Start planning spring activities
by Mike Conroy
Don’t let the poor weather we had earlier this week on the first day of spring get you down—there are plenty of fun, indoor and outdoor family activities happening this season! Make spring your time to get out and get involved!
Starting this weekend, get “hoppy” with the Flashlight Egg Hunt. Bring a basket and a flashlight and let the kids loose to gather treat-filled plastic eggs. The fun begins at 7 p.m. at the G. W. Bowie Music Pavilion in South Valley Park, 19003 Watkins Mill Road. Times vary for age groups; event costs $5 per participant at the gate. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held at Lake Marion Community Center, 8821 East Village Avenue—check facebook or www.montgomeryvillage.com for updates, or call the weather hotline at 301-948-0110, and press 6.
Celebrate Arbor Day by getting your hands dirty! Visit the North Creek Nature Center, 20300 Aspenwood Lane, on Saturday, April 21 from noon to 2 p.m. for a variety of nature-based activities. Pick up a free seedling to plant in your yard, and volunteer a little time to help plant 20 native shrubs around North Creek Lake.
Relax the following day with the sounds of the Montgomery Village Community Band’s Spring Concert. After all your planting work, kick back with some circus marches and gypsy tunes at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22 at Lake Marion Community Center. The band always puts on a festive show and their musical talent is top notch!
If you’re still feeling the volunteering vibe, then join the Friends of Whetstone Lake (F.O.W.L.) on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to noon to “Rake the Lake.” Meet at the Lake Whetstone Boat House, 18701 Montgomery Village Avenue, to help clean up the lake and the park. Students can receive SSL hours for their work, and the community can enjoy the clean atmosphere.
Once the lake is clean, get out your fishing pole (fishing license required for those 16 and older) and practice your skills with rod and reel. You’ll want to make sure you know how to get the fish to bite if you hope to compete in the Fishing Rodeo at Ed DeSimon Park later in the season! Children ages 3 to 15 to can learn basic fishing skills and about the local ecosystem from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 2. This is a free event; there is a $5 fee to rent a fishing rod for the activity.
Clean out some lost treasures and pass them on to a new home at the Spring Flea Market on Saturday, May 5! Bargain hunters will be out from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Creek Community Center, so register early for your space to sell; spaces cost $23/Resident and $28/Non-resident. This bi-annual event draws a large crowd, so be ready to make or find a deal!
When you’re finished at the flea market, swing on by the Nature Center to check out the herb garden. Join the Montgomery Village Garden Club as they plant herbs and give pointers on what to use them for and how to plant and maintain your own herb garden. Take some seeds home to get started!
And just before the pools open for the season, enjoy a night together as a family watching the 2017 live-action version of Disney’s classic “Beauty and the Beast.” Bring friends and neighbors to Lake Marion Community Center to enjoy a family movie night on the big screen. Grab blankets, chairs or pillows and settle in for an indoor movie at 7 p.m. Get your tickets in advance for only $3 or $5 at the door.
There’s plenty to do during the weeks in between, too. Spring into fitness for a quick trial of any number of programs that offer drop-in rates; if you like it, join for the whole season! Drop-in to BANG Power Dance™, Primetime Basketball, Zumba, Aerobics, Yoga or Pop Pilates—there’s a class available almost every day of the week.
Kids can enjoy a variety of activities, too. From soccer to ballet, or taekwondo to leadership training, kids of all ages can stay active this spring and learn new skills. And if you just need some time outdoors, check out on the many parks or tot lots, take a walk or jog on the trails or just get out and say hello to your neighbors. There’s so much to do right here in your backyard!
For more information on any of these events or programs, or for a full listing of all that MVF offers, check out the Spring Recreation Guide online at www.montgomeryvillage.com, or call 301-948-0110. See you out and about this spring!