Tag Archives: Community Counselors

DC Region Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo 2017

October 27, 2017 – 6:23 pm

The weather could no be more perfect for the gathering of nearly 30 Clusters of Au Pair in America’s DC Region!

Over 300 Au Pairs from around the world met to participate in the 3rd Au Pair in America DC Region Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo on Sunday, October 1st.

Au Pairs formed teams of 10-12 and given packets with instructions, each unique hunt map asked the team to identify 10 animals by color, region, texture etc.

Pinterest was a great resource for excellent scavenger hunt maps this year. These followed a Montessori model…

The Zoo was a buzz that Sunday with many young families enjoying a day out and they encountered little groups of Au Pairs in their Au Pair in America t-shirts happily saying hello and engaging children. After 2 hours the teams returned with photos of their finds and presented their results to their Counselor.

Each Au Pair received a stuffed panda toy as a souvenir of the day and their visit with the National Zoo’s own Giant Pandas…Mei Xiang (female), Tian Tian (male) and their baby Bei Bei.

All participants and their counselors gathered for a giant photo to commemorate the day!

Au Pairs Prepared for Winter Driving with Special AAA Class!

December 15, 2016 – 12:54 pm

Just in time to be ready for the cold temps and possible snow soon to arrive to the DC area. Au Pairs in Victoria Paton’s and Imelda Farrells’s clusters met last week at the Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department for a class on Winter Driving with AAA Mid Atlantic (and former police officer) Joe Beddick.

The 60 Au Pairs learned about preparing a car for winter driving, clearing car of snow, going slow etc.

After his talk, Mr. Beddick, showed some very real videos about what happens when drivers are distracted by phone or texting etc., reminding them that it is illegal in the state of Maryland.

At the end of the meeting, Counselors raffled off prizes such as snow melt, snow scrapers, hand warmers, gloves, shovels etc. for Au Pairs to keep in their cars…just in case.

Brrrrr!!

Au Pair in America Au Pairs Celebrate Christmas at Krispy Kreme

December 29, 2015 – 4:29 pm

To celebrate Christmas away from home, Au Pair in America Au Pairs in Victoria Paton’s cluster in Maryland (Potomac, Bethesda, Cabin John and Glen Echo) donned Santa hats and enjoyed a dessert party at Krispy Kreme in Rockville.

Au Pairs brought a gift to exchange, and in the spirit of the holidays, they also generously donated personal items for Streetlights USA (a charity that supports young women saved in America from trafficking).

Four lighted trees were decorated by the Au Pairs and then raffled-off to four happy winners.

Many Au Pairs would be spending the holidays with their Host Families while others were looking forward to learning more about America with travel to Florida, Las Vegas, San Diego etc.

Crepes A Go Go Gathering for Au Pairs

July 30, 2015 – 4:36 am

Victoria presents year-end certificates to Natasha (UK) and Frances (South Africa), both are extending another year so will complete two years with their Host Family.

Approximately 50 Au Pair in America Au Pairs gathered in Gaithersburg, (Kentlands Town Center) to sit outdoors and enjoy crepes as they connected with friends and their Senior Community Counselors: Imelda Farrell and Victoria Paton.

End of the Year completion certificates were presented to our July departures and each Au Pair was asked to impart some words of wisdom to those she is leaving behind: “Travel as much as you can”, “Communication with your Host Family is key to the success of your match – if you don’t understand – ask”, “Don’t go to Starbucks too often so you can save money for travel or take extra courses at college”, “Enjoy every moment – the time flies by!”

50+ Au Pairs at Crepes A Go Go in Kentlands

Au Pairs Tour US Capitol on a Glorious Saturday Morning

May 21, 2013 – 11:03 am

It was a sunny and crisp morning in May when 65 Au Pairs from all over Montgomery County gathered to tour the US Capitol with Senior Community Counselors Imelda Farrell and Victoria Paton. Au Pairs learned a lot and an Au Pair from Brazil even taught the tour guide something…that Tom Hanks and George Clooney both claim to be distantly related to Abraham Lincoln…who knew?

Au Pairs on US Capitol Tour

melanie and rebecca