Category Archives: Uncategorized

Welcome to Camp Au Pair in America!

When kids are out of school for the summer, it doesn’t take long for them to become bored and sometimes that leads to sibling squabbles and mischief. Even though they don’t realize it, they are usually missing routine and predictability in their daily schedule. One solution is to make fun plans to keep them busy! 

Each week this summer we will share a different Camp Au Pair theme. These weekly themes are designed to give you ideas to keep your host kids occupied and engaged all summer long. They will also be learning. (But shhhh, don’t tell them that part.) Check back each Friday, for the next week’s theme. This gives you a chance to make plans and gather materials for the next week. For each theme there will be crafts, games, snacks and activities. You can just use these ideas or add your own and customize the themes to fit the ages and interests of your host children.

Here are the themes you can look forward to:

  • Nature Exploration
  • Art Experiences
  • Under the Sea
  • Science (STEM)
  • Bugs & Butterflies
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Backyard Safari
  • Dinosaurs
  • Explore the World
  • Outer Space
  • Pirate Adventures
  • Princesses & Knights

Check out Summer Fun & Summer Holidays pin boards for even more ideas.

If you get some great pictures doing these activities with your host kids, please send those to your community counselor. We love to share your accomplishments and inspire other au pairs!

Let’s make this an amazing summer!

Valentine’s Day Activities & Crafts

Valentine’s Day is a time of love, friendship, giving, and caring. Americans use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell friends and family how much they care.  Children usually exchange cards at school.

Are you looking for Valentine’s day activity and craft ideas?

Look no further…  Au Pair in America has a Pinterest Pinboard devoted to Valentine’s Day:

APIA Valentine’s Day Pinboard

valentine's day heart

Coffee meeting in downtown Boston

We met today with a group of aupairs in our cluster to talk about education questions, extension question and to chat. We welcomed Julia from Germany who arrived two days ago in our cluster to start her extension year in Boston as an Educare aupair. She  qualified to extend with getting also all 12 credits during her first year in the Philadelphia area. She will continue her education now at local famous colleges here in Boston 😉

Julia received her education certificate for completion of her 12 credits as an Educare aupair

Julia received her education certificate for completion of her 12 credits as an Educare aupair

Julia heard the story of the famous Boston childrens book"Make Way for Ducklings"

Julia heard the story of the famous Boston childrens book"Make Way for Ducklings"

Marie from France and Ana from Spain both received their education of completion certificate today

Marie from France and Ana from Spain both received their education of completion certificate today

Veteran’s Day in Boston

veteransday.jpg

More than just another three-day weekend, Veterans Day is a chance to honor and give thanks to all the men and women who have served in our nation’s military. Celebrate Veterans Day with the family by participating in patriotic craft-making, attending a special concert, enjoying free admission to area zoos for veterans, and more.

Veterans Day Family Fun Weekend, USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown. Sat., Nov. 9 – Mon., Nov. 11,10 a.m. – 5 p.m. All ages. With suggested Museum donation: adults, $5; seniors, $3; children, $2. Celebrate and honor our nation’s veterans at the USS Constitution Museum by asking yourself, “Is a sailor’s life for you?” Learn about the daily struggles that crew members on board “Old Ironsides” faced during the War of 1812 and how their stories continue to inspire people today. www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Free admission for veterans, Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Rd., Dorchester. Sat., Nov. 9 – Mon., Nov. 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free for veterans. Others, regular admission: adults, $17; ages 2-12, $11; seniors $14; under 2, free. Spend the day with gorillas, lions, and zebras. Kids can take a break from hanging out with the animals to jump and climb and slide on the zoo’s elaborate playground. www.zoonewengland.org

Want to take the family to a parade? Here is a map of Veterans Day parades around Greater Boston.

Pool Party July cluster meeting

For our July cluster meeting we met at my home in Braintree for a Pool party since the weather was sunny and hot.

Our agenda this time was water safety for kids which is an important topic to know during the summer. Every 3 month we are required to have one safety meeting.

We also chatted with new aupair who just arrived this week in the US and said good bye to many who came for their last cluster meeting. Nobody could believe how fast this time ran by. Either just one year or even two if the aupair extended for a second year like Janika from Germany. They all promised to visit again since Boston became their home, they experienced so much, have seen so many places in the US,  made so many friends and also became part of their host families daily live.

Going back means also starting over in a new/old culture and that they will experience almost the same culture shock as when they arrived here in the US.

From left: Theresa and Lara who almost finished their year as Educare aupair with Lara's sister who is visiting her

From left: Theresa and Lara who almost finished their year as Educare aupair with Lara's sister who is visiting her

Talking about water safety while cooling of with the feet in the pool

Talking about water safety while cooling of with the feet in the pool

Andrea from Mexico was one of many who finished her required education and received her certificate of completion at our meeting

Andrea from Mexico was one of many who finished her required education and received her certificate of completion at our meeting

Eating ice cream as dessert was part of the lunch we had

Eating ice cream as dessert was part of the lunch we had

Jennifer from Germany also received her certificate of completion for her 6 credits

Jennifer from Germany also received her certificate of completion for her 6 credits

Lynn from Germany also won our picture contest where she had to have the Au Pair in America t-shirt on together with something of Boston. Her prize was an "I LOVE BOSTON" shirt

Lynn from Germany also won with this picture our summer picture contest where she had to have the Au Pair in America t-shirt on together with something of Boston. Her prize was an "I LOVE BOSTON" shirt. See below 🙂

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Group picture at the Sunset Lake

Group picture at the Sunset Lake

For all pictures please go to Pool Party July Cluster meeting 2013

Outdoor Music & FREE Movie Friday nights in downtown Boston

Harbor Hotel Movies

Rowes Wharf Sea Grille can be found on the water side of the hotel. The cafe hosts a summer movie series called Music & Movie Fridays, and formerly known as Movies by Moonlight. An outdoor screen is set up on the side of the large gazebo. Restaurant patrons and pedestrians can watch a movie and enjoy the ambience of the waterfront.

See schedule for the movies here: Movies by Moonlight 2013

Free Friday movies at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River in Boston this summer


Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell 2013Now a beloved, summertime tradition for New England families, Free Friday Flicks are classic & popular, family-oriented movies shown each Friday night throughout the summer at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade for FREE!

People of all ages flock to the banks of the Charles River with their own chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy these Free movies under the stars.

All movies are shown rain or shine at sundown (approximately 8:30pm). But come early to grab your spot on the lawn…and visit the WBZ Tent for lots of free giveaways, food samples and fun interactive games!

2013 Schedule – What’s Playing This Week?

Friday July 12, Sunset (8:21 pm) – Despicable Me
Friday July 19, Sunset (8:16 pm) – Wreck It Ralph
Friday July 26, Sunset (8:10 pm) – Here Comes The Boom

Friday August 2, Sunset (8:02 pm) – Madagascar 3
Friday August 9, Sunset (7:53 pm) – Rise Of The Guardians
Friday August 16, Sunset (7:43 pm) – Jack The Giant Slayer
Friday August 23, Sunset (7:33 pm) – Oz The Great & Powerful

For more information or cancellation due to weather, call the Free Friday Flicks Hotline: 617-787-7200 or visit wbz.com

Meeting at the Vapiano restaurant in Boston downtown

Yesterday we met with many of our cluster at a local downtown restaurant Vapiano for an Italian night together. We had many whose aupair year will come to an end soon in the summer and everybody who has finished all the credits for the education requirement got a certificate to take home. Our Educare aupairs needed to get 12 credits at a college or university and the standart and extraordinaire program requires 6 credits during the first year as an aupair in the US.

Theresa, Anita, Katja, Isabell and Kristina. All from Germany received their certificate last night

Theresa, Anita, Katja, Isabell and Kristina. All from Germany received their certificate last night

Monike from Brazil also received her certificate for fullfilling the requirements of the aupair education program

Monike from Brazil also received her certificate for fullfilling the requirements of the aupair education program

Judith G from Germany received today her price for winning the third place in the snowman contest which was a while ago

Judith G from Germany received today her price for winning the third place in the snowman contest.

Enjoying to share information and experiences is part of our clustermeetings

Enjoying to share information and experiences is part of our cluster meetings

For all pictures please go to : Aupair Italian night at the Vapiano restaurant