This was another one of those experiences where I knew nothing about it and then got there and realized that I actually knew stuff about this and had never put it together. I never really remember things like band names, or songs, or albums, which bothers my husband to no end. Apparently my art history … Continue reading Saint-Gaudens NHS
All these Badges….
Now you have a lot of badges, because you love them. Err, I mean because THE CHILDREN LOVE THEM. And as you go through the house you find abandoned badges and realize that they are going to be lost to the chaos if you don't do something NOW! I made my first display board for … Continue reading All these Badges….
Roadside Attractions
Before I loved National Parks, I loved roadside attractions. LOVED THEM. Have you ever driven near-ish to New Mexico and seen a Billboard for the Deming Duck Races? I saw my first one in Oklahoma when I was 16, and when I was 19 I finally made it and raced a duck. Maybe you've seen … Continue reading Roadside Attractions
Harpers Ferry NHP, Pt 2
I got our Junior Ranger Badge books from an older ranger. He clearly loved the Civil War and he began telling me about many things, while the children ran around this smaller Ranger Station. Wild Thing in particular seemed bent on destruction, so my patient husband chased him, while the other kids stamped their passports. … Continue reading Harpers Ferry NHP, Pt 2
Harpers Ferry NHP, pt 1
Where to even begin? I am going to talk about the park first and then in the next post specifically talk about the Junior Ranger badge, because I wasn't entirely sure what to expect and was met with a vast historical crossroad. I knew about the John Brown revolt, but was entirely fuzzy on the … Continue reading Harpers Ferry NHP, pt 1
Great Smoky Mountains NP Pt. 2
Great Smoky is a stand out park for a few different reasons, one of which is that the money was raised by LOCAL PEOPLE. When the federal government approved the creation of the park they refused to fund it. It was funded with local citizen donations, school children, from all walks of life, collecting nickels … Continue reading Great Smoky Mountains NP Pt. 2
Great Smoky Mountains NP pt 1
When planning our eclipse viewing I tried to keep a couple things front and center in my mind. 1) It could be cloudy and 2) The kids may find this monumentally unimpressive. To mitigate both of these concerns it was really important that the focal point of the trip have something great to visit in … Continue reading Great Smoky Mountains NP pt 1
Ford Theater NHS
While in DC visiting with my sister, my nephew really really wanted to go to the International Spy Museum. That sounded like fun and we all took the metro in and went. I posted what we were doing while eating burgers on the corner next to the spy museum and my intrepid friend posted "Hey … Continue reading Ford Theater NHS
Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS
Allegheny Portage Railroad is a result of Pennsylvania's desire to stay relevant in trade and an ingenious way to cross the Allegheny mountains before steam engines were powerful enough to make it through. With the rise of Canal trade after the completion of the Erie Canal, Pennsylvania scrambled to compete and shorten the 23 day … Continue reading Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS
Cuyahoga NP
The National Park Service commissioned a series of videos in the eighties and I found the Cuyahoga video at our public library. I was so thankful I did because there is so much more to this park that I wouldn't have known about in advance. Firstly there is a scenic railroad that runs the entire … Continue reading Cuyahoga NP
Free Rangering 