A great family activity to cure the homework blues is a visit the West Nursery and Garden Center on Route 360 in Mechanicsville where you can lose your cares in the corn field maze.
This year, the maze theme is “Down on the Farm,” and takes the shape of a tractor. The challenge of getting through the twisting paths in the corn field is made even more exciting for teams of explorers with the addition of activities along the way: decoding secret words, collecting crayon rubbings, and using Maize-o-Vision secret decoders to read a hidden map. Completing the puzzles teaches participants about the workings of a modern farm.
Very young adventurers will love the mini corn maze and straw bale maze. Groups can schedule a hayride for pumpkin picking.
The maze is open on Fridays from 2-10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a..m.-10 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. – dusk, through November 1. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 4-12. Visit westnursery.com for more information.

Hanover County residents recently welcomed the new all-inclusive, handicap-accessible playground at Poor Farm Park in Ashland.
This Operation Hope Playground is designed to give physically challenged children greater access to the park through adaptations like wheelchair ramps, adaptive swings, and a rubberized surfaces. Operation Hope Playground is part of the non-profit Resources for Independent Living, Inc. It was established to equip local playgrounds for the development of all children, regardless of ability.
The Poor Farm Park playground is the second of its kind in Hanover. Operation Hope Playground completed its first handicap accessible playground at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville earlier this year.
The playgrounds are the result of community efforts by Operation Hope Playground, the Hanover and Mechanicsville Rotary Clubs, and Hanover County Parks and Recreation; as well as the donations of countless individuals and businesses.

earning begins with play. The Children’s Museum of Richmond, already a wonderful place to play and learn, has a new permanent exhibit designed to inspire the imaginations of children ages eight and under. CMoR Town Square is a tiny town with a Richmond flair that includes a schoolhouse, hospital, grocery store and park.
The fun is in the details – children can explore the bank vault, sort the tools in the garage, and use the real camera in the television station. The hospital is equipped with a sink (wash those hands!), lab coats, stethoscopes, administrative equipment and an ambulance with gurney.
The grand opening celebration of the CMoR Town Square is Saturday, October 4. There will be some extra special activities like face painting and moon bouncing from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Or you can visit the tiny town anytime during regular museum hours.

The National Wildlife Federation is at it again, encouraging kids of all ages to put away their electronic entertainments and head to the outdoors for some fresh air and exercise through activities such as walking, biking or hiking the trails and paths that are just a step away from your front door.
“Kids today spend half as much time outdoors as children did just 20 years ago,” says Bethe Almeras, senior manager of family programs for the NWF. Children’s lack of outdoor time is often due to busy schedules, safety concerns and too much screen time. Almeras wants kids to have a daily dose of nature for their physical and mental well-being.
The weekend of October 11-13 has been declared the first annual Make Tracks! Family Trail Weekend. A new website, www.maketracks.org, will help put your best foot forward by providing a list of supplies, tips for family activities and a link to NatureFind, a database to help you locate the best nearby trails and parks.
The benefits of a family at play in the great outdoors are tremendous. The Make Tracks website emphasizes that children with unstructured outside time are fitter, more imaginative, have lower stress levels, and show a greater respect for themselves, their playmates, and the environment.
With a little preparation, you can spend your Columbus Day weekend leaving footprints on a local park trail and exploring the territory of your own “new world.”