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Homeschool Adventures: Go For a Drive

By Bridget Slack, Bridget Slack Photography October 15, 2020

This is the perfect time of year to take a drive.  The fall colors are amazing!  We have many places not far out of town.  The visit Maryland website recommends a few places to include


1.Pataspco Valley

Patapsco Valley State Park

8020 Baltimore National Pike

Ellicott City, MD 21043


The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a link to Patapsco:

https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/patapsco.aspx


2. Oregon Ridge Nature Center.

13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030


You can check Oregon Ridge's website before heading that way to see what's happening.

https://www.oregonridgenaturecenter.org/


3. If you have a little more time to drive recommend checking out some of the scenic drives in Shenandoah National Park. Skyline Drive is a must view for fall.  This is a 105 mile drive along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.


https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/driving-skyline-drive.htm


If you want to check and see the foliage before heading out.  Check out this prediction map:

https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/


Fall leaf watching and viewing can include so many art and science activities.

The leaves can be used for leaf rubbings as seen in this University of Nebraska extension activity: https://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/youth/leafrub.shtml#:~:text=1.,of%20paper%20over%20the%20leaf.&text=While%20holding%20the%20paper%20and,to%20rub%20across%20the%20leaf.


Check out this link for 43 leave crafts from the website Hands On As We Grow:

https://handsonaswegrow.com/kids-leaf-crafts/


The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a resource to study more about Maryland Leaf Shapes and Types:

https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/TreeGuide_Common-Broadleaf.pdf


I love this time of year and all the art, science, and fall that the changing of the leaves provides.