In the Port Tobacco area, head to Port Tobacco River Park and Tom Roland Natural Resource Area. Located at 7685 Chapel Point Road, Port Tobacco River Park boasts three miles of walking trails with several platforms for viewing wildlife.

If you’re in La Plata, head to Tilghman Lake Park and Laurel Springs Park. Tilghman Lake is located at 10598 Box Elder Road in La Plata and has a one-mile trail that loops around a pond. If you’re up for a longer walk, the Tilghman Lake trail connects to the 1.6-mile trail at Laurel Springs Park (5940 Radio Station Road, La Plata), so you can increase your distance by walking both. The Laurel Springs trail circles the park, going both through wooded areas and around ball fields.

East of La Plata, explore Gilbert Run Park located at 13140 Charles Street in Charlotte Hall. The main trail at Gilbert Run is two miles long, circumvents the lake, and features a new boardwalk. 

Heading west, Pisgah Park, located at 6645 Mason Springs Road, has a three-quarters of a mile trail which features the CCPL “Story Trail”. Each season, the Mobile Library displays a picture book page-by-page along the trail so readers and walkers can enjoy the pictures and story as they go.

Even further west in Charles County is Friendship Farm Park – Friendship Landing. Located at 4715 Friendship Landing Road in Nanjemoy, this park has almost 4 miles of hiking trails that provide shade in the woods as well as views of the water. 

Moving up to the White Plains area, Bensville Park, 6980 Bensville Road, connects to mile 9 of the Indian Head Rail Trail, a 13-mile paved trail for walking, running, or cycling. 

52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time by Annabel Streets

“52 Ways to Walk is a short, user-friendly guide to attaining the full range of benefits that walking has to offer–physical, spiritual, and e emotional–backed by the latest scientific research to inspire readers to develop a fulfilling walking lifestyle.”

The Twelve Hour Walk: Invest One Day, Conquer Your Mind, and Unlock Your Best Life by Colin O’Brady

“Millions of people dream of living a more fulfilling life, yet many settle for a life of comfortable complacency, allowing excuses and negative thoughts to invade their minds. I don’t have enough time… I don’t have enough money… I’m afraid to fail… I don’t have what it takes–we allow these limiting beliefs to control us. Now comes The 12-Hour Walk, which provides the inspiration–and catalyst–for getting unstuck and realizing your full potential. Featuring life lessons from explorer, endurance athlete, and entrepreneur Colin O’Brady–whose adventures in such extreme places as Antarctica and the perilous Drake Passage and on the peaks of Mount Everest and K2 have seen him establish ten world records–this book’s vivid narrative and powerful insight will show you how you can embark on your own life-changing journey. With Colin as your guide, The 12-Hour Walk asks you to invest one day in yourself. The goal? Conquering your mind and becoming your best self. By walking alone, unplugging, listening to the voice within, and rewriting the limiting beliefs etched into your psyche, you can break free of the patterns holding you back and learn how to cultivate a “Possible Mindset,”–an empowered way of thinking that unlocks a life of limitless possibilities. The reward: being the hero of your own destiny.”

Prevention Ultimate Walking Guide

“Walking is a great way to get in shape—and it’s perfect for fitness newbies and devotees alike. Aside from a quality pair of walking shoes, there’s no fancy equipment and getting started is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other—literally. But having some pointers in your fitness arsenal can help you stay on track with your walking plan and help you see and feel results sooner rather than later. That’s where this special guide comes in: It’s packed with all of the expert tips and effective workouts to keep you walking strong for life.” (Available only in a digital version).

Walking for Fitness: Make Every Step Count by Nina Barough

“Discover the benefits of power walking and take simple steps to boost your energy levels with Walking for Fitness. Whether you want to include walking in your workout regimen or simply want to be more active and reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day, this collection of strategies can help you maximize the benefits of fitness walking. Seven 12-week-long walking programs target a range of goals, from weight loss to completing a marathon. Step-by-step photographs demonstrate correct techniques, and stretching and strengthening exercises are explained to complement your walking program and help you improve your overall well-being.”

Walk It Off in 30 Days by Leslie Sansone

“Introducing Leslie’s new plan that asks for just 30 minutes a day for 30 days to get real results! Imagine increased energy, firmed muscles, improved overall health, and a slimmer, more proportioned body! It’s all possible. Here’s how easy the 30 days will be. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, burn BIG calories by walking the BURN 30 program! Then on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, build strength on every major muscle group from shoulders to calves.”

 Forest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America by Peter Wohlleben

“When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no–but when we do engage all our senses, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to get the most out of your next adventure by becoming a forest detective, decoding nature’s signs, and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can you learn by following the spread of a root, by tasting the tip of a branch, by searching out that bitter almond smell? What creatures can be found in a stream if you turn over a rock–and what is the best way to cross a forest stream, anyway? How can you understand a forest’s history by the feel of the path underfoot, the scars on the trees along the trail, or the play of sunlight through the branches? How can we safely explore the forest at night? What activities can we use to engage children with the forest? Throughout Forest Walking, the authors share experiences and observations from visiting forests across North America: from the rainforests and redwoods of the west coast to the towering white pines of the East, and down to the cypress swamps of the South and up to the boreal forests of the north. With Forest Walking, German forester Peter Wohlleben teams up with his longtime editor, Jane Billinghurst, as the two write their first book together, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Together, they will teach you how to listen to what the forest is saying, no matter where you live or which trees you plan to visit next.”

For more information, visit your local CCPL branch or check out our online catalog. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

“A graphic novel adventure about a girl who discovers roller derby right as she and her best friend are growing apart.”

-Provided by Publisher

Whip It

(2009) PG-13
Sport/Comedy ‧ 1h 51m

Bliss Calendar is a small-town teenager with a big dream: to find her own path in the world. Tired of following in her family’s footsteps of compliance and conformity, Bliss discovers a way to put her life on the fast track, literally. She lands a spot on a rough-and-tumble roller derby team and becomes ‘Babe Ruthless’, the hottest thing on eight wheels.

Slam! (Issue 1) by Pamela Rison

Bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and retired Los Angeles Derby Doll Pamela Ribon (Going in Circles, Why Girls Are Weird) joins artist Veronica Fish (Archie, Silk) for a tale of friendship, heartbreak, and truly epic jams. In roller derby you take your hits, get back up, and learn how to be a better jammer, a better blocker, and a better friend-if the competition doesn’t tear you apart!

Outdoor Fun Preschool Activity Book: 80 Skill-Building Activities For Outside Play by Sharon Fisher-Shumpert

Kids learn through play, so engage them in engaging outdoor activities to strengthen their skills in letters, numbers, motor skills, science, social development, and more.

Wild Child: Nature Adventures For Young Explorers by Dara McAnulty

Nature is all around us to see, hear, and touch–in the leafy woods, by the sparkling water, or simply out the window. What will you discover? A chattering jay hiding an acorn, a butterfly with camouflage wings? A brilliant red feather you’ll carry home and tie to your journey stick to remember. This glorious book invites children outdoors on every adventure, from counting the species in an oak tree to searching the riverbed for aquatic dragonfly nymphs. With wonder and poetry, color and curiosity, Wild Child will stir the hearts of readers, young and old alike.

Wild Adventures by Mick Manning & Brita Granström

The activities in this book will help you develop self-sufficiency skills and explore nature. Topics covered include tracking skills, wildlife spotting, foraging for wild food and cooking outdoors, how to light a fire safely (with adult supervision), stargazing, including star maps, outdoor games, nature chase, how to mimic birdsong, how to make whistles and peashooters from elder stems, and much more!

Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures by Helen Skelton

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to cycle to the South Pole? Or kayak 2,000 miles down the Amazon? Or run an ultramarathon through the scorching Namib? Follow the author’s incredible adventures and discover how to get outdoors and unleash your inner wild girl!

The Outdoor Scientist: The Wonder of Observing the Natural World by Temple Grandin

A guide to exploring the outdoors and asking questions about nature. Dr. Temple Grandin introduces young readers to geologists, astrophysicists, oceanographers, and many other scientists through a series of projects to understand the world around them.

Backyard Birding For Kids: An Introduction To Ornithology: Field Guide, Projects and More! by Erika Zambello

Become a young ornithologist. Learn all about the scientific study of birds. Author, birder, and outdoors researcher Erika Zambello presents a kids’ introduction to bird-watching. With fascinating information for beginners, the book provides readers with an understanding of bird anatomy, life cycles, habitat, and 60 species of backyard birds!

The Children’s Book of Birdwatching by Dan Rouse

The Children’s Book of Birdwatching celebrates local wildlife and teaches children about the challenges birds face and what we can do to help. Whether you love gardening, enjoy arts and crafts, or simply want to do your part to help endangered animals, this delightful book is full of lots of easy and fun projects.

Get Outside Guide: All Things Adventure, Exploration, and Fun! by Nancy Honovich

This fun-filled guide inspires kids to get out of the house and explore the great outdoors to discover the wonder and amazement of the world around them, whether in their backyard, across the country, or around the world. Full of fun activities, kids will learn how to make backyard bird baths, explore their local state parks, participate in an outdoor community event, and much more. 

Let’s Play Outdoors!: Exploring Nature for Children by Catherine Ard

A book that encourages children to go and play outside and discover what nature has to offer. Leave the house and roam into nature: It is a fascinating place waiting to be conquered by little ones with curious minds. Whether in the garden, park, or a nearby forest, a closer look at nature will draw out budding architects, their first constructions built from stones, branches, and leaves; a thorough investigation of trees will reveal all kinds of insects; and listening to the animals around will teach their sounds. Let’s Play Outdoors! is for a new generation of environmentally conscious children, showing them how to interact with their surroundings meaningfully. 

Backyard Adventure: Get Messy, Get Wet, Build Cool Things, and Have Tons of Wild Fun! 51 Free-Play Activities by Amanda Thomsen

The backyard has long been associated with recreation and relaxation, a private patch of earth to escape to, and a springboard for the imagination. In her signature style, drawing on her personal experience as a mother, gardener, and author, Amanda Thomsen encourages kids to create kingdoms of their own making right in their own backyards. 

Get Out!: Outdoor Activities Kids Can Enjoy Everywhere (Except Indoors) by Hallie Warshaw

Presents a variety of outdoor activities and creative projects.

Great Things to Do Outside: 365 Awesome Outdoor Activities by Jamie Ambrose

Games and activities for kids to do in the great outdoors. 

Let’s Go Hiking by John McKinney

A title written in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America encourages boys to become familiar with the great outdoors and to enjoy reading about nature trails that lead to waterfalls, mountaintops, swimming holes, picnic areas, and campgrounds.

Muddy Boots : Outdoor Activities For Children by Liza Gardner Walsh

This book is for kids and families who value outdoor exploration and grandparents who long for their grandchildren to enjoy the same unfettered time in nature that they did. Although not primarily about mud, these activities encourage all hands to get dirty as children explore the world around them. This delightful book features a wide range of hands-on activities for kids, including mud pies, mud monsters, mud paintings, magic mud, stick forts, tepees, and sunflower houses, twig rafts, acorn cap boats, fairy boats, flower presses, dandelion chains, and ice orbs, sun clocks, rain paintings, and story stones.

Go Out and Play!: Favorite Outdoor Games by Kaboom!

A guide to more than seventy classic and contemporary playground games provides instructions for favorites such as kick the can, freeze tag, and sardines. The volume also includes tips for adults on encouraging and facilitating outdoor play.

Wilderness Adventure Camp: Essential Outdoor Survival Skills for Kids by Frank Grindrod

This hands-on guidebook teaches kids aged 10 and up essential outdoor camping and survival skills, with step-by-step photos for how to build a fire, pick a campsite, make a lean-to, use a knife, cook over an open fire, and more.

Surviving in the Wilderness by Kristin Marciniak

Would you eat a giant spider? Would you eat cooked spider eggs? What if you were starving to death? People stranded for long periods of time in the wilderness face questions like these. But sometimes no food to eat is the least of people’s worries. How long could you survive in a barren landscape with no shelter and a fractured skull? See how these survivors did it.

-Publishers description from Amazon.com

Survivors: Extraordinary Tales from the Wild and Beyond by David Long

“A collection of survival tales includes the story of a teenager who fell two miles from an airplane and trekked through the Amazon jungle to safety and a woman who was trapped under freezing water for so long that her heart stopped.

“-(Source of summary not specified)

Let’s Play Outdoors! : Exploring Nature for Children by Catherine Ard

“A book that encourages children to go and play outside and discover what nature has to offer. Leave the house and roam into the nature: It is a fascinating place, waiting to be conquered by little ones with curious minds. Whether in the garden, park, or a nearby forest, a closer look at nature will draw out budding architects, their first constructions built from stones, branches, and leaves; a thorough investigation of trees will reveal all kinds of insects; and listening to the animals around will teach their sounds. Let’s Play Outdoors! is for a new generation of environmentally conscious children, showing them how to interact with their surroundings in a meaningful way. The activities suggested inspire independent learning about animals, plants, and the weather, as well as how to look after the world.”

-Publisher’s Description

Alabama Moon by Watt Key

After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and finally a new life.

The Call of the Wild; and, White Fang by Jack London

Two classic tales of dogs, one part wolf and one a Saint Bernard/Scotch shepherd mix that becomes leader of a wolf pack, as they have adventures in the Yukon wilderness with both humans and other animals.

Survival Scout: Lost in the Mountains by Eaton Maxwell III

“Stay calm and scout it out! Take inventory of what you have. Find shelter. Make a fire. Signal for help. Secure water and food. Follow Scout’s trial through the mountains as she explains how to survive if you ever find yourself lost in the wilderness. A perfect travel companion for those with a knack for adventure!”–

-Provided by Publisher

Out in the Wild by Mike Lowery

To earn their “foraging” bug badge, Doug, Abby and Josh, the Bug Scouts, embark on an adventure in the wilderness to find an edible plant and encounter a clever, yet hungry, frog who distracts them from their mission.

Falcon Guides: Hiking Maryland and Delaware: Guide to the States’ Greatest Hiking Adventures by David Lillard

“Hiking Maryland and Delaware explores sixty-two easy-to-follow, and easy-to-get-to hikes. Weaving the natural history and rich cultural history of two of our nation’s oldest states, the author guides you through the rugged mountains, old-growth hardwood forests, salt-marsh wildlife preserves, and Piedmont stream valleys that attracted settlers to the region more than three centuries ago.”

Hike Maryland: A Guide to the Scenic Trails of the Free State by Bryan Mackay

“Maryland offers its residents and tourists a wealth of natural settings across the Chesapeake basin, through expansive farmland, and to the edge of the Allegheny mountains. Lifelong Marylander, naturalist, and avid hiker Bryan MacKay takes you on 25 hikes through the best and most serene settings across the Free State in Hike Maryland. Each guided trail includes a map, background on the natural history and ecology of the park, forest, or preserve, and a brief essay featuring a local plant, animal, or environmental issue of special interest. Take this book with you as you hike the Appalachian Trail, through Patapsco Valley State Park, along Assateague Island, and across many more settings representing Maryland’s natural heritage.”

Hiking Coastal Trails of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia: Waterfront Hikes from the Delmarva Peninsula to Virginia’s Tidewater Region by Erin Gifford

“This book covers 50 hikes in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia with hike sections divided by state. Hikes will highlight birding and wildlife viewing hotspots, local history and heritage, and bucket-list outdoor gems.”

100 Trails, 5,000 ideas: Where to go, When to go, What to see, What to do by Joe Yogerst

“This authoritative travel guide takes you on a series of epic hiking and walking adventures on 100 trails around all 50 states and Canada.”

Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All

“They’ve been dubbed America’s best idea for a reason: get inspired, get outdoors, and discover the wild beauty of the United States with Moon USA National Parks. Inside you’ll find: Coverage of all 63 national parks, from the misty mountains of the east and the redwoods of the west to the glaciers of Alaska and volcanoes of Hawaii, organized by region. Strategic lists and itineraries: Choose from lists of the best parks for hiking, wildlife, families, and scenic drives or make your way down the list of the top ten national parks experiences across the country. The best outdoor adventures in every park, including backpacking, biking, climbing, kayaking, rafting, and more, plus detailed hike descriptions and trail maps marked with distance, duration, effort level, and trailheads. National parks road trips with driving times and advice for linking multiple parks, interesting stops between them, and nearby attractions and state parks. Comprehensive planning resources: With maps and transportation tips, you’ll have the tools to explore each park or region individually, or visit multiple for an epic national parks trip. Expert advice from former park guide Becky Lomax on how to avoid crowds, what time of year to visit, and where to stay inside and outside the parks, from campgrounds to hotels. Know before you go: Find essential background on climate, terrain, wildlife, history, and safety precautions, plus practical information on park fees, passes, and reservations, including how to obtain and use a National Parks Pass. Gorgeous, full-color photos throughout, plus a handy keepsake section for your national parks stamps and a detachable fold-out poster map.”

The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

For an overview and history of the National Parks, you can’t go wrong with Ken Burns’ video, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.

“The National Parks tells the human history of five of the nation’s most important and most heavily visited National Parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Great Smoky Mountains) and the unforgettable Americans who made them possible.”

Also available on Hoopla.

Ranger Rick Kid’s Guide to Hiking: All You Need to Know about Having Fun while Hiking by Helen Olsson

“Hiking is more than just a walk in the woods. Every outing is an adventure, and you never know what a hike will bring. By reading this book, you’ll learn where to go to hike, when to go, what to wear, and what to bring with you. You’ll also learn how to take care of nature and how to stay safe while on the trail. But best of all, this book shows you how you can have the most fun while hiking.

For some kids, hiking itself might be adventure enough. But you can also bring along a nature journal or create land art. Bring a special hiking buddy with you—one who knows lots of good jokes, riddles, and games to pass the time. You can hike with your pooch, and believe it or not, you can even hike with llamas!

The more you know about hiking, the more fun you can have on your adventures. So read the tips in this book at home before you go, and then head for the great outdoors and use the compass to help you find your way. Happy hiking!” (Taken from Amazon) 

Paddle Maryland: A Guide to Rivers, Creeks and Water Trails by Bryan McKay

“A guide for kayakers and canoers through the rivers, creeks, marshes, and waterways across the state of Maryland, Paddle Maryland is the book designed for recreational paddlers interested in scenery, wildlife, flora, and fauna. The nearly two dozen water trails Bryan MacKay details in this book cover both tidal and non-tidal paddling trips. All of them feature a particular aspect of Maryland wildlife and environmental conservation”

The Lonely Planet: Epic Bike Rides of the Americas

“Get ready to explore America’s most thrilling gravel, road and trail bike routes. This definitive companion for cycling enthusiasts showcases 200 of North, Central and South America’s best and most celebrated routes, from epic adventures off the beaten path to shorter urban rides. Go bikepacking in Baja, road riding in Colombia, mountain biking in Canada and gravel riding in Pennsylvania. Each ride is accompanied by stunning photos and a map and toolkit of practical details – where to start and finish, how to get there, where to stay and more – to help you plan the perfect trip. Suggestions for similar rides around the world are also included.”

Cycle Maryland: A Guide to Bike Paths and Rail Trails by Brian Mackay

“As cities across America improve bicycle lanes and infrastructure for two-wheel commuters, Bryan MacKay wants to take Marylanders and visitors to the Free State along recreational trails that provide a way to enjoy varied natural beauty while exercising. MacKay, an ecologist and avid cyclist, illuminates plants, animals, and environmental facts that fellow cyclists will encounter on paved and unpaved paths through the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and stretching further out into less populated regions. While you will likely rely on a GPS tracker to keep you on route, this slim volume will fit easily into a pannier. Pull Cycle Maryland out on a break and use the maps, trail descriptions, and short nature essays as a reference to these 23 trails suitable for road and mountain bikes alike.”

Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are among the favorite activities for families to enjoy together. Come up with your own ideas or use one of these great resources for sample scavenger hunt lists: 

• The Ultimate Book of Scavenger Hunts by Corissa Nelson available in CCPL’s Catalog 
• Scavenger Hunt – Action for Healthy Kids
• 5 Fun Summer Scavenger Hunt Activities for Toddlers – Toot’s Mom is Tired
• 30 Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Families: Indoors and Out

Low or No-Cost Activities

Reminisce about the summers of your youth to come up with other family-fun summer activities. To spark your memory, check out these library books for nostalgic low or no-cost activity ideas:

Tag, Toss, and Run by Paul Boardway Tukey 

Great Big Book of Children’s Games by Debra Wise

How about some hiking?

Parents can begin this family activity when a child is only months old by using an infant carrier on their back. The combination of fresh air, natural beauty, and exercise builds healthy minds and bodies and makes hiking another affordable go-to activity for family fun at all ages! 

Get your Kids Hiking by Jeff Alt includes an appendix with age-appropriate checklists for each stage of childhood so you always have everything you could possibly need while out on the trail.

Explore the Best of Maryland

A Year Across Maryland by Bryan MacKay recommends a “Trip of the Week” for every week of the year. The recommendations invite readers to explore the natural world in the Chesapeake Bay Region during the best times to experience natural wonders such as bird migrations and wildflower blooms. The book includes field notes and color photographs to enrich the text.

Here are some links to opportunities to enjoy both baseball and softball games in our area:

To get you in the mood for baseball or softball, you might want to check out a movie centered on sports. 

Here are a few that might be worth a look:

 Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns

“The complete Emmy Award-winning story of America’s national pastime from master storyteller Ken Burns is now fully restored in high definition! Baseball spans the quest for racial justice, the clash of labor and management, the immigrant experience, the transformation of popular culture and the enduring appeal of the national pastime.”

Only the Ball was White

Pays tribute to the many topflight players from the Negro Leagues in baseball when players were denied stardom by the color line.

Fastball

“Hank Aaron and Derek Jeter, with Kevin Costner narrating, lead a cast of baseball legends and scientists who explore the magic within the 396 milliseconds it takes a fastball to reach home plate, and decipher who threw the fastest pitch ever.” Available on Hoopla.

Field of Dreams

 “Inspired by a mysterious voice, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella constructs a baseball diamond in the middle of his cornfield.”

 Moneyball

“The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.”

 Bull Durham

The baseball season gets off to a rocky start when the Durham Bulls’ new catcher “Crash” Davis punches out the cocky young pitcher, “Nuke” LaLoosh, he’s just been hired to train. Matters get even more complicated when sexy Annie Savoy informs both men that each season she chooses one player to share her bed– and Nuke and Crash are this year’s “draft picks!”

A League of Their Own

“In 1943, a washed-up ballplayer is hired to coach in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League while the male pros are at war. Reluctant at first, he finds himself drawn back into the game by the heart and heroics of his team. Based on a true story.”

Bad News Bears

“A former baseball minor-leaguer coaches a team of tough kids. His star pitcher is a girl.”

Burn the Ships

“Women’s pro softball has spent decades fighting for survival. The world’s best players must choose between their livelihood and their dreams. Burn the Ships is the story of one woman and her team who refuse to let those dreams slip away.” Available on Hoopla.

 All Stars

“Lance Grayden, a veteran coach returns to his community assuming he’d be coaching seasoned and accomplished athletes. Instead he’s saddled with a 10-and-under team of inexperienced players. Not only is he forced to teach the fundamentals of the game to the little girls, but he also faces the greater challenge of their over-eager, overly ambitious and entirely delusional parents.”

And here are just a few of the many books to check out:

 Baseball: How to Play the Game by Pete Williams

“Baseball writer Williams presents a how-to book, generously illustrated, that will serve both as a beautiful coffee-table work for fans interested in seeing gorgeous action shots of star players, and as a definitive guide to skills acquisition for players and coaches. From fundamentals to mechanics, drills to talent development, every element of the game is analyzed and illustrated. Youths and adults alike will enjoy the tips included from star MLB players. While there is nothing new in this text, the combination of superb photography with stellar commentary results in a fine book.”

 Baseball: An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward

“530 illustrations in text Best Books for Young Teen Readers. A history of the game, published in conjunction with a PBS documentary, with essays, facts, & over 500 photos. This is an incredible book for the baseball fan & for anyone interested in the social history of America as reflected in a sport. It is filled with wonderful photographs. Students will want to browse through the memorabilia of baseball & read about the evolution of the game. For the most part, the chapters focus on decades & look at every aspect of the game, including the rules, players, owners, facilities, & fans. This is the companion book to the PBS television series.”

And for coaches:

Winning Baseball: For Beginner to Intermediate Play by Trent Mongero

“A step-by-step guide to teaching young players, ages four to ten, the fundamental skills of baseball, with drills, advice on correcting bad habits and flaws, tips for coaches on dealing with parents, and discussion of travel and all-star teams. Includes an instructional DVD.”

Softball Skills and Drills by Judi Garman

“This guide is completely updated with more skills, more drills and strategies, and more of the stellar instruction that have made it the top-selling title on softball.”

 Coaching Youth Softball by the American Sport Education Program

“Coaching Youth Softball is a great tool for youth softball coaches and parents working with 6- to 14-year-old athletes. It describes in detail how to teach kids important softball skills and strategies at a level that’s just right for them. This valuable resource contains 29 drills and 95 illustrations, including 22 defensive position diagrams. Coaching Youth Softball shows you techniques for teaching fundamental softball skills step-by-step – what to teach and how to teach it. The book also addresses the similarities and differences between fast- and slow-pitch softball.”

Resources from CCPL:

52 Ways To Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking For Wellness And Joy, One Week at a Time by Annabel Streets

52 Ways to Walk is a short, user-friendly guide to attaining the full range of benefits that walking has to offer–physical, spiritual, and emotional–backed by the latest scientific research to inspire readers to develop a fulfilling walking lifestyle

Best Easy Day Hikes Washington, D.C. by Louise S. Baxter

50 Hikes In Maryland: Walks, Hikes & Backpacks From The Allegheny Plateau To The Atlantic Ocean by Leonard M. Adkins

Weekend Walks on the Delmarva Peninsula by Jay Abercrombie

Walking: The Ultimate Exercise for Optimum Health

Best Hikes with Kids: Washington D.C. The Beltway and Beyond

Walking for Fitness: Make Every Step Count