Winter Activities 2016

Winter Activities 2016 Even if you are not a fan of winter, a few extra layers and a bit of extra effort can turn even the coldest winter days into f...
Author: Suzanna Pope
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Winter Activities 2016

Even if you are not a fan of winter, a few extra layers and a bit of extra effort can turn even the coldest winter days into fun family time outside that keeps everyone active and healthy until the warmer temperatures return! Everyone can benefit from a little family fun in the fresh air. Just remember to take extra care not to slip and fall on the ice and crusty snow. Consider it therapy! We know from extensive research that kids who get outside to be active: behave better, have a higher IQ, and have higher self-esteem (NIH, 2009)! Consider going outside as a solution to behavior problems. Schedule it in. If you add something to your calendar, such as sledding on the 24th, or hiking on Thursday and then tell the kids about it, you are completely bound to do that thing. They will not let you forget you promised to take them somewhere on a specific day. There is no getting out of the activity once you have let the kids in on the plan. Invite friends! Invite friends to come outside, the kids can have fun playing with someone other than you and you can have fun socializing with another adult. It’s a win-win! Have an activity in mind. Go out with some idea of an activity, even if it’s as simple as a brisk walk around the neighborhood. Play tag (try flashlight tag or freeze tag), throw the ball, play Frisbee, clean the walkway, chase the dog (he needs exercise too). Snow, of course, provides all sorts of automatic activities: sledding, snow angels, snow men, snow ball fights, and so on.

Activities Make mini-snowmen out of snowballs. Younger children find making these little people easier than building the standard life-sized snowman. And older kids can spend more time on the details instead of building huge snow creatures. Get the neighborhood involved and create a whole city of mini-snowpeople! Think beyond snowmen. Expand snow-building to include such things as cars, animals, or favorite sports team logos. Use water with food coloring to “paint” creations. Snow molds. Just like sand, snow is wet and dense--and can be formed into shapes. When you go outside...take out the sandbox toys, buckets, containers and molds. Create a snow castle (instead of sand castle) -- Create and have fun! Build a bigger snowball. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn't stop rolling that ball for the base of a snowman? Whenever it snows, roll some more to see how big the snowball can get over time. Bonus: See how long the snowball lasts before it melt away. Take up stargazing. Winter is a great time to stargaze because cold, dry air is stiller than warm air, so visibility is improved in the winter, making it easier to distinguish stars and constellations. Besides, it’s dark by 5 pm! The town of Durham is offering FREE astronomy workshops https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/recreation/free-astronomy-workshop or Visit NASA’s website (www.spaceplace.nasa.gov) and print out a constellation guide, then see how many constellations you can identify. You may even spot one of the five planets that are occasionally visible to the naked eye in our solar system: Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury. Scavenger hunt or Geocaching. Freeze colored water in ice cube trays. Hide them outdoors Freeze bubbles! If the outside weather is below 32 degrees, you can make bubbles outdoors. Blow a bubble and catch it on the wand. Wait and watch as it freezes. It will turn into a crystal ball and then shatter like glass; you'll see ice crystals form. You'll also notice the vibrant colors! It's a good idea to first chill the containers of bubble solution in the refrigerator. Viewing snowflakes. You will need a viewing platform: black velvet, dark cloth, or black construction paper and Magnifying glass. You'll need to freeze your viewing surface (keep it in the fridge or outside in a cold dry area). If the snow is falling, just hold your platform aloft to catch a few flakes and view with your magnifying glass. You may need to wear a scarf over your mouth and nose to avoid melting the flakes with your breath. Make your own icicles. Puncture a VERY SMALL hole into a hanging container, fill it with water and then leave it slowly dripping over-night. The next day you should have your own icicle. For larger and colorful icicles visit: http://www.housingaforest.com/creating-colorfulicicles/

Adapt summer backyard games for snow play. Frisbee, soccer, tag, hide and seek, follow the leader. Break out sand toys (buckets, scoops, and molds) for snow castles and other creations. Snow painting. Grab some empty spray bottles and fill them with water. Add a few drops of food coloring (or washable tempera powder paint) and shake them up. Put rubber dishwashing gloves over your child's gloves and let your child spray art onto the snow. Play outdoor Pictionary or Tic-tac-toe. Can you figure out the drawings? Can you write letters? No coat run. Need a quick pick me up? Someone yells “no coat run” and everyone slips on just their boots and runs around outside. S’mores? Roasted hot dogs? No need to wait for summer, there is a fire pit and warming hut at the Stratham Hill Park next to the ice rink. Hiking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing University of New Hampshire has rental equipment available http://campusrec.unh.edu/equipment-rental EMS in Newington has snow shoe rentals. 603-334-6141 Coolidge House - 375 Little Harbor Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801, 603-436-6607 Highland Farms - This is a new series of trails the York Land Trust just opened in the fall. It's located on Route 91 in York, ME. It's fairy flat and families can choose what length of a walk they'd like to do. (207) 363-7400 Stratham Hill Park – Hiking trails and fire tower to climb, plus playground, fields, pavilions and restrooms. Rt. 33 Stratham Urban Forestry Center - The 182-acre Urban Forestry Center offers a series of self-guided trails for walking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801-8710, (603) 431-6774 Wagon Hill Farm –This town property is free and open to the public year round. Enjoy a large sledding hill on one side and cross-country trails leading down to the coast on the other. Great spot for picnicking and hot cocoa, too! Off Rt. 4, Durham Walking Passport – A guide to eleven beautiful walks along the seacoast with a fun way to chart your efforts. http://www.healnh.org/index.php/rockingham-county/step-it-up-seacoast Wagon and Sleigh Rides Coppal House Farm 118 North River Rd., Lee, NH, (603) 659-3572

Ice Skating Dixon Road Ice Rinks, Eliot, ME Outdoor rink – free (no rentals available). The rinks are located behind the Police Station and next to the Town Hall. Access to the rinks is from Dixon Road. Parking for the ice rinks is not permitted at the Town Hall. Limited parking spaces are available next to the red barn on Dixon Road; additional parking at Eliot Elementary School. http://www.eliotcsd.org/facilities/parks/icerinks.html Great Island Commons, 301 Wentworth Rd (Rte 1B), New Castle. Outdoor rink – free (no rentals available) Somersworth Lions Club, 135 West High Street, Somersworth, NH Outdoor rink – free. There are random size skates and hockey sticks/pucks available to use for free when snack shack is open. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Somersworth-Lions-Club/203684439649821 Stratham Hill Park Ice Skating Rink, 270 Portsmouth Ave, Stratham NH (603) 608-8199 Outdoor rink – free (no rentals available) The almost 1 acre surface has an area f or playing ice hockey and another area for those just looking to skate. There is a fire ring and a warm hut at the end closest to the main parking lot. The rink does offer lights for night skating. http://www.strathamnh.gov/Pages/StrathamNH_Recreation/ICE%20SKATING%20RINK Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing, 9 Old Piscataqua Rd., Durham, NH Outdoor rink with rentals available. $3-children 12 and under, $5-adults, $3-skate rental http://www.churchillrink.org/publicskating Dover Ice Arena, 110 Portland Ave, Dover, NH (603)516-6000 visit for rates and hours: http://www.dover.nh.gov/rec_dia.htm Puddle Dock Pond, Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth visit for rates and hours including FREE skate times. http://puddledockpond.org/rink-info/ The Rinks at Exeter, 40 Industrial Ave, Exeter, NH (603)775-7423 visit for rates and hours: http://www.therinksatexeter.com/index.htm Whittemore Center Arena, 128 Main St., Durham NH visit for rates and hours: http://www.whittcenter.com/ Sledding Hills Alexander Carr Park – Derry, NH. It is behind Parkland Medical Offices next to Parkland Hospital. Right off of Birch St.

Bellamy Park – Dover, NH. Park next to soccer field. Dearborn Park - Rte 111, No. Hampton, NH. Park at the bottom of the hill. Garrison Hill Tower – Dover, NH. Off Central Avenue between Dover downtown and the "miracle mile" mall area. Turn right on Abbey Sawyer Road at sign just before the entrance to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Parking is at the bottom of the hill, and the top if your car can make it. Very good spot if you want to go fast. Jady Hill - Exeter Country Club, 58 Jady Hill Avenue, Exeter NH. Good for kids Powderhouse Hill - Agamenticus Rd, So. Berwick, ME (207) 384-5858. The sledding hill next to Powderhouse Hill and is free. Parking is a bit tough on weekends http://www.powderhousehill.com/ Wagon Hill - Route 4, Durham, NH. Park in designated spots only. Below are a list of “through the grapevine” sledding locations thanks to http://www.seacoastkidscalendar.com/seacoast-guide-to-awesome-sledding-weeeeeeeee/ New Hampshire      

Behind the tennis courts at South Mill Pond in Portsmouth Odiorne Point State Park in Rye Stratham Hill Park, Rt. 33 in Stratham Nippo Lake Golf Club on Province Road, Barrington (also good for snowboarding) Brown’s Hill just east of the Rt. 125 and Hedding Road intersection in Epping Shaw’s Hill Farm in Kensington

Maine   

Fort Foster in Kittery, ME York Golf Club on Organug Road in York, Maine Mount Agamenticus in York, Maine Whatever the season, move and play for at least 60 minutes a day. Playing outside will make you feel great!

Calendar of Winter Events Saturday nights in January: Saturday night Lights $10 skating including rentals and pizza for teens 12+. Churchill Rink, Durham. https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/recreation/saturday-nightlights-teen-skate-night January 23: Trek alongside expert naturalists from White Pine Programs and York Land Trust and learn how to find signs of wildlife in winter at YLT’s Highland Farm Preserve. This is a family-friendly adventure for adults and kids (8-yrs./above). http://yorklandtrust.org/event/register-now-for-winter-wildlife-walk/. February 8: Free astronomy workshop. Durham Public Library. Visit https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/recreation/free-astronomy-workshop for more information and to register. February 20: Town of Eliot Winter Carnival. http://www.eliotcsd.org/events/events.html#wintercarnival If you have a child 2-5 years old, check out Great Bay Estuary story and craft time http://www.greatbay.org/events/. Dress warmly, each program starts outside for activity and walk! Great Bay also offers a few all day classes for older children. Held over February break. http://www.greatbay.org/events/