Camp Allen Brings Summer to Annapolis Kids

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church annual camp program treats inner city Annapolis kids with a full week of summer fun.

For many of the children who live in the Allen Apartment complex in Annapolis, summer means spending days inside an apartment while their parents work. Many of the parents simply don’t have the resources to provide activities for their children to do during the summer, so keeping them behind the doors of their home is the safest plan.  Ten years ago, Wesley Wubbenhorst returned from his missionary work in Honduras and decided to do something about the plight of Annapolis’s inner city children. St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church supported the idea and began to develop a ministry. Camp Allen was born out of a desire to form a relationship with these children while exposing them to some of the wonderful things that the area has to offer.  The …

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Broadneck Patch Viewfinder

Viewfinder: Great American Backyard Campout

Local families participate in this nationwide celebration, camping out last weekend at Sandy Point State Park.

Last weekend, thousands of people across the nation gathered in their backyards, neighborhoods, communities and parks to take part in a one-night event for families to open the door and sleep out under the stars. The National Wildlife Federation sponsors the Great American Backyard Campout event as part of their Be Out There campaign. The campaign was started to bring awareness to the fact that most kids are spending too much time indoors. Sandy Point State Park was one of several Maryland parks that provided campout opportunities and activities for this event. For our Viewfinder Gallery, we captured the joy that camping in the great outdoors can bring for kids of all ages.

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Get Out

Get Out: Weekend of June 24-25

Music, boating, and camping - just what you would expect around Broadneck this summer.

1)  My Way - A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra When/Where:  Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., through July 10, at the Children's Theatre of Annapolis on Bay Head Road. Why Go:  Infinity Theatre Company presents the Annapolis premiere of My Way, a show full of the songs, dances, and humorous stories of Frank Sinatra’s life. Price:  $18 to $35. 2)  Eastport-a-Rockin’ When/Where:  Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., in downtown Eastport. Why Go:  The event features three stages with 27 local bands, food and drinks with activities for children & families.
                  Price: $15 at door, $50 for VIP (includes unlimited draft beer, t-shirt, cup, special VIP seating area and more). Kids 12 and …

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On the Waterfront

Down by the Bay

Water lovers enjoyed the holiday weekend and are already enjoying the Broadneck peninsula’s many offerings of the season.

While the Blue Angels did not give us reason to gather on the water this year, Broadneck seafarers still took to the water en mass over Memorial Day weekend. Sailboats, kayaks, skiffs, and dinghies flooded the tributaries of the Severn and Magothy River. Water temperatures are hovering around 75 degrees, and we have seen no signs of sea nettles or jellyfish. (They will surely appear midsummer.) Upon driving through Cape St. Claire on Monday, I noticed many families enjoying the view, the water, and the playgrounds at Cape beach. On the opposite side of the peninsula, the fishing pier at Jonas Green State Park was filled with eager anglers, hoping to reel in a keeper. Up the street, overlooking the Severn, both locals and the influx of …

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Broadneck Patch Viewfinder

Viewfinder: Chespeake Bay Blues Festival

Thousands headed to our area to enjoy the blues at this annual event at Sandy Point last weekend.

Thousands of blues lovers headed our way last weekend for the 10th Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival at Sandy Point State Park. Started by music lover and philanthropist Don Hooker, the event was a fundraiser for Special Olympics of Maryland, We Care and Friends, the Johns Hopkins Cleft & Craniofacial Center, and Special Love, a camp for children suffering from cancer. Attendees enjoyed the talents of musicians like Otis Taylor, Chris Isaak, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Thanks to our photographer Rebecca Cleary for capturing the enjoyment and fun of the day last weekend.

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Sandy Point Park Quest

Check out Sandy Point State Park's Park Quest for a fun, fit and educational family afternoon.

Park Quest is a team or family event that asks participants to register in advance, visit as many of the 24 state parks in Maryland that they can and hunt for clues along the way. Each park uses a different theme to help families learn more about the park and its history. Unfortunately, the program is officially limited to 1,000 families and registration is now closed. However, the park service encourages families to take advantage of the trails that are set up throughout the park to learn more about each individual park. Yesterday, my 4-year-old son, my very fit mother-in-law and I headed to Sandy Point State park to give it a try. Over the years I have been to Sandy Point a number of times. Usually I go in, head to the playground or the …

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Here Come the Blues at Sandy Point

Thousands are coming to the peninsula this weekend for the annual Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival.

Thousands of blues lovers will be heading our way this weekend for the 10th Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival at Sandy Point State Park. Started by music lover and philanthropist Don Hooker, the event is also a fundraiser for Special Olympics of Maryland, We Care and Friends, the Johns Hopkins Cleft & Craniofacial Center, and Special Love, a camp for children suffering from cancer. This year's event once again features some amazing talent, including:  The two headliners are: Advance tickets are $55 for one day and $95 for both days through noon today. Same day ticket purchases are $70 and $120.  Tickets can be purchased here. Gates open both days at 10:30 a.m. Music performances run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. There is limited parking at…

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Gearing Up for Summer

Chesapeake Family Magazine held its 18th annual summer camp fair at Annapolis Area Christian School.

Although the calendar still said February, on Saturday afternoon everyone inside the Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) gymnasium had their minds geared toward summer. AACS hosted Summer Camp Fair 2011, an event organized by Chesapeake Family Magazine to give parents a chance to speak one-on-one to summer camp directors and activity leaders. The event's symbiotic nature allows camps to showcase their uniqueness, while giving attendees a one-stop event where they can learn about a wide variety of opportunities. Everything from horseback riding to soccer was on display, and there were a total of 55 camps participating in the event, said Jeanne Slaughter, a marketing manager for Chesapeake Family. With the gym transformed into a trade …

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Photo Gallery: Thousands Take the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge

Event raises over $2 million for Maryland Special Olympics.

Thousands braved the cold for the Maryland State Police sponsored Polar Bear Plunge for Maryland Special Olympics held Saturday, January 29, on the beaches of Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Guests enjoyed entertainment from: DJ Pauly D of Jersey Shore fame who provided music in the standing room only Rams Head Ice Lodge; the Chesapeake Bayhawks and their Arctic Lacrosse Experience tent; the Mickey Harris’ Monster Garage show; and the beauty experts of Robert Andrew - The Salon and Spa, where non-plungers relaxed to massages and beauty treatments. Led by event chair Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens, the plungers raised over $2 million dollars for the cause.

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Students Take the Frigid Friday Plunge

Second annual event brings out thousands for the Maryland Special Olympics.

Thousands of students from across the state traveled to Sandy Point State Park on Friday [Jan. 28] to do something really “cool” for Special Olympics. The event was the Frigid Friday Plunge, an official partner activity with the Maryland Special Olympics’ Plungefest, which allows schools to bring teams of students to a smaller, more manageable event. The official 2011 Polar Bear Plunge takes place on Saturday at Sandy Point. Despite the chilly, snowy weather, the spirits of the teen participants and their parents, teachers and coaches were not dampened and all were excited to spend the day together representing their schools. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to jump in this cold water,” said a very pumped-up Broadneck High School student…

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