OUT OF THE BOX - King County Parks

OUT BOX OF THE

Issue 1: Summer 2014

Check it out!

In this issue: Meet the original Douglas E. Skwerrel Craft: Make your own leaf imprint Featured park: a summer walk at soaring eagle

Soaring Eagle Park

OF OUTTHE BOX

douggie’s super legit guide to life outside

1.

explore NATURE through DISCOVERY

2.

3.

4.

GET OUTSIDE & PLAY

dig into your CURIOSITY

5.

live a fun & HEALTHY LIFE

TAKE CARE of your big backyard

Meet Douglas

e. skwerrel!

Douggie is a native Western gray squirrel, the largest of the native tree squirrels with an average 12 inch body length and 12 inch tail.

He’s wicked fast, way smarter than your average nut and enjoys long tree climbs at sunset among canopies of maple, cedar and fir.

Douggie’s MISSION To inspire kids of all ages to get ‘out of the box’ and back to nature with fun ideas and easy tips that connect families to new adventures in ‘Your Big Backyard.’

PARENTS: Follow us on Twitter @iheartkcparks and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/iheartkcparks

The seasonal nature e- zine for the whole family!

YOUR SUMMER OUT OF THE BOX! It only takes one sunny day to catch the sandals and sunglasses kind of summer fever to get outside and go adventuring. There is no time to waste – it’s time to play hard! #northwestisbest Sounds great! Now what? Skip the Internet search of that daunting top 100 “must do” family summer activities and take the simple, no-stress path to a fun family outing that won’t cost you a dime. Two words: scavenger hunt. It’s the tried-and-true, classic game that sticks around because the hunt of the game is always fun, no matter what you’re looking for. Best of all, it brings you outside.You can be as creative (or not) as you want with your scavenger list and thanks to all the seasonal emerging flora and fauna, you don’t have to go any further than your nearby King County park for an infinite list of things to look for.

Done and done!

For the older kids, put a twist in your scavenger hunt and try your family’s hand at letterboxing, the increasingly popular outdoor activity that combines the elements of orienteering, art and puzzle solving.

Look up clues at Atlas Quest, go find boxes that are near or far, and leave your own personal signature stamp on the letterbox’s visitors’ book! Pack a pair of binoculars and bring a small notepad to record your findings.

SCAVENGER HUNT

Pine cone

Hole in a tree

Animal tracks

Observe a worm

Fungus on a tree

Rock in the shape of a heart

KINGCOUNTY.GOV/PARKS

Find and observe Douggie!

Stick in the shape of a ‘y’ Something that shows an insect was there Something translucent that you can see light through Three different kinds of leaves

kids, read this way!

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What will YOU find on the Pipeline Trail?

Listen for 40 different species of birds!

soaring eagle regional park the pipeline trail - nature libs!

Let’s go exploring at Soaring Eagle Regional Park. Maybe we’ll find some ___________ ! The 600 acre park has 12 miles of trails crisscrossing through mature forests, wetlands and wildlife habitat. Plus, the park is right here in our own backyard on the Sammamish Plateau. Once we’ve arrived, we’ll check the kiosk for a trail map and put a leash on the dog before we begin our adventure. The main Pipeline Trail is flat, wide and even friendly to heavy duty strollers.

Hey, let’s invite ______________ to come with us! It’s a great place for older kids to ride bikes, too! Deer are often spotted along the trails, and if we look around, we’ll notice the native bigleaf maple trees. Who will spot the largest tree? We better bring ________ for a mid-hike snack and if I see a _________, we’ll have to take a picture! The numbered sign posts are really helpful to keep us on the right path. By the time that we’re done, we’ll all be ready for a long, summer ______.

How to get there:

26015 East Main Drive, Sammamish (additional access points are available)

Activity:

Locate your first letterbox at Soaring Eagle Regional Park!

Get the clues here and start your adventure.

Keep your eyes peeled for

Did you snap a photo? Share it with us at facebook.com/iheartkcparks and it could be

featured in our next issue!

YURT CAMPING AT TOLT-MACDONALD PARK & CAMPGROUND

CAMP LIKE YOU MEAN IT Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground Carnation Pack all the fixings for s’mores because you’re a lot closer to a family camping excursion than you think!

Nestled in the charming town of Carnation, King County’s Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground is a surefire hit for kids and parents alike. A short, 40-minute drive from Seattle, the 574-acre park has everything: hiking and mountain biking trails; tent, RV and yurt camping; an open meadow is perfect for a game of frisbee and views of the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers at your feet. Check out the campground and trail map for a bird’s-eye view and get a parent to call the scheduling office at 206-205-5434 to make camping reservations.

Mix-up the classic s’mores

Add a slice of banana + peanut butter Sprinkle with cinnamon Peanut butter cup Salted caramel chocolate + bacon Lemon curd

Campground map

KINGCOUNTY.GOV/PARKS

recipe:

trail map

Check with a parent first to make sure the leaves you gather are safe to touch!

ART INSPIRED BY NATURE

Share your art creation with us at outofthebox@kingcounty.gov and it could appear in the next e-zine!

Recycle your scavenger hunt into an easy art project that will show off your treasure in a fun, hip way.

All you need are some basic art materials and you can create a masterpiece in no time!

art materials: Leaves and flowers Butcher paper Paint brush Crayons (unwrapped) Watercolor paints Masking tape Water

How to: Arrange your leaves and flowers on a project table in any kind of pattern that you like. Place the paper on top of the arrangement and tape the edges down to the table with removable masking tape.

Next, use the flat side of a crayon to rub an impression of the leaves and flowers through the paper.

Choose just one color or the whole rainbow! Once you’re finished rubbing, it’s time to add a layer of watercolor, so grab the paint brush, wet the paints and add a wash of color to your art project. Just like crayons, you can choose to paint with one color or mix it up with several to create the effect you like. By adding the watercolor layer, the shapes of the leaves and flowers will really stand out when the watercolor repels from the crayon wax. Let the paper dry, remove the paint and hang up your masterpiece!

Bonus tip:

Use your art as homemade wrapping paper!

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fun summer activities

Timber! Outdoor Music Festival July 24-26 Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground Carnation Music, camping and more music! Immerse your family in music and nature at the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival hosted at King County Parks’ Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground. The summer weekend festival has already chalked up rave reviews from parents. Enjoy a packed schedule of talented artists, a variety of camping options, and a variety of family-friendly outdoor activities for all ages: special children’s concerts, science activities and crafts, guided hikes for kids and a root beer garden. Kids 12 and under are FREE! To get your tickets, check out the schedule and preview the artists, visit: timbermusicfest.com

summer wheelin’ on your bicycle Some of the best summer memories are made on bicycles! If you’re ready to learn how to ride a bike or need to relearn the basics for a smoother ride, check out the ongoing classes offered by our partner REI and hosted at King County Parks’ Marymoor Park.

How to Ride a Bike for KIDS (4-11 years-old) How to Ride a Bike Class (12+ years-old)

Movies @ Marymoor Wednesdays – July & August Marymoor Park, Redmond

Rally the family, pack a blanket and sit back under the big screen while the grass grows between your toes! Pre-movie seating is $5, and entry includes live entertainment, movie trivia and tasty food trucks. Movies start at dusk.

Seating opens at 7 p.m. For more info, visit moviesatmarymoor.com or facebook.com/moviesatmarymoor

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Footloose (1984)

The Sandlot

Monty Python & The Holy Grail

Finding Nemo

The Princess Bride

July 23 (PG-13)

July 30 (R) August 6 (PG)

August 13 (PG) August 20 (G) August 27 (PG)

KINGCOUNTY.GOV/PARKS

Columbia-Windflower (Anemone deltoidea) A species of flowering plant in the buttercup family and native to the Pacific Northwest Average Size: Growing between 4 and 12 inches tall Color: White petal-like sepals (outer protection for bud) How to Identify: A single basal leaf at the base is divided into three large toothed leaflets, e ach up to 6 centimeters long. The stem is mostly naked with leaflets and a single flower of five petal-like sepals each one to two centimeters long. Look very close and you might be able to count up to 120 whiskery pollen-producing stamens at the center.

stamen sepals

toothed leaflets

r o l o C e!

M Name ______________________ Age ______