US Airways - June 2012 - (Page 53)

Freedom Park Festival Get Outside! Outside of Uptown Charlotte, the preservation of natural land provides many opportunities for families to get outside for fun and learning. North of Charlotte, the 1,343-acre Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is Mecklenburg County’s largest nature preserve. Home to a cotton plantation in the 1800s, the land is now protected by the county. Families can enjoy walks, runs, and horseback riding on the 16-mile trail network. They can also fish, canoe, and kayak in adjacent Mountain Island Lake. The Carolina Raptor Center is located on 57 acres of pine-oak forest on the preserve. The center provides educational programs that incorporate a living museum of over 30 species of raptors and hands-on science and environmental education opportunities to over 25,000 students each year. Closer to Uptown Charlotte by Freedom Park, the Nature Museum is a preserved space in one of Charlotte’s finest residential areas where visitors can enjoy a peaceful walk through the natural world, and observe animals and insects. Hands-on exhibits and programming provide structured learning among plenty of space for free play. ways, in 210 facilities or 26 recreation centers throughout the county. Most county programs offer free or very low cost programs to residents year-round. Youth can get close to nature, play in competitive sports programs, or enjoy more specialized offerings at the county’s many disc golf courses, mountain biking trails, urban skate parks, and model airplane flying fields. There are even dog parks to share with our four-legged canine family members! Over 17,000 adult volunteers contribute to the department throughout the year, proving once again that in Charlotte and the Carolinas, residents are invested in their community. In 2011, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department was named one of four finalist agencies in competition for the 2011 National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award. This award honors the top communities in the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte serves one in every six individuals in its service area through 19 branches and services sites and offers educational and recreational programs that foster growth in spirit, mind, and body. The YMCA offers not only sports and recreational opportunities for youth, but also leadership and academic enrichment programs such as mentoring, youth government, and college preparation. New Possibilities in Parks, Recreation, and Sports photos By patrickschneiderphoto.com A network of greenways, recreation centers, aquatic programs, parks, nature preserves, and athletic programs is the centerpiece of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. The department offers a broad spectrum of programs and activities for preschool, elementary, and teenage children at 18,000 acres of parklands and 35 miles of green- usairwaysmag.com june 2012 53 http://www.patrickschneiderphoto.com http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - June 2012

US Airways - June 2012
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots
Hub Crawl
Adventure: Zip-line junkie
Adventure: Virginia’s Skyline Drive
Wine & Dine
Great Escapes
Gear Up
Behind-the-Scenes Baja
International Itinerary
Charlotte in 2012
Discover Columbia
Welcome to Philadelphia
Must Read
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace™
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - June 2012