We visited the Watkins Regional Park for two reasons. First, we wanted to get a second badge in the Agents of Discovery app. Second, we wanted to check out the fabulous Wizard of Oz playground.
We started working on the Agents of Discovery app at the park's Nature Center. We answered one or two questions, then talked to the ranger inside to get more info. As I chatted with the ranger, the kids wandered off and looked at the exhibits.
We went out back of the nature center and discovered a few more parts of the app challenge. The app had some Augmented Reality games that were easier for my children than for me. The app pointed us down a trail that led to the Wizard of Oz playground. As we approached, we saw the Gale's barn.
We played on all sorts of equipment, including a Kansas State Fair balloon, a City of Oz playground, and some musical instruments. Since they were outside, the instruments were mostly bells or chimes.
A small sign explained that in the book, Dorothy's magic shoes were silver. I guess ruby looks better in a film, so the ruby slippers are what everyone remembers. Slides were made of the shoes and of course they were red.
Two wood sculptures represent the witch and the scarecrow.
We followed the Yellow Brick Road out of the playground and it led us to a carousel. The kids couldn't resist going for a ride.
The park's train was out of order, so we didn't get to ride around the park. They do have a mini-golf course but it was too hot for us to commit to eighteen holes.
We continued on to the Old Maryland Farm. On the way was a tree that was so easy to climb, I didn't want to stop the kids when they asked to try it out.
The farm had a bunch of locations for the app, so we got a few more questions answered.
The farm was mostly livestock. Displays showed chickens, hogs, goats, horses, and many other animals. We saw one chicken walking around outside the coop, which was surprising. The chicken came toward us, I assume because she thought we had food. My youngest child was super-nervous about a free-range chicken. I kept between him and the bird.
Even with all the sites we found, the app still only had 15 of 29 challenges completed. By that point, the heat was too hot and everyone was ready to go home. We did not get a badge for finishing the Agents of Discovery app in the park, but maybe we'll take mommy back to the park to show it off to her and get the other half of the locations completed.
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| Visiting the park |
We started working on the Agents of Discovery app at the park's Nature Center. We answered one or two questions, then talked to the ranger inside to get more info. As I chatted with the ranger, the kids wandered off and looked at the exhibits.
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| Inside the nature center |
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| A screech owl |
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| Turtle |
We went out back of the nature center and discovered a few more parts of the app challenge. The app had some Augmented Reality games that were easier for my children than for me. The app pointed us down a trail that led to the Wizard of Oz playground. As we approached, we saw the Gale's barn.
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| Barn playground |
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| Other side of the barn |
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| Toto's doghouse |
We played on all sorts of equipment, including a Kansas State Fair balloon, a City of Oz playground, and some musical instruments. Since they were outside, the instruments were mostly bells or chimes.
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| One way to Oz |
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| In the Oz playground |
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| Climbing out of the city of Oz |
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| Playing music |
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| Playing bells |
A small sign explained that in the book, Dorothy's magic shoes were silver. I guess ruby looks better in a film, so the ruby slippers are what everyone remembers. Slides were made of the shoes and of course they were red.
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| Slipper and slide |
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| Going down the slide |
Two wood sculptures represent the witch and the scarecrow.
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| Wicked Witch of the Watkins |
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| Did the scarecrow lose his head? |
We followed the Yellow Brick Road out of the playground and it led us to a carousel. The kids couldn't resist going for a ride.
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| Riding a pony |
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| Riding on the inside track |
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| My other kids on the carousel |
The park's train was out of order, so we didn't get to ride around the park. They do have a mini-golf course but it was too hot for us to commit to eighteen holes.
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| Railroad crossing |
We continued on to the Old Maryland Farm. On the way was a tree that was so easy to climb, I didn't want to stop the kids when they asked to try it out.
 |
| Climbing the tree |
The farm had a bunch of locations for the app, so we got a few more questions answered.
 |
| We saw the sign |
The farm was mostly livestock. Displays showed chickens, hogs, goats, horses, and many other animals. We saw one chicken walking around outside the coop, which was surprising. The chicken came toward us, I assume because she thought we had food. My youngest child was super-nervous about a free-range chicken. I kept between him and the bird.
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| Chickens in their yard |
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| A shy hog |
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| Turkey! |
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| Goats relaxing in the heat |
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| Horses having lunch |
Even with all the sites we found, the app still only had 15 of 29 challenges completed. By that point, the heat was too hot and everyone was ready to go home. We did not get a badge for finishing the Agents of Discovery app in the park, but maybe we'll take mommy back to the park to show it off to her and get the other half of the locations completed.
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