A new kind of class trip
By WP BrandStudio
Pack the car and head to Hagerstown, Md., for an excursion filled with fun outside-the-box learning opportunities.
For most kids in the United States, school looks different these days.
Teachers and parents have had to get creative to ensure children are receiving the best education they can, whether they’re taking classes online or attending socially-distanced, in-school lessons. No matter what a child’s learning situation may be, adolescent psychiatry experts say that making the most of their time away from school is key. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that families achieve this by doing meaningful, fun activities together—activities like an educational field trip.
Photo credit: Scott Cantner, Scantner Photography
Even before the pandemic, these kinds of excursions were proven to be beneficial to kids’ academic growth. A study from the U.S. Travel Association found that educational trips contribute to better student outcomes in school and beyond. Children can learn lessons from field trips that they can’t get from lectures or textbooks. And now, as people seek out ways to shake up their routines, they’re more valuable than ever.
For families in the DMV, spending a few days in Hagerstown, Md., which is filled with historic landmarks, scenic state parks, public art, museums and outdoor activities, can provide plenty of opportunities for immersive learning—no classroom required.
Travel back in time
Journey into the past by stopping at the many historic sites in and around Hagerstown. Dan Spedden, president of Visit Hagerstown, advised starting off with a short hike on the stretch of the Appalachian Trail that leads to Washington Monument State Park. It features “a beautiful vista with the first-ever monument completed in honor of George Washington,” he said. From there, you can head to Antietam National Battlefield via one of the state’s scenic byways. (While the visitor center and observation tower are closed, park roads and trails remain open.)
The Battle of Antietam lasted just 12 hours, but it remains one of the deadliest battles that took place during the Civil War. The area around the battlefield features nearly a dozen tour stops, including farmhouses, cannons and battlegrounds, where kids can learn more about the combat and the surrounding period of U.S. history. Although the visitor center is currently closed, the park is open year-round.
Photo credit: Scott Cantner, Scantner Photography
Fort Frederick State Park also sits on the outskirts of Hagerstown and is said to be the only stone fort remaining from the French and Indian War. And in downtown Hagerstown, the self-guided Underground Railroad Trail takes visitors through areas connected with people who escaped from slavery and those who helped them. The new walking tour was researched and written by local historian and Hood College history professor Dr. Emilie Amt, and it is the first time this information has been made widely available to the public.
Join the cultured club
Families looking for a dose of cultural enrichment—and a way to supplement online art classes—will have plenty of options to choose from around Hagerstown. The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, for one, is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It features rotating exhibits and a permanent collection of more than 6,000 artworks.
The museum is currently allowing visitors during limited hours, six days a week, with free admission. Stop in between now and Jan. 10, 2021, to see “The World of Jan Brett,” an exhibition of more than 70 original paintings by the best-selling children’s book author and illustrator.
The fine arts museum sits at the end of the half-mile Hagerstown Cultural Trail, a big draw for families looking to stretch their legs while taking in public art and beautiful landscaping.
Photo credit: Scott Cantner, Scantner Photography
“The Cultural Trail is free and has amazing art and sculptures,” said Tiffany Ahalt, director of the National Road Heritage Foundation. “Visit Hagerstown has an app that will give you the history of the area as you walk along.”
Standout pieces include the colorful “Mural of Unusual Size,” an 80-foot-high abstract work by Atlanta artist HENSE that spans the length of four buildings along the trail, and “Faces of Hagerstown,” a series of black-and-white photos of Hagerstown residents submitted by local photographers of all ages and experience levels.
Enjoy the great outdoors
Not all field-trip learning needs to happen in a museum—there are plenty of benefits to simply spending time outside, especially when PE class isn’t available. One of the Hagerstown area’s most popular (and distancing-friendly) attractions is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Always open and accessible from multiple points, the canal boasts a historic park, replicas of historic canal boats and a 184-mile-long towpath that can be enjoyed via hiking or cycling. Boat rides aren’t currently being offered, but they are set to resume in 2021.
For families looking to practice some teamwork, the Antietam Creek and Potomac River offer adventurous activities like guided river rafting, canoeing, kayaking and tubing, which allow families to bond over a shared challenge.
And for visitors who want ample trails to choose from on their trip, a jaunt to nearby Hancock is well worth the drive. Hancock was designated Maryland’s Trail Town in June of 2020, thanks to the fact that over a dozen trails run through the area. Visitors can enjoy a bike ride, walk or jog along the Tuscarora Trail or the Western Maryland Rail Trail, which is a 26-mile paved route that parallels the C&O canal and Potomac Rivers. Travelers can also get direct access to the Potomac in Hancock, which has a boat ramp that enables families to launch off into a nice paddle or pontoon ride in the serene water.
Get your fill
A day of enrichment deserves a good meal. In Hancock, BuddyLou’s Eats Drinks & Antiques is a fan favorite, and serves up classic pub fare with a twist; the crab cake sandwich is sure to delight, and make sure to ask for a side of fried pork rinds, a BuddyLou’s staple. No trip to this iconic eatery is complete without a pit stop in their shopping area, which boasts three floors of unique antiques and other tchotchkes.
Back in Hagerstown proper, Schmankerl Stube, a Bavarian restaurant and Hagerstown staple for more than three decades, currently offers indoor and outdoor dining as well as curbside pickup, as does American cuisine outpost Bulls & Bears, every day except Wednesdays. (Both also have sizable menus for kids.)
Need a jolt to keep you going? Forgo the chain cafes and opt for a local brew spot like Pura Vida Coffee, open for indoor dining, outdoor dining and carryout from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. If you’d rather take a seat, Cannon Coffee lets guests reserve its “family corner,” where up to eight people can sip or nosh indoors safely.
Photo credit: Sam Judge, Judges Shots
And with the pandemic making indoor dining a less popular option for many locals and visitors, Hagerstown officials have shut down streets in the downtown area so restaurants can expand their outdoor dining on the weekends.
A little rest and relaxation
When it’s time to turn in, lodging options run the gamut. Hagerstown has more than 2,000 hotel rooms at a range of properties. Al Sadler, vice president of operations of Bowman Hospitality in Hagerstown, explains that many hotels have adopted a multipoint cleaning and disinfecting system involving masks, gloves and wiping down high-touch areas, as well as limited capacities for pools and exercise rooms, and adjusted food and beverage services.
Families looking to venture outside of traditional hotel stays can choose from charming bed-and-breakfasts such as the Bay Farms Bed & Breakfast in Williamsport, along with inns and cottages like the Jacob Rohrbach Inn in Sharpsburg. Prefer to pitch a tent? Kids will love Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park campground and resort in Williamsport, which has also added guidelines to keep everyone safe during this time.
No matter where you stay (or what you do) while visiting Hagerstown, a trip to the area can offer plenty of benefits for kids and families alike. Not only can it get children out of their virtual-learning-fueled rut, it can also spark their curiosity while giving them an educational experience. As many have realized this year, learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom.
Learn more about visiting Hagerstown, Md.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/for-parents.html
https://nyulangone.org/news/schools-out-parents-guide-meeting-challenge-during-covid-19-pandemic
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/04/14/teaching-lab-sciences-and-fine-arts-during-covid-19
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