little Falls Library
This library has many different programs that you can attend. If you go to the website and click on Calendar of Events, you will get a list of all their upcoming events.
Glen Echo Park
Visit the park for a ride on the carousel, to tour the historic buildings, or to take in a show at Adventure Theater.
Imagination Stage
See a performance at this wonderful children's theater. The Creativity Initiative sometimes includes post-show workshops -- a great badge earning activity for scouts.
Homestead Farms
A close-by farm where you can go and pick your own fruit, depending on what is in season and when you go. They also have a variety of animals that are always fun to see. This website will tell you what you can pick at the current time, and all you need to know to go there. Click on "Teachers" to see their list of fieldtrips (trips include meeting the animals, a farm tour, a wagon ride, and picking fruit).
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a 400 acre non-profit refuge for farm animals and wildlife located in Poolesville, Maryland. Arrange a visit and you can even clean the pig sty!
Rockwood Manor and Trails (near Anglers' Inn)
Rockwood Manor has a fire ring you can rent -- with lots of bench seating it's the perfect place for a sing-a-long and 'smores. Hiking the trails right across the street can make this into a full day outing (if you have little kids, maybe avoid trails that go along the river due to the drop-off risk).
Smithsonian National Zoo
Who doesn't love an elephant?!? Activity sheets to print and do at the zoo can be found at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Visit/PlanYourVisit/ or you can check out http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/ClassroomResources/ for activities to do at your troop meetings.
Philadelphia
Our troop took the train to Philly one day and did a walking tour of the historic downtown -- plus Philly cheesesteaks for lunch! See a walking tour here: http://www.visitphilly.com/tours/philadelphia/the-constitutional-walking-tour-of-philadelphia/ .
Claude Moore Colonial Farm
Step back in time and experience life on a small farm in northern Virginia. Living history programs and demonstrations offer a glimpse of what life was like for a poor farm family, just before the Revolutionary War.
Archery with Northern Virginia Archers
Contact Northern Virginia Archers to set up an archery session for your troop. For fourth graders and older, minimum of 15 people (including adults).
Maryland Sled Dog Adventures
It’s all about the dogs! Girl Scouts work closely with a team of well-behaved sled dogs harnessing, feeding, watering, and learning all about sled dogs including: what the dogs eat; how the dogs are trained; positions on a dog team; equipment used in dog sledding; famous dog sledding events; and the commands used in dog sledding. Each girl will take a short individual (1/2 mile) ride. Fun patch and light snack included. Minimum of 12 and maximum of 20. Siblings and friends (age five and up) welcome (useful to fill minimum required). They book fast so contact July or earlier for following season.
G-Street Fabrics
Take a sewing class here and everyone gets to take home their own project.
Cupcakes and Lace
Workshops for crafting and sewing, even customized workshops especially planned for your group. Sample projects are: sew a little stuffed owl and then make a home for it; use recyclables to create a house for pet rocks. So cute! It's about 1 1/2 hour drive but very easy. Patch kits are also sold here!
Embassy Tours
Several of the embassies offer tours and even activities. Check out this program offered by the Japanese Cultural Center .
Reddemeade Equestrian Center or Wheaton Park Stables
Reddemeade is a complete horse center, with friendly, professional staff qualified to teach horseback riding from the beginner to the advanced student to the dressage rider. Wheaton Park Stables strives to reach out, introduce, and educate individuals to the equine world.
Our Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C.
Stroll through memorials, go to the top of the Washington Monument, visit any one of so many museums (Natural History, American Indian, National Portrait Gallery, Bureau of Engraving, the Postal Museum, etc.) or try to arrange a tour of the White House or Capital Building. So much to do, so close by!
American Historical Trials
Take a hike is historical Annapolis, Alexandria, Manassas, Leesburg and more. Trail Guidebooks for these can be ordered through The Carolina Trader
Hiking Trails of Great Falls (Billy Goat Trail, Gold Mine Loop, Etc.)
Easy, moderate or difficult trails along and near the Potomac River. Beautiful views, nearby campsites to follow up with a campfire, great to do all times of year.
Biking or Hiking the C & O Canal
184.5 Miles of Adventure! The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is rich with cultural, historical, and natural resources from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland.