Stonybrook Day Camp: December 2009

17 December 2009

Staff Spotlight -Jen !

Jen Hubert

Junior Camp Director

Camp Background

Stonybrook camper, 4 years

Stonybrook staff member, 5 years

“I love my time at Stonybrook. The Junior Camp is a camp within a

camp and we hire the finest teachers/educators to supervise the

youngest children. It is exciting for me to help shape the lives of

these children and watch them grow and learn through our

excellent programming while making new friends.”

Family

Married to husband, Jason, and have 3 sons ages 8 (Danny), 13 (Zach), and 16 (Josh). Danny & Zach are SBDC campers, Josh is a junior counselor. We have a cockapoo named Molly.

9 Month Job

Teacher at Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel in South Orange, NJ, since1993 (6th and 7th grade Hebrew, tutor for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs)

Special Needs Hebrew instructor/ Special Needs Advocate

Education

Livingston High School

George Washington University , Speech Communications Major

Continuing Education

Teaching courses at the Jewish Education

Association Awards & Recognition

Annual speaker at the Livingston PRIDE program for children with

special needs.

Chairman of the Board of Education at Temple Beth Shalom, Livingston.

Recognized for mentoring JESPY house workers at Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel.

Favorite Activities

Tennis, golf, spinning, running and strength training.

"For the kids at SBDC, I love the challenge course. I love to watch our campers achieve their goals and navigate through the elements. Each time a jr camper does the zip line for the first time I

get excited for them as if they were my own child accomplishing it!"

Core Value

Friendship: "I enjoy coming back to Stonybrook year after year because of the friendships. Each year we meet new campers and counselors and reacquaint with the old ones. Camp is a happy place, and I am lucky to say I get to work there."

Best Memory Summer 2009

"Seeing the faces of the children who went hydro tubing for the firsttime at Lake Hopatcong. They were beaming."

Christmas Day, no plans- no worries

Christmas Day, no plans- no worries

WinterFest at JCC MetroWest is on Friday, December 25, 10:00am-1:00pm, at the Cooperman JCC in West Orange. Enjoy sports, games, crafts, and a children’s show featuring Mama Doni. The admission fee is $18 per child with FREE admission for adults and children under age one.

Note: Kidnetics is also open!

For a Little Creative Break

Doin' Dishes 50 Church Street, Montclair, NJ 973-744-8589 ‎

A Paint-Your-Own-Ceramics Studio

Paintin' the Plates Maplewood, NJ 973-762-0057

Brushes & Bisque 45 Broadway Denville , NJ 973-627-6292

Get on the Ice

To find a local ice skating arena, check out: http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/nj/new_jersey_skating_rinks_arenas.cfm

Our local favorites are:

Richard J. Codey Arena 560 Northfield Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052 (973) 731-3828

(right in front of the Turtle Back Zoo)

Public skating sessions are one of our main attractions at Richard J. Codey Arena. Skating provides great exercise and an opportunity to get out of the house - plus, it's not like exercising at the gym... skating is fun! Lace-em up and come join the others. Get on the ice and get ready for a great experience.

Clary Anderson Arena 41 Chestnut Street Montclair, NJ 07042 (973) 744-6088

Aspen Ice 316 Aspen Drive Randolph, NJ 07869-1107 (973) 927-9122

A really cool experience is skating at:

Essex Fells Skating Pond 330 Fells Road Essex Fells, NJ 07021 (973) 228-2800

For a little more adventure try a climbing afternoon…

The Gravity Vault 2 40 Watchung Ave Chatham, New Jersey 973-701-7625
http://www.gravityvault.com
14,000+ sf of indoor climbing, 40 foot high climbing walls, 60+ top rope stations, cool stem chimney, huge lead arch, 40 ft hand crack, many lead lines, rappel ledge, keyhole arch, big 16+ ft top out boulder.

Randolph Climbing Center 3 Middlebury Blvd Randolph, NJ 973-598-8555

http://www.randolphclimbingcenter.com/

30' tall, 3,000 SF climbing wall and bouldering zone

Or throw it down at:

Rockaway Lanes Inc www.rockaway-lanes..com
365 U.S.. 46, Rockaway - (973) 627-5800

Eagle Rock Lanes

424 Eagle Rock Ave. West Orange 973-731-6363

The Big Screen for the Little Ones:

Be in the know with this year’s kid's flicks. These are the movies (most are rated G or PG) released in November and December that may be in a theater near you:

November Releases

PLANET 51 (11/20)
THE BLIND SIDE (11/20)
TWILIGHT: NEW MOON* (November 20, PG-13)
FANTASTIC MR. FOX (11/25)
OLD DOGS (11/25)

December Releases

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (12/11)
AVATAR (12/18)
QUANTUM QUEST: A CASSINI SPACE ODYSSEY (12/18)
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKUEL (12/25)

Visit the Big Apple

Go skating in Rockefeller Center or Central Park.
Tour all the Department Store holiday windows.
Go to the American Girl store for lunch and shopping/browsing.
Visit one of the many awesome city museums, there is something for everyone – young one to teens, boys and girls.
Check out ESPN Zone in Times Square or Dave & Busters (234 West 42nd Street NYC, 646-495-2015)

We recommend this site for great tips day to day, week to week….

http://mommypoppins.com/ny-kids/100-things-to-do-with-your-kids-in-ny-before-they-grow-up

Bundle them Up for a Day Trip to the Local Slopes

Campgaw Mountain Want to jump in the car and be skiing in under an hour? Campgaw is your place. Just 18 miles from the George Washington Bridge, Campgaw is a tiny slip of a slope. It's a great place to go if you want to ski on with your children on easy slopes.

Windham Mountain (http://www.windhammountain.com/) Windham is a good mountain with an excellent ski school that skiers of all levels can enjoy. So you can leave your kids at the Children's Learning Center whether they are skiing or not and enjoy 39 trails and 1600 vertical feet of slopes yourself.

Tuxedo Ridge (former Sterling Forest) was very popular with family skiers until it closed two years ago. After overhauling the lodge, kitchen and bathrooms and purchasing all new rental equipment, Tuxedo Ridge is finally open again. Just 35 miles from the George Washington Bridge in Tuxdeo, N..Y., with 8 trails, a snowboarding park and a tubing run, it's a convenient location for families to enjoy winter sports.

Hidden Valley (http://www.hiddenvalleynj.com) Hate crowds? Located in Vernon, NJ in the shadow of the larger, more popular Mountain Creek Resort, Hidden Valley is often overlooked. But this little resort has 12 trails, a full lodge, is only 40 miles from NY and really friendly staff.

Mountain Creek Resort (http://www.mountaincreek.com/index.htm ) You can carve your way down 45 trails, or test your skills in one of the three terrain parks or the superpipe, all featuring 100 percent snowmaking and night lighting. You will ski and ride down 1,040 foot vertical, serviced by 11 lifts, featuring one high-speed eight-passenger Cabriolet gondola and two high-speed quads, plus beginner terrain accessed by two Magic Carpets. Everyone can enjoy the six lanes of snowtubing (also accessed by a Magic Carpet) open Thursday through Sunday.

Hunter Mountain (http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/resort/) Hunter Mountain calls itself the "Snowmaking Capital of the World." The resort makes snow early, often, and in large quantities, so the moniker is on the mark. The area is also known for the large numbers of singles it draws from the New York Metro areas.. Food offerings are atypical and blazed new culinary trails. You might even find sushi on the menu.

Camelback (http://www.skicamelback.com/) was voted the #1 resort in the Pocono Mountains. You will find 34 trails and 15 lifts including two high-speed quads, snowboard competition halfpipe, two terrain parks, and a wide selection of trails for all ability levels. Night skiing is available on all trails. Directions: I-80 West to PA Exit 299 (old Exit 45) Tannersville, and follow the signs to Camelback.

For more skiing info, check out: http://www.onthesnow.com/

We wish you and your family the best ever holiday season - whether you are local or traveling- be safe; have fun; create great memories.

Vacation- Staycation, Making it Memorable

Do you remember being a kid, and the magic of school vacations? No homework, no early wake-up, and maybe if you were really lucky, a trip to somewhere warm or a ski vacation with your family.. For those of us not visiting Boca, Disney or Stowe this winter break, it’s up to us to make NY/NJ the most memorable and fun “staycation” ever. This year most kids start their break on 12/23 and do not go back to school until 1/04- that is 11 days to fill. Here are some starter ideas for fun activities to do with the kids over this extra long break.

Indoor Play Options are great option for 2-3 hours of fun… Here are some of favorite things to do.

The FunPlex East Hanover, NJ 973-428-1166

http://www.thefunplex.com/

Funtime Junction Fairfield, NJ 973-882-9777

http://funtimejunction.com/

(closed xmas eve, xmas day, open 12/26-30, early close 12/31, closed 1/1)

Kidnetics Montville, NJ 973-331-9001

www.kidneticnj.com

Open play hours for the holiday weeks are: Mon 12/21:10:30-5, 12/ 22: 9-5, 12/ 23: 10:30-5, 12/ 24: 9-3, 12/25 12-5, Sun 12/27: 9-10:30, 12/28:10:30-5, 12/29: 9-5, 12/30 10:30-5, 12/31:9-3
Fri. 1/01:12-5, 1/02: 9-10:30

Jumpnasium 204 Passaic Ave, Fairfield, NJ 973-808-1700

http://jumpnasiumparty.com/

Open Play TBD- sign up for schedule on their website for the most up to date information

Jump On In 85 Fulton St, Boonton, NJ 973-588-7733

http://www.jumponinfun.com

It’s a HUGE private indoor party place with inflatable jumpers, slides, climbers, obstacle courses as well as “Jumpshot,” the ultimate trampoline basketball game. As suitable for 3 year olds as it is for teens or adults, our facility is always supervised for safety. They have open play times as well. Call for information.

Pump It Up of Randolph 10 Middlebury Boulevard Randolph, NJ 973-252-9777

http://www.pumpitupparty.com

Bridgewater Sports Arena 1425 Frontier Road, Bridgewater, NJ 732-627-0006‎

http://www.bsaarena.com

BSA is a modern, 150,000 square foot facility that caters both to athletes and families by providing an inviting atmosphere packed with activities for visitors of all ages and ability levels. BSA is a clean, safe, smoke-free facility that is perfect for the whole family.

Peace, Love, Stonybrook

‘Tis the season for giving and getting. Whether your family celebrates 8 days of Chanukah or one eve and one day of Christmas, the holiday season is the next best time of year to a Stonybrook summer. As parents, there are few times when we feel more appreciated than when our kids are overjoyed about receiving their new Wii, DSi, Mario games, or their newest Littlest Pet Shop toy. But beyond the giving of gifts to children and loved ones, there is another joy to be shared- the gift of giving. Call it altruism, philanthropy, Tzedaka it all translates to caring.

There are 4 core values at Stonybrook Day Camp: caring, honesty, respect and friendship. Everyday the kids drive into camp, these words are posted down the entry drive. And beyond being words, we live the values all 8 weeks of camp. During this miraculous season, we thought it would be a good time to call out "caring." With caring, ultimately we can have greater peace. One great example of caring exercised during our summer together is thru the Teen Xtreme program. Since 2005, we incorporated giving back to our community as an integral part of the campers' summer experience and growth..

During summer 2009, the Teen Xtreme campers volunteered at Habitat for Humanity. They helped to build, paint and landscape homes. Years past, campers helped build a home for a wheelchair bound girl and her family. They were so moved by the experience, they went back to visit the home and the family the following year. Teen Xtreme campers also spent time with the elderly at Merry Heart where they played games, danced and read. Their third experience was a visit to Valley Settlement House (shelter) where they played and led games and activities with the children. Ask any Teen Xtreme camper about their summer, their favorite activity may have had something to do with a roller coaster, but their most memorable may likely have had something to do with volunteering.

We are all so busy throughout the year, and it is sometimes hard to get through our own agendas, but we hope that after all the wrapping paper is put away, and the toys are in the closet, that Stonybrook families will share in the gift of giving. There are so many charities that need volunteers. If you are interested, here are a few great places to explore volunteering opportunities:

JFS

http://www.jfsmetrowest.org

Essex County Mental Health Organization,

www.mhaessex.org/

Habitat For Humanity,

http://www.habitat.org/cd/local/

Happy Holidays to all. Peace.

Give your Preschooler a Fantastic Summer in 2010

Maybe you can not believe your little “baby” is already going to camp this summer. Or maybe he or she went to pseudo preschool camp at nursery school last summer, and you know he or she is ready for something bigger and better. So, we want to help you make the obvious best choice for your young camper this summer- Stonybrook Day Camp. Here are our top 8 (in the Chanukah spirit), very biased, but still true reasons why your junior camper should come to Stonybrook this summer….

Camp is a community, and it is never too early to establish a kid's roots in community. SBDC campers form life-long friendships, and our junior campers bonds continue for years to come.
Real camp has swim in a real pool, with real instructors, outside in the real summer.
Tennis is more fun on the tennis court, basketball on the basketball court, baseball on the diamond, etc, etc – at any age.
Shlepping kids back and forth to “camp” does not measure up to home or central mini-van pick up and drop off for a full day of camp (and the ride to camp is part of the fun camp has to offer).
Packing dairy lunches in the summer vs. having a full spectrum of kid-friendly, yummy, hot or cold lunch options just does not measure up.
We have had 100s of super satisfied 3 & 4 year old junior campers and families over the years, who return year after year.
Other summer programs are only 7 weeks with half days, while SBDC is an 8 week, full day program customized to a preschooler's energy and skills. (daily nap/down time is always scheduled for the kids to rest and refuel)
You get a whole lot more camp for your money- especially with Stonybrook’s junior camp rates of $3300 for 3’s and $4400 for 4’s.