Geocaching at McDowell

Recently I followed a group of homeschool students on a geocaching journey: a high-tech treasure hunt where they searched for caches – or hidden treasures – in the woods using a GPS unit.

The afternoon adventure at McDowell Nature Preserve in southwest Mecklenburg came with a hefty dose of science, technology – and mud. (It didn’t help matters when your Take It Outside blogger slipped on a decline and plowed into two unwitting students. Sorry, Casey and Carmen!)

See more of their outdoor adventure by clicking the video link below.

Girls get going - and reading

The Fit Girls, a running and reading program that made its North Carolina debut last fall at the Steele Creek Public Library, heads to more Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations this year.

Look for the Steele Creek branch to offer the program again, as well as ImaginOn in September, according to Steele Creek librarian Jennifer France, co-coach of the Steele Creek program. Other branches are interested in hosting and are looking for funding, France said.

The program combines books, discussions about the strong female characters in them, and running training for girls in grades 4 through 6. The Steele Creek group met twice a week at Thomas McAllister Winget Park in southwestern Mecklenburg for stretching, running, and group discussions on books they read. All 11 Fit Girls and coaches finished the Dowd YMCA 5K on Nov. 7.

Click the video link to see more about the Fit Girls program at the Steele Creek Public Library.