Tag Archives: apple picking

Annual Host Family Picnic

On a beautiful Saturday in September, host families from my cluster and three other clusters met for our annual host family picnic at Honeypot Hill Orchard in Stow, MA.   Counselors provided apple cider, water, and apple cider donuts.  Children had a chance to decorate cookies and participate in craft activities.

 

 

 

 

 

This meeting satisfies the State Department requirement to offer an annual host family workshop.  Families had a chance to connect with each other and look at handouts related to being a host family, provided by counselors.  This event also provided a cultural experience for our au pairs.

For more photos, go to host family picnic 2015

Annual Host Family Workshop

Once or twice a year, Au Pair in America counselors offer a host family workshop that gives host families the chance to connect and discuss aspects of the host family – au pair relationship.  This is in compliance with State Department regulations to hold an event like this once a year.

        

This year, I joined 3 other counselors we met our host families on a beautiful day at Honeypot Hill Orchards in Stow, MA for an apple picking picnic.  Many au pairs attended as well.   We enjoyed conversations, apple cider donuts and apple cider.  Host children participated in cookie decorating and fall craft activities.

For more photos go to host family day 2014

Fall is in the air

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:

  • Applesauce is very simple to make. Remove the core and quarter the apples. If you leave the peel on during cooking it will give the applesauce a pink color. When the apples are very soft, remove any peel that is left, mash the pulp or put it through a sieve. Add sugar if needed.
  • Try making Dried Apple Rings. They can be used as a nutritious snack. Peel, core and slice apples into 1/8 inch rings (Macintosh or Golden Delicious apples work best). Dip each ring into a mixture of lemon juice and water to help the apples keep their color. Pull a piece of string through the center of each ring and hang in a dry, warm place. They take 1-2 weeks to dry and become chewy.

Host Family and Au Pair Apple Orchard Picnic

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

Au Pair in America Apple Orchard Picnic

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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

http://www.carverhill.com/

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!

Au Pair and Host Family Picnic

Pumpkins

Pumpkins

a lively exchange

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:

Peace Rocks
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

Community Counselors