Maple Sugaring Weekend at Nixon Park

http://yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/events/christmas-magic.html

 

 

Maple Sugaring Weekend at Nixon Park is happening Saturday, February 22 from 9:30am-4pm and Sunday, February 23 from 12-4pm.  For $2 per person (free for 5 and under) for both days, your family or group can participate in activities including tours, crafts and more.  Park members are free with their membership card; groups of 10 or more should call 717-428-1961 to pre-register.

The schedule of events includes the following: 

Saturday, February 22-
10am-3pm Tours of the Sugarbush.  Ongoing hourly tours include hands-on demonstrations, pancake eating, a talk by the Hammer Hollow Maplers and a trip to the Red Maple Grove. 

8:30am-dusk Story walk.  Take a short, self-guided tour along a trail through the park to read a story about maple sugaring.  The story is attached to posts throughout the trail. 

10:30am AND 1:30pm Sugarbush Story Time.  Gather in the Nature Center for a maple sugaring story for kids.

Sunday, February 23-
12-3pm Tours of the Sugarbush.  Ongoing hourly tours include hands-on demonstrations, pancake eating, a talk by the Hammer Hollow Maplers and a trip to the Red Maple Grove. 

8:30am-dusk Story walk.  Take a short, self-guided tour along a trail through the park to read a story about maple sugaring.  The story is attached to posts throughout the trail. 

Stay Home, Stay Warm. 5 Activities to Beat the Winter Blues

Brrrr!

If case you didn't know, it's freezing outside!  The roads are slippery and there are warnings from all the local news stations telling you to stay inside unless you have to be out in this weather.  What is there to do when the weather outside is frightful?  Plenty!  Here are some ideas to get the wheels in your home turning so that these cold winter days aren't full of electronic-playing, bored children.  

1. Make Oobleck.  This is a super fun science activity that just requires water and corn starch and will have you and your kids asking, "is it a liquid or is it a solid?".  
What you'll need: 1 c water, 1.5-2c corn starch.  Optional: food coloring
Directions: start with 1 cup of water and 1.5 cups of corn starch and mix in a bowl.  Add food coloring if you wish.  Submerge a finger (or utensil if you would prefer to stay clean) and if it hardens where you touch it, it's ready.  If it reacts like a solid then add more corn starch.  When it's ready, keep it in the bowl or pour it into a few if you have more than one child.  You could also pour it into a cookie sheet that has sides or a pan.  Anything will do, as long as it can't spill over, because it will!  

Our Oobleck

Play!  You can pour it, roll it into a ball (as long as you use forceful pressure), "walk" across it with your fingers to see if they sink, lay your hand flat across it and watch it sink.  Try to squish a bunch in your hands then stop and watch it liquify.  I've even seen videos where they make a huge amount and have their kids run across it!  It is potentially very messy, but it is really easy to clean up with a damp wash cloth. 

2. Make Snow Ice Cream.  There's snow everywhere, so take advantage!  
What you'll need: 8 cups of snow, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract.
Help your kids gather the snow (or let them do it if you trust their snow instincts) and place in a large bowl.  Add the condensed milk and extract.  Mix well and serve immediately.  Makes 8-10 servings. 

3. Make Corn Starch Clay for Ornaments or Play.  This looks much nicer than the popular salt dough and is just as fun to play with.  In case you only have the ingredients for salt dough, or you want to compare for yourself the link provides a nice comparison with photos and I'll include directions for the salt dough.  Get started on Christmas 2014 or just make it for fun. 
-What you'll need: (Corn Starch Clay) 1 cup cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda, 1 1/4 cups water.  Optional: food coloring.  Combine in a pan on the stove set on low heat.  Add food coloring if you wish.  Stir until thick (5-10 minutes).  Let it cool then then knead it until smooth.  Make your ornaments or play.  Use Play Doh tools if you have any. Bonus: warming your kitchen!
-What you'll need: (Salt Dough) 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 cups flour.  Blend well and knead until smooth.  No heating necessary.  Play or make your ornaments. 

4. Break out the cardboard.  12 toys/activities from cardboard.  These ideas cover many age groups and hobbies.  
What you'll need: cardboard, imagination and each activity has items including yard or ribbon, markers, scissors, fabric, etc.  This activity allows for so much creativity.  If you make the cars you can have your very own drive-in movie in your living room.  No admittance without an awesome car and license!!  

5. Make a coffee filter snowflake.  Decorate the house or keep the kids busy, either way these easy snowflakes will look fabulous.  You can make these with regular paper (scrap paper works too!) as well.  
What you'll need: coffee filters or paper, scissors.  

Bonus activity: 45 chores for ages 18 months-7 years and beyond.  Get your house clean and make it a family affair.  Blast some fun music to make it feel less like work. 

Santa at Brown's Orchards

 

Via: http://www.brownsorchards.com/

Santa is coming to Brown's Orchards in December!  The Cottage is decorated and ready for Christmas and the cafe has some extra special treats in store.  Here are a few Christmas and holiday family activities happening at Brown's:

Professional family photos with Santa.  Santa is visiting Brown's Orchards in Loganville on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 from 5-7pm in the Orchard View Cottage.  Bring the family for $10 photos with Santa by Blue Couch Studios.  Personal cameras are not permitted.  

Visit with Santa.  

On Saturday, December 7, 2013, Saturday, December 14, 2013 and Saturday, December 21, 2013 visit with Santa in the Orchard View Cottage from 10am-3pm.  

On Sunday December 8, 2013 and Sunday December 15, 2013 visit with Santa in the Orchard View Cottage from 11am-3pm.  

On Sunday, December 22, 2013 from 11am-3pm Santa will be at Brown's for the last time before heading home to the North Pole.  Christmas music by Ryan's Trumpeters will be played from 1-3pm on the front porch.

You are welcome to bring cameras to take photos with Santa during these events.  Bricker's Fries will also be visiting Santa all six days; On Sunday, 12/8 Sunset Fields Alpacas will also be there. 

Cookie Decorating.  On Wednesday, December 11, 2013 visit Brown's Orchard in the Cafe for cookie decorating from 5-7pm.  Kids are invited to the Cafe to decorate a gingerbread cookie.  Pre-registration is required and the cost is $4 per kid.  Call 717-428-2036 ext. 0 to register.  Wednesday is also Kids Eat Free night in the Cafe with the purchase of an adult meal. 

Santa Visit & Story Time.  On Wednesday, December 18, 2013 from 5:30-6:30pm storyteller Debe Stagmer will be in the Cafe to share holiday stories.  Kids also eat free with an adult meal purchase (1 free meal per adult meal) on Wednesdays.  From 5-7pm Santa will be out in the Orchard View Cottage to visit with children.    

Holiday Story Time.  Mary Brown will be telling holiday stories during normal story time hours on Thursdays, December 5, December 12 and December 19 at 9:30am each day.  Stories about baking cookies, sharing and Christmas will be read and on December 12 there will be an extra special visitor spending time with the kids. 

Click here for more Christmas and Winter activities and events in York.

Breakfast with Santa at Bogey Macaws

Via: Bogey Macaws

Bogey Macaws American Grill in York will be having breakfast with Santa on Saturday December 7 and Saturday December 14, 2013 from 10am-1pm.  The price for breakfast with Santa includes a breakfast buffet, photo with Santa, admission to Ballocity, a Gingerbread cookie to decorate and a gift bag.  

Ages 12+: $15.95
Ages 3-11: $10.95
2 and under: Free

Make reservations (recommended due to popularity of this event): 717-755-0123 X 580 


Click here for more Christmas and Winter events and activities in York.

Breakfast with Santa at the York Galleria Mall

 

Image Source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=5897

On Saturday, December 21, 2013 from 9-10am bring your family to the food court in the York Galleria Mall for Breakfast with Santa.  
There are no additional details about this event, including which food stores will be participating or pricing. 



FOR MORE CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN YORK, CLICK HERE.



Holiday image from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Story Time with Santa at the York Galleria Mall

 

Image source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=6708

Get your pre-school children in the holiday spirit this year with Story time with Santa.  On Wednesday December 4th and Wednesday December 18th from 9:30-10am, visit the Santa Set at the York Galleria Mall in East York for special holiday stories read to the children by Santa.  Photo hours are immediately after story time, with package prices starting at $21.
The Santa Set is located in the JCPenny court. 


Click here for more Christmas and Winter activities and events in York, including other events at the York Galleria Mall.



Holiday image from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/