Day tripping at Charleston Falls

The Miami County Parks in western Ohio are a local treasure. Besides being so well maintained, they offer a wide variety of educational programs and activities for the entire family. My favorite park is the Charleston Falls Preserve.

This gem of a park is located between Tipp City and Huber Heights, Ohio. It covers 216 acres and offers almost 4 miles of hiking and jogging trails. The main reason to visit this particular park, though, is the waterfall. At 37 feet in height, it can be called a “Miniature Niagara” due to the rock strata of the same nature as the real Niagara Falls. These falls are fed from underground springs several miles away, but they are most spectacular after heavy rainfall. During periods of intense cold in the winter, the falls will actually freeze, and it’s worth the chilly walk to see this amazing sight.

The trek to the falls is an easy gravel pathway from the parking lot, less than half a mile. There are two vantage points for seeing the falls. The upper view allows visitors to see the top of the falls as the water tumbles over the cliff. Informational signage is posted as well as warning signs for safety. The lower vantage point is from a staircase which leads visitors down to the observation boardwalk. Visitors can see the falls as they splash down into the pool at the bottom. A bit of spray can sometimes be felt depending on the amount of water and the wind.

Most kids love the cave! Bring a flashlight and watch
out for standing water. 

From the lower observation boardwalk, it’s a short walk to the limestone cave. This is a popular spot with kids as they love to climb inside. The opening isn’t huge, so crawling is required (parents beware!). A flashlight or headlamp is handy since it becomes dark quickly. If the weather has been rainy, cave crawlers can expect standing water on the bottom.

From the cave, continue to follow the trail which rises to the junctions of the Redbud Valley and the Thorny Badlands. Either trail takes visitors to the outer reaches of the park. The trails loop through the woods, sometimes winding alongside the stream, the same one created by the waterfall which eventually empties into the Great Miami River. The lookout tower can be accessed from the Thorny Badlands trail, and it allows travelers to climb a bit higher for a birds’ eye view.

Visitors can also inspect the Cedar Pond, where glimpses of fish, snakes, or frogs may be seen. The pond is one section of the park not covered by trees, so sunny days are even more pleasant there. No fishing or swimming is allowed, just careful observation.

Charleston Falls Preserve also has picnic tables and full service restrooms adjacent to the parking lot. As with all the Miami County Parks, the preserve is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Helpful signs at the park entrance alert visitors to the official closing times each day. Other handy signs are also posted throughout the park to remind visitors about safety and to also give directions.

Plan a visit to Charleston Falls or any of the Miami County Parks by visiting the website at http://www.miamicountyparks.com/ .

The stream running away from the falls is quite picturesque.

Wintertime visitors might get lucky enough to see this!

The Thorny Badlands is neither thorny, not bad! It's a lovely tree lined
walk through the woods.

Summertime Adventures at Marengo Cave

You WILL get muddy and wet on the "Waterfall Crawl!"

If you’re in the market for a summertime adventure, beat the heat at southern Indiana’s Marengo Cave, a U.S. National Landmark. Registering a cool 52 degrees year-round, this cave system covers approximately 122 forested acres. With a total length of 5 miles, the cave features dry upper level passages and two parallel underground rivers. The upper level show cave is Indiana’s most visited show cave, and the lower level is the largest of Indiana’s 3,000 known caves.

Adventurous visitors will want to hit at least one of the five cave exploring tours. Warning – you will get wet! Wear old clothes because explorers walk, crawl, crouch, and squirm through the mud. But it’s all worth it to see the waterfall at the end of the “Waterfall Crawl.” This two-hour tour leaves the spelunkers covered from head to toe in mud, as recently experienced by my teenage daughter. Once reaching the waterfall, the tour can be extended even further with the “Beyond the Falls Adventure.” This takes spelunkers to the most remote section of the cave. The “Underground Adventure” gives explorers the chance to wade in an underground river and crawl through narrow passages. All of these tours are offered year-round. Helmets and headlamps are provided.

Down into the depths -- the five cave exploring tours are
definitely for the adventurous!

The two “iCave” experiences are summer-only Saturday tours. Like the year-round tours, visitors walk, crawl, and crouch through the lower passages to the Old Town Spring Cave and the New Discovery Cave. Lucky visitors may see some cave dwelling animals, such as salamanders, crayfish, sculpin, or (gulp) the bat.

Folks who prefer a gentler cave experience can take walking tours, either the Crystal Palace or the Dripstone Trail. Both of these tours are ideal for families with small children, senior citizens, or folks who just don’t want to get wet. The Crystal Palace tour is a 40-minute walk past stalactites and stalagmites, huge flowstone deposits, and formation filled rooms. Visitors learn about the history of the cave and how it felt to explore the cave by candlelight, as the first visitors did.

The Dripstone Trail covers one mile of cave. This 60-minute tour allows visitors to see totem pole stalagmites, delicate soda straw formations, and the unique penny ceiling. Visitors experience total darkness when the lights are turned off. Unique parts of the cave, such as the Looking Glass Lake, Sherwood Forest, and Cave Hill Cemetery, delight visitors of all ages.  Note that the walking tours are not wheelchair or stroller accessible

In addition to the cave, try canoeing on the Blue River, Indiana’s first state scenic river. Trips for all experience levels are available from April through October.

Camping and cabins are available on-site for folks who want to spend several days. Air conditioned cabins feature electricity, bunk beds, fire pits, grills, and picnic tables. Restrooms and showers are a short walk. Electric and primitive campsites also have fire pits, grills, and picnic tables. Free wi-fi is available at the gift shop, and a playground is nearby for the little ones. All camping and cabins are open year-round.

A world of adventure awaits the entire family at Indiana’s Marengo Cave. Plan your trip today by visiting their website at http://www.marengocave.com.

Bye, Bye Summer...Hello, School!

Summer is over, and parents everywhere must work to get their kids back into the school time routine. Here are a few things you can do to move from the summer mindset to a school mindset.

1. Set a regular bedtime. Late bedtimes and sleeping in may work in the summer, but this type of routine doesn’t equal success for the school year. Pick a bedtime and stick with it no matter how much the kids might want to stay up late. Not only does this ensure your kids get an adequate amount of sleep, it gives mom and dad some quiet time in the evenings.

2.  Make homework a priority. With school starting, many extra-curriculars start up again, too. However, keep homework at the top of the priority list. Make sure kids know it should be completed every night, no exceptions. It’s the child’s responsibility to keep track of homework and to get it completed with minimal assistance from parents. If grades start to slip, then cut back on the extra-curricular activities.

3.  Provide quiet study space. In addition to making homework the priority, ensure that kids have a quiet place to study and do homework. Keep the TV off and music low during homework time.

4.  Eat dinner as a family. This may not seem to have anything to do with school routines, but it’s just one more routine that helps to set a schedule in the evenings. Plus, this gives the family time to talk about the day and to share information. Kids who participate in regular evening mealtimes learn how to hold conversation with adults and how to use table manners. All of these skills are beneficial for the future.

5.  Prepare clothes at bedtime. Nothing makes for a crazy morning like running around looking for clothes and shoes. Lay all these out the night before to save time in the morning. This is a good tip for the adults, too.

6.  Pack backpacks at night. In addition to clothes, have the backpacks and lunches ready to go before heading to bed. In the morning, kids just pick up the packs and walk out the door. This helps lessen stress in the mornings.

7.  Teach kids to use an alarm clock. As kids reach late elementary school, they can begin to use an alarm clock. Not only does this help teach responsibility, it’s one less thing that mom and dad have to do in the mornings. Basic alarm clocks aren’t expensive and are easy to use.

8.  Use a calendar. Train your children to write important dates and events on the family calendar. A calendar that’s located in a central area, such as the kitchen, provides a convenient place for everyone to write and check upcoming events. This also helps train kids on using time management devices.

9.  Limit screen time. Only allow screen time, such as TV, video games, or computers, after all homework and chores are completed. Even then, keep it short and monitor the content for age appropriateness.

10.  Encourage exercise. One hour of exercise is recommended every day for kids. Be sure to get kids outside and moving each evening, especially if they’ve been sitting most of the day.

Back to school time is always busy and hectic, but establishing good routines helps keep the entire family in a groove.

Raising a Happy, Healthy Tween

Tweens -- a newer word in our language defined as, “Youngsters between the ages of 8 and 12.” These kiddos aren’t quite children anymore but they’re not teens, either. They’re at a time in life where a strong self-image develops and intense emotional, social, and physical changes occur. Parents can implement a few of these strategies into their families to grow kids into happy, healthy tweens who are ready to smoothly advance into the teen and adult years.

Provide 8-10 Hours of Sleep Every Night. Tweens grow rapidly, and a good night’s sleep is vital to a healthy body. The tweens’ tendency may be to stay up late, but make it a priority to provide a bed room environment that will encourage good sleeping habits. Start by removing all electronics from the room at night and stick to a regular bedtime. Bedrooms should also be comfortable and quiet.

Drink Mostly Water and Milk. Soda, diet soda, sports drinks, and even juice can be full of sugar and empty calories. Promote water and milk as the primary beverages, and save the others for special occasions. Tweens need to focus on nutrition, and these drinks do not support a healthy body.

Keep ‘Em Active. Tweens spend a large part of their day sitting at school, so keep them moving as much as possible. One hour of exercise every day is suggested, but even light activity is better than being sedentary. Playing outside, doing yard work or household chores, and playing with pets are all ways to keep kids off the couch and on their feet.

 Watch Only PG or G Rated Movies. Tweens may feel the pressure to watch PG-13 or R rated movies if their friends are, but the content of these films is not appropriate for impressionable tweens. Tweens are more likely to conform than teenagers are, and these films give a view of life that is not realistic for kids this age.

Play Only “E” Rated Video Games. Tweens’ amount of time with video games should definitely be limited in favor of physical activity, but if they must play video games, the “E” for Everyone rating is appropriate for this age level. As with movies, the higher rated games provide a snapshot of behavior and violence that’s not geared for kids in the tween years.

 Limit the Use of Social Media and Texting. Tweens’ ability to make wise choices regarding the content of their texting and social media activity is limited. They do not possess the maturity to manage themselves on these sites. Do not allow social media and texting until the teen years. Even then, parents should have full access to their kids’ activities in this area.

Monitor all Internet Activity. While the Internet can be a useful tool for tweens, it can also be a dangerous place. Studies show that every year 1 out of 5 children ages 10-17 are sexually solicited on the Internet. In that same year, 1 out of every 33 kids are aggressively solicited for money, gifts, or to arrange a meeting. 25 percent of kids will be exposed to sexually explicit material online. In short, parents need to monitor and filter the content their tweens are accessing on the Internet and train their kids in Internet safety.

Encourage Appropriate Dress. It’s a good lesson for all tweens when parents instruct them on modest dress. It can be a challenge, for sure, when styles for tweens appear to be the same ones marketed towards teens and adults. However, in an age span when kids begin to develop a self-image, parents should teach their kids how to showcase their inner qualities more than their outer appearances.  During the tween years parents can also teach their kids about dressing appropriately for different occasions and dressing for success. These lessons translate well into adulthood when most adults find themselves with clothing requirements for work.

No Time for Romance! It may be cute when tweens want to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but the tween years have no place for such behavior. This puts an unnecessary focus on romantic relationships, and these types of relationships have nowhere to go. Kids at this age should focus on being friends, not on who they’re “going out with.” Again, kids in the tween years are developing that sense of self-worth, and introducing romantic ideals into that concept only confuses them.

Parents who lay a solid foundation during the tween years set themselves up for success in the teen years. Tweens who develop a solid group of core values and a positive self-image will find those traits following them into the teen years and beyond.