Outdoors Newsletter: Kayaking at Stumpy Lake!

Outdoors & Environmental Newsletter | June 2012 | VBgov.com/Parks

Alternative Mosquito Repellents

It's the first official day of summer in Virginia Beach! With the blazing temperatures in the middle of the day, we tend to spend more time outdoors in the morning and evening hours. Unfortunately, those pesky mosquitoes stick to this schedule as well. Before you head out, be sure that you are protected against these potentially disease-carrying bugs.

Most mosquito repellents contain the chemical DEET, which has proven to be effective in protecting against insect bites. While the EPA deems repellents containing DEET to be safe when used correctly, not everyone is comfortable applying chemicals to their skin. Alternative repellents do exist. Check out some suggestions from WebMD.com that include oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), IR3535, 2-undecanone, oil of citronella and catnip oil.

Quick Links

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Stewardship Awards

Have you made an environmentally-friendly improvement to your home or business over the past year? If so, submit a nomination for the Virginia Beach Stewardship Awards by July 1.

Space Available in Back 2 Nature Camps

Don't let the kids sit inside all summer when they could be experiencing the great outdoors (& soaking up some Vitamin D) at Back 2 Nature Camp! There are still spots available in this camp that takes advantage of many of our City's awesome outdoor locations.

Kids will swim in the bay, kayak a water trail, hike through a state park, fish in a lake, try archery & geo-caching and learn first-hand about local wildlife. Back 2 Nature Camp is offered Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at:

Great Neck Rec Center | July 23-27 | $160

Bayside Rec Center | August 6-10 | $160

Register your child at any Virginia Beach recreation center!

Painting in Honor of Earth Day

Designing artist, Madelanne League with her work-in-progress

Although the Earth Day Celebration at Mount Trashmore Park was rained out this year, one very special project did continue. The Recycle Dumpster Painting was a partnership between Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation and TFC Recycling to promote recycling efforts in our parks. Students from The Governor's School for the Arts' Visual Design Department created the design and painted the dumpster on site at Mount Trashmore with help from park visitors.

This unique artwork will be on display throughout the summer to help raise public awareness for sustainable practices. Make sure you stop by and see!

A special thanks to The Home Depot and BEHR Paint for generously donating the supplies for this project.

Rent a Kayak at Stumpy Lake This Saturday!

Don't forget that Saturday (June 23) is your opportunity to rent a kayak at Stumpy Lake! Rentals are also available daily at Munden Point Park.

Rent a Kayak at Stumpy Lake Natural Area

Explore the newly accessible Stumpy Lake. Bring your friends or family out and rent one of our kayaks (tandem & singles available) to paddle this beautiful area. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to see one of the resident eagles, or bring your fishing gear along and catch some dinner! Life jackets and paddles included. Children age 3 must be at least 25 lbs and those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Available on the following Saturdays: June 23, July 14, August 11 and September 8.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm | $10 per hour/per boat | Pay on site; cash only

Rent a Kayak at Munden Point Park
Paddle along the North Landing River with a kayak (or canoe) rental from Munden Point Park. Rentals are available year-round for $10 per hour.

Get the Kids Out Fishing

Girl Fishing Our semi-annual Family Fishing Clinic was held on June 2 at Munden Point Park. Over 100 people came out to enjoy a morning of fishing, casting practice, a picnic lunch and raffle prizes! Special thanks to Region 7 of the BASS Anglers Association for providing the poles, bait, tackle and instruction. And to the Sheriff's Community Fund and Dick's Sporting Goods for lunch and prizes. Our next Family Fishing Clinic will be held on Saturday, October 6 at Munden Point Park. Registration is available now at any recreation center or online through EZreg.

Looking for some fishing opportunities for the kids before October? Then sign up for one of our summer Evening Casts. These outings will give youth ages 6-15 the opportunity to check out some local fishing spots and hopefully reel in the big one! Rods, bait & tackle are included and no experience is necessary. The program costs just $5 per outing.

What a Difference a Day Makes

In just three hours on Saturday, June 2, citizens of Virginia Beach joined forces with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Clean the Bay Day to make a huge difference in our community. Over 2000 volunteers gathered at almost 50 sites in Virginia Beach to clean up litter that would end up in our beautiful waterways. These individuals collected over 25,000 pounds of litter! What amazing results!

Afterwards, volunteers gathered at Great Neck Park to a wonderful picnic courtesy of the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission. Thanks again to everyone who helped clean up our city!

If you are interested in making a difference in your community, please join us next year at Clean the Bay Day, or consider adopting an area through our Adopt-a-Program.

Please Note Our Upcoming Facility Closures

All Virginia Beach Recreation Centers & Owl Creek Tennis Center will be closed on July 4 for Independence Day. Parks remain open for your enjoyment.

Don't forget that your membership is good at all six Virginia Beach Recreation Centers! If your usual center is closed for maintenance, take the opportunity to visit another center. Use this locator to help you find one!

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If your child requires additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services.

We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to email us at fun@vbgov.com.

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.