Outing #3: Belle Isle

“Nature-deficit disorder is not an official diagnosis but a way of viewing the problem, and describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses.  The disorder can be detected in individuals, families, and communities.” – Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

GORP outing #3 is this Sunday at Belle Isle. We will meet at the end of Laurel Street on Oregon Hill, above Dominion Resources and Hollywood Rapids (see map), at 10 a.m., walk over the footbridge to Belle Isle and up to the First Break Rapids, where we will gather for a game of Capture the Flag and then have a picnic lunch.

While walking over to the First Break Rapids, nature-challenged families – like us!– are invited to join us in a game of Nature Around Me, a simple exercise in identifying as many examples of nature as possible during a set period of time (e.g. while walking over to First Break). Capture the Flag, which will start at First Break at about 11:15, will be organized in such a way that families will stay together during the game and operate as teams – so there will be no ganging up on the adults (and hopefully no losing of the children).

Hollywood Rapids

For those who are interested in seeing a little less of their children, tomorrow is the fourth National Day of Unplugging. Unplug your television, your computer and all your devices (and any that belong to your kids), and tell the kids they have to go play OUTSIDE. Ours will be out there, probably screaming to be let back in.  Anyone concerned about their behavior can send me a letter... 

Hope you can join us on Sunday morning. All are welcome, so please don’t hesitate to spread the word. -Ben

G.O.R.P. outing #3

Date: Sunday, March 3, 2013

Location: Belle Isle

Meeting time & location: 10:00 a.m. at the southern end of Laurel Street, in Oregon Hill, overlooking Belle Isle (at the intersection of S. Laurel St. and Oregon Hill Parkway).

Directions:  From anywhere in the Fan, take Cary Street to S. Laurel St. (a block or two past VCU’s Cary Street Gym, just past the Sweet Frog frozen yogurt shop at 815 W. Cary St.).  Take a right on Laurel and follow Laurel until it ends (see map).

Intermediate GORP...

Rough itinerary (which no one is obligated to follow):   Meet at the end of Laurel St. in Oregon Hill, overlooking Belle Isle, at 10:00 a.m.  At 10:15, we’ll drop down to the Belle Isle footbridge, cross over to Belle Isle and then walk up the north side of Belle Isle to the First Break Rapids on the western tip of Belle Isle.  (While walking to First Break, families are invited to join in a game of “Nature Around Me”.)  At 11:15 or so we will gather at the First Break picnic tables and, for those interested, play a game of Capture the Flag (which will be organized in such a way that families stay together and operate as teams).


Advanced GORP...

Following Capture the Flag, we will have a picnic lunch at First Break Rapids or wherever looks most inviting.  We will then head back to our cars above the river and, for those so inclined, indulge in a post-GORP treat at Sweet Frog (815 West Cary St.) on the way home.

What to bring:

n  Water



Expert GORP.

n  Hat and Gloves, plus layered clothes appropriate for the weather

n  Waterproof jacket/shell

n  Backpack, with snacks.

n  Notebook/clipboard (something to write on) and pen/pencil (1 per family) – for Nature Around Me

n  Picnic lunch (to have at First Break Rapids on Belle Isle)

n  Kids will probably get dirty and possibly wet, so you might also consider packing a change of clothes in your car.

SAFETY:  We ask that parents be responsible for the safety of their own children. 

Stroller friendly?  Yes.

Pets:  Pets are permitted but must be on a leash.

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 47 degrees.

PLAN “B” for Bowling:  If the weather is too wet or too cold we will instead go bowling at Sunset Lanes on West Broad (6540 West Broad Street), meeting there at 10 a.m.  Rates are $17 per person (shoes included) for two hours of bowling (2-3 games).  Sunset Lanes is kid-friendly: anyone old enough to walk is old enough to bowl.

 If Plan “B” is necessary, I will alert everyone by e-mail – and post an update on this blog – by no later than 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.

 

G.O.R.P.