Other highly weighted preferences are likely to include hunting and fishing.

Recreation programs on the area are now limited to personnel of the area (including retired people) except those in conducted "tours." Recreation may be considered, within limits, as in a place to:

• build
• throw things
• climb
• run
• engage in group exersize
• solve unusual puzzles
• engage in contests
• use special extensive area equipment (e.g., ORV's and boats)

Potential new recreational activities suggested by area users are:

• camping
• ice skating
• horseback riding
• scuba diving

Nature-lover sometimes appear to have a low tolerance for other users of areas. The same is true for hunters and anglers. Their "spot" is ruined; their quary is easily disturbed. "Accommodation of everyone should be simply a matter of good planning" (Stillman 1966:6). Stillman's point is excellent; implementing it is probably impossible. Nevertheless an effort can be made by developing sets of relatively compatible or non-conflicting (90%) uses then to develop a matrix or PERT analysis for a 2-year plan allowing scheduling of these activities and access to them in time and in locations within the area.

Opportunities exist for the following emphases with detailed operational and action specifics to be developed as time and resources become available. One potential is for off-site enterprises to develop to support activities on and around the area, e.g., stables to support riding groups using trails.

The options for the future include:

1. A bird-watching "course", a standard pathway through diverse habitat with users playing against their previous score or scores of others in birds seen. (A similar buoy-marked course for the wetland.)
2. Riding trails with loops extending off-site.
3. Continued hunting area management with special permission gained to extend the season on-site to increase harvests.
4. Nature tours for bus-loads of people brought to the area to learn about the diverse systems of the area, perhaps in conjunction with the new nature center. A boat-tour may be combined with the bus tour to emphasize the wetland system.
5. Viewing blinds or "hides" for observing nature at the ponds or select wildlife planting sites may enhance observation and provide relaxing, stress reducing sites.
6. Information on programs and activities may increase satisfaction with the area even though actual use may not be increased. Information on pests and problems (poison ivy, ticks, etc.) will increase the quality of the experiences. Reduction of these problems (e.g., selective plant-specific herbicide use in exercise areas along trails to reduce threat of Rhus dermatitis) will increase use and quality of experiences.
7. There are few places where additional facilities can be built. Emphases are on dispersed use, of trails or boat-routes.
8. Although public visitation for interpretive purposes may create some hazards, it may be that profit-oriented bus tours may provide superior, low-intensity, controlled, safe use of areas.
9. Ice skating may be encouraged and included with a horse-drawn sledding experiment.
10. Cooperative work with nearby park staff may be engaged to achieve synergistic results.
11. The creative people of the area may find that the physical conditions of the site, lunch-hour exercise needs, and potentials for off-site influences (from base personnel, as well as for the local community) suggest the potential for a "new sport" development center. This may be local only and involve spectators. The new sports, related to the environment and the above ideas may include:
    1. Nature identification or knowledge contests
    2. Rope climbing
    3. Challenge races (water and land)
    4. Person-and-horse events (deliver a message)
    5. Throwing events (distance and target accuracy spears, rocks, weights)
    6. Tug of war teams
    7. Log-lift-and-carry teams
    8. Night races
    9. Giant checkers
    10. Build a cabin - (Giant "Lincoln Logs" to construct a "box" for exercise; eventually a speed contest for some groups.)
    11. Bird house building contest. A novosport club can be created to enhance development, raise funds for experiments, and use contest funds to enhance the opportunities on the area and allow entrepreneurial development (clothing, equipment, publications, etc.)

Some of the work, especially trail construction and maintenance, can be done by supervised wards of the court. Youth programs may allow some activities to be conducted.

All of the above suggestions need to be compatible with:

• Maryland and Virginia State Coastal Zone Management Programs and the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (PL 92-538)
• Adjacent community recreation development proposals
• Maryland and Virginia Natural Heritage Program
• Forest Management Plan
• Wildlife Management Plan
• Cultural resources restoration and archeological studies

Of course none of the above (by design) conflict with the primary mission of the area. They are means to allow the recreational potentials of the resources to be exploited safely, without degradation, and (by design) increased.

Recreational zones are mapped in the Recreational Plan. Information is needed to improve the quality of experiences (reducing fear or frustration of violation). Flexibility seems needed. Convenient leisure time activity e.g., many of the "new sports" can safely be achieved in the restricted recreation zone during meal or break periods. Picnic tables (3-6) near these recreation spots can increase the positive benefits of a break.