Octoberfest 2012: Highlights!

What an amazing day we had at Stonybrook's Octoberfest this past Saturday. The weather, crisp and fresh, set the tone for a perfect fall day of fun.  In fact, we would describe it as a family camp day with a fall spin.  Horse carriage/hay rides, farm animals, challenge course, games, crafts, pumpkins and lots of smiles.  We loved seeing many familiar faces and we were happy to meet new friends.  Here's a recap of the day.  You just need an apple cider donut in one hand and an apple in the other to get the full effect!  

 

Don't forget to

It's All About: Octoberfest and Stuff the Bus!

This weekend is going to be a fantastic one.  Don’t forget to join us on Saturday from 1-3:30 for Stonybrook’s OCTOBERFEST.  Current campers, alumni, family and friends…. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!  Music, games, arts and crafts, challenge course, contests, and so much more.  Coach Rick and Coach Mike will be there along with many staff and familiar faces.

And if you are looking for something good to do THIS Sunday, do something good.

A highlight of camp this past summer was when our entire camp participated in the STUFF THE BUS FOOD DRIVE FOR C.H.O.W. (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse).  We filled a camp bus with donated healthy food items.  It was amazing and we fed so many families in need. 

Following the success of the Stuff the Bus food drive, the Livingston community is looking to hold one more on Sunday Oct 14th in order to help the food pantry out during this pre-holiday season.

The non-perishable items requested for collection are: canned tuna, peanut butter, napkins, toilet tissue, paper towels, breakfast cereal, condiments, canned beans, dried beans, pasta, white or brown rice, pasta sauces, macaroni & cheese, powdered milk, canned fruit, canned vegetables, baby food and jelly & jam. Only new, unopened items will be collected.  Please make sure items are not expired and healthy items are appreciated.

The Stuff the Bus bus will drive through town and make many stops.  People are welcomed and encouraged to come bring donations to any bus stop.

STUFF THE BUS SCHEDULE 

Newark Academy at 8:15am-8:45am

Livingston’s Shoprite at 9:00-9:30am

Livingston’s Kings at 9:40-10:15am. 

Mount Pleasant Elementary School 10:20-10:45am

Harrison Elementary School 10:50-11:20am

Temple Beth Shalom from 11:30am- 11:55am  

Lastly at noon, the bus heads over to the Livingston 2012 Fun Run for Health and Wellness presented by the West Essex YMCA, the Big "L" Club and the Livingston Education Foundation.

All collected food will be donated to Livingston’s C.H.O.W.. C.H.O.W, spearheaded by Sister Barbara Howard of St. Philomena’s and a project of the Livingston Clergy Association, will distribute collected items to people in need. Housed at St. Philomena’s, C.H.O.W. is also open to people, of all faiths, on a drop-in basis and those interested can contact Sister Barbara at (973) 992-1382 for additional information.  Excess food collected during the drive will be donated to soup kitchens and food pantries in our surrounding areas.

This Stuff the Bus Food Drive is a project of Livingston’s Food Day Committee.  Food Day is a national initiative, sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, working to bring people together to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable and humane way.  In 2012, Livingston has joined Food Day’s “eat real movement” to help do nothing short of transforming the American diet.  To learn more about Livingston’s Food Day efforts go to www.facebook.com/LivingstonFoodDay . To learn more about Food Day go to www.foodday.org.

So again, come have fun on Saturday and do something good on Sunday.  Now that’s a great weekend!

Don't forget to

It's All About: Sun High Orchards!

Fall weekend activity alert!

Sun High Orchards is a favorite of Roger’s and many Stonybrook staff and campers.  Located right around the corner from camp, Sun High Orchards, operated by Farmer Phil, offers a bounty of farm grown fruits and vegetables.  And Farmer Phil happens to be a great person, who loves what he does, and it shows.

Fall is all about apple and pumpkin picking at Sun High!  There is a big variety- Cortland, Macintosh, Galas, Macouns, Honeycrisp, Empire, Delicious, Fugi and Winesap are just some of apples harvested from Sun High’s trees. Continuous hayrides (weekends only) will take you to the pumpkin patch beginning the last weekend of September and continuing through October. Corn stalks, hardy mums, gourds, hay bales and many other fall decorations are also available.

In fact, you may be familiar with Sun High if you have ever been at a Stonybrook Octoberfest. The apples, apple cider, pumpkins, cider donuts (Peanut and Tree Nut Free), corn stalks, bails of hay and just about everything else for Octoberfest comes from Farmer Phil at Sun High Orchard.  And speaking of Octoberfest, make sure you join us on Oct 13^th from 1:00-3:30 to check out these fall favorites.

While closed for the winter months, the fall, spring and summer months are busy at the farm. Opening on May 1st, the Spring season kicks off with asparagus. This is one of the very first crops to announce summer is on it's way! Annuals and perennials for the beginner to advanced gardener are also available. July 4^th kicks off the summer season with “Jersey Fresh” sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, flowers and of course pies.  

So again, Sun High is a favorite of Roger’s. Anyone who has seen his desk during the summer knows that he is a fan of Sun High’s stone fruits (all of them).  Roger also loves grilling corn and there is no corn fresher or better than picking it yourself. Farmer Phil lets him go and choose his own corn and cut the stalks himself.  It’s good to have sun a wonderful farm nearby.  Come check it out for yourself and let Farmer Phil know Roger sent you! http://www.sunhigh.com.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Octoberfest 2012!!!

Don't forget to