If you journeyed down Cromwell Bridge Road one night late last month, you might have noticed a camp fire off to the north, midway between Cowpens and Glen Arm roads. The reason: 60 people were leaving the comforts of home for the night to take part in the Cromwell Valley Park camp-out. The park offers this event several times a year to make it easy for residents of Loch Raven and neighboring communities to experience camping without much travel or preparation.

Campers arrive about 5 p.m. Friday, set up their tents and prepare dinner over the campfire, usually topped off with s'mores.

"It is really nice because everyone shares food and helps each other out," said Shannon Davis, the park naturalist who oversees this event.

This past campout, a volunteer astronomer, Jerry Feldman, came with his telescope and pointed out Jupiter and its moons, plus various stars and constellations. Some of the campouts have included crafts or campfire sing- a-longs. After dark, Davis led the campers as they ventured out for a night hike where they saw deer and bats, and heard night insects and owls.

"Kids find the night hike very exciting,"Davis said. "Many times they want to hold my hand the whole time."

After bedding down in their tents for, hopefully, a good night's sleep, the campers awoke to a very chilly morning and a breakfast of doughnuts, bagels, coffee, hot chocolate and juice around the campfire. During breakfast, conversation usually is a critique of or reaction to the camping experience.

"This is a great program for people new to camping," Davis said. "We have a few tents that we let people borrow for free. We also have lots of repeat campers. I have had some people come for several years just since I have been doing this. It is great to see people enjoy a campfire or a s'more for the first time and to show children there is nothing to be frightened of at night."

The cost is family friendly: $20 per family for nonmembers of the Cromwell Valley Park Council members and $15 for members (reservations required). The date for the spring campout has not been set but will be announced on www.cromwellvalleypark.org.

If you'd like to visit the park before the next campout, you can attend the Holiday Open House on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road.

Activities include decorating the Sherwood House, seasonal crafts, cookie decorating, refreshments, music and Santa. There will be trees and wreaths for sale. Admission is $2 per person. Call 410 -887-2503 to make reservations.

The Senior Craft Gallery, located at 1801 Glen Keith Blvd., sells items handcrafted and consigned by Baltimore County seniors. Currently they have a wide assortment of holiday crafts for both decorating and gift giving. The gallery is in the old Loch Raven Elementary School and is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Marie Welsch sent a note to "congratulate the well behaved kids at Oakleigh and White Oak schools," in her words, adding, "These children pass my home every school day and other times to play at the park. The hill from my home up to school is very challenging and the older children are very helpful to the smaller ones with those heavy backpacks."

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