Glendale Park Is for the Birds – Literally

Looking for an activity for your kids—or the kid within you—without having to drive too far?

Are you looking for ways to teach your kids about nature?

Or, after a long and cold winter, do you need your kids to shake off that lingering cabin fever?

Perhaps the correct answer is all of, or part of, the above?

There’s a gem here in Elkins and it’s called Glendale Park. Linked by a footbridge (shown above) to its twin, River Bend Park, Glendale Park provides plenty of open space and is a wildlife refuge in its own right.

Consider taking your kids, or yourself and your friends, to Glendale Park one afternoon. Our friends at the Tree Board have a couple activities, birdwatching (or birding, which has a slightly different meaning) and a scavenger hunt, for you to try out. You can either upload the photos below on your smartphone or print out the PDFs.

Birdwatching in Elkins

One idea is to grab a pair of binoculars and see if you can identify all the birds that either make Glendale Park their home or stop by this area during their migrating journey. The best time for birding is actually now, early spring. Birding is best done early in the morning. Our friends at the WV Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offer some great tips on how to get the most of your birdwatching (or birding) experience.

Download PDF of birds in Glendale Park

Plan B: Scavenger Hunt

Another idea, slightly related to birdwatching, is organizing a scavenger hunt. The Tree Board has put together a list of things to find (if you play Pokémon Go in Glendale Park, you may be aware that some of these places are already gyms or PokéStops).

The scavenger hunt is a great way to explore Glendale Park and view it in a new light. So, visit one afternoon, let your kids go free range (and keep them within your sight, please), and see what this park has to offer. Just please don’t peel off any tree bark or yank out any cattails. As with any open or natural space, we appreciate it if you leave Glendale Park in better shape than when you arrived.

Download PDF Glendale Park Scavenger Hunt