Get Your Head in the Game for the Winter Olympics
by Our Kids
January 27, 2010
As you may know, the 2010 Winter Olympics are set to take place in Vancouver from February 12 to 28, 2010 while the Paralympic Games will take place from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Olympics are a fantastic way to teach children about good sportsmanship, learning a new sport and even pride in your country. In that light, we've come up with some ideas to get your family into the Olympic spirit.
Our Kids Top 10 List of Ways to Get your Family Pumped for the Winter Olympics
1.) Follow the Torch Relay. Did you know that the Olympic torch has been en route to Vancouver since October 30, 2009? As of this writing it only has 16 days to go; start getting into the spirit and check out the interactive map that shows you where the torch is currently located.
2.) Perfect Your Triple Axel. The DC metro area is home to many ice rinks. Try outdoor ice skating at Pentagon Row Ice Rink in Arlington, VA or the Sculpture Garden Ice Rink in downtown DC. If you prefer the indoors, visit the Cabin John Ice Rink in Rockville, MD or the Fairfax Ice Arena in Fairfax, VA. For a complete listing of ice skating options, visit the Our Kids Skating Guide.
3.) Chill out with some Winter Sport-Related Movies. For older kids, rent PG movies like Cool Runnings (bobsledding), The Cutting Edge or Ice Castles (ice skating), Downhill Racer (skiing) and Miracle or The Mighty Ducks (ice hockey).
4.) Go for the Gold at Your Local Library. Sterling Library will host "Library Winter Olympics" on February 24th at 4pm. Kids can compete in an array of library sporting events that test your stamina, skills and strength. Win gold, silver, and bronze medals for your team. For ages 6-11. Registration is required and begins February 10th. Check at your local library for any special programs that might be happening. View the Our Kids Library Guide online.
5.) Face off with some Ice Hockey. Visit the Kettler Capitals Iceplex and check out the Washington Capitals during one of their practice sessions. Practice sessions are at 10am on game days and 10:30am on non-game days. Always check the website or call (571.224.0555) to make sure a practice is taking place. Best of all, admission is free, with the exception of paying for parking ($1) in the parking garage. The Iceplex also offers kids ice hockey lessons which from what I hear, are a big hit! You can also take your kids to watch high-schoolers play ice hockey, visit the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League website or the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League website for up-to-date schedules.
6.) Meet Cute Olympic Mascots Miga, Quatchi & Sumi. Visit the Games & Activities section of the 2010 Olympics Official Website, where you can learn more about the Vancouver 2010 mascots. Send e-cards, design and print your own mascot and play fun games. In addition, adults and children can learn about all 15 sports, view schedules and results and keep track of the medal count throughout the Olympics.
7.) Try Curling -- but Not Your Hair. Did you know that Washington, DC has a curling club? Yes, it's the Potomac Curling Club and they're located in Laurel, MD. Give curling a try, the first day of youth curling for drop-in kids and teens is free. Do you have an Apolo Anton Ohno on your hands? Try speedskating. The Potomac Speedskating Club offers special beginners-only sessions. New: The Hilton Garden Inn will host the Capital Curling Expo February 19 to 21, 2010. Four curling sheets will be set up for individuals with one land devoted to kids!
8.) Hit the Slopes. We're lucky that the DC-metro area is close to several ski resorts. Whitetail is about 1.5 hours from the DC metro area, located in Mercersburg, PA. You can ski, snowtube and snowboard at Whitetail. Wisp Resort is about 3 hours from the DC metro area, located in McHenry, MD. You can ski, snowboard, ice skate, snow shoe and snowtube at Wisp. Wintergreen is also a 3 hour drive from the DC metro area, located in Wintergreen, VA. You can ski, snowboard and tube at Wintergreen. Massanutten Resort in McGaheysville, VA is about 2 hours from the DC metro area. You can ski, snowboard, snow tube and while not a winter Olympic sport, you can head to their indoor waterpark. Find a complete listing of local ski resorts on the Our Kids website.
9.) Enjoy Some Olympic Crafting. Visit Kaboose.com for ideas to create your own torch, medals, flags and more. Go to Printables4kids.com and download fun Olympic worksheets for the kids.
10.) Get Up-close & Personal with Olympic Athletes. Head to the NBC Olympics website where you can view pictures and look up information about all the athletes who will represent the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can also delve deeper and learn about local Washington-Baltimore area athletes. Most folks know about Alexander Ovechkin ("Ovie") the two-time MVP for the Capitals. And while he'll be playing for Team Russia, he'll definitely be a big name to watch during the games. Learn about Mike Kohn, a bobsled athlete from Chantilly, VA who will make his appearance as a member of the two- and four-man bobsled teams.
What do you do with your family to get excited about the Olympics? Feel free to drop us a note at info@our-kids.com with your ideas and we'll add them to the list.
