December 13, 2008 -- After a rainy week, Saturday presented itself with a beautiful sunny sky for our trip to Bear Mountain State Park. On the agenda was ice-skating and a walk through Bear Mountain’s zoo. We met at PS 241 and soon learned that this would be only the first or second time that many of our nine sixth-graders had ever ice-skated.

Once we arrived, the students were both eager and tentative about getting on the ice. Some gripped onto the rink’s wall cautiously inching forward while others sped confidently around the rink....

December 8,2008 -- We enjoyed a great, invigorating hike with the Huntington House kids this past Saturday at Harriman State Park. We had five adults and four kids, so we could give each of the kids a lot of attention.  They were really interested in their surroundings, taking it all in, exploring all the way.  Gary Nickerson and Carol Hillson warmed everyone up mid-hike with delicious hot cocoa, and all four of our young hikers enjoyed their trail side picnic lunch - low 30's temperature notwithstanding!

On Saturday, the kids of Kingsbridge International High and CampInteractive hiked a section of the Long Path Trail right outside of Nyack, NY.The trip started like always, with students and volunteers meeting at Kingsbridge bright eyed and bushy tailed at 8:30 a.m. Despite the overcast in the sky, everyone was eager to get going. The bus ride was pleasant and short: a quick jump over the river.

Take twelve children who have never baked a pie or picked an apple off a tree; add four willing and highly capable volunteers;
Place in an apple orchard for 1 hour, then return to city to bake.

What do you get?

Observations about the colors of the leaves... a lesson in seed distribution... three wild, awesome and spontaneous dance-offs... animated faces and cheeks filled with apples fresh from the trees... friendships between volunteers and children... several games... an overheard phrase, 'this feels like summer vacation' and most importantly, three very tasty and delicious-smelling pies!

Susan Stillman