• Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Early Intervention
  • Homeschooling
    • Preschool
    • Everyday Moments
    • Literature Units
  • Mom Life
  • NICU
  • Contact Me

Cunningham Falls State Park Adventure and Activities

August 4, 2017 By Dani Wagner Leave a Comment

Okay, so I am trying something new on the blog this month and I really hope y’all like it! We have had a ton of really fun adventures to surrounding areas and I’ve really wanted to share them with you. But instead of just gushing about all the fun we had… (drum roll please) I’ve decided to pair each destination with some great books and activities. You probably could have guessed that right… that seems to be

my MO lately!

The first place that I just can’t stop thinking about is Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont, Maryland!

Cunningham Falls State Park Adventure + Activities

Cunningham Falls State Park 

There are a few reasons that I loved this place! First, my husband and I got married in Thurmont at a gorgeous nature retreat called Thorpewood that is located just a few miles from this State Park. We had a blast driving through and showing the kids where we got married, ate, danced, took the pictures they see hanging on our walls, etc. It was a fantastic trip down memory lane.

I loved the campground at this State Park. You were literally immersed in the forest with no water or electric at your campsite. It was a true rustic camping experience and I loved it! The water spigots were close enough that it wasn’t a big deal to wash dishes but a great learning experience for the girls to actually have to go fetch water before we could do anything! The bath houses were clean and a great size, which is always a bonus when you are camping!

The third and final reason we loved Cunningham Falls was for the scenery! We loved the variety of trails that were available for hiking throughout the state park, especially the trails leading to the real  Cunningham Falls. There was also a large lake for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boats that was easily accessible and the pass into this area was free if you camped in the State Park.

This was the girls first attempt at real and I mean REAL hiking up a mountain and they enjoyed every minute of it!

Books and Activities

For this specific adventure I wanted to share with you some great forest related books and activities that you can do along with them. These books and activities can most likely be done in any forest that you visit!

Because of an Acorn 

 

 

 

 

Young readers will love this cute book about the many cycles of life in the forest.

Activity: Take a walk/hike and try to spot the different stages of the cycle. Look for evidence of trees in the different stages of their life cycle. Also, learn about the different ways you can help preserve a forest near you and join the efforts!

 

Welcome to the Neighborwood

This adorable 3-D pop-up book will show kiddos the many different animals that call the woods home.

Activity: Take a walk and see what animals you can spot living in your neighborwoods!

 

One Small Place in a Tree

If your kiddos are anything like mine, they love to stop and inspect all the cool holes and crevices they find in trees as we walk. This book talks about those holes and how they change and transform over the years, as well as all the creatures that live in them.

Activity: Take a walk to focus specifically on checking out these holes and crevices. What do you find?

 

Forest Bright, Forest Night

This book would be especially fun if you were camping in the forest. It shows little ones that forest life is really 24/7 and allows them to see what life is like in the forest at night.

Activity:Take an evening walk and talk about what changes you notice as the sun begins to set. What animals do you see at night versus during the day?

 

Forest Has a Song

I love that this book helps kids hear and experience the sounds of the Forest in all the seasons through the use of poetry!

Activity: Take a walk and observe the sounds you hear! Find one that you find specifically interesting or fun. Write a short poem about it. 

 

Well there you have it, the very first Adventure + Activity post and only the first of many! If you live anywhere near Thurmont, Maryland I definitely encourage you to check out Cunningham Falls State Park! If you don’t these books and activities can be completed in any forests or woods near you!

I’d love to hear what you think! Please let me know if you have any suggestions or what activities you enjoyed best!

Until next time,

If you enjoy it, please pass it on:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Books, Nature Tagged With: activities, animals, books, camping, forest, hiking, kids, learning, lifecycles, nature, nocturnal animals, picture books, poetry, summer, waterfalls

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 3,821 other subscribers

❮ ❮ Things I’ve Learned from Camping with Kids
Back to School Books to Prepare for that First Day ❯ ❯

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I am a SAHM mom with three active little girls all under the age of three. I love reading, teaching, being outdoors, my faith, and family. I support moms in every aspect of their journey through motherhood whether it be hospital stays and surgeries, moms of multiples, homeschooling, or just trying to make it through the day! Read More…

Stay in Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 3,821 other subscribers

Featured Post

Quiet Time Activities + Read Alouds: The Benefits - LiveLoveLearnGracefully

I don't know about you but I love read aloud to my kiddos. I've read to them since before they were born and we haven't slowed down yet. (Check out our February and March read aloud lists.) However as many of you know, kids don't … [Read More...]

Follow
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Grab My Button!

Live Love Learn Gracefully
<a href="livelovelearngracefully.comn" target="_blank"><img src="http://livelovelearngracefully.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/blog-button.png" alt="Live Love Learn Gracefully" width="176" height="250" /></a>

Join It Works

BraVo Mark Member

BraVoMark

Recent Posts

Marching into Spring: Our March Morning Basket Read Alouds

New Birthday Traditions: Adventure Awaits

Math Skills Practice that is Fun and Engaging: Smartick Method Math

Morning Basket Books for February

Trending

  • The Quiet Game and Other Letter Q Activities
  • A Complete Unit Study: The Evolution of the Calpurnia Tate
  • Letter W Preschool Activities
  • Literature Unit Project: Character Suitcase
  • Stella By Starlight: Complete Unit of Study

Stay in Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search For It!

Copyright © 2021 Live Love Learn Gracefully · All Rights Reserved

· Theme by Pretty Darn Cute Design Pretty Sweet On Genesis Framework · Customized by Virtual Bren

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's Owner is strictly prohibited.
Would you like a FREE pack of Beginning Sound Activities?
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Would you like a FREE pack of Beginning Sound Activities?
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.