Things to Do on Your Staycation

There are so many hidden gems in West Virginia, and many of them are in our area. If you’re looking to take a mini vacation, but don’t want to venture far from home, a staycation right here in our area is just the thing you need.

Guyses Run Fishing Park

If you’re looking to try something new, make sure to add fishing at Guyses Run Fishing Park to your list. The fishing pond provides catch-and-release fishing for avid fishermen and beginners alike. Learn more Guyses Run Fishing Park here.

Photo courtesy of Times West Virginian

Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo
Hovatter’s started as a small zoo with a collection of deer, black bear, cougars, and even tigers! Since then it’s grown into a variety of fun animals to come visit, including chimpanzees, grizzly bears, white and orange tigers, leopards, baboons, and lemurs. Learn more about visiting the zoo here.

Valley Falls State Park

This beautiful state park has all the outdoor activities you ever wanted, including hiking, fishing, picnicking, and even mountain biking. If you’re looking to disconnect, sit back and soak up the sun on one of the perfect flat rocks among the falls. Learn more here.

Immerse Yourself in the Arts
Harrison County is bustling with a fun and talented art scene. Catch a show at the amphitheater or visit a performance put on by the Cultural Foundation for Harrison County. Their next big event is the Celebrate America Concert put on by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. To find more details about the event, please visit their website.

Forks of Cheat Winery

If you’re looking for a relaxing night complete with a tasty glass of wine, visit Forks of Cheat Winery in Morgantown. Enjoy the views while sipping on a glass of wine from one of Virginia’s foremost wineries. To learn more about the history of Forks of Cheat Winery and how you can grab a glass of wine, please visit their website.

Visit a full-service Fairmont Federal Credit Union location to speak with a member service representative about saving for your staycation. To find a location and to learn more about the services we offer visit fairmontfcu.com. Your FFCU family wishes you a safe and enjoyable summer.

---

References

http://www.mcparc.com/curtisville-lake.html?utm_source=MarionCVB&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=MarionCVB

https://marioncvb.com/things-to-do/

http://www.cityofclarksburgwv.com/262/Things-to-Do

https://wvexplorer.com/recreation/winery-touring/wineries-in-west-virginia/

http://wvwines.com/forks-of-cheat-winery/

Holiday Traditions Handed Down

When most people think of traditions, they think of holiday traditions.  Holiday traditions and the recurrent experience of it every year, is a cornerstone of most people’s lives.  These moments create positive memories for our children and create reliable events for everyone to participate year after year.  It takes away the stress and anxiety of the unknown and the unpredictable.  Traditions can anchor family members to to each other, providing a sense of unity and belonging.

There is an endless list of holiday traditions, ranging from surprising your neighbors with treats, starting an ornament collection, camping out under the tree, helping the needy,  baking cookies for santa, and seeing candy cane lane.  

Here are some examples of how families across America create traditions to be handed down.

• White Elephant Gift Exchange: Because of their sheer size,  some families chose  a “White Elephant” gift exchange.   This adds a lot of humor and eases the anxiety and pressure of gift giving.  

• Bake christmas cookies: Bring the cookies to a nursing home, homeless shelter, or a “Boys and Girls Club.”  
• The 12 Days of Christmas: Each person gets a list of mixed up names and for the 12 days prior to Christmas Eve,  puts a small wrapped gift in the stocking of the person that was on your list for that particular day. On Christmas Eve, families open the 12 small gifts.
• Autographs on a Tablecloth: Spread out a white tablecloth on the main table at Christmas dinner.  At the end of the meal, everyone who was present writes their name, the year, and sometimes a short message. This is especially enchanting with children and seeing their handwriting change from year to year.  

Holiday traditions come from the fundamental need that people have to be with each other and bond. What kind of traditions does your family have? Share your thoughts, ideas and memories!  

Fairmont Federal Credit Union's success has been built on our commitment to the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People!" Follow us on Facebook.

---

Sources:

https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/12-25-14-holiday-traditions-passed-down/

https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/multicultural-winter-holiday-celebrations

http://mommyperfect.com/2015/11/the-importance-of-holiday-traditions/

Back-to-Basics for Back-to-School

It’s back-to-school time here in West Virginia. For many families it can be time of great stress adjusting to a new routine. Getting your children off to a great start comes with some pre-planning to ensure that they are ready to dive into the new adventures that the upcoming school year holds.

• Adjust bedtimes accordingly – A great school day starts with a good night’s rest. While the summer months often mean later bedtimes, the school day starts bright and early, which means you should adjust your child’s sleeping routine to accommodate an earlier start.
• Morning routine – Getting the hang of the morning routine often takes a couple of weeks. Set your expectations for the details that need to be accomplished before your child heads out the door. This might include wake-up times, morning chores, breakfast, grooming habits, and when they need to be at the bus stop.
• Pack a healthy lunch – The food you feed your child is the fuel that helps their bodies function. Take your child to the grocery store and let them help you pick out healthy choices for their afternoon meals. In order to accommodate a busy morning, consider packing lunches the night prior. Additionally, there is no reason your child can’t pack their own lunch (with your guidance). Helping them make good choices early will set them up for a lifetime of good eating habits.
• Choose healthy snacks – In addition to lunch choices, it is important to have healthy snacks ready for your children when they get home from school. Fresh fruits, veggies, cheese or other small snacks are great options to tie them over between lunch and dinner.
• Study spaces – Create a space for your child to do their homework that is conducive to learning. In addition to being comfortable, it should be well lit have plenty of flat surfaces for writing, and within view of a parent who can monitor their working habits. Get them in the habit of going to this place after their snack so that they can get work done early and while their mind is skill focused on school.
• Create a family schedule – Fall schedules are packed with activities. Create a calendar so everyone knows what is on tap for the week ahead.

At Fairmont Federal Credit Union, we are here to serve your family’s financial needs. Visit us today to learn more about credit union membership.

Youth Learn Life Lessons with Mad City Money

For most kids, money management and strategic financing happens during a game of Monopoly or stretching the $20 their parents gave them to spend at the mall. Since 2008, Fairmont Federal Credit Union has been visiting local high schools to provide a crash-course for students on the up’s, down’s, and unexpected events of real-life finances, in a safe, fun environment. The program has reached over 1,700 students and the reactions are always eye-opening.

With the life-simulating game  “Mad City Money,” students are “transported” to the future with their fellow classmates and, much like real-life, randomly given a life-situation. Some students have just graduated college. Some are married with children while others are single parents. All have bills to pay. Some have credit card debt, others have medical bills, while others must make payments on student loans.

For the next three hours, students must build a budget based on their financial situation, select necessities like housing, food, childcare, and clothing through nine different merchants. All transactions are paid through a debit card and budgets must be regularly balanced, all while navigating the financial pits and peaks typical of real-life. The “Fickle Finger of Fate” falls upon many students, introducing sudden, and unexpected financial setbacks students must address and overcome.

Following this simulation, student’s reactions were of surprise and new-found appreciation for money management. One lesson the students said they learned was the importance of saving and having backup plans, with one student saying,”you should save for emergencies.” Another concept students recognized was the importance of knowing the difference between wants and needs. One student said, “you should make wiser choices by getting what you need first, and then if you have money left over you can buy things you want.”

Finally, many students expressed respect for the financial responsibilities their parents face. “I have a new appreciation for what my parents do now,” said one student while another simply stated, “I don’t like being an adult.”

In March alone, Fairmont FCU reached nearly 200 students through the Mad City Money simulation, providing an opportunity to learn important lessons on responsible financial management and planning. With nine locations across West Virginia, Fairmont FCU is a non-for-profit financial organization that is owned and operated by our members. We offer a range of banking services including checking and savings, online and mobile banking, direct deposits, personal loans, business loans, mortgage loans, and more.

To find a Fairmont Federal Credit Union near you, visit www.fairmontfcu.com or give us a call at 304-363-5320 for more information.