The Military Bowl hosted two dozen children from Annapolis at Patriot Point for a day of outdoor recreational opportunities.

“These are kids from various areas of Annapolis who would not necessarily have had the opportunity to participate in all that Patriot Point provides if it wasn’t for the Military Bowl and Patriot Point,” said Kevin Simmons, director of the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management.

Simmons said the idea for the trip came after a meeting where he and Military Bowl Foundation President & Executive Director Steve Beck were present and both agreed that a visit to Patriot Point could be very impactful for many Annapolis children.

Once arriving at Patriot Point, Simmons said, volunteer coordinator Mike Mattingly and his wife Katie gave a brief tour of the property and told the guests about the activities they could choose to do. Some youths went out on a boat to crab, while others crabbed from the pier until there was a bushel to steam for lunch. Some children went kayaking or paddle boarding, while Beck took others on rides throughout the 290-acre property.

“At noon we had a barbecue/crab feast,” Simmons said. “They provided everything, from drinks and crabs to sunblock and everything. We didn’t need anything, we were very appreciative of that. … [The kids] got to see a different place, different atmosphere and people who catered to them. It does a lot for the kids. One of the kids asked, ‘Are we coming back tomorrow?’ It does a lot for their esteem, lets them see another side of life they don’t see very often and participate in things they don’t get to participate in.”

The Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation visited Patriot Point for its staff retreat this past weekend. Children of Fallen Patriots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation’s vision is to ensure that every child of a fallen patriot receives all necessary college funding.

“Our weekend at Patriot Point was one for the books,” said Dee Hauschel-Muniz, the foundation’s scholarship administrator. “As a team we were able to bond and grow closer than before in such an amazing and healing atmosphere. It was a great reminder that our father’s legacy is still alive. We cannot thank you all enough for working so hard to honor their memory through caring for their families.

“Through organizations like Patriot Point and Fallen Patriots we can make sure the children of fallen heroes never feel left behind. We enjoyed hanging out on the beach playing sports, swimming, kayaking/paddle boarding, and a bonfire at the end of the day. It was so nice meeting the staff on site they were so nice and made sure we were all comfortable through our stay! Cannot recommend you all enough.”

The staff gathered at Patriot Point to enjoy the outdoor recreational opportunities available and to bond together while they strategically planned for the future.

 “Patriot Point is such a special place,” staff member Kylie said. “Our Children of Fallen Patriot’s Scholarship Team thoroughly enjoyed the time that we were able to spend together – we cooked together, ate together, swam in the bay, kayaked, enjoyed watching Live PD, and played boardgames together. It was overall a relaxing weekend with great memories made!”