Educational Enrichment Summer 2021 Special COVID-19 Addition

No school should not mean “no learning.” Keep your kids active physically and mentally this summer by providing them fun, interesting, and educational things to do. This summer enrichment guide has 3 major parts: summer theme suggestions (this year focusing on the out-of-doors and fun at home), websites to find activities and events over the summer months, and suggested destinations within a 2 ½-3 hour radius of St. Thomas More. We are already planning ways to have fun over the summer. Joe has chosen a Hiking theme (our outdoor focus) and Michael has chosen Cooking (fun at home). Hopefully this guide will help your family do the same!

Julie Esposito ([email protected]) Summer Theme Ideas

Joe informed me six years ago that he wanted to study fossils. Michael, not wanting to be outdone, promptly said that if Joe got to study fossils, he wanted to study bones. Thus was born our new tradition of summer themes. Each child choses a topic and we look for books, websites, activities, events, destinations, and adventures centered around the theme. Other themes we have explored included gardens, forts, insects, airplanes & aviation, astronomy & the night sky, archeology, games, international, and Indians. Here are some of the ways we accomplish this:  Check-out and read library books on the chosen topic(s)  Search the web for videos and kid-friendly websites  Have family discussion on topics related to the theme and family game nights  Attend programs/activities offered locally for kids that fit in with the theme  Visit places in town or as day trips to the surrounding area that fit the theme  Look for ways to incorporate the theme in our vacation travel plans  Plan cooking/dining experiences around the theme

COVID-19: Did you know that in all the countries tracking COVID-19 outbreaks, there has been only one major identified outbreak outdoors? 90% of outbreak incidents took place in homes, workplaces, restaurants, and indoor gatherings (i.e. parties, religious services, and indoor sporting events). The moral: Get Outside! Below are some summer theme ideas for your family to consider. Here are the 30 themes from previous summers, along with two news themes for 2021—Hiking and Cooking (the themes my boys have chosen!). All themes have been updated with 2021 dates, and things are finally starting to open up again after 14 months of COVID cancellations and closures. I also tried to add some more web sites this year (always an ongoing goal). I tried to provide ideas for SAFE family fun! Be sure to check that museums and sites are open—some are still closed due to COVID, but more will open after June 2nd. 2021 New Themes Hiking  Great spots for a short near-by hike: o Nature Center (Rowe Woods and Long Branch Farm)—consider a membership o Sycamore Park, Batavia and adjacent Wilson Nature Preserve o Woodland Mound Park, Anderson Twsp. o Johnson Hills Park, Anderson Twsp. o Shor Park on Tealtown Rd. o Pattison Park, Owensville o Batavia Township Park o o o Withrow Nature Preserve, Anderson Twsp o California Nature Preserve, California, OH o Stanberry Park, Mt. Washington  Great near-by hikes: o Yellow Springs, OH . . Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve . Glen Helen Nature Center o —take the Horseshoe Falls trail and look for fossils at the spillway o —see the Lotus Flowers in July o Hamilton County Parks—Miami Whitewater Forest, Winton Woods, Sharon Woods, Lookout, Mitchell Memorial Forest, Glenwood Gardens o Edge of Appalachia Buzzard’s Roost Rock (Adams Co.) o Devou Park, Covington, KY o Cincinnati Metro Parks: Ault Park, Mt. Airy Forest, French Park o Bender Mountain Nature Preserve, Delhi o Caldwell Nature Preserve, Finneytown o Clifty Falls State Park, o Indian Mound Reserve Park, Greene County, OH o Gilmore MetroPark, Hamilton, OH o Burlington, KY . Boone Cliffs . Middle Creek Park . Dinsmore Woods . Gunpowder Creek Nature Park o Big Bone Lick State Park, Union, KY o Doe Run Lake Park, Covington, KY o A.J. Jolly Park, Alexandria, KY o Tower Park, Ft. Thomas, KY o Buttercup Valley Nature Preserve, Northside o  Fun Day-Long or Weekend Trips o Hocking Hills o Buzzard’s Roost Nature Preserve, Chillicothe, OH o Red River Gorge (yes, we still go there even after losing Michael!) o Natural Bridge State Resport Park, KY o Carter Caves State Resort Park, KY o o Bernheim Memorial Forest o Berea Pinnacles, Berea, KY o Jessamine Creek Gorge, Nicholasville, KY o Shaker Village, Harrodsburg, KY o Big South Fork—/Tennessee border  Want fun and exciting hiking activities to keep younger children engaged on a hike, Email me at [email protected]. I’ll send you my trail activity cards that I put together when my kids were little (we still use the games and themes when we hike!)  Plan a progressive lunch or dinner on a trail—pack re-closable drink bottles and meal items that are easily eaten on a trail. Find a different scenic stop to eat each “course” of your progressive meal.  Plan a scavenger hunt hike—email me if you need a game board, or make up your own!  Take a family treasure hunt hike (requires participation of at least 2 adults)—Prepare a treasure ahead of time, then select a loop trail. Split your group in half with each group going in opposite ways around the loop. Hide your treasure and draw a map as you work toward meeting in the middle. Exchange maps and continue on, now looking for the treasure the other group hid!  Participate in a hiking event at the Cincinnati Nature Center https://calendar.cincynature.org o Make a hiking stick o Participate in the Hike for Your Health Passport Program—record your hikes on all of the Cincinnati Nature Center trails and win prizes o Participate in a guide group themed hike (many to choose from) o Participate in a Trail Yoga program  Hike to a waterfall (see Waterfall theme below)—wear your Keenes so that you can wade in the water and cool off!  Pack watercolors and paper—hike to a scenic overlook and pain the scene.  Take a field guide along—how many trees/birds/insects etc. can you identify on your hike?  Plan a cool post-hike treat—scout out the nearest ice cream shop before leaving home. Our favorite: Young’s Dairy in Yellow Springs, OH  Traveling this summer? Plan a hike as part of your vacation. It is a great way to experience nature in a different habitat.

Cooking  Spend time in the kitchen at the beginning of the summer covering the basics of cooking: following a recipe, kitchen hygiene, basic units of measure, knife/stove/oven safety, kitchen appliance use, etc. Make sure to make some fun foods, so your kids enjoy these basic lessons!  Consider signing your budding chef up for a cooking class: https://ohparent.com/best-kids- cooking-classes-in-cincinnati/  Or tryout an online program: https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-online-cooking-classes-for- kids-5073859  Take older kids with you to Dream Dinners in Anderson Town Center. Let them help you measure everything out for your pre-prepped meals. Then have fun cooking the meals together.  Choose a different focus each week. Examples may include: appetizers, desserts, campfire cooking, grilling, crock pot cooking, pressure cooker cooking, etc.  Explore kids cooking activities online. Choose your favorite activities to try in your home “test kitchen.” https://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/  Cook out: plan a dinner at a park or campsite cooked over a wood or charcoal fire. Try stick cookery, foil packet cooking, or putting the vented can of beans or beef stew right in the hot coals (cook until it bubbles up through the vents!)—don’t forget the s’mores!!!  Create a Family Cookbook or Recipe File (digital or printed) with your families favorite recipes  Plan at least one day a week to cook together as a family.  Grow vegetables or herbs in a garden or in containers—incorporate your fresh produce in your cooking.  Find a themed cookbook that appeals to your kids—Harry Potter, Disney, Minecraft, etc. Purchase the book or check it out of the library. Let your kids choose their favorite recipe and prepare it!  Practice culinary calculating and conversions—double or triple a recipe and work on fractions and multiplication. For younger kids, use measuring cups and pitchers of water colored with food coloring to practice measuring and explore the relationship between tea spoons, tablespoons, and the standard measuring cups.  Visit Jungle Jims and choose a unique ingredient that you have never tried before—incorporate it in your cooking.  Have a family cook-off: divide your family into teams and have them compete (on different nights or different weeks) to see who can put the tastiest, fanciest, or (name your own superlative) meal on the table.  Cook culinary dishes typically served in other countries. o Try a different international dish each week. (Do it from home!) o Try an international culinary kids kit from www.eat2explore.com ($25) (Do it from home!)  Experience food and cooking from past eras with one of these events: o An Evening on the Canal at Johnston Farm, Piqua, OH August 7, 2021 https://johnstonfarmohio.com/PDF/Events/2021/2021%20Happenings.pdf o Attend a Period Dinner at the Heritage Village in Sharon Woods August 25, 2021 https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org/events/period-dinner/

Other Themes to Consider—30 Themes with updated Event Dates *Remember to always check that a business is open or an event is continuing as planned*

Airplanes and Aviation  Visit the Tri-State Warbird Museum at the Clermont County Airport http://www.tri- statewarbirdmuseum.org/  Visit the National Museum of the Air Force https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/ o Visit during one of the monthly open aircraft days for an up close look inside an air craft https://www.daytonlocal.com/things-to-do/open-aircraft-days-at-the-air- force-museum.asp  Attend the Dayton Airshow date July 10-11, 2021 https://www.daytonairshow.com/  Visit the Wright Brothers Exhibit at Carillion Historic Park (Dayton)  Complete the Junior Ranger Badge at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park  Visit the Aviation Museum of Kentucky at the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington. https://aviationky.wixsite.com/tempsite  Watch airplanes take off and land from Sky Galley Restaurant at Lunken Airport  Attend Lunken Airport Aviation Days September 2-6, 2021 http://www.cincinnatiwarbirds.org/airportdays.html  Attend the Indy Air Expo at the Indianapolis Regional Airport September, 2021 http://www.indyairexpo.org/home.html  Make paper airplanes for a family airplane contest (Do it from home!)  Visit the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, OH https://www.armstrongmuseum.org/  Attend the Festival of Flight at Wright State University September 25, 2021 https://www.greenecountyohio.org/event/festival-of-flight/2078/  Purchase a model airplane kit and assemble it. (Do it from home!)

Archeology  Earn the NPS Junior Archeologist Junior Ranger award.  Complete activities in the online booklet: https://www.nps.gov/kids/become-a-junior- archeologist.htm (Do it from home!)  Mail in the completed booklet to receive a Junior Ranger recognition.  Also available as a program at Hopewell Culture National Historic Park. https://www.nps.gov/hocu/planyourvisit/special-events.htm  Visit Archeological Park in Oregonia, OH. http://www.fortancient.org  Explore the “Archeology” section of the website including “Children and Archeology”  Look for the archeology information in the museum  Visit Sun Watch Indian Village in Dayton, OH www.sunwatch.org  Visit in Peebles, OH http://www.serpentmound.org  Explore the archeology blogs on the website: https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum- and-site-locator/serpent-mound  Summer Solstice June 18-20 2021  Visit Junction Earthworks, a New archeological park in Chillicothe, OH http://arcofappalachia.org/junction-earthworks  Visit Ft. Hill Indian Earthworks http://arcofappalachia.org/fort-hill/  Use the NPS Archeology Website to identify other archeological sites you may want to visit in Ohio: https://www.nps.gov/archeology/visit/ohio/index.htm  Visit the Treasures of the Earth exhibit at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum (COVID closures)  https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/treasures  Visit a real archeology lab  Excavate and examine fragments of Terra Cotta Warriors  Explore the Archeology for Kids website: (Do it from home!) https://www.nps.gov/archeology/public/kids/index.htm  Watch National Geographic Kids YouTube videos on archeology: (Do it from home!) https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/videos/history-and-culture/  Let the Fun Continue into the Fall:  September: State Archeology Month—Kentucky and Indiana  October: State Archeology Month—Ohio  October 16, 2021: Archeology Day https://www.ohiohistory.org/participate/event-calendar/ohio-history- center/archaeologyday  International Archeology Day--October 16, 2021 https://www.archaeological.org/archaeologyday

Astronomy and the Night Sky  Visit the Observatory in Hyde Park http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/publicevents/ o Cosmic Kids—free online classes (must pre-register) Saturdays in June K-2 10-11 a.m., Grades 3+ 11-12 p.m. (Do it from home!) o Family Classes online (Do it from home!)  Attend a Stonelick Stargazers event at Stonelick State Park https://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/events/stonelick-star-gazes/  Go to a summer camp at Drake Planetarium http://www.drakeplanetarium.org/  Visit the Haile Digital Planetarium at NKU’s campus or attend a star gazing event: o https://inside.nku.edu/artsci/departments/pget/planetarium/calendar.html o (COVID closures)  Visit the Booneshoft Discovery Museum in Dayton with astronomy displays and planetarium shows. https://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/  Join the Astronomy Club at the Cincinnati Nature Center (ages 12+) www.cincynature.org  Attend one of the Full Moon Walk programs at the Cincinnati Nature Center http://www.cincynature.org/events-and-programs/programs-3/  View the Perseid meteor shower in August (Do it from home!)  Use a constellation app on your cell phone to help you identify constellations from your backyard—have a family star gazing night. (Do it from home!)  Explore NASA’s website (www.nasa.gov) find out when/where to view the space station  Learn to use a star chart to find constellations in the night sky. (Do it from home!)  Visit the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, OH (1hr 50 min) https://armstrongmuseum.org/  Attend the Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing August 12, 2021 at Serpent Mound https://www.serpentmound.org/programs/  Visit the planetarium at COSI in Columbus https://www.cosi.org/  Visit the Beyond Spaceship Earth Exhibit at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/beyond-spaceship-earth (COVID closures)  Visit John Glen Astronomy Park in Hocking Hills

Attend the Star Party at Johnson Hill Park (Anderson Twsp) 7/12/21 9-10:30 https://andersonparks.com/event/summer-star-party/

Baseball  Attend a Reds home game at Great American Ball Park  Watch a Florence Y’all ball game  Play on a baseball or T-ball team or watch a Little League game of a friend or family member  Visit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum  Visit the Louisville Slugger Factory in Louisville, KY  Gather family and friends for a pick-up baseball game in the backyard or at a local park.  Watch youth games at the Kings Island Baseball Invitational July 1-4, 2021. https://ksportspro.com/tournament/kings-island-baseball-invitational  Take the “1919 Tour” and learn all about Cincinnati’s important role in professional baseball and the World Series. This is a walking tour of Cincinnati. http://www.americanlegacytours.com/1919-tour/  Listen to baseball sound clips and explore the history of the game: (Do it from home!)  http://soundsofbaseball.com/  Attend one of the Reds baseball camps: https://www.mlb.com/reds/community/camps

Birds  Visit the Cincinnati Nature Center’s bird watching area and various bird blinds. o Participate in Project Feeder Watch https://www.cincynature.org/events-and- programs/clubs-and-groups/project-feeder-watch-126/ o Join one of the bi-monthly bird walks at the Cincinnati Nature Center o Participate in one of the Blue Bird Monitoring programs on Fridays o Online Blue Bird program 6/23/21 (Do it from home!)  Visit the bird watching area at Seasongood Nature Center in Woodland Mound Park  Attend a Bird-themed program at the Hamilton County Parks http://www.greatparks.org  Visit the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield, Ohio (approximately 2 ½ hrs) https://www.ohiobirdsanctuary.com/  Visit the Cincinnati Zoo—tour the bird house and look for other bird exhibits throughout the zoo—flamingos, penguins, eagles, ostriches, and many more.  Make a bird feeder and hang it in the backyard—watch it frequently to see which birds visit. (Do it from home!)  Visit the Cornell Lab All About Birds Website https://www.allaboutbirds.org (Do it from home!) o Learn to identify birds by their appearance and song: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/how-to-learn-bird-songs-and-calls o Play interactive bird games o ID birds o Watch bird cams (see eggs hatch and wild birds up close)  Keep a summer-long count of how many different types of birds you see—use a field guide or an online resource (such as the one above) to help with identification. (Do it from home!)  Find information and coloring pages provided by the Hamilton County Parks on the Hamilton County Parks blog (Do it from home!) o https://blog.greatparks.org/category/parks-at-home/coloring-pages/  Visit Raptors, Inc. on Barg Salt Run in Milford for an open house the last Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m. http://raptorinc.org/open-houses/

Boats  Take a B&B Riverboat Cruise or Ride the Newport Ducks  Visit Chilo Lock 34 Park on the at Felicity  Tour or ride in a canal boat on the Miami and Erie Canal in Piqua, OH https://johnstonfarmohio.com/  Attend Paddlefest at August 7, 2021 http://www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org  Attend the Cardboard Boat Regatta and boat races in New Richmond (TBD) http://www.newrichmond.org/cardboard-boat-regatta.html  Rent a row boat, paddle boat or pontoon boat at Miami Whitewater Forest, Sharon Woods, Cowan Lake, or other local marinas  Have a family competition to make the most “unsinkable” boat—add pennies to test them(Do it from home!)  Ride the Anderson Ferry or the Augusta Ferry across the Ohio River  Hang out at Serpentine Wall, or somewhere along the riverfront to watch boats and barges  Visit the Cincinnati History Museum and learn the key role that boats played in our past  Take a family canoe or kayak trip at Scenic River Excursions or another local canoe livery  Go on a Friday Night Float Kayak at Winton Woods Adventure Outpost (2-3 Fridays/month)  Canoe, Kayak, Paddle Boat, Rowboat, motor boat, or Pontoon with Hamilton County Parks o Programs available at Winton Woods Outpost. https://www.greatparks.org/parks/winton-woods/adventure-outpost o Boat Rental available at Winton Woods, Sharon Woods, Lake Isabella, and Miami Whitewater Forest

Bones  Visit Big Bone Lick State Park (Kentucky) to see cool mammoth bones https://parks.ky.gov/union/parks/historic/big-bone-lick-state-historic-site  See bones at the “Bone Yard” or learning porch at the Cincinnati Nature Center www.cincynature.org  Get (or make) a model of the human skeleton and learn to name all of the bones (Do it from home!)  Visit the museum at Fort Ancient to learn how the Indians made use of bones. https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/fort-ancient-earthworks  Visit the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and Science to view Ice Age skeletons  Visit any zoo—find as many animals as you can with and without bones.  Visit Hopewell Culture National Historic Park to view bones of Indians buried in the mounds  When eating bone-in meat, try to figure what part of the body the bone came from.

Civil War Era  Visit the local sites associated with U.S. Grant (birthplace, boyhood home, school house)  Visit Lincoln’s birthplace and boyhood home in Kentucky.  Visit the Freedom Center downtown to learn more about the Underground Railroad  Follow a portion of Morgan’s Raiders route through a driving tour with interpretive signs: o https://www.ohiohistory.org/  Visit the Civil War Fort at Boonesboro (see the nearby pioneer fort while you are there)  Visit Camp Dennison (near Milford)—a U.S. Army post during the Civil War  Attend the Civil War Event at the Caesar Creek Pioneer Village September 18-19, 2021 http://caesarscreekpioneervillage.com/villagecivilwar2021.html  Visit the James A. Ramage Civil War Museum in Ft. Wright, KY o http://www.fortwright.com o Battery Hooper Days—dates TBA  Attend the Battle of Richmond (KY) Reenactment TBA (generally last week in August) (http://battleofrichmond.org/#/reenactment/4567779336  Visit the museum at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site  Visit the Early Settlement area of Carillon Historic Park in Dayton https://www.daytonhistory.org/visit/things-to-see-do/early-settlement-area/  Heritage Village (in Sharon Woods) https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org o Attend Civil War Summer Camp (age 6-12) at the Heritage Village Museum https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org/summer-camp/ o Attend “Escape the Village” A Civil War Historical Escape-Room Style event . Heritage village June 19 July 17, August 21, September 18 2021 (3 times) . https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org/events/escape-the-village/

Creeks and Rivers  Attend various theme related programs at Hamilton County Parks http://www.greatparks.org  Attend a canoe or kayak program on the hosted by Hamilton County Parks http://www.greatparks.org  Attend Paddlefest at August 7, 2021 http://www.ohioriverpaddlefest.org  Attend the Cardboard Boat Regatta and boat races in New Richmond TBD http://www.newrichmond.org/cardboard-boat-regatta.html  Take a B&B Riverboat Cruise or Ride the Newport Ducks  Visit Chilo Lock 34 Park on the Ohio River at Felicity  Put on your old shoes or rain boots and go “creeking” in a local creek bed. Sycamore Park, Stanberry Park, Sharon Woods, and French Park all have good creeks for this. Research what fossils, animals, and insect larvae you can find in a creek and then search form them.  Go fishing in the Little Miami River (or its East Fork).  Attend a Family Stream Adventures at the Cincinnati Nature Center (various events/dates) http://calendar.cincynature.org  Play in the “creek” (a recirculating water feature) in the Play Scape at the Cincinnati Nature Center

Dinosaurs  Visit Dinosaur Hall at the Museum Center Natural History Museum https://www.cincymuseum.org  Attend a Cincinnati Museum Center Camp: Dinosaur Discovery (K-1) or Paleontology (2-4)  Visit the permanent exhibit at COSI—American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery https://cosi.org/exhibits/dinos  Visit the Indianapolis Children’s Museum’s Dinosphere Exhibit to learn more about these extinct reptiles: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/dinosphere  Explore the decedents of dinosaurs at the Cincinnati Zoo with this “Living Dinosaurs” activity guide: http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Living-Dinosaurs-3-5_final-draft.pdf  Visit Dinosaur World in Kentucky: https://dinosaurworld.com/kentucky  Explore Dinosaur activities on the American Museum of Natural History website: (Do it from home!) https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/paleontology

. Fairies, Gnomes, and other Mythical Creatures  Attend one of the virtual fairy garden-themed workshops at Hamilton County Parks o Fairy Garden Fridays: https://blog.greatparks.org/category/parks-at-home/fairy- garden-fridays/ (Do it from home!)  Visit the Fairy Garden near the Herb Wall at the Cincinnati Nature Center www.cincynature.org o Attend a Fairy House Building events in the Playscape 6/6/21 1pm  Look for fairies in the Wings of the World at the Cincinnati Zoo (Fairy Bluebirds and Fairy Penguins, that is)  Listen to the WVXU radio interview about Fairy Gardens: (Do it from home!) https://www.wvxu.org/post/little-fairy-gardens-are-growing-popularity#stream/0  Purchase a small selection and make your own fairy garden in a planter or in the corner of a garden at home. (Do it from home!) o Find online instructions: https://cincinnati.momcollective.com/fairy-garden/ o Find online accessories: https://www.fairygardenstore.com/ (Do it from home!) o Visit the Flower Bed on Beechmont Ave. for an array of fairy houses, furniture and figures. Purchase a small selection and make your own fairy garden in a planter or in the corner of a garden at home. o Visit the Little Fairy Garden store in Yellowsprings, OH http://www.littlefairygarden.com/  Visit the Fairy Garden at Mission Oaks Gardens in Zanesville, OH https://www.missionoaksgardens.org/Zanesville-Community-Gardens/Fairy-Garden/  Visit Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens and take the bouncy bridge across to the Fairy Garden. http://www.greatparks.org/parks/glenwood-gardens/the-highfield-discovery- garden  Find the movie The Gnome Mobile on Netflix and watch it with your family. (Do it from home!)  Visit the giant ogre sculptures at Bernheim Memorial Forest near Louisville.  Attend the Annual Fairy Garden Party in Springfield June 5, 2021 www.sipanddipity.com Visit Fairy Days at Yew Dew Botanical Gardens in Crestwood, KY through June 20, 2021 www.yewdellgardens.org

Fish  Visit Newport Aquarium https://www.newportaquarium.com/  Visit Manatee Springs at the Cincinnati Zoo  Visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium https://www.columbuszoo.org/  Visit Jones Fish Hatchery in Newtown. https://jonesfish.com/  See the freshwater fish display at the Sharon Woods Nature Center  Go fishing at a local area park or river—Pattison Park (Owensville), Sycamore Park (Batavia), and Batavia Township Park (Batavia) are all local opportunities  Participate in a fishing derby—several are held by Hamilton County Parks and other groups  Check out the many 2021 fishing events: https://blog.greatparks.org/2020/12/2021-fishing-events-schedule/  Feed the fish at the Cincinnati Nature Center Powell Crosley Lake board walk or catch fish in a net at Matt’s Pond (check out the pond exploration kit from the visitor’s center) www.cincynature.org  Have “Family Fish Fridays”—try cooking a different type of fish every week (Do it from home!)  Fish at the Young Angler’s Pond at Caesar Creek State Park—Exclusively for kids under 16yr http://www.caesarcreekstatepark.com/fishing.html  Set up your own fish bowl or aquarium so that you can watch fish from the comfort of you own home! (Do it from home!)

Flowers  Plant and grow your own flower garden—give each kid a section or planter (Do it from home!)  Visit Krohn Conservatory https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn/  Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and pay particular attention to the flowers  Visit Glenwood Gardens and see what is blooming www.greatparks.org  Visit a Shaker Trace Nursery Open House (various dates) www.greatparks.org  Check out the “What’s Blooming” display at the Cincinnati Nature Center—then find them! www.cincynature.org  Look for the rare Lady’s Slipper Orchid at in early June https://www.cedarbognp.org/ Visit Cowan Lake in late July to see an impressive display of lotus flowers https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/cowan-lake-state- park

Forts  Visit the Armory in Ft. Thomas, KY  Visit local Indian forts including Ft. Ancient, Ft. Hill, and Miami Fort Trail (Shawnee Lookout)  See a pioneer fort at Ft. Boonesborough and a nearby Civil War fort  Visit Ft. Recovery, Ohio—tour the museum and a replica of the fort.  Visit the Playscape at the Cincinnati Nature Center and build a fort in the provided area  Gather a group of family or friends to build forts in the backyard from recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, then use the forts for a water battle with water guns and water balloon grenades. (Do it from home!)  Read about Ohio forts and their historical roles: http://www.touringohio.com/history.html  Visit Old Ft. Harrod State Park (Harrodsburg, KY 2hr, 10 min)  Visit Ft. Harrison near Indianapolis  History Comes Alive at Ft. Piqua event at Johnston’s Farm July 23-25, 2021 https://johnstonfarmohio.com/  Learn about the history of places in the greater Cincinnati area that bear the name “Fort”  Visit Ft. Amanda Park in Wapakoneta (1hr 50 min)—commemorates the fort (no fort to tour)

. Fossils  Visit Trammel Fossil Park in Sharonville https://www.sharonville.org/188/Trammel-Fossil-Park  Hunt for fossils in local streams at the Sycamore Park, French Park, Stanberry Park, etc.  Use a trail guide to follow the Geology Trail at the Cincinnati Nature Center www.cincynature.org  Attend a program on fossils hosted locally (these are held frequently at Sharon Woods, French Park, Miami Whitewater Forest, the Cincinnati Nature Center, and other locations).  Visit fossil exhibits at Sharon Woods and the Cincinnati Nature Center.  Make your own fossil by pressing shells etc. into plaster of paris or play dough (Do it from home!)  Visit the Dam Spillway at Caesar Creek State Park to hunt for fossils o Information: https://www.fossilguy.com/sites/caesar-creek/index.htm  Learn about the different epochs in fossil history at the Cincinnati Natural History and Science Museum https://www.cincymuseum.org  Learn about the Cincinnati Dry Dredgers—the oldest amateur fossil club in America o http://drydredgers.org/ o Find events, information, and local fossil sites  Download the Five Rivers Metroparks Fossil Guide (Do it from home!) o Information on local fossils o Fossil collection sites in the Dayton area  Visit the Oakes Quarry Park in Fairborn, OH http://drydredgers.org/oakes_quarry.htm  Go fossil hunting at Hueston Woods State Partk https://visithw.com/things-to-do/fossil-hunting/  Visit Falls of the Ohio State Park in Louisville, KY for some awesome fossil beds o https://www.fallsoftheohio.org/ o Fossil Bed Discovery Hikes June 6,7,13&14 2020 1-2 p.m. o Family Paleontology Camp July 14-16 (ages 12+)

Games  Hold a weekly family game night—try new games, play old favorites, or hold a multi-game tournament. (Do it from home!)  Get outside and play classic childhood favorites as a family or with the neighborhood. No kids nearby?—invite friends over for an evening of games on the lawn. Consider old classics like kickball and spud or current favorites like corn hole and ladder ball. (Do it from home!)  Make up your own game, complete with game board, cards, pieces and rules. Try out your game and make adjustments to perfect it, then invite friends over to share. (Do it from home!)  Play chess on the giant chess board in Smale Park or checkers on a cracker barrel outside a Cracker Barrel restaurant  Try an ‘escape the room’ type game as a family—there are various versions of this around town.  Consider a visit (free) or membership (with check-out privileges) to the Play Library in Cincinnati where you can explore and borrow new games and toys. https://www.playlibrary.org/  Visit an arcade-style game center such as Scene 75, GameWorks, or Dave and Busters  Play a game of laser tag at Lazer Craze or Scallywag Tag  Attend a Reds, Florence Freedom, or FCC Soccer game  Do a city scavenger hunt as a family or with friends: www.scavengerhunt.com or make up your own scavenger hunt and invite friends to join in the fun!  Go bowling—Kids bowl free (up to 2 games per day) all summer long at Batavia Bowl https://bataviabowl.com/  Host a game party—invite your guests to bring their favorite game and have fun playing! (Do it from home!)  Choose educational games that strengthen math, spelling, and/or geography skills such as bobble, scrabble, cribbage, quirkle, etc. (Do it from home!)

Gardening  Plan and plant a garden at home (flower, vegetable, herb or a combination) (Do it from home!)  Visit Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens—attend a garden-related program  Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden—pay attention to the plants  Visit Fort Ancient or Sun Watch Indian Village to see a Native American garden  Visit The Secret Garden in Waynesville, Ohio (a unique garden store in a garden)  Visit Goreman Farm or Parky’s Farm to tour a real vegetable garden or attend a program  Visit Blooms and Berries (Loveland) or Iron’s Fruit Farm (Lebanon) to pick berries  Try pickling, canning, or making jam or fruit leather with garden produce (Do it from home!)  Become a Summer Harvester at Granny’s Garden and/or attend a a gardening program https://www.hortmag.com/gardeners/grannysgarden  Visit a pioneer village (Caesar Creek, Boonesborough, etc.) and learn about pioneer gardens  Visit the Cincinnati Nature Center www.cincynature.org o Spring Native Plant Sale June 1-6 2021 o Herb Wall Garden Open house June 27, 2021

Horses  Attend a horse-related program or trail ride at Parky’s Farm (Winton Woods) http://www.greatparks.org  Group Trail Ride (various date)  Pony rides (offered daily)  Horsing Around Camp—various dates and sessions  Visit the Kentucky Horse Park and the American Saddlebred Museum https://kyhorsepark.com/  Take a trail ride at East Fork Riding Stables https://www.eastforkstables.net/  Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around downtown Cincinnati  Arrange a tour of one of the many Kentucky horse farms in the Lexington area (be sure to book in advance!) http://www.visitlex.com/idea-guide/horse-farm-tours/  Visit Goreman Farms to see a pony and other animals https://gormanfarm.org/  Attend one of the horse show competitions at the Clermont County Fair and walk through the horse barns to see all the horses http://www.clermontcountyfair.org/ July 25-31, 2021

Indians  Visit Serpent Mound. Consider attending one of their programs: o Summer Solstice Celebration 6/18-6/20/2021 https://serpentmound.org/  Earn a Junior Ranger Badge at Hopewell Culture National Historic Park in Chillicothe  See the outdoor drama ! in Chillicothe https://tecumsehdrama.com/  Take a tour of local Indian mounds and historic sites  Visit Sun Watch Indian Village in Dayton, OH https://www.sunwatch.org/  Read the book Follow the River or other books about local Indians (Do it from home!)  Visit Big Bone Lick State Park (Kentucky) and learn how the Indians made salt https://parks.ky.gov/union/parks/historic/big-bone-lick-state-historic-site  Visit Johnston’s Farm and Indian Agency in Piqua, OH https://johnstonfarmohio.com/  Visit Eagle Point and , OH to learn about major battles with the Indians  Visit Indian Mound Reserve: https://trekohio.com/2016/04/10/indian-mound-reserve/  Attend Native American summer camp at the Heritage Village Museum (in Sharon Woods) https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org/summer-camp

Insects  Visit the Butterflies of Bali Exhibit at Krohn Conservatory 5/8-9/26/21 https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn/  Visit the Insect House at the Cincinnati Zoo

o Home Safari—Insects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFHErXXLn6A (Do it from home!)  Hunt for Fireflies—learn to tell the difference between males and females (Do it from home!)  Use a butterfly net to catch insects in a field and study them in a bug box (Do it from home!)  Find an online pictorial guide to local insects—how many can you see this summer? o https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/378 (Do it from home!) o https://www.insectidentification.org/insects-by-type-and- region.asp?thisState=Ohio&thisType=Bee (Do it from home!)  Plant your own butterfly garden (Do it from home!)  Play the “Bug Hunt” game with your family: https://www.fatherly.com/play/bug-hunt-kids-game/ (Do it from home!)  Try an Insect Scavenger Hunt! https://sciencespot.net/Media/inshunts.pdf (Do it from home!)  Purchase a butterfly habitat an raise butterflies from caterpillars (Do it from home!)  Purchase an ant farm—raise and observe an ant colony (Do it from home!)  Cincinnati Nature Center Insect opportunities http://calendar.cincynature.org o Attend a Firefly program (multiple programs and dates) o Participate in the Bug Hunt June 27 or July 17, 2021 1pm  Attend the Nectar and Honey Event at Gorman Farms June 26, 2021 https://gormanfarm.org/  Go creeking and look for water striders, aquatic insects, and insect larvae  Find a tree that has been destroyed by the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle—look for the tracks (Do it from home!)  Use a field guide on a hike to learn to identify insects that you see (Do it from home!)  Visit the Butterfly Garden in Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens. http://www.greatparks.org/parks/glenwood-gardens/the-highfield-discovery-garden  Attend one of the insect-themed programs at Hamilton County Parks www.greatparks.org o Find informational insect and pollinator coloring pages on the Hamilton County Parks blog (Do it from home!) o https://blog.greatparks.org/category/parks-at-home/coloring-pages/

International  Choose a different country to learn about each week. Let each person in the family take turns choosing. Learn the capital and major cities, geography such as mountains and rivers, a few words of the language, customs, traditions, and cuisine. If possible, try a dish from that country. (Do it from home!)  Dine out—sample some of the international cuisine offered around the city. From Vietnamese to Ethiopian, there are a lot of unique international choices.  Eat in—cook culinary dishes typically served in other countries. Try a different international dish each week. (Do it from home!)  Try an international culinary kids kit from www.eat2explore.com ($25) (Do it from home!)  Visit Jungle Jims and explore food items from other countries—let each person select something new and interesting to try.  Visit Finley Market and sample international foods OR take the Original Finley Market Food Tour by Cincinnati Food Tours ($30/pp—90min) www.cincinnatifoodtours.com/tours/the-original-findlay- market-tour/  Attend International Themed Festivals throughout the summer (some are going virtual!) o CincItalia Italian Festival (St. Catharine of Siena) www.cincitalia.org CANCELED 2021 o Newport Festivals: http://www.newportky.gov/Blogs/Events/Archives/2020/02/2020- Festival-Calendar.aspx . Italian Fest 7/15-7/18/2021 Riverboat Row . Glier’s Goettafest Multiple Weekends . Octoberfest 9/24—9/26/2021 o Celtic Fest (Waynesville) 6/19/2021 https://celticfestohio.com/ o Panegyri Greek Festival (Finneytown) 6/25-26 ‘21 www.htsnchurch.org/panegyri/panegyri o Cincinnati Celtic Festival 7/23-25 2021 https://cincinnatiusa.com/events/cincinnati-celtic- festival-1 o Germania Society Oktoberfest CANCELED 2021 http://germaniasociety.com/ o Cincinnati Hispanic Fest ??? Unconfirmed for September 2021 https://www.everfest.com/e/cincinnati-hispanic-festival-cincinnati-oh o Columbus (IN) Scottish Fest 9/11-9/12/21 http://scottishfestival.org/  Plan a trip (real or imaginary) to a country you’d like to visit. (Do it from home!)  Watch shows from Rick Steves Europe on PBS or www.pbs.org (Do it from home!)

Music  Attend a Clermont County Philharmonic concert??? www.cpo-music.org  Attend a summer concert at one of the many free outdoor locations in the city  Blue Ash https://www.blueashevents.com/summer_concert_series_information/index.php  Sawyer Point or Stanberry Park (Cincinnati Metro Parks) ???? https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/sawyer-point-summer-concert-series/  Union Township Civic Center https://union-township.oh.us/concerts/  Anderson Parks: http://andersonparks.com/events/category/concerts-and-movies/  Hamilton County Parks: https://www.greatparks.org  Set a musical goal: learn a new instrument, write your own song, make your own instrument (Do it from home!)  Explore the Cincinnati Symphony Learning at Home Activities (Do it from home!)  https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/education-and-community/learning-at-home/  Save money now to attend one of the several child-appropriate Broadway musicals in the Aronoff 2021-2022 season: http://www.cincinnatiarts.org  Explore different genres of music—pick a different genre each week and play it during dinner or at another designated time each day. (Do it from home!)  Attend a Bell Tower Carillion Concert in Mariemont Sundays at 7 p.m. http://www.mariemont.com/carillon-concerts/  Attend the My Old Kentucky Home State Park/Stephen Foster Drama (Bardstown, KY)  Attend the Opera in the Park event: www.cincinnatiopera.org/opera-park  Attend the STM Julyfest and listen to the musical performances CANCELED  Attend Summerfair at Coney Island June 4-6, 2021  Attend Summermusik: It’s All Relative event put on by CCM www.ccocincinnati.org/events- main/its-all-relative/?occurrence=2019-08-11&spektrix_bounce=true  Attend the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra Wednesdays in the Woods at Burnet Woods www.ccocincinnati.org/events-main/burnet-woods-chamber-rock  Attend an Opera at Summit Park (Blue Ash) https://www.cincinnatiopera.org/opera-park-2021

Nocturnal Adventures  Attend a nocturnal program through Hamilton County Parks www.greatparks.org  Attend a Cincinnati Nature Center Nocturnal Program http://calendar.cincynature.org o Attend a Firefly program June/July o Full Moon Walk (monthly)  Explore the Night Hunters Exhibit and the Nocturnal Sections of Jungle Trails at the Cincinnati Zoo  Attend the Perseid Meteor Shower Viewing August 12, 2020 at Serpent Mound http://arcofappalachia.org/astronomy-night-at-serpent -mound/  Camp out—take a family camping trip to a local campground or just pitch a tent in the backyard!  Build your own bat house and hang it to encourage bats to eat the bugs in your yard! https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Cover/Build-a-Bat-House  Purchase owl pellets online and dissect them to learn about the owl’s meal.  Attend a Family Overnight Adventure at the Cincinnati Zoo (various dates) http://cincinnatizoo.org/education/overnight-adventures/after-hours-programs/  Play family games outside after dark: Ghosts in the Graveyard, Firefly Tag, Flashlight Sardines, etc. (Do it from home!)  Attend a Stonelick Stargazers event at Stonelick State Park http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/publicevents/stonelick-star-gazers-4/  Download a constellation app for your phone and have your own star party! (Do it from home!)  Find a pond or marshy area near your house and go on a frog expedition after dark.  Capture animal tracks to find out what nocturnal animals visit your yard at night: https://thehomeschoolscientist.com/capturing-animal-tracks/ (Do it from home!)

Pioneer Past  Visit Ft. Boonesborough in Kentucky to learn about pioneer life from a reconstructed fort with costumed re-enactors http://parks.ky.gov/parks/recreationparks/fort-boonesborough/  Visit the Hueston Woods State Park Pioneer Farm Museum o Summer Events schedule: https://www.oxfordmuseumassociation.com/summer- programming  Visit the Hartman Log Cabin (available for rent) and adjacent pioneer cemetery in Williamsburg  Tour the Miller-Leuser Log Cabin on Clough Pike in Anderson the 1st & 3rd Sunday 1-4 p.m. (free)  Visit the Pioneer Village at Caesar Creek State Park http://caesarscreekpioneervillage.com/ o Attend Pioneer Day Camp July 13-17 2021 (age 8-14) o Look for more events in the fall!  Visit the historic buildings at Shawnee Lookout Park (open Sundays) www.greatparks.org o Attend a Tomahawk Throwing Event 6/6/21  Visit the Lincoln Homestead State Park (Springfield, KY 2hr 25 min)—Abe’s mother’s house https://parks.ky.gov/springfield/parks/historic/lincoln-homestead-state-park  Visit Old Ft. Harrod State Park (Harrodsburg, KY 2hr, 10 min) https://parks.ky.gov/parks/recreationparks/fort-harrod  Visit Connor in Indiana http://www.connerprairie.org  Try your hand at a pioneer craft such as quilting, candle making, jam making etc. (Do it from home!)  Visit the Early Settlement area of Carillon Historic Park in Dayton https://www.daytonhistory.org/visit/things-to-see-do/early-settlement-area/  Visit Johnston’s Farm in Piqua, Ohio for a look at life in the early 1800s on the canal https://johnstonfarmohio.com/  Heritage Village (in Sharon Woods) https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org o Attend Pioneer Day Camp at Heritage Village (multiple sessions) https://heritagevillagecincinnati.org/summer-camp/ o Attend a period dinner August 25, 2021 o Village is FREE with costumed interpreters available August 11-14, 2021 10a-5p.

Reptiles and Amphibians  Attend Various Hamilton Count Park programs related to the theme http://www.greatparks.org  Attend a reptile program at the Cincinnati Nature Center www.cincynature.org  Turtle feeding  Family Tree Frog Hike—multiple dates (Long Branch Farm)  Snake feeding and handling  Spend some time exploring along the trails at the edges of the ponds at the Cincinnati Nature Center—there are several displays about frogs, their sounds, and life cycles. Stop at the Nature Center Desk and check out a pond exploration kit to use at Matt’s Pond. Try to catch a frog, a tadpole, or a newt.  Visit the Reptile House at the Cincinnati Zoo www.cincinnatizoo.org  Visit the frog exhibit at the Newport Aquarium www.newportaquarium.com  Attend the frog jumping competition at Frontier Days in Milford??? (check due ot COVID) http://www.frontierdaysmilford.com/events.html  Visit the Indianapolis Children’s Museum’s Dinosphere Exhibit to learn more about these extinct reptiles: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/dinosphere  Visit Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens and explore the Frog and Toad Garden. http://www.greatparks.org/parks/glenwood-gardens/the-highfield-discovery-garden

Sports Sampler

 Visit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum www.mlb.com/reds/hall-of-fame  Attend a Cincinnati Reds or Florence Y’alls Baseball Game  Swim at Sunlight Pool (Coney Island)  Try Frisbee Golf at Woodland Mound Park  Explore a new sport at Adventure Outpost (Winton Woods)—archery, kayaking, etc.  Go horseback riding at East Fork Riding Stables or Winton Woods Riding Stables  Go Canoeing or Kayaking at Scenic River Excursions (Roundbottom Road)  Try Salsa dancing at Salsa on the Square on Thursday Nights  Try Hip Hop Yoga on the Green at Washington Park  Visit the Kentucky Horse Park to learn about equestrian sports  Ride a bike or go rollerblading along the Little Miami Bike Trail  Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory

Trains and Railroads

 Take a tour of the rail station of Union Terminal  Visit Tower “A” in Union Terminal to view the train yard and train displays  Visit the Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati in Covington http://cincirailmuseum.org/ (COVID Closure)  Visit the “All Aboard” exhibit at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits/all-aboard  Take a ride on the Lebanon Mason and Monroe Railway in Lebanon https://lebanonrr.com/  Visit EnterTRAINment Junction https://entertrainmentjunction.com/  See the caboose in Sharonville or Morrow, Ohio  Ride the historic train in Metamora, Indiana  Build a model train or toy train set

Trees  Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden—challenge your children to find (and name) as many trees as possible. Many of the trees are labeled. Make it extra-fun by offering a prize! www.cincinnatizoo.org  Visit the old growth forest at the Cincinnati Nature Center—what is the biggest tree you can find? o www.cincynature.org o Check out a tree guide at the desk (driver’s license required) and use it to identify trees while hiking. o Walk along the All Person’s Nature Trail and try to guess the identity of the marked trees—swing the sign to see if you are right.  Visit Sycamore Park in Batavia and walk the paved pathway along the river looking for the enormous Sycamores the park is named after—a few are hollow, so look inside! http://clermontparks.org  Visit Alt Park—many of the trees are labeled with their names  Plant a tree in your yard or get permission to plant one in a local park—be sure to water it and care for it throughout the hot summer months.  Read The Giving Tree by Shell Silverstein  Visit one or more of the regional arboretums—attend an event if possible: o Mt. Airy Arboretum—Cincinnati, OH https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/west/mt-airy-arboretum/ o Stanley M. Rowe Arboretum—Indian Hill, OH https://ihill.org/recreation/rowe-arboretum/ o Spring Grove Cemetery—Cincinnati, OH http://www.springgrove.org/events/arboretum.aspx o Boone County Arboretum—Union, KY https://bcarboretum.org/ o Cox Arboretum—Dayton, OH https://www.metroparks.org/places-to-go/cox-arboretum/ o Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum—Dayton, OH https://woodlandcemetery.org/ o Arboretum and State Botanical Garden of Kentucky (UK)—Lexington, KY http://arboretum.ca.uky.edu/ o Nanine Clay Wallis House and Arboretum—Paris, KY www.kentuckytourism.com/nannine- clay-wallis-house-arboretum/ o Chadwick Arboretum—at the Ohio State University in Columbus, OH https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/ o Franklin Park Conservatory—Columbus, OH https://www.fpconservatory.org/ o Yew Dell Botanical Gardens—Crestwood, KY www.kentuckytourism.com/yew-dell- botanical-gardens/ o Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest—Louisville, KY https://bernheim.org/ o Kraus Preserve—Delaware, OH https://www.owu.edu/academics/academic- resources/nature-preserves/ o Dawes Arboretum—Newark, OH https://dawesarb.org/  Visit Krohn Conservatory www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn  Have a summer snack entirely provided by trees (fruit, tree nuts, chocolate, etc.) (Do it from home!)  Make a leaf collection, identifying the tree each leaf came from—press the leaves to preserve  Watch an acorn grow into a baby oak tree on You Tube: (Do it from home!) https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=acorn+growing+video&docid=608051035725913638&mid=BF EE57FBACF5B0C0F710BFEE57FBACF5B0C0F710&view=detail&FORM=VIRE (plant your own oak tree from an acorn!)  Make use of a tree in your yard: build a tree house, lean-to, hang a hammock, or run a zipline  Find informational tree coloring pages on the Hamilton County Parks blog (Do it from home!) https://blog.greatparks.org/category/parks-at-home/coloring-pages/

Underground Railroad

 Visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center downtown https://freedomcenter.org/calendar/  Visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe House (Celebrate Harriet’s Birthday June 14th) https://stowehousecincy.org/index.html  Take the abolitionist walking tour of Walnut Hills http://stowehousecincy.org/-walking- tour.html  Follow the Freedom Trail through Clermont County to see Underground Railroad sites https://discoverclermont.com/freedomtrail/  Visit the Rankin House and Parker House in Ripley, Ohio.  https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/john-rankin-house  https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/oh2.htm  Take an Abolitionist Walking Tour in Ripley, Ohio http://mobile.ripleyohio.net/historical-home- ugrr-tour  Read the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin or other books about the Underground Railroad  Visit Ye Olde Tavern in Yellow Springs, OH—once a stop on the Underground Railroad  Visit the National Afro-American Museum and Culture Center (Xenia, OH)

Waterfalls  Visit the 3 small waterfalls on the Gorge Trail at Sharon Woods www.greatparks.org  See the impressive indoor waterfall at Krohn Conservatory (COVID closures) https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/krohn/  There are LOTS of waterfalls in Yellow Springs, OH (and ice cream at Young’s Dairy!)  Hike the Pittsburg-Cincinnati Stage Coach Trail and South Gorge Trail (creates a trail loop) at John Bryan State Park to see numerous tall but narrow falls (from natural springs!) https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ohio/pittsburg-cincinnati-stage-coach-and-south-gorge- loop (dogs allowed)  Hike at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve (trails connect to John Bryan trail system) to view Amphitheater falls (no dogs) . Visit the nearby Clifton Mill with its beautiful (manmade) waterfall . https://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/cliftongorge.shtml  Glen Helen Nature Preserve also has trails that connect to John Bryan and has waterfalls of its own. https://trekohio.com/2013/04/30/glen-helen-nature-preserve/ (no dogs)  See the remnants of an old mill at Cedar Cliff Falls in Indian Mound Reserve  In Cedarville, OH (near Xenia)  Also has an Indian mound and earthworks  https://trekohio.com/2016/04/10/indian-mound-reserve/  Visit Charleston Falls Preserve in Tipp City (near Dayton) www.miamicountyparks.com  While there, visit nearby Ludlow Falls, OH where you can view a 15’ waterfall near the town’s post office.  Hike the Horseshoe Falls Trail at Cesar Creek State Park  Park at the spillway and hunt for fossils before picking up the perimeter trail by the lake (connects to the Horseshoe Falls trail)  Wear Keenes or rainboots so that you can splash in the stream near the falls  Parking is also available at the Flat Fork Ridge Picnic Area, so bring a picnic!  There is also a trail to a smaller waterfall in the park called Crawdad Falls  https://trekohio.com/2015/05/14/caesar-creek-state-park-horseshoe-falls-crawdad-falls- and-suspension-bridge/  Hike the brand-new Helen C. Black Cedar Falls Trail at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams Co.  Opened in April 2020—information is not yet online  1.5 mile trail (3 mile hike)  Parking/trailhead at the intersection of OH 348 and Cedar Mills Rd.  Hike the Pine Ridge trail at Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve https://trekohio.com/2014/07/15/lake-katharine-state-nature-preserve-pine-ridge-trail/  Visit and its multiple waterfalls  http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/hockinghills.shtml  Many of the smaller falls are seasonal, so go when the weather has been wet!  Visit Falls of the Ohio State Park in Indiana near Louisville, KY https://www.fallsoftheohio.org/  Hike to multiple waterfalls in Red River Gorge (Slade, KY) including Copperas Falls, Eagle Nest Falls, and Creation Falls  Visit Clifty Falls State Park in Southeast Indiana https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2985.htmTake a short, easy hike to a cascading falls at Fallsville Wildlfe Area near Hillsboro, OH  https://trekohio.com/2015/04/06/fallsville-wildlife-area-waterfall/  Plan to get muddy if it has been wet  Wear Keenes or rainboots so that you can splash in the stream near the falls

Other Summer Themes to Consider Ice Age Construction Water Wonders Presidents with ties to Ohio Visual Arts Pottery Hiking Religion Robotics Cooking Farms Folk Arts and Crafts Pottery Cars Geology Theater and Drama Books & Reading Architecture Physical Fitness/Exercise

My Top-10 Recommend Web Sites for Summer Activities

Whether you choose a summer theme or not, there are many thing going on in Cincinnati over the summer months that you may want to take advantage of. Be sure to take some time at the beginning of the summer and the beginning of each month to review upcoming events. Otherwise you are sure to find something you would love to do after the event has already passed!

1. Cincinnati Family Magazine Events Listings: http://cincinnatifamilymagazine.com/events 2. Cincinnati Parent Magazine Events Listings: http://cincinnatiparent.com/ 3. 50 Free/Cheap Things to Do This Summer in Cincinnati: http://365cincinnati.com/guides/50-free-cheap-things-cincinnati-summer 4. Hamilton County Park activities calendar: http://www.greatparks.org/calendar 5. Clermont County Library events calendar: http://engagedpatrons.org/Events.cfm?SiteID=5338  Library Summer Reading Program—June 1th to August 1st 6. Cincinnati Nature Center Events: http://www.cincynature.org/ 7. Clermont County Parks Events: http://clermontparks.org/naturalist-programs 8. Cincinnati Metro Parks Events: http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/calendar/ 9. Cincinnati Museum Center Events: https://www.cincymuseum.org/visit/calendar 10. 50 Kid-Friendly Things to do in Cincinnati: https://foursquare.com/chrisirmo/list/50-kidfriendly-things-to-do-in-cincinnati

Tips for Making Summer Adventures Affordable 1. Look for discount coupons in Reach Magazine and on sites like Groupon and Cincy Savers 2. Buddy up with another family—it’s twice as fun and you can split the cost of gas 3. Organize a group—many places offer group discounts 4. Purchase a membership—but only if you will really use it 5. Check to see if discounts are offered for memberships you already have 6. Look for discounted or free day 7. Pack a lunch, drinks, and fun snacks—food and drinks can really add to the cost of an adventure 8. Skip the gift shop—make a summer scrapbook to keep “souvenir memories” instead 9. Look for free opportunities, programs, events, and activities—you can’t beat free fun! 10. Plan ahead—bring everything you might need so you don’t waste money (and time) buying it!

Day Trips in Cincinnati and the Surrounding Region Summer is a great time to venture out for more than just an hour or two. In place of local activity listings, I have prepared a list of day trips for you to consider. These are organized by distance—metro area destinations, Greater Cincinnati destinations, and those further afield (with travel times ranging from 30 minutes to 2 ½ hours from St. Thomas More). With some, special events have been noted. With most, it will be up to you to google the destination for more information regarding program opportunities, hours, and associated costs. There are just too many destinations to provide this information here. There are obviously too many locations to visit in a single summer. Consider choosing a theme (as described in the section above) to help you narrow down your destination options. I hope you have many exciting adventures with your family this summer!

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Metro Day Trips  Abolitionist Walking Tour of Walnut Hills  American Sign Museum (Newport)  BB Riverboats  Carew Tower Observation Deck  Cincinnati Art Museum  Cincinnati Museum Center (Union Terminal)  Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum  Cincinnati Public Library MakerSpace (3D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, and more)  Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden  Devou Park, Covington/Behringer Crawford Museum  Garden of Hope (Covington)—exact replica of Jesus’ Tomb; grounds open daylight hours  Harriet Beecher Stowe House  Holiday Playland at West Fork Park  Krohn Conservatory/Eden Park  Lunken Airport—Land of Make Believe playground/Sky Galley Restaurant  Mt. Airy Forest—treehouse, arboretum, hiking trails  National Underground Railroad Freedom Center  Newport Aquarium/Newport on the Levee/Purple People Bridge  Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati (Covington)—Real train yard with actual train cars.  Ride the Ducks—Newport  Sawyer Point/1,000 Hands Playground/Serpentine Wall/Concourse Fountain & Sprayground  Smale Riverfront Park (Including free water playground)/Carol Ann’s Carousel  Taft Museum of Art  Unmuseum at the Contemporary Arts Center  Verdin Bell and Clock Museum (guided tours by appointment only)  William Howard Taft National Historic Site  World Peace Bell (Newport)—45 min. tours by apt. only; regular ringing 11:55 a.m. daily

Greater Cincinnati Day Trips (Around the I-275 Loop) 1. Adventure Station (indoor playground) at Sharon Woods 2. Anderson Ferry—ride the ferry boat across the Ohio River 3. The Beach Waterpark 4. Beech Acres—Splash park and unique playground with a miniature town of play houses 5. Canoeing at Scenic River Excursions (Roundbottom Road) or other local canoe liveries 6. Cincinnati Nature Center—Rowe Woods and Long Branch Farm (June 20th Monarch Fiesta) 7. Splash Cincinnati Water Resort (Indoor Waterpark) 8. Coney Island & Sunlight Pool 9. East Fork Riding Stables 10. East Fork State Park—Public beach, campground, boat docks, trails, Williamsburg bike trail 11. EnterTRAINment Junction 12. Florence Freedom Baseball Stadium 13. Gorman Heritage Farm 14. Heritage Village at Sharon Woods 15. Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens 16. Julyfest at STM and local parish festivals—show your support and have fun! 17. Kings Island and Boomerang Bay Waterpark 18. Little Miami Bike Trail 19. Local free concerts—Great Parks, Sawyer Point, Blue Ash Park, Civic Centers and other locations 20. Loveland Castle—Chateau LaRoche 21. Mariemont  Bell Tower Carillion/Dogwood Park—tours by apt. only; Sunday 7 p.m. concerts  Mariemont Enbankment—Indian Mound along Miami Bluffs drive  Mariemont Preservation Foundation Museum—Saturdays 9-noon 22. Megaland at Colerain Park—large multi-level playground with out-of-the-ordinary features 23. Norwood Mound—Indian Mound Ave. (Access lane between homes 2409 and 2413) 24. Odd Fellows Cemetery Mounds—Indian mounds at Flagstone Cemetery, Roundbottom Road 25. Parky’s Wetland Adventure at Woodland Mound 26. Shawnee Lookout—Springhouse School, Log Cabin, Indian Earthworks (Miami Fort) 27. Short Woods , Fernbank Golf and Tennis Club, Sayler Park (check in at club office) 28. Sunrock Farm 29. Totter’s Otterville 30. Trammel Fossilpark 31. Tri State Warbird Museum at the Clermont County Airport (Wed. 4-7 p.m.; Sat. 10-3 p.m.) 32. Winton Woods: Riding Stables/ Parky’s Farm/Parky’s Ark Wet Playground/Adventure Outpost

Trips Further Afield from Metro Cincinnati (About 1 hour or less from STM) 1. Big Bone Lick State Park (Union, Kentucky—40 minutes)—See skeletons of Ice age animals 2. Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve (Burlington, KY—45 minutes) 3. Caesar Creek State Park—Nature Center, Pioneer Village, Beach, Hiking (Waynesville, OH—45 min) 4. Clermont County Freedom Trail—Underground Railroad sites in Clermont County http://www.firstohio.com/maps/tours_pdf/Underground_Railroad_Tour.pdf 5. Cowan Lake State Park—see the lotus flowers bloom in late July (Wilmington, OH—50 minutes) 6. Chilo Lock 34 Park /Crooked Run Nature Preserve (Felicity, OH—35 minutes) 7. Ft. Ancient State Memorial (Oregonia, OH—35 minutes) 8. General Butler State Resort Park (Carrolton, KY—1 hour)—miniature train, museum, trails 9. Grant’s Birthplace (Point Pleasant, OH—21 minutes) 10. Grant’s Boyhood Home/Grant’s Schoolhouse (Georgetown, OH—40 minutes) 11. Hueston Woods State Park (College Corner,OH—About 1 hr)—Beach, marina, lodge, trails, mound 12. Iron’s Fruit Farm (Lebanon, OH –40 minutes) Blueberry Picking Mid-June until Mid July 13. Kincaid Lake State Park (Falmouth, KY—55 minutes) 14. Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad 15. Metamora, IN—Grist mill, canal boat rides, train ride, historic buildings (~1 hr)  White Water Canal Historic Trail 16. Miamisburg Mound State Memorial (Miamisburg, OH—50 minutes) 17. Miami Whitewater Forest Parky’s Pirate Cove Wet Playground/Water Cannon Boats (45 min) 18. National Afro-American Museum and Culture Center (Xenia, OH—1hr) 19. Rankin House State Memorial/John P. Parker House (Ripley, OH—55min)—Underground Railroad 20. Serpent Mound State Memorial (Peebles, OH—1hr) 21. Stonelick State Park (Goshen, OH—30 minutes) 22. Warren County History Center and Glendower (Lebanon, OH—35 minutes)

Trips to Surrounding Cities and Areas (About 2 ½ hours or less from STM)  Dayton, OH (1 Hour)  Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (Discount w/Cincy Zoo or Museum Center Membership)  Carillion Historic Park—Historical buildings/exhibits  Carriage Hill Metropark—Working historic 1880s farm with staff in period dress  Cox Arboretum  Dayton Air Show  Dayton Art Institute  Free Kids Club (requires registration)—complete 4 Galley Hunts to earn art kit  Experiencenter—hands-on art-based activities geared to 8-12 year-olds  Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (Junior Ranger Program Available)  National Museum of the United States Air Force (free admission)  Family Day 10-3 p.m. 3rd Saturday of the Month  Imax Theater (ticket fee)  Paul Laurence Dunbar House  Sunwatch Indian Village  Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark Children’s Discovery Garden (ages 3-11)  Yellow Springs/Clifton, OH (1hr 15 min)  Clifton George State Nature Preserve—Scenic George of the Little Miami River (hiking)  Clifton Mill—Working historic grist mill, gift shop and restaurant (dazzling Christmas lights)  Covered bridge—adjacent to mill and over river with views of Clifton George  1940s gas station with memorabilia (next door to the mill)  Clifton Historical Society and Museum—within walking distance of the mill  John Bryan State Park—trails connect to Clifton George to create a nice loop network  Glen Helen Nature Preserve—nature center, raptor center, trails including yellow springs  Ye Olde Tavern—once a stop on the Underground Railroad (Read The House of Dies Drear)  Young’s Dairy—awesome ice cream, putt-putt, slide, petting barn, tractor playground  Piqua, OH (1hr 30 min)  Lockington Locks (former Miami and Erie Canal)  Piqua Historic Area  General Harrison Canal Boat  Johnston Farm and Indian Agency  Piqua Museum  Piqua Heritage Festival—Labor Day Weekend  Springfield/Urbana, OH (1hr 30 min)   Cedar Bog (see the rare Lady’s Slipper Orchid in early June)  Freshwater Farms (Indoor Fish Hatchery)—sturgeon petting, trout feeding  Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum  Columbus, OH (1hr 40 minutes)  Anthony-Thomas Chocolate Factory—1hr tours Tuesday and Thursday  Central Ohio Fire Museum and Learning Center  Columbus Zoo  COSI  Indian Run Falls  Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens  Ohio History Center/ (Recreated 19th century village)   Olentangy Indian Caverns  Santa Maria—Replica of Christopher Columbus’ Flag Ship  Topiary Park—recreates the figures from a Georges Seurat Painting in shrubbery  Chillicothe, OH (1hr 40 min)  Adena State Memorial—Adena Mansion and Gardens  Historic Walking Tours of Downtown Chillicothe (includes Ohio’s 1st capital)  Hopewell Culture National Historic Park (Complete the Junior Ranger Program!)  Lucy Webb Hayes Heritage Center (Friday and Saturday 1-4 p.m.)  Story Mound  Tecumseh Outdoor Drama  Seip mound (17 miles out of Chillicothe)  Wapakoneta Ohio (1hr 50 min)  Armstrong Air & Space Museum  Fort Amanda Park—Commemorates the fort (not standing) from the War of 1812  Fort Recovery, Ohio (2hr 10 min)  Site of two of the largest Indian battles in history (1791 and 1794)  Fort Recovery State Museum (12-5 p.m. daily June-September)  Fort Site Park (see a reconstruction of the fort)  Pioneer Cemetery  Log cabin  Eagle Point—A tribute to the Native Americans who once lived in the region  Ft. Recovery Monument Park—honors the soldiers who died in the battles  Hocking Hills/Logan, Ohio (2hr 20 min)  Old Man’s Cave  Ash Cave  Cedar Falls  Conkle’s Hollow  Rock Bridge  Cantwell Cliffs  Mansfield, OH (2hr 30 min)   Ohio Bird Sanctuary  Ohio State Reformatory Tour (Where Shawshank Redemption was filmed)  Little Buckeyes Children’s Museum  Gorman Nature Center  Mansfield Memorial Museum  Biblewalk  B&O Bike Trail  Lexington, KY (1hr 30 minutes )  Explorium of Lexington—fun, interactive museum for kids  Horse Farm Tours—see the workings of a horse farm first hand  Kentucky Horse Park/American Saddlebred Museum  Living Arts and Science Center  Central Kentucky (1hr 30min-2hr 30min)  Blue Licks Battlefield State Park (Carlisle, KY 1hr 30 min)  Constitution Square (Danville, KY 2hr 20 min)—self-guided tours of historic buildings  Ft. Boonesborough State Park (Richmond, KY 1hr 45 min)—historic re-enactment  Lincoln Birthplace Hodgenville, KY 42748 (2hr 45 min) www.nps.gov/abli/index.htm  Lincoln Homestead State Park (Springfield, KY 2hr 25 min)—Abe’s mother’s house  My Old Kentucky Home State Park/Stephen Foster Drama (Bardstown, KY 2hr 25 min)  Natural Bridge State Park (Slade, KY 2hr)—chair lift, natural bridge, caves, arches, trails  Old Ft. Harrod State Park (Harrodsburg, KY 2hr, 10 min)  Perryville Battlefield State Park (Perryville, KY 2hr 30 min)  Red River George (Slade, KY 2hr 30 min)—adjacent to Natural Bridge; hiking  Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill (Harrodsburg, KY 2hr 10 min)  White Hall State Historic Site (Richmond, KY 1hr 45 min)—home of Cassius Clay  Louisville, KY and the Vicinity (1hr 45min)  Bernheim Memorial Forest and Arboretum  E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park  Falls of the Ohio State Park (Indiana)  Louisville Mega Cavern—Tram tours and zip lining beneath the city  Louisville Science Center  Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory  Louisville Zoo  Indianapolis, IN (2hr 11min)  Children’s Museum of Indianapolis  Connor Prairie Interactive History Park—Prairietown, Civil War, Indian Camp  Ft. Harrison State Park  Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Garden  Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites  Indianapolis Zoo  President Benjamin Harrison’s Home  South Eastern Indiana  Brookeville Lake Area (1hr 30 min)  Brookeville Lake Dam Area  Mounds State Recreational Area  Whitewater Memorial State Park (Liberty, IN 1hr 30min)  Squire Boone Caverns (Near Louisville)  Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary (Connersville, IN 1hr 45 min)  Versailles State Park (Versailles, IN 1hr 20 min)  Nashville, IN (2hr 15min)—craft shops and historic buildings  Lincoln’s Boyhood Home (3hr)—Lincoln City, IN www.nps.gov/libo/index.htm