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Washington-Themed Outdoor Activities for Summer

Blake Peek

Summer’s coming up, and with summer comes a brief two-month break and a lot of spare time. It’s important to utilize the time and make summer memories that last. So, whether you're in or out of town, here are some Ellensburg-themed and varietal goals and activities to do!

IN-ELLENSBURG

• Go hiking

• Go swimming

• Go fishing/boating

• Try horseback riding

• Go to the farmers' market

• Go to a new store

• Try a new restaurant

• Go to the rodeo or another event

• Enter a competition

• Walk downtown

• Do a 5k or other running event

EXAMPLES OF PLACES/EVENTS

Food Places: Winegars, Utopia, The Porch, The Early Bird, Campus U-Tote-Em, W.C. Roadhouse Grill

Activities/Event Places: Firecracker 5k, Family Fun Color Run, Touch a Truck, Memorial Pool 

IN-WASHINGTON

There are a LOT of things to do in Washington that get you outdoors, so here are some places to visit, and what to do there.

BEACHES

Note: Some aren’t just beaches; they're towns or State Parks, so there are not only beaches but also other fun activities and places to stay.

• Westport                                              

• Long Beach

• Grayland State Park

• Ocean Shores

• Fort Casey State Park

• Ruby Beach

Here you can…

• Swim, tan, snorkel

• Boat, fish, surf

• Build sand castles, find shells

• See wildlife and marine animals

• Enjoy the sand and sunsets

• Visit small shops and walk the beach

THEME/WATER PARKS

• Slidewaters

• Great Wolf Lodge

• Surf n’ Slide

• Leavenworth Adventure Park

• Silverwood (Is in Idaho)

Here you can…

• Swim

• Shop

• Be with your friends, and have fun while going on rides, or floating down a lazy river or waterslide

NATIONAL & STATE PARKS

Note: There are WAY more, but I’ve been to a few of these and have heard good things about them, as they showcase wildlife and vibrant, iconic scenery.

• Olympic National Park

• Mount Rainer National Park

• North Cascades National Park (has Lake Diablo)

• Deception Pass State Park

• Cape Disappointment State Park (NOT a disappointment)

• Lake Wenatchee State Park

• Palouse to Cascades Trail

Here you can…

• Camp, hike, explore

• Relax, eat, wander

• Enjoy being outside whilst meeting people, collecting keepsakes, exploring, learning, and admiring scenery

Washington offers so many memorable experiences and places open to the public. These are just some fun ideas for a memorable experience and enjoying new things!

Sources

• Washington State Parks

• Department of Ecology

Rice Krispies Treats Directions

In a large saucepan, melt three tablespoons of butter. Then add in one package of mini marshmallows and stir until melted. 

Remove from the heat, then add 6 cups of Rice Krispies. Stir until fully combined. 

Grab a nine-by-two-inch pan and spray it with cooking spray. Make sure the whole pan is covered with the spray. 

Put the mixture into the pan and use a spatula to pack it down. You want it to be almost completely flat in the pan. 

Let it sit, then cut into about two-inch squares. 

Decorating Directions

First, melt the chocolate in the microwave. Once melted, add in the blue food coloring. 

Take the Rice Krispies treats and dip them halfway into the chocolate. Make sure that one edge is higher than the other. 

Then, put the sprinkles on the seam where the Rice Krispies meet the chocolate. 

If you are talented enough, you can use some of the extra white chocolate that isn't blue to make little sea stars. 

Let the frosting cool, then plate and serve. 

Weird Food Combinations

Dema Dondji & Gabby Hartung

Do you like to eat fries with a milkshake? Or maybe pineapple on pizza? Whether it’s sweet with salty or bitter with spicy, everyone has a weird food combination they enjoy. Here are some of the teachers’ and students’ favorite weird combinations here at Morgan.

Candy Review

Dema Dondji & Gabby Hartung

8th Grade End-of-the-Year Spotlight

Sofia Ruvalcaba & Luna Godinez

Summer Student Spotlight

Noelle Armstrong

What to do in Tennessee

Ava Henson

Nashville is one of the most amazing cities to visit! Known as the “Music City,” Nashville is home to many music stars and celebrities. Also, the Queen of Country Music herself lives there! Aside from that, Tennessee alone has plenty of fun activities and historic, memorable places to visit, as well as delicious barbecue and southern cooking. Continue reading to learn more about Tennessee and the best places to visit when you’re in town.

The Parthenon

Located as the centerpiece of a popular park, the stunning full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon stands tall, filled to the brim with hundreds of art collections from American art galleries. When I visited, I was with my family, and once we finally made it into the building, it was surely worth the wait! We were surrounded by statues and gorgeous art, as well as the 42-foot-tall Athena!

The Grand Ole Opry

The oldest radio broadcasting station known to make country music famous! Personally, I haven’t visited yet, but I’m sure this adventure is sure to come! As said, the Grand Ole Opry showcases rising stars who are determined to get their names out there! Constantly hosting shows, the Grand Ole Opry is a back-to-the-past place to visit.

Dollywood

A theme park based on the queen of country music, Dolly Parton. With roller coasters, museums, classic country music, and southern cooking. Located in the cozy foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounded by gorgeous scenery! Dollywood is a fun country experience perfect for a day together with family and friends.

The Country Music Hall of Fame

Where it all started, where it all ended, where it's headed- the fame, the recognition, the stars throughout the ages! Visit this museum as it's highly popular and famous, and learn the stories of generational singers. I am so excited to get to see this someday! 

Thank you for reading. I hope you consider traveling to Tennessee this summer!

🍋Summer Lemon Bars🍋

Emmry Alldredge

Feeling a little bored or craving something sweet and tangy? Get ready to brighten your day with these delightful Summer Lemon Bars!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• Two sticks of salted butter

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• ¼ Teaspoon salt

• 1-2 lemons to juice and zest 

• 1 ¾ cup white sugar

• 4 eggs

Prep- Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a glass pan with cooking spray. (Only use a glass pan because anything else can make the lemon set right!)

Photo by Parsons.

 Crazy Questions 4

Bridger Thompson

You asked for questions, but what I didn’t expect was the 100+ responses I would get. I apologize in advance that 90+% of the questions submitted didn’t get answered, but I made sure the ones that did were the best and most interesting.

Question 1: What would happen if you ate baking soda and then vinegar?

Answer: (DO NOT ATTEMPT). When a tablespoon of baking soda reacts with vinegar, it can release up to 5 liters of CO2 gas. That gas expands inside your stomach, causing you to burp and vomit potentially uncontrollably. In addition, the gas would rapidly expand inside your stomach, possibly causing it to tear if you eat too much. I don’t recommend turning your insides into a 7th-grade science fair project.

Question 2: How many cantaloupes could fit inside a cantaloupe?

Answer: Well, the biggest recorded diameter for a cantaloupe was 45 inches, so a volume of about 210 gallons. The smallest recorded cantaloupe diameter was 4 inches, so a volume of 0.145 gallons. Divide 210 by 0.145, and you get about 1500 cantaloupes that could fit inside a cantaloupe.

Question 3: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Answer: When a woodchuck (groundhog) digs a burrow, it displaces about 700 pounds of dirt. That's equivalent to about 500-800 pounds of wood (depending on the type of wood chucked). 

Question 4: How many calories is a baby?

Answer: The answer is unfortunate. An average baby at birth has about enough calories to produce a decent breakfast, about 500 calories. A 1-year-old doesn’t add much, only about 300 more calories per 1 year old.

Question 5: How many average 5’6’’ people could fit in a Christmas stocking? 

Answer: A Christmas stocking can hold about 2 liters of material. Meanwhile, an average 5’6’’ person weighs about 140 pounds, which could be compressed to a cube of a volume of about 60 liters. So you could fit about 0.034 humans in a Christmas stocking

This or That

Ava Henson

Top Three Leopards

Elida Barajas Garcia

This content is going to be about Leopards because, honestly, some people might be tired of seeing Tigers and Lions. So this is going to be the top three Leopards!

Ellensburg Food Spots

Morgan Insider Staff

Another Slightly Unhinged Video by Maryn

Maryn Wallace

Well, you asked for it, and you got it. The Morgan Insider staff received dozens of requests for another "slightly unhinged video by Maryn" (title chosen by Mrs. C. Clark), and she was kind enough to give you all what you asked for. Enjoy!