What's crazy is that this list is only the tip of the iceberg! There are oodles of incredible, fun activities for families in Washington, DC and the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia. I hope you enjoy this list of field and day trips, and that it inspires you and your kids to explore something new.
1. Call your Member of Congress and obtain White House tour tickets
2. Visit Mount Vernon
3. Hop on a trolley tour of the Washington, DC monuments
4. Touch a real piece of the moon at the National Air and Space Museum
5. Dig in to Ethiopian food with your hands in Adams Morgan
6. Squeal over the pandas at the National Zoo
7. Delve into the basement of the Department of Commerce and visit DC's National
Aquarium
8. Cheer at a Nationals Game on T-Shirt Tuesday
9. Pretend you're Orville or Wilbur at the College Park Aviation Museum
10.View the fireworks on the National Mall or wave a flag at a fun local 4th of July Parade
11. Pick your own seasonal produce at a nearby farm
12. Ride the carousel at Glen Echo Park
13. Smell the roses at a Family Day event at the U.S. Botanical Gardens
14. Tour the Bureau of Engraving & Printing and see money printed
15. Take the gargoyle tour at Washington National Cathedral
16. Ride Metro to Union Station and burst through the main doors like Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
17. Witness the changing of the guard at the Tombs of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery
18. Eat fish and chips at The Dubliner or Kelly's Irish Times
19. Hike around Roosevelt Island
20. Sit in Albert Einstein's lap
21. Paddle around the Tidal Basin
22. Rent canoes or kayaks in Georgetown and paddle down the Potomac
23. Play tourist and see the monuments by boat or Duck tour
24. Check out the view from the top of the Washington Monument
25. Play tag in the Hirshhorn Museum Sculpture Garden
26. Play secret agent at the International Spy Museum (and FYI, FBI tours are currently closed)
27. Make peace with the creepy crawlers at the Orkin Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
28. Drive through the Shenandoah's Skyline Drive and take a family hike along the Appalachian trail
29. Play in the rocket garden of the NASA Goddard Visitors Center
30. Get lost in the hangars of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Chantilly
31. Ride the miniature trains at Wheaton or Cabin John Regional Parks
32. Take the Old Town Alexandria ghost tour
33. Listen to free concerts at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
34. Explore Luray Caverns
35. Fly a kite on the National Mall
36. Ride the rails at the National Capitol Trolley Museum
37. Feed the animals at the Leesburg Animal Park
38. Enjoy a voyage down the Potomac in a real riverboat
39. Hum along with history at the The Star Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore
40. Admire the majestic beauty of Great Falls
41. Go train-crazy at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore
42. Shiver your timbers on a Pirate Adventure Cruise in Annapolis
43. Go eye to eye with a shark or a dolphin at the National Aquarium in Baltimore
44. Have a free, old-fashioned playdate at one of the wondrous local playgrounds
45. Catch a kid-centric show at the Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park
46. Take family or butterfly photos amongst the beauty of Brookside Gardens
47. See a children's show at Wolf Trap's Theatre-in-the-Woods
48. Nosh on crab cakes on Kent Island
49. Go fishing in Little Seneca Lake
50. Frolic on the farm at the Agricultural History Farm Park
51. Make figure 8s at local ice rinks
52. Tour the inspiration for Uncle Tom's Cabin
53. See why they called him Stonewall Jackson at Manassas National Battlefield
54. Hike a portion of the Underground Railroad
55. Learn about the life of an American slave
56. Cool off at the South Germantown Splash Playground
57. Get a hole-in-one at a local miniature golf course
58. Go camping at a local campground
59. Salute our nation's veterans at Arlington National Cemetery
60. Remember Iwo Jima at the National Marine Corps Memorial
61. Walk through the Depression and the New Deal at the FDR Memorial
62. Hum the Star Spangled Banner from Fort McHenry
63. Play mad scientist at Maryland Science Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor
64. Rent a cabin in the Virginia countryside
65. Schedule a dinosaur dig
66. Step back in time at a historic manor home
67. Take a free morning bird walk with the Audubon Naturalist Society in MD or VA
68. Cheer the Washington Mystics as a member of the Kids Club
69. Practice your acting skills at a Round House Theatre Free for All Friday
70. Take a horseback ride through Rock Creek Park
71. Eat cotton candy at a nearby county fair
72. Ride the kiddie rides at Six Flags America
73. Walk around historic Annapolis
74. Walk around historic Fells Point, MD
75. Walk through the Friendship Archway in DC's Chinatown
76. Build and play at the Building Zone at the National Building Museum
77. Tour the US Capitol via the public tour or by private tour conducted by your Member of Congress
78. Experience the beginning of American history at the National Museum of the American Indian
79. Hear a story or see a performance at the Discovery Theatre
80. Kick up your heels at a Folklore Society of Greater Washington Family Dance at Glen Echo
81. Talk to the animals at the Reston Zoo
82. Solve a mystery as a Plantation Sleuth at Gunston Hall
83. Play, eat and enjoy wallet-friendly design at a nearby IKEA
84. Chow down on dim sum
85. Time travel to 1771 at Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run
86. Get soaked (in a good way) at Splashdown Waterpark
87. Drive out to Virginia's Dinosaurland
88. Go on safari at Virginia Safari Park
89. Get interactive at the Port Discovery Children's Museum in Baltimore
90. Report live from the Newseum
91. View sites of the city from a bicycle
92. Satisfy your very hungry bookworm at the Library of Congress
93. View the documents of democracy at the National Archives
94. Visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael's
95. Build a sand castle at Sandy Point State Park
96. Grab weekend brunch on the Georgetown Waterfront
97. Tour the historic 1876 synagogue with the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington
98. Tour the gardens and re-creation of Christian holy sites at the Franciscan Monastery
99. Tour the Route 11 potato chip factory.
100. Eat and shop your way through Eastern Market
Posted by Jessica McFadden
Empower, Enrich, Live, Learn, Love, and LAUGH
Monday, June 30, 2008
DC for Families
By Beth D'Addono
America's hometown is an ideal destination for families--between the grandeur of the national monuments, the Smithsonian complex and the National Zoo, home to giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, D.C. offers something for every age group. The key to enjoying it all is to pick and choose--and keep in mind that the distance between wherever you are and the Washington Monument is a lot farther than you think. The Mall--the heart of D.C.'s main attractions, is almost two miles long.
To avoid a case of "museum feet," consider interspersing indoor activities with time spent outdoors, in places like the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden or the 165-acre National Zoo, a 20-minute car or Metro ride north of the Mall. The Smithsonian alone could keep everybody busy for a while. A few museums that are especially kid- and family friendly include the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall, with its 8,000 artifacts, including totems and both historic and contemporary art. Or take flight with the National Air and Space Museum, home to the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar rock sample that kids (of all ages) can touch.
The Metro, the city's underground public transportation, is an inexpensive and easy way to get around town. Here's another tip--if there is a line to climb the Washington Monument, head for the Pavilion at the Old Post Office, where the clock tower affords an equally dramatic view.
The National Mall is the main event in this town. Make your visit to the U.S. Capitol memorable by writing in advance to your local congressman or congresswoman's office to obtain passes to the House and Senate galleries. The Lincoln Memorial is an awesome sight--especially if you've visited Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum, where John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865.
Kids love touring the J. Edgar Hoover (FBI) Building, with its exhibitions of successful federal sleuthing and marksmanship demonstration. Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more, but requests must be submitted through one's member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. Tours are offered from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Women's Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, all located in Constitution Gardens on either side of the reflecting pool, pay tribute to patriots from those conflicts.
If your child is older than 11, a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum can be a moving and educational experience. Find out if your son or daughter has learned about the Holocaust in school, and discuss the museum's mission--to tell the story through artifacts, films, photographs and oral histories--before paying a visit. Some exhibits may be traumatic to view for visitors of any age.
Most of the Smithsonian museums are located on the National Mall and offer a rich treasure trove of cultural, scientific, artistic and historic artifacts. Don't make the mistake of overkill--identify your child's interests and let them determine your itinerary. Orient yourself by stopping first at the Castle, the visitors' center at the vortex of the Smithsonian complex. Some highlights? The Hope Diamond in the Museum of Natural History; Fonzie's jacket in the American History building, where you can also see the First Lady inaugural gowns and Archie Bunker's chair. The Discovery Theater in the Arts & Industries Building provides a changing program of films, puppeteers, dancers and musical entertainment.
When you need a break from all this culture, head over to Union Station--even if you don't have to catch a train. This working station, with its exquisite Beaux Arts design, is a great place to take in a movie on a rainy day, have a bite at the food court or one of the restaurants, and do some shopping.
DuPont Circle
Cafes and restaurants overflow with young professionals. The sounds of jazz fill the air. Foreign dignitaries intermingle with the crowds, extreme art hangs on gallery walls, chess players mix with street musicians and people watchers.
Welcome to DuPont Circle, a sassy, uptown neighborhood that intersects Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire avenues in the northwest section of D.C. DuPont Circle is a haven of cosmopolitan chic--and a great place to shop, dine on ethnic cuisine, or just watch the international world go by.
Continue DuPont Circle's international theme with culinary salutes to the nation of your choice--for Lebanon, try Bacchus; for Indian, check out Taj Mahal; or for American, stop by Sam & Harry's. Afterwards, hear some poetry at Afterwords Café, or dance the night away at 18th Street Lounge.
A new addition in Washington is the "Extra Mile-Points of Light Volunteer Pathway" that was dedicated by former Pres. George H.W. Bush on Oct. 14. This mile-long section of downtown Washington, only blocks from the White House, tells the story of 70 great women and men whose service to others profoundly changed the lives of people across the U.S. and world.
Among the initial 20 honorees--whose images and accomplishments are memorialized in dramatic bronze medallions embedded in granite—are Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr. and Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guide to D.C. Attractions
• Christian Heurich Mansion
1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW
(202) 429-1894
• Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum
511 10th St. NW
(202) 347-4833
• Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
on the Mall between
7th and 9th streets SW
(202) 633-1000, hirshhorn.si.edu
• J. Edgar Hoover (FBI) Building
E St., between 9th and 10th streets
(202) 324-3447, www.fbi.gov
• Lincoln Memorial
Memorial Circle, between Constitution
and Independence avenues SW
(202) 426-6841
• National Zoo
3000 block of Connecticut Ave. NW
(202) 633-4800, nationalzoo.si.edu
• Old Post Office
Pennsylvania Ave., between 11th and 12th streets NW
(202) 289-4224
• Smithsonian Museum of American History
Constitution Ave., between 12 and 14th streets NW
• Smithsonian Museum of Arts & Industries
900 Jefferson Dr. SW
• Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Constitution Ave., between 9th & 10th streets NW
• Smithsonian Museums Visitors' Center
1000 Jefferson Dr. SW
(202) 633-1000, www.si.edu
• Textile Museum
2329 S St. NW
(202) 667-0441, www.textilemuseum.org
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Raoul Wallenberg Place, 15th St. SW
(202) 488-0400, www.ushmm.org
• U.S. Capitol
between Constitution and Independence avenues,
at Pennsylvania Ave.
(202) 225-6827
• Washington Monument
15th St. near Constitution Ave. SW
(800) 967-2283, www.nps.gov/wamo
• White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
(202) 456-2200, www.whitehouse.gov
America's hometown is an ideal destination for families--between the grandeur of the national monuments, the Smithsonian complex and the National Zoo, home to giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, D.C. offers something for every age group. The key to enjoying it all is to pick and choose--and keep in mind that the distance between wherever you are and the Washington Monument is a lot farther than you think. The Mall--the heart of D.C.'s main attractions, is almost two miles long.
To avoid a case of "museum feet," consider interspersing indoor activities with time spent outdoors, in places like the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden or the 165-acre National Zoo, a 20-minute car or Metro ride north of the Mall. The Smithsonian alone could keep everybody busy for a while. A few museums that are especially kid- and family friendly include the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall, with its 8,000 artifacts, including totems and both historic and contemporary art. Or take flight with the National Air and Space Museum, home to the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar rock sample that kids (of all ages) can touch.
The Metro, the city's underground public transportation, is an inexpensive and easy way to get around town. Here's another tip--if there is a line to climb the Washington Monument, head for the Pavilion at the Old Post Office, where the clock tower affords an equally dramatic view.
The National Mall is the main event in this town. Make your visit to the U.S. Capitol memorable by writing in advance to your local congressman or congresswoman's office to obtain passes to the House and Senate galleries. The Lincoln Memorial is an awesome sight--especially if you've visited Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum, where John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865.
Kids love touring the J. Edgar Hoover (FBI) Building, with its exhibitions of successful federal sleuthing and marksmanship demonstration. Public tours of the White House are available for groups of 10 or more, but requests must be submitted through one's member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. Tours are offered from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Women's Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, all located in Constitution Gardens on either side of the reflecting pool, pay tribute to patriots from those conflicts.
If your child is older than 11, a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum can be a moving and educational experience. Find out if your son or daughter has learned about the Holocaust in school, and discuss the museum's mission--to tell the story through artifacts, films, photographs and oral histories--before paying a visit. Some exhibits may be traumatic to view for visitors of any age.
Most of the Smithsonian museums are located on the National Mall and offer a rich treasure trove of cultural, scientific, artistic and historic artifacts. Don't make the mistake of overkill--identify your child's interests and let them determine your itinerary. Orient yourself by stopping first at the Castle, the visitors' center at the vortex of the Smithsonian complex. Some highlights? The Hope Diamond in the Museum of Natural History; Fonzie's jacket in the American History building, where you can also see the First Lady inaugural gowns and Archie Bunker's chair. The Discovery Theater in the Arts & Industries Building provides a changing program of films, puppeteers, dancers and musical entertainment.
When you need a break from all this culture, head over to Union Station--even if you don't have to catch a train. This working station, with its exquisite Beaux Arts design, is a great place to take in a movie on a rainy day, have a bite at the food court or one of the restaurants, and do some shopping.
DuPont Circle
Cafes and restaurants overflow with young professionals. The sounds of jazz fill the air. Foreign dignitaries intermingle with the crowds, extreme art hangs on gallery walls, chess players mix with street musicians and people watchers.
Welcome to DuPont Circle, a sassy, uptown neighborhood that intersects Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire avenues in the northwest section of D.C. DuPont Circle is a haven of cosmopolitan chic--and a great place to shop, dine on ethnic cuisine, or just watch the international world go by.
Continue DuPont Circle's international theme with culinary salutes to the nation of your choice--for Lebanon, try Bacchus; for Indian, check out Taj Mahal; or for American, stop by Sam & Harry's. Afterwards, hear some poetry at Afterwords Café, or dance the night away at 18th Street Lounge.
A new addition in Washington is the "Extra Mile-Points of Light Volunteer Pathway" that was dedicated by former Pres. George H.W. Bush on Oct. 14. This mile-long section of downtown Washington, only blocks from the White House, tells the story of 70 great women and men whose service to others profoundly changed the lives of people across the U.S. and world.
Among the initial 20 honorees--whose images and accomplishments are memorialized in dramatic bronze medallions embedded in granite—are Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr. and Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guide to D.C. Attractions
• Christian Heurich Mansion
1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW
(202) 429-1894
• Ford's Theatre & Lincoln Museum
511 10th St. NW
(202) 347-4833
• Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
on the Mall between
7th and 9th streets SW
(202) 633-1000, hirshhorn.si.edu
• J. Edgar Hoover (FBI) Building
E St., between 9th and 10th streets
(202) 324-3447, www.fbi.gov
• Lincoln Memorial
Memorial Circle, between Constitution
and Independence avenues SW
(202) 426-6841
• National Zoo
3000 block of Connecticut Ave. NW
(202) 633-4800, nationalzoo.si.edu
• Old Post Office
Pennsylvania Ave., between 11th and 12th streets NW
(202) 289-4224
• Smithsonian Museum of American History
Constitution Ave., between 12 and 14th streets NW
• Smithsonian Museum of Arts & Industries
900 Jefferson Dr. SW
• Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Constitution Ave., between 9th & 10th streets NW
• Smithsonian Museums Visitors' Center
1000 Jefferson Dr. SW
(202) 633-1000, www.si.edu
• Textile Museum
2329 S St. NW
(202) 667-0441, www.textilemuseum.org
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Raoul Wallenberg Place, 15th St. SW
(202) 488-0400, www.ushmm.org
• U.S. Capitol
between Constitution and Independence avenues,
at Pennsylvania Ave.
(202) 225-6827
• Washington Monument
15th St. near Constitution Ave. SW
(800) 967-2283, www.nps.gov/wamo
• White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
(202) 456-2200, www.whitehouse.gov
PreSCHOOL PLAYgroups anyone?
There are young mothers with 1-3 preschool aged children who are hungry for ways to get together with other mothers and kids. WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU? Let's get the word out and connect you with other moms in your similiar situation.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Gaithersburg 11:00 AM
Children's Story Time
11:00 AM Every Wednesday and Saturday morning
August 02,06,09,13,16,20,23,27,30
LOCATION
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Washington Center - RIO
21 Grand Corner Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-721-0860
11:00 AM Every Wednesday and Saturday morning
August 02,06,09,13,16,20,23,27,30
LOCATION
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Washington Center - RIO
21 Grand Corner Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-721-0860
Little Tots Summer Fun @ the RIO -(Located between Uncle Julio’s and Joe’s Crab Shack)
10:30 AM EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY
------------------------------
AUG 13 Right Start
AUG 27 Bach to Rock
------------------------------
AUG 13 Right Start
AUG 27 Bach to Rock
Summer Concerts @ Washingtonian Center (the RIO)
HELD AT THE
WASHINGTONIAN CENTER COURTYARD
(Located between Uncle Julio’s and Joe’s Crab Shack)
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
----------------------------------------------------
AUG 2 Joint Chiefs(Classic Rock, Pop)
AUG 9 Key West Sunset(Jimmy Buffet, Beach,Classic Rock)
AUG 16 Diamond Alley(Classic Rock, Motown, Retro)
WASHINGTONIAN CENTER COURTYARD
(Located between Uncle Julio’s and Joe’s Crab Shack)
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
----------------------------------------------------
AUG 2 Joint Chiefs(Classic Rock, Pop)
AUG 9 Key West Sunset(Jimmy Buffet, Beach,Classic Rock)
AUG 16 Diamond Alley(Classic Rock, Motown, Retro)
Morning Concerts for Kids at the City Hall Pavilion 10AM
MOM'S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO SCHEDULE INTO THEIR SUMMER W/ KIDS
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, July 31, 2008 *
Mad Science "Spectacular Science”
This captivating, highly interactive, educational and entertaining science-themed show is appropriate for children aged 5 – 12.
www.madscience.org/dc
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, July 31, 2008 *
Mad Science "Spectacular Science”
This captivating, highly interactive, educational and entertaining science-themed show is appropriate for children aged 5 – 12.
www.madscience.org/dc
POOLtime
Shandra Harris goes to Quail Valley Pool almost daily in the afternoons...
She is making an open invitation to anyone who would like to bring their kids to join in the summer fun. She has a guest pass that is limitless :-).
She is making an open invitation to anyone who would like to bring their kids to join in the summer fun. She has a guest pass that is limitless :-).
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Practical Preparedness
We had a very productive evening!!
Karen Rich, Laura Franklin, and myself got together and started our action plan.
We will be meeting again July 16th to return and report...COME JOIN US!
Karen and Laura were a tremendous resource...
Laura shared with us that her family eats the food from their 72 hour kit over the 2 days of General Conference and she replaces it. (we think that having the food to put back into the kits before it is consumed during the weekend will help you not forget to keep them stocked)
Karen has a binder that is her CONTROL JOURNAL... she has her LIFE in it so that if someone had to come in to her family's world they would know how they function... it is amazing. She duplicated the information from flylady.net
Karen also recently put together a 72 hour CAR kit...
What we realized is that we really needed to spend the first month getting ready to get ready :-)... for me it means to clean my unfinished basement so that I can get to my storage and plan for the future. The Church has come out with an updated directive on what we should focus on outside of our 72 hour survival kit.
Three-Month Supply
Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.
Drinking Water
Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.
If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.
Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
***Here is something to consider... 2gallons of drinking/cooking water per person per day is 180 gallons for a 3 month supply per person.
Financial Reserve
Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount
Longer-Term Supply
For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.
These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply
As we progress I will be happy to share info.
The book Practical Preparedness is being reprinted and won't be available until the end of the year... so we will be using Karen's copy to learn from.
until next time...
Karen Rich, Laura Franklin, and myself got together and started our action plan.
We will be meeting again July 16th to return and report...COME JOIN US!
Karen and Laura were a tremendous resource...
Laura shared with us that her family eats the food from their 72 hour kit over the 2 days of General Conference and she replaces it. (we think that having the food to put back into the kits before it is consumed during the weekend will help you not forget to keep them stocked)
Karen has a binder that is her CONTROL JOURNAL... she has her LIFE in it so that if someone had to come in to her family's world they would know how they function... it is amazing. She duplicated the information from flylady.net
Karen also recently put together a 72 hour CAR kit...
What we realized is that we really needed to spend the first month getting ready to get ready :-)... for me it means to clean my unfinished basement so that I can get to my storage and plan for the future. The Church has come out with an updated directive on what we should focus on outside of our 72 hour survival kit.
Three-Month Supply
Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.
Drinking Water
Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.
If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.
Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
***Here is something to consider... 2gallons of drinking/cooking water per person per day is 180 gallons for a 3 month supply per person.
Financial Reserve
Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount
Longer-Term Supply
For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.
These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply
As we progress I will be happy to share info.
The book Practical Preparedness is being reprinted and won't be available until the end of the year... so we will be using Karen's copy to learn from.
until next time...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
SIGHTseeing SISTERS
IT's ANOTHER CHOICE
Several sisters have mentioned that they would be interested in venturing out to see the sights of DC and beyond. We have thought of a number of options for future excursions. If you would be interested in any of these day trips, please indicate below. In addition, if you can add to the list, please do so by “other”. Once we have gotten your responses, we will come up with the top choices and attempt to schedule a date that may work for the most people. Your input is appreciated!
-- Renaissance Festival (Held in the fall in Crownsville, MD)
--Christmas Dinner Theater in Dillsburg, PA
--Wolf Trap performance (lawn tickets are cheap!)
--Olney Theater
--Local hikes
--Day trip to New York City for shopping, touring, and/or show
--Waterford Fair (First Friday in October)
--Christian Heritage tour of DC
--National Cathedral tour
--Tour of Baltimore, dinner in Little Italy, show at Hippodrome
--Docent tour of National Gallery of Art
--Philadelphia Heritage Tour
--Annapolis: boat tour, Naval Academy, dinner
--St. Michael’s tour
--St. Mary’s City tour
--Boating at Lake Needwood
--Picnic at Gravely Point to watch planes take off and land, tour Roosevelt Island
--Kennedy Center performance and/or tour
--Smithsonian
--Dinner cruise on Potomac
--Mt. Vernon (Tours are free on President’s Day)
--Monticello and Pres. Monroe’s house tours (Charlottesville, VA)
--Harper’s Ferry
--Gettysburg tour
--Cape May tour
--Hillwood Museum & Gardens tour (DC)
--Longwood Gardens (Delaware)
--Wheaton Regional Park, Gardens and Nature Center
--Visit Outlets in Hagerstown, Leesburg, or Kent Island
--Pick or buy fruit in bulk from orchards in Smithsburg, MD
Other:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___ I would be willing to organize an excursion
Name:___________________________________________ Phone:________________________
E-mail address:____________________________________
Best days to go on a trip: ____________________________
Several sisters have mentioned that they would be interested in venturing out to see the sights of DC and beyond. We have thought of a number of options for future excursions. If you would be interested in any of these day trips, please indicate below. In addition, if you can add to the list, please do so by “other”. Once we have gotten your responses, we will come up with the top choices and attempt to schedule a date that may work for the most people. Your input is appreciated!
-- Renaissance Festival (Held in the fall in Crownsville, MD)
--Christmas Dinner Theater in Dillsburg, PA
--Wolf Trap performance (lawn tickets are cheap!)
--Olney Theater
--Local hikes
--Day trip to New York City for shopping, touring, and/or show
--Waterford Fair (First Friday in October)
--Christian Heritage tour of DC
--National Cathedral tour
--Tour of Baltimore, dinner in Little Italy, show at Hippodrome
--Docent tour of National Gallery of Art
--Philadelphia Heritage Tour
--Annapolis: boat tour, Naval Academy, dinner
--St. Michael’s tour
--St. Mary’s City tour
--Boating at Lake Needwood
--Picnic at Gravely Point to watch planes take off and land, tour Roosevelt Island
--Kennedy Center performance and/or tour
--Smithsonian
--Dinner cruise on Potomac
--Mt. Vernon (Tours are free on President’s Day)
--Monticello and Pres. Monroe’s house tours (Charlottesville, VA)
--Harper’s Ferry
--Gettysburg tour
--Cape May tour
--Hillwood Museum & Gardens tour (DC)
--Longwood Gardens (Delaware)
--Wheaton Regional Park, Gardens and Nature Center
--Visit Outlets in Hagerstown, Leesburg, or Kent Island
--Pick or buy fruit in bulk from orchards in Smithsburg, MD
Other:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___ I would be willing to organize an excursion
Name:___________________________________________ Phone:________________________
E-mail address:____________________________________
Best days to go on a trip: ____________________________
Monday, June 16, 2008
Practical Preparedness June 25th
Wednesday 8 pm at Karen Rich's home!
Ladies... interesting enough we have had a couple practice runs on emergency preparedness over the last couple weeks.
Karen and I are getting together Wednesday evening to get our minds focused on being prepared and organized so that we can feel the peace in any circumstance.
we are using the book PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS (it is $13.95 at THIS IS THE PLACE) as our outline. We will also be using the emergency preparedness info the ward provided for us as a guide.
if you are feeling a sence of urgency - please join us...
we want to have someone to prepare with, be accountable to, and bounce ideas off of... if you are looking for that also - please join us.
when I go to the temple next week, I am happy to pick books up for you -
love you all!
Kristin
Ladies... interesting enough we have had a couple practice runs on emergency preparedness over the last couple weeks.
Karen and I are getting together Wednesday evening to get our minds focused on being prepared and organized so that we can feel the peace in any circumstance.
we are using the book PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS (it is $13.95 at THIS IS THE PLACE) as our outline. We will also be using the emergency preparedness info the ward provided for us as a guide.
if you are feeling a sence of urgency - please join us...
we want to have someone to prepare with, be accountable to, and bounce ideas off of... if you are looking for that also - please join us.
when I go to the temple next week, I am happy to pick books up for you -
love you all!
Kristin
Friday, June 6, 2008
CANit Sister :-)
It is time...Canning season is quickly approaching (July, August, September)
*Start planning today
---budgeting for and collecting BALL canning jars
---BALL canning book
---anyone have cans to donate?
---What do you want to can: beans, tomatoes, fruit, soup, jam, apple sauce
---What do you want to learn about:
how to pressure cook,
how to decide what to can,
what to do with the food once it is canned
LET US KNOW!!
Helen is canning and inviting us into her world over the next few months to enjoy canning with her
*Start planning today
---budgeting for and collecting BALL canning jars
---BALL canning book
---anyone have cans to donate?
---What do you want to can: beans, tomatoes, fruit, soup, jam, apple sauce
---What do you want to learn about:
how to pressure cook,
how to decide what to can,
what to do with the food once it is canned
LET US KNOW!!
Helen is canning and inviting us into her world over the next few months to enjoy canning with her
PREPAREDNESS... how did you rate
I will tell you the Geliske family was reminded that you never know when you need to be ready.
For right now I am referring to the physical preparedness with the storm we all experienced this past week.
Tayden was about to COOK dinner when the power went out.
The kids had fun looking for and lighting candles when darkness hit.
We had all of $17 in cash between me and Tayden. (until we pulled out the 72 hour kits)
Our cars were half full with gas at best... Terry has a story to tell on that one.
I finished the last pieces of bread for the days lunches and was going to the grocery store the next morning. The fact is we were hungry NOW.
We had plenty of food in the pantry and in the freezer that would have COOKED up great.
We buy flashlights every summer for girls camp - had NO IDEA where any of them were.
Kriss goes and gets the 72 hour kits that we put together a couple years ago and MOM had taken food and water out of it when the expiration dates came to pass... and never replaced them. We had a couple dollars in each back pack that we started collecting many moons ago and
each backpack had toothbrushes, ibuprofen, and a few odds and ends.
We started calling other visiting teaching and home teaching families as well as the families we knew were close to where we lived and our business families to make sure everyone was accounted for... until the cell phone batteries went dead.
The good news is we were able to go to the grocery store and buy a cooked roasted chicken and some fruit and water with our debit card and we were able to fill the gas tanks. and we made it a party.
I was looking this morning and realized I had atleast 24 cans of tuna and chicken that we could have mixed up and eaten with forks (no bread - remember) and we had several cans of fruit and vegetables that we could have eaten at room temperature. We had protein shakes and bars and different prepared food items in our business office. We had candles stored away and batteries... we would have fared fine for several days but it made us think.
It is definitely time for the Geliske family to refill those 72 hour kits, reevaluate our food storage, and pay attention to the emergency preparedness packet that the ward made for us several months ago.
How did you all fare!
For right now I am referring to the physical preparedness with the storm we all experienced this past week.
Tayden was about to COOK dinner when the power went out.
The kids had fun looking for and lighting candles when darkness hit.
We had all of $17 in cash between me and Tayden. (until we pulled out the 72 hour kits)
Our cars were half full with gas at best... Terry has a story to tell on that one.
I finished the last pieces of bread for the days lunches and was going to the grocery store the next morning. The fact is we were hungry NOW.
We had plenty of food in the pantry and in the freezer that would have COOKED up great.
We buy flashlights every summer for girls camp - had NO IDEA where any of them were.
Kriss goes and gets the 72 hour kits that we put together a couple years ago and MOM had taken food and water out of it when the expiration dates came to pass... and never replaced them. We had a couple dollars in each back pack that we started collecting many moons ago and
each backpack had toothbrushes, ibuprofen, and a few odds and ends.
We started calling other visiting teaching and home teaching families as well as the families we knew were close to where we lived and our business families to make sure everyone was accounted for... until the cell phone batteries went dead.
The good news is we were able to go to the grocery store and buy a cooked roasted chicken and some fruit and water with our debit card and we were able to fill the gas tanks. and we made it a party.
I was looking this morning and realized I had atleast 24 cans of tuna and chicken that we could have mixed up and eaten with forks (no bread - remember) and we had several cans of fruit and vegetables that we could have eaten at room temperature. We had protein shakes and bars and different prepared food items in our business office. We had candles stored away and batteries... we would have fared fine for several days but it made us think.
It is definitely time for the Geliske family to refill those 72 hour kits, reevaluate our food storage, and pay attention to the emergency preparedness packet that the ward made for us several months ago.
How did you all fare!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
RELIEF SOCIETY HFPE July 30, 2008
@ Hearne’s Pool 6-8 pm (Rain Date July31)
Relief Society will provide chicken for grilling, paper goods and drinks for our annual Pool Party. Please sign up for your contribution. Your salad should serve 6-8. Dessert 10-12.
Fruit Salad - Please write your name next to #
Phone #
1.
2.
Pasta or Potato Salad
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1.
2.
Green Salad w/dressing
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1.
2.
Desserts
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1.
2.
3.
4.
Relief Society will provide chicken for grilling, paper goods and drinks for our annual Pool Party. Please sign up for your contribution. Your salad should serve 6-8. Dessert 10-12.
Fruit Salad - Please write your name next to #
Phone #
1.
2.
Pasta or Potato Salad
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1.
2.
Green Salad w/dressing
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1.
2.
Desserts
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1.
2.
3.
4.
SPIRITUALtank
Are some of you wanting to draw on more spiritual truth outside of our Sunday block? Do you want to get together for a spiritual/fun activity to expand on the lesson taught on the first sunday of the month... we could have discussion, break bread :-), and then create word art to help us remember what we are learning/being reminded of.
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