For October, I had planned a fun host family and au pair picnic at Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow. Unfortunately, that had to be cancelled due to rain. We had the au pair meeting at my house instead. In true fall fashion, we had apple cider donuts and apple cider. We also had a good-bye cake, saying our official good-byes to Lilly, Ning and Allegra who are leaving our cluster the next month.
For more photos of this meeting, you can go to October 2013.
This year, 8 Boston area counselors organized the annual host family picnic at Carver Hill Orchard in Stow, MA. This event gives host families and au pairs the opportunity to meet other families and au pairs in the program. It also satisfies the State Department requirement to offer a host family workshop at least once per year. We offered handouts and discussions about topics related to the host family-au pair relationship, such as the adaptation process.
On a beautiful fall day, host families and au pairs enjoyed apple and pumpkin picking, mingling with each other as well as freshly baked cider donuts, apple cider and hayrides provided by Au Pair in America. The children had a choice of different art tables, which included fall coloring sheets and stencils, wood cut fall stamps as well as apple prints.
Not only do events like these bring people together, but it also provides an opportunity for our host families to share this New England tradition of going out into the apple orchard in the fall with their au pairs, many of who just arrived over the summer.
For more photos of the picnic, go to Host Family Picnic 2012 and Host Family Picnic – 2012
For a slideshow of the event, please visit Host Family Picnic slideshow
September 22- Fall begins. 
As the weather cools and the leaves start to change color it is apple-picking season in most parts of the United States. I hope that many of you will come to our apple picking event this Saturday. Here are some other local orchards: http://www.pickyourown.org/mass.htm
Try these simple apple recipes, no matter where you get your apples:
Last Sunday, three Boston area au pair clusters met at Carver Hill Orchard in Stow, MA for our annual host family/au pair picnic. Host families and au pairs enjoyed apple cider and cider donuts provided by the counselors and the kids participated in fall themed cookie decorating. Families and au pairs also went apple picking and enjoyed a hayride through the orchard.
As per State Department regulation, as an au pair agency, we need to offer our host families an informational host family workshop each year during which host families can also meet each other and get to know the cluster better. The Cultural Fair in April was one of them, and we always like to offer this apple picking venue as well since it offers the cultural experience that is so much part of our au pair program. Host families had a choice of informational handouts relating to the host family – au pair relationship.
For more pictures go to Apple Orchard and Apple Orchard1
Join us for
Apple Picking
For Au Pairs and Host Families at as well as families interested in our program
Carver Hill Orchard in Stow, MA
Come meet au pairs and host families from three Boston area clusters
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2011
Time: 3-5pm
Where: Brookside Ave, Stow, MA
We will offer organized activities for the kids as well as informational material.
We have the covered picnic tables reserved. If you would like, you can bring blankets or chairs and food for a picnic. We will supply water as well as apple cider and apple cider donuts.
In addition to apple picking, Carver Hill Orchard offers the following activities for added fun:
Hiking Trails
Hayrides
Children’s Activity in the Orchard
Farm Stand
Hot Dog Stand
Host families: this satisfies your requirement to attend an annual host family workshop
Au Pairs: this is our monthly meeting for September
Please RSVP by Monday, September 19.
We hope you can join us!
Cold and Flu Season 
The greatest number of children develops colds during the fall and winter months. It is a virus that is spread from person to person, either by direct contact or by contact with the virus in the environment. Colds are most contagious during the first two to four days. 
Prevention– Simple hygiene measures can help to prevent infection with viruses. These measures include:
Hand washing is an essential and highly effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Hands should be wet with water and plain soap, and rubbed together for 15 to 30 seconds. It is not necessary to use antibacterial hand soap. Teach children to wash their hands before and after eating and after coughing or sneezing. Make a fun game out of it.
Alcohol-based hand rubs are a good alternative for disinfecting hands if a sink is not available. Hand rubs should be spread over the entire surface of hands, fingers, and wrists until dry, and may be used several times. These rubs can be used repeatedly without skin irritation or loss of effectiveness. Bring them with you wherever you go.
It may be difficult or impossible to completely avoid persons who are ill, although parents should try to limit direct contact. In addition, infants or children who are sick should not be sent to day care or school as this can potentially cause others to become ill.
Using a household cleaner that kills viruses (such as phenol/alcohol) may help to reduce viral transmission. However, don’t overuse.
To boost your immune system, use supplements that contain Echinacea and Vitamin C. Plus, get as much fresh air as you can and a good night’s sleep.
Flu Shots
Many au pairs and host families are looking for places to get flu shots this time of year. This year’s flu vaccine will protect against H1N1 (swine) flu, as well as other strains of seasonal flu. Au Pair insurance does not cover immunizations, but there are lots of places to get flu shots for $30 or less. If the host family is insisting that an au pair get a seasonal flu shot and she agrees to get it, the host family would be responsible for the expense.
If you are planning to get the seasonal flu vaccine, it is recommended that you get it as early as possible.
Check out the Massachusetts site at http://flu.gov/
Flu Shot locator: http://www.findaflushot.com/
CVS Pharmacy and Minute Clinic: http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/promoContent/promoLandingTemplate.jsp?promoLandingId=1033&WT.ac=flushots_learn
Walgreens Pharmacy: http://www.walgreens.com/topic/health-shops/flu.jsp
Target Pharmacy and Clinic: http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/flushot_locator.jsp
Pumpkins
a lively exchange
Last Sunday, four Au Pair in America Community Counselors hosted an Au Pair and Host Family Picnic at Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow, MA. This annual event offers au pairs and host families a chance to meet and connect with other families and au pairs in the program and to share a special New England fall tradition.
Our picnic satisfies the State Department requirement for Au Pair in America to offer at least one mandatory host family workshop a year. This year, our focus was on International Day of Peace, which is today, September 21. As an au pair agency, we bring different cultures together, building a bridge of understanding so important in our world today. Au pairs and host children had a chance to decorate peace rocks:
Au pairs and host families enjoyed this visit to the apple orchard and took advantage of what the farm had to offer: apple picking, hay wagon rides, farm animals, a hedge maze, apple cider and apple cider donuts. For more photos please go to Au Pair and Host Family Picnic
Community Counselors
