Mid-Atlantic News

We're heading to Washington Monument State Park in Middletown, MD to celebrate the Mid-Atlantic Region's 14th anniversary with a hike and picnic on Sunday, June 4, 2023.

"Located atop South Mountain, Washington Monument State Park is named for the first completed monument dedicated to the memory of George Washington. The Washington Monument is a rugged stone tower that was initially erected by the citizens of Boonsboro in 1827."  - From the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.

We'll hike first, starting with a short walk up to the Washington Monument to take in the beautiful 360 view. From there we'll take the Appalachian Trail for a fairly easy out-and-back hike of a few miles.

After the hike, we'll fire up the grill for burgers and hot dogs. BYOburger, hot dog, not dog, veggie burger or grillable item of your choice as well as a side dish or dessert to share. We'll provide watermelon for everyone. Leave no trace: Bring your own mess kit, utensils and trash bag to carry out your trash and recyclables.

If you're not up for the hike, feel free to join us for just the picnic afterwards.

Gear Giveaway/Swap/Sale - Most of us probably have some well-loved but seldom used outdoor gear at home. Bring that used gear and any outdoor themed books you have around the house to the picnic so they can find a new home with another Women Outdoors member. Be sure and label your gear with your name and price (if it's not a giveaway item). Everyone must take home whatever they bring if it doesn't find a new home.

This free activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link. 

Everyone must agree to the Women Outdoors Assumption of Risk statement during the registration process.

Click on this link to register.

We haven't biked for a very long time, so we're starting out gently with an easy beginners ride on the Indian Head Rail Trail in Charles County, MD.

The paved trail runs 13 miles for an out-and-back total of 26 miles, but we'll probably bike a much shorter distance, say 10-15 miles. Because it's a rail trail, our ride will be mostly flat with just a gentle rise on the way out, which means a nice glide on the way back.

Here's a bit of what Rail-Trails Mid-Atlantic says about the Indian Head Rail Trail: "Cyclists and hikers can experience the surroundings of mature forests, natural wetlands, and occasional farmland as they pass through the Mattawoman Creek stream valley and some of southern Maryland's most scenic and undeveloped natural areas. . . . No matter your pace, the Indian Head Rail Trail is bound to delight."

We'll stop along the way for water and snack breaks and then eat our lunch at the end of the ride at a park near Mattawoman Creek.

Register now by clicking on this link.

Registration closes on Friday, March 31. This activity will be cancelled In the event of rain and all registrants will be notified.

This free activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

We're heading to Codorus State Park in Hanover, PA on May 19-21, 2023, for a weekend of outdoor adventure including hiking and boating.

We have lots of options for outdoor fun! There are several hiking trails in the park as well as Lake Marburg, a popular fishing and boating destination with 26 miles of shoreline.

You can bring your own boat or rent from AOS Marina on the lakeshore. In addition to kayaks and canoes, small fishing boats or even large pontoon boats are available to rent. Codorus State Park also has a designated mountain bike trail area and a disc-golf course.

Doggies are welcome to come on this camping trip. You must reserve one of the designated pet friendly campsites (currently only available in loop C).

The camping cost is $24/night (non-electric), $31/night (electric), $26/night (pet site, non-electric), $33 (pet site, electric) plus a $6.50 reservation fee, plus $5 more per night for non-Pennsylvania residents.

As soon as you complete your Women Outdoors registration, you will receive an automatic email with the exact location where the trip leaders will be camping so you can select a nearby campsite through Reserve America or Pennsylvania State Parks. (See the campground map.)

IMPORTANT: Once you have a campsite reserved, please send an email to MidAtlantic@womenoutdoors.org and Becky@womenoutdoors.org to let us know which site you have.

This event is for Women Outdoors members only. If you would like to come on the camping trip and are not yet a member, please click on this Join Us link to become a member of Women Outdoors.

Everyone must agree to the Women Outdoors Assumption of Risk statement during the registration process.

Bring your 4-legged furry friend for this 4-mile woods and water walk at Downs Park in Anne Arundel County on Sunday, March 5, 2023.

We'll start our walk at the South Overlook and enjoy views of the Chesapeake Bay and possibly spy some blue birds at the aviary right next to the gazebo. Then we'll head out on the Perimeter Trail through a forest of oak, poplar, beech, birch, holly, sweet gum and sassafras. Toward the end of the walk, we'll stop at the dog beach so the pooches can romp in the water.

After the dog beach, we'll wander out to the end of the fishing pier and take in spectacular views of the Chesapeake Bay and across to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. (Sorry, dogs are not allowed on the pier.) Bring your binoculars because there's a good chance we'll be able to see several different kinds of ducks in the bay.

The whole trail is flat and paved so this will be a gentle walk in the woods. If you don't want to do the entire 4 miles, there's an easy cutoff back to the Visitors Center to shorten the walk.

We'll eat our lunch toward the end of the walk at a spot overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

According to park rules, dogs must be on a leash at all times, except at the dog beach. Owners are responsible for picking up after their pets.

Registration closes on Friday, March 3. This activity will be cancelled In the event of rain or extreme cold; all registrants will be notified.

This free activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link to register for the doggie walk at Downs Park.

We're going to check out two locations at Mason Neck in Northern Virginia in search of winter waterfowl and other winged creatures on Saturday morning, January 28.

First, we'll meet at Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge for an out-and-back walk (about 1.5 miles total) along a paved trail to an overlook in hopes of seeing bald eagles, tundra swans and other wintering waterfowl.

Next, we'll  head over to the Visitor Center at Mason Neck State Park and hike about two miles through woodlands with excellent views of the Potomac River. We'll look for more waterfowl as well as any other little birdies that catch our eyes along the trail.

There is a $10 parking fee (honor system) at Mason Neck State Park.

To increase our chances of seeing lots of birds, no doggies on this hike.

Registration closes on Thursday, Jan. 26 or if we reach 20 participants, whichever comes first. This activity will be cancelled In the event of rain or extreme cold; all registrants will be notified.

This free activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Here at Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic we hope that one of your New Year's resolutions will be to nurture your nature and join us on some of our many adventures in 2023. We have a wonderful variety of activities planned for January through August.

If you're already a member of Women Outdoors, thank you! We wouldn't be here without you. If you're not yet a WO member, you're invited to attend two of our events to check things out. On your third event, we'll ask you to join us. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link. (Some of our favorite events, like camping and our movie night, are open to WO members only. Just sayin'.)

Mark these dates on your calendar and stay tuned for more information.

• January 7 - Bald eagle watch at Conowingo Dam - Darlington, MD
• January 10 - Volunteer for mid-winter eagle survey at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - Cambridge, MD
• January 28 - Birding walk at Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge - Fairfax County, VA
• February 25 - Mid-winter potluck and movie night - location TBD. WO members only
• March 5 - Doggie walk at Downs Park - Pasadena, MD
  
• April 1 - April Fools Day bike ride - location TBD
• April 29 - Birding walk at Huntley Meadows Park - Fairfax County, VA
• May 19-21 - Camping trip with hiking and possible kayaking - location in Pennsylvania TBD. WO members only.
• June 3 - WO Mid-Atlantic's 14th anniversary celebration with a hike and picnic - location TBD.
• June 17 - Kayaking at Mason Neck - Fairfax County, VA
• July 15 - Kayaking at Tuckahoe State Park - Queen Anne, MD
• August 24-27 - Women Outdoors 43rd Annual National Gathering - near Albany, NY. WO members only.
  

See you in the outdoors.

Kathleen and Becky

Regional Contacts

Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic

Nurture your nature

First, the hike:  We'll hike about 4 miles at Tuckahoe State Park. Tuckahoe Creek, named for the arrow arum, a sturdy wetland plant also called "tuckahoe," runs through the heart of this park. The wooded wetlands have defined this land for centuries and offer a glimpse back in time. The wetlands are home to a variety of songbirds and amphibians.

Our hike will be mostly flat along Tuckahoe Creek and around the edges of Adkins Arboretum. Doggies are welcome but must be kept on leash at all times.

Next, the hops: On our way back home, we'll stop by Ten Eyck Brewing Company for an apres-hike beer. If it's warm enough, we can picnic in the beer garden; if not, we'll sit in the taproom. Ten Eyck is owned by a team of women veterans and first responders. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed in the beer garden and taproom.

This free activity is open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click on this link to register.

Hi everyone,

I am thrilled to announce that Becky has agreed to be co-Regional Contact (RC) for the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors.

Becky is a lifelong outdoorswoman with wide and deep experience. In 1992, Becky through-hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT) and more than lived up to her trail name, Surefoot. She has organized and led outdoor adventure trips for the Girl Scouts, canoeing trips in Algonquin, Canada, and backpacking trips on the AT and in WV. Becky has also bicycle camped the Great Allegheny Passage and C & O Towpath, a journey of 185 miles.

Becky has been an active Women Outdoors MId-Atlantic member since 2019, attending three consecutive Women Outdoors National Gatherings, the National WO Cross-Country Ski Event in Craftsbury, VT, and dozens of Mid-Atlantic activities.

Becky has also led several hikes as well as kayaking and camping trips for the WO Mid-Atlantic region. This past summer after two years of covid delays, Becky organized and led a Women Outdoors 10-day service trip to Peru followed by a trek to Machu Picchu.

Becky and I look forward to being your co-RCs.

See you in the outdoors!

Kathleen

Co-Regional Contact

Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic

Nurture your nature

Hope you've been enjoying the spectacular pageant of color put on by Mother Nature these past few weeks. Absolutely amazing!

We have some fun activities coming up in November and December 2022. Save these dates and stay tuned:

• Sunday, November 13 - Hike at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA with an optional stop afterwards at The Apple House in Linden, VA for a late lunch/early dinner and their famous apple butter cinnamon donuts.
• Friday, November 25 - #OptOutside hike along the Rachel Carson Greenway in Brookeville, MD. Several years ago, REI took the unprecedented step of closing all of their stores on Black Friday and encouraging everyone to #OptOutside and enjoy nature instead. We'll do just that with this hike. (Full disclosure - Your friendly RC works part-time at the REI in Washington DC.)
• Sunday, December 4 - Zoom planning meeting for 2023 Women Outdoors Mid-Atlantic events. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for an online planning meeting in the comfort of your own home.
• Saturday, December 10 - Hike TBD.

Watch this space for more details and the links to register for all of these events.

See you in the outdoors!

Merrell Shoe Demo Day

The Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors is thrilled to team up with Merrell for a very special event at Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, MD on Saturday, July 9, 2022.

When it comes to hiking, your most important piece of equipment is your footwear. Proper hiking shoes or boots make all the difference in the world between a winning day on the trail or misery of da feet. (Ouch, sorry!)

A field marketing specialist for Merrell will join us and will bring several pairs of demo Merrell hiking shoes for folks to try out on the trail. Don't miss this great opportunity to field test some Merrells.

Our hike for this event will be different from our usual fare. While testing the Merrells, we'll probably just walk along a short nature loop and possibly a slightly longer spur trail. This will be an easy walk in the woods.

After the hike, the Merrell rep will raffle off a very generous Merrell gift card to one lucky hiker. He'll also bring Merrell swag for everyone who attends. (Longtime Mid-Atlantic members of Women Outdoors know how much we love raffles and swag.)

Bring a brown bag lunch for a picnic after the demo event. If folks are up for it, we can do another short hike after lunch.

This activity is free and open to members and non-members of Women Outdoors. Non-members are welcome to attend two WO events as guests. On your third event, we'll ask you to join the Mid-Atlantic Region of Women Outdoors. You can also join right now  by clicking on this Join Us link.

Click here to register for Merrell Meets the Mid-Atlantic Region.