NPS EXPLORE Day stands for EXperiential Learning and Outdoor REcreation Day. It is an engaging day of activities for Baltimore City Students held on National Park Week. In collaboration with:
Tim Ervin EXPLORE Day StationsA. Welcome Table/ History Machine The History Machine is the place to go to learn all about the many places to see and things to do on the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. For this event it’s also serving as your welcome to EXPLORE Day & to orient you for the day ahead. See live horses and learn about the African-American regiments that served our country while becoming some of the first ever national park rangers. C. Baltimore National Heritage Area Visit to learn about all the things there are to do and see in the Baltimore National Heritage Area, as well as the positive impact BNHA has made on local communities. D. Conservation and Stewardship Hosted by the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, this station will teach conservation concepts through a trio of hands-on activities. The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and Museum interprets the life of Mary Young Pickersgill, a nineteenth-century female entrepreneur and the craftswoman of the flag which flew over Fort McHenry and inspired the National Anthem. The Flag House will have sewing with Mary and making five-pointed star activities! F. Hampton National Historic Site Discover another local National Park, that tells the story of the enslaved individuals who made the American defense of Baltimore Possible. G. Flag Talk What does “spangled” mean anyway? Hold a replica Star-Spangled Banner & learn the symbology behind the icon. H. Historic Weapons Living historians walk you through the cannons, muskets and ammunition that fought the Battle of Baltimore I. 250 Years at Fort McHenry Ever wonder what was happening at Fort McHenry before and after The Star-Spangled Banner was written? Discover all that and more at this station! J. Historic Music Learn about the role music played at Fort McHenry while listening to & making your own 19th century beats. Local Wildlife: Living Classrooms Foundation – Masonville Cove educators will utilize “animal artifacts” to teach all about the amazing wildlife that can be found in and around Baltimore. Students will have the chance to interact with displays and enhance their understanding of animal adaptations to their habitats. L. Indigenous American Cultures Explore the tools and subsistence strategies of the First Peoples to call the Chesapeake home. Through the use of hands on activities, students will learn how Indigenous peoples traditionally lived in the area which is now Fort McHenry, and also realize that Native descendants still live here today! M. Action Art in park The Action Art programming encourages children to explore and express their emotions through abstract painting. Participants are given the freedom to choose from a variety of unconventional tools—such as brushes, sponges, or even their hands—to create dynamic, emotional artworks. A color wheel is introduced, where each color corresponds to a specific feeling, allowing children to connect their emotions with colors in a meaningful way. Through this process, children are empowered to paint not just images, but the feelings they are experiencing, offering a unique and therapeutic form of self-expression. N. Drum Circle Drumming One On One will get participants familiar with the African drum (sounds, hand placements, how it is made, etc) and will give them a chance to engage with the drums. NOTE: Station Available from 11:30am – 2:30pm Living Classrooms' Maritime Education will be doing an Oyster Lesson and Dissection. This lesson will focus on oyster anatomy and the role of the oyster in the health of the Chesapeake Bay and within the Patapsco River ecosystem. We will have live Maryland oysters for folks to touch and hold and will do a live oyster dissection every 15 minutes. We will also highlight the restoration work that is being done at the Fort Carroll oyster sanctuary. P. Pride of Baltimore II – Deck Tours Learn about the sleek, fast & powerful Baltimore Clipper Privateers—during peacetime built in the Inner Harbor with speed and maneuverability for safety from pirates and enemies. Adapted for wartime, their success as privateers, capturing hundreds of British ships during the War of 1812, helped provoke the British attack on Baltimore in 1814. Discover how these legendary vessels shaped the city's role in American history. |
Last updated: April 23, 2025