On April 27-28 the field trip will be to Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore to photograph the tulips. You can attend either day.

Approximately 80,000 tulip bulbs are planted annually along with other spring flowering bulbs. Dogwoods, flowering cherries, wisteria and magnolias bloom throughout the gardens. One will also enjoy the brightly colored azaleas and old English boxwoods which were particular favorites of Mr. Sherwood. Some of these plants date back as far as the 18th century, collected from gardens of Colonial estates in Southern Maryland. Sherwood Gardens has always been at its best toward the end of April and beginning of May so we may have to adjust the date for this field trip accordingly.

Sun up to sun down – 2 hour street parking in that development – remember – no public restrooms available.

On April 13-14 we will have a field trip to Historic Jerusalem Mill Village and Jericho Covered Bridge. You can attend either day.

A nearly intact mill village from the 1770s, Jerusalem is a perfect setting for living history interpretation and storytelling. The McCourtney building, spring house, tenant house, bank barn, blacksmith shop, and stone house behind the mill are original buildings that have been or are being restored. The gristmill was reconstructed and adapted for use as the Gunpowder Falls State Park headquarters and visitor center.

Visit Jerusalem Mill Village during the weekends to get a sense of daily life from the 1770s, when David Lee and Isaiah Linton opened the gristmill, through the 1930s, when Samuel O. McCourtney ran a thriving General Store on the opposite side of Jerusalem Road.

Since we were short changed on filed trips this winter with the government shutdown, I’ve added a last minute field trip.

TOP 30 BULLRIDING FINALS!!!
SATURDAY, MARCH 2nd, 2019 ~ 7PM WESTMINSTER, MD 
CARROLL COUNTY AG-CENTER & ARENA

“Bullriding” presented by the International Bull Riders. Back for two Saturday nights this February 23rd and March 2nd! Watch as the top bullriders battle for final standings. Located indoors, at the Carroll County Ag. Center in Westminster, MD. Doors open at 5pm, and the show starts at 7pm. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children 6-12 and children under 6 are FREE. Bring your children out for the Little Wranglers Rodeo prior to the start of the show. Food, drink and bleacher seating available! Get there early! Go to www.GoIBR.com or call 301-748-0617 for more information!

Located on the shores of Otter Point Creek, the Estuary Center is open to the public seven days a week, year round, except for holidays. 2 miles of hiking trails through dappled upland forests of black gum and maple trees.

One of the few remaining large freshwater tidal marshes in the upper Chesapeake Bay accessible to the public. Otter Point Creek is a shallow tributary located at the headwaters of the Bush River in southern Harford County, MD. The Otter Point Creek Component consists of two land areas (Leight Park and the Melvin G. Bosely Conservancy) connected by 261 acres of shallow open water. Leight Park is 93 forested acres owned by Harford County Parks and Recreation and home to the Estuary Center. The Bosely Conservancy is 350 acres of tidal marsh and wooded wetlands owned by the Izaak Walton League of America – Harford County Chapter.

Hours of Operation

The Anita C. Leight Estuary Center Building is open to the public:
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Leight Park
Open daily dawn to dusk
(Gates close at dusk)

To reach the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center:

The Anita C. Leight Estuary Center is located in Leight Park in Southern Harford County, just 18 miles north of Baltimore, and is easily located from Interstate 95.

• Take Exit 77A off of Route I-95, Route 24 South to Edgewood
• Turn left onto the Route 40 access road
• Turn left at the T onto Route 40 East
• Proceed east 1.5 miles
• Turn right at the stop light onto Otter Point Road
• Proceed 1/2 mile, then turn right into the driveway at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center entrance sign, 700 Otter Point Road

Get Directions from Google Maps.

Source: Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, Otter Creek Component

Photo by Michelle Barkdoll

The Library of Congress Reading Room has been described as the most beautiful room in Washington, DC (The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown), but unless you have a researcher card you’re not allowed inside.  It’s not difficult to get a researcher card but they discourage people from getting them just to check out the room because they are nice, plastic-printed, photo IDs.  With that said, most people don’t get a chance to see this beautiful room except for a small overlook.  Worst of all, photography isn’t even allowed from the overlook so you have no chance to capture the room’s amazing architecture.

However, twice a year, on Presidents’ Day (in February) and Columbus Day (in October), the Library of Congress opens up the Reading Room to visitors and photographers. The Main Reading Room will be open to the public on the federal Presidents Day holiday, Monday, February 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Main Reading Room is located on the first floor of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.   American Sign Language interpreters will be available during the open house.

The Jefferson Building will open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In lieu of the normal tour schedule, docents will be available to talk with visitors about the Jefferson Building, its history, art and architecture and the Library’s collections and exhibitions between 9:30 am. and 4:30 p.m.

Parking in Washington D.C is free on holidays.

Source: Semi-Annual Main Reading Room Open House on Presidents Day | Library of Congress

DO TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, THIS FIELD TRIP IS CANCELLED.

On January 19th the club field trip will be to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge which protects one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the mid-Atlantic region. The refuge, located along the coast of Delaware, is mostly marsh, but also includes freshwater impoundments and upland habitats that are managed for other wildlife.

Wildlife can be seen year round at Bombay Hook. Mammals can be seen year round, particularly in the early morning and evening hours. These include white tailed deer, beaver, muskrat, red fox, river otter, woodchuck and opossum. Fall and spring offer the best opportunity for observing peak concentrations of migratory birds. Waterfowl populations are at their peak in November and December. More than 150,000 ducks and geese use the refuge at this time. It is primarily a refuge and breeding ground for migrating birds and other wildlife.

Entrance fees are $4.00 / car. The refuge is open 1/2-hour before sunrise until 1/2-hour after sunset. The visitor center is closed on weekends in January. The drive to the refuge takes approximately 1.5 hours. The closest place to get food and gas is in Smyrna, Cheswold, or Dover depending on your route. Click here for directions.

Please email fieldtrips@arundelcameraclub.org if you would like to attend.

DO TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, THIS FIELD TRIP IS CANCELLED.

On January 12th the club field trip will be to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to an incredible amount of plant and animal diversity in its three major habitats – forest, marsh and shallow water. The refuge contains one-third of Maryland’s tidal wetlands, which makes it an ecologically important area within the state. These wetlands also provide storm protection to lower Dorchester County, including the town of Cambridge. Blackwater NWR is recognized as a “Wetland of International Importance” by the Ramsar Convention and was named a priority wetland in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. In addition, Blackwater NWR has been designated as an Internationally Important Bird Area.

The best time to view waterfowl is November through February. In addition to its extensive list of birds, Blackwater supports a variety of mammals, including bats, raccoons, rabbits, otters, opossums, skunks, and red fox. The marshes are home to large numbers of muskrats. Sightings of eagles are fairly common as Blackwater is the center of the greatest nesting density of bald eagles in the eastern United States north of Florida.

Entrance fees are $3.00/car. The visitor center is open 9 Am to 5 pm. The wildlife drive opens dawn to dusk every day. The drive to the refuge takes approximately 1.5 hours. The drive to the refuge takes approximately 1.5 hours. The closest place to get food and gas is in Cambridge. Click here for directions.

Please email fieldtrips@arundelcameraclub.org if you would like to attend.

Twice each year, the Library of Congress opens its magnificent Main Reading Room to share information about how the public can access the Library’s resources year-round. The Main Reading Room will be open to the public on the federal Columbus Day holiday, Monday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Main Reading Room is located on the first floor of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.

Reference librarians will be on hand to demonstrate services, offer instruction on obtaining a reader-registration card and answer questions. They will be available to demonstrate the Library’s online resources and discuss access to the Library’s vast on-site collections and electronic resources, including services and collections for use in family history research. No other reference services will be available, and all other Library of Congress reading rooms and buildings will be closed. Photography is allowed; however, visitors may not use selfie sticks, mono-, bi- or tripods.

The Library’s Young Readers Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with activity stations and programming for visitors. Young people under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Exhibition tours will be available to visitors on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building.

Send email to Michelle to let her know if you are going on this field trip.

This photo of Penn’s Cave is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Saturday will consist of Penn’s Cave, Nature, Farm and Wildlife Tour – https://pennscave.com/ – You can choose which one or two or all of the adventures that they offer – prices listed on website.

Saturday evening = Bowling at Bellfonte Lanes (as long as they are not pre-booked for a party- will know closer to time) This is an older bowling alley.

Sunday will consist of Hershey Gardens Butterfly Atrium and Bug Zone. https://www.hersheygardens.org/

Please RSVP here to this email so that I may book for reservations.