LEHIGH VALLEY AU PAIR CHILDCARE

   The Lehigh Valley Au Pair Group will be “bowling” this coming Sunday, January 22, 2012 as the official January Au Pair Meeting.  Please try to be at the Bowling Lanes by 3:45 p.m. as our bowling time will begin at 4:00 p.m. 

Bowling Location is:   AMF Parkway Bowling Lanes, 1630 South 12^th Street, Allentown, PA  18103  (610-797-1567) — See Directions Below

NOTE:  The Bowling Alley is behind the Parkway Shopping Center located on Lehigh Street in Allentown.   Please use Mapquest or your GPS but basic directions are:  From I-78 - Take Lehigh Street toward Allentown and go PAST the Parkway Shopping Center  to the NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT (there is a Volkswagen Car Dealership on the Left .. At THAT Traffic Light - turn RIGHT and another almost IMMEDIATE RIGHT -(sorta like a “U” Turn) - and the Bowling Lanes are on the right.

COST:  $8.00   (This $8.00 includes bowling shoes and two hours of bowling time -  so you should be able to bowl about two games.)                       

Snacks provided but sodas, ice teas, coffees, etc. must be purchased at the Snack Bar.  

Procedure:   Come to the AMF Parkway Lanes .. go the to front desk upon arrival and “sign the sign-in sheet”.  The Bowling Lane will give you your bowling shoes and, once everyone is at the our meeting site at the Bowling Lanes, we can begin bowling.  

Payment:   I will pay the $8.00 for everyone and you will pay me.  Please note that - if you are planning to go Snowtubing (almost everyone is) for our February Meeting — please bring that payment ($22.00) as well.  So - if you have $30.00 cash - that will cover the Bowling Meeting and the Snowtubing Meeting!!

Lehigh Valley Au Pairs - Please note that - because of the lack of snow in our region — we will not be Snowtubing on Sunday, January 22, 2012.   Instead we will be Bowling at the AMF Parkway Bowling Lanes in Allentown.   We will still try to go Snowtubing — but will be doing that on our February scheduled meeting — February 5.   More details to follow next week.

    Lehigh Valley Au Pairs – Our December Au Pair Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 4 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  at Lisa’s (Germany) Host Family home located at:  

        3635 Chipman Road, Easton, PA  18045    (Lots of trees and driveway can be a bit hidden — drive slowly and you will see the driveway!)

PLEASE BE ON TIME AND BRING:  1) A food/dessert from your home country — please be sure there is enough for everyone to share with the rest of the group;  2) a wrapped gift (put no name on it) that you bought – do not tell your friends what you bought (it’s a surprise and best if you bring the wrapped present in a bag to disguise the gift)  – do not spend more than $10 and be sure to bring a gift that you would like to receive yourself; and 3) a good “Holiday” spirit!    We will share your foods/desserts, some sodas, etc. and have a “Yankee” Gift Exchange!   There is a piano at Lisa’s house — if you have a favorite Holiday Song from your home country — bring it — we’ll learn to sing it!

See you there — please be on time .. 4 to 6:00 p.m.   (We will also discuss education for the coming year and the planned “snowtubing trip” in January.)

  Lehigh Valley Au Pairs will be “Ice Skating” as the November Au Pair Meeting.   Ice Skating will be at an “indoor ice rink” and we will be part of the public skating session from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.   on Sunday, November 6, 2011.  The  ”Steel City Ice Center”  is conveniently located on the south side of Bethlehem on the site of the historic Bethlehem Steel Company.  The location is easily accessible from Routes 22 or 78 via Routes 378 and 412.   Plenty of parking is available.  Here are the details:

WHERE:     Steel City Ice Center, 320 East 1st Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015

PHONE:     610-625-4774

DATE:       Sunday, November 6, 2011

TIME:         1:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. 

COST:        $8.00 Per Au Pair (Includes Rental of Skates and Public Ice Skating)

We will have a private room for you to change into your skates, warm-up, etc.  There will be snacks but we are not allowed to bring any drinks — so bring a little extra money if you wish to buy drinks at the snack bar.   We will have a short CEP Safety Meeting.

Procedure:   Come to the Steel Ice Center Building and go to the “Front Desk”.  Give the person at the Front Desk your name and “sign-in” and she/he will give you a ticket for the rental skates.  Go to the Rental Area - gather your skates - and come to the Meeting Room (near the ice).  You will have 1 1/2 hours of skating time.  You will pay Helen ($8.00) in the Meeting Room (not to the Front Desk).

Looking forward to seeing all Au Pairs on Sunday, November 6, 2011 — Bring friends and/or other Au Pairs — all are invited!

Directions to the Steel Ice Center

From Route 22:
1. Exit onto the 378 South/Bethlehem exit.
2. Follow 378 South until the expressway ends.
3. Get into the left lane.
4. At the first light turn left onto 3rd Street.
5. Follow 3rd Street to the fourth traffic light.
6. Turn left onto Polk Street.
7. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.
1. Exit 67 at Hellertown/Bethlehem.
2. At the end of the ramp turn right onto 412 North.
3. Pass Wendy’s on your left.
4. Continue to the third light and make a soft right to
  continue on 412. (412 becomes 3rd Street)
5. Turn right at the Polk Street traffic light. (Polk Street   is just after the Discovery Center)
6. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.     

From I-78:
1. Exit 67 at Hellertown/Bethlehem.
2. At the end of the ramp turn right onto 412 North.
3. Pass Wendy’s on your left.
4. Continue to the third light and make a soft right to
  continue on 412. (412 becomes 3rd Street)
5. Turn right at the Polk Street traffic light. (Polk Street   is just after the Discovery Center)
6. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.

From the South:
1. Take 309 North through Coopersburg to 378 North.
2. Follow 378 North over the mountain.
3. At the bottom of the mountain you will see a McDonald’s on your left.
4. Go to the second light after the McDonald’s where you will see the Church of the Nativity.
5. Turn right at this light onto 3rd Street.
6. Follow 3rd Street to the fourth traffic light.
7. Turn left onto Polk Street.
8. SIC is on the left at the end of Polk Street.

       Lehigh Valley Au Pairs – Looking for something that is “really American and with a small town atmosphere”?   Think about going to the “Emmaus Halloween Parade” this coming Saturday, October 15, 2011.  (Rain Date:  Sunday, October 16, 2011).   The Emmaus Halloween Parade begins at 7:30 p.m. .. but you must get there early — bring a lawn chair or a blanket so you can sit on the curbside.   Parking might be a real issue as this is probably the most popular Halloween Parade in the Lehigh Valley — just family fun .. nothing grand — just fun to see the bands, the children, the costumes.   Plan to leave early .. get there about 6:30 p.m. and find a “spot to sit”.  The Parade goes thru downtown Emmaus — but you might have trouble getting to the downtown and be detoured .. find a legal parking spot and walk to the Parade Route (downtown Emmaus along Main and/or Chestnut Streets).   Food and Drink are available.  Any quetions - just give me a call.  It is free and should last a little more than an hour … “American Culture!”

  The LEHIGH VALLEY AU PAIR Group will have its October Au Pair Meeting at Arasapha Farm, 1835 Middletown Road, (Route 352) in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania  (also known as:  “The Bates Motel”).   We will be meeting many other Cultural Care Au Pair Groups for a fun evening of ghosts, goblins, scary creatures and renewing old “au pair” friendships!!   

Please visit:   www.thebatesmotel.com   for a preview of this Halloween event!!

When we arrive at “The Bates Motel”, we will be outside for hours, so please wear comfortable clothes (no heels), and dress warmly.    COME DRESSED IN AN INEXPENSIVE HALLOWEEN COSTUME!!!  DO NOT SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON A COSTUME AND MAKE IT SIMPLE .. You will be on and off a haywagon.  Dollar Stores in the area or your Host Family might be a good place to start.  (If it rains, the event will be Sunday October 2nd  but for now - the weather looks great.)  

Date:  Saturday, October 1, 2011

Lehigh Valley Au Pairs:    Meet @ 3:45 p.m.  at Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus, 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley, PA (Behind the Green Building).  Park and Meet at the rear of the Main Building.   Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus is near The Promenade Shops on the same road.   Coming FROM Route 378, the Penn State Campus is on the LEFT just BEFORE The Promenade Shops.  Coming FROM Route 309, the Penn State Campus is on the RIGHT just AFTER The Promenade Shops

What To Bring:   A packed lunch/snack

Anticipated Return to Lehigh Valley:   About 11:00 p.m.

     MINI-GOLF AND ICE CREAM is the September Au Pair Meeting of the Lehigh Valley Au Pair Group!!   We will meet at 2:30 p.m. at Putt-U Mini-Golf Course,  5200 Route 309 in Center Valley, PA.   This is on Route 309 SOUTH .. and about one mile past the the Exit 60 Route 309/I-78 Interchange on the way towards Quakertown.   Putt-U is on the left and you will have to find a legal turnaround area to get to Putt-U.    Visit the Putt-U Mini-Golf website for further details and directions:  http://www.puttu.com/contact.htm

Date:  Sunday, September 18, 2011

Meeting Time:   2:30 p.m.

Cost:   $5.00 (which includes a game of Mini-Golf, Ice Cream and Sodas)

Don’t forget your money ($38.00) for the October “Halloween Haunted Hayride/Haunted House/Haunted Corn Maze” as well!!  Please try to have CASH for both Mini-Golf AND Halloween!

See you Sunday!!!   The weather will be great .. just a little cool!!

   Lehigh Valley Au Pairs – Again — Weekend Courses might be the best and easiest way for you to earn your six (6) or even just three (3) credits towards completion of your Education Requirement.   The C.W. Post University Au Pair Program in Long Island is the most popular with our Au Pair Group.   Here is the information from C.W. Post and the list of the courses offered for Fall, 2011.

The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is pleased to provide educational programs that students may attend to fulfill their credit requirements.  These courses are open to Au Pairs and all interested students.  This program provides an opportunity for students to participate in a few options on the C.W. Post Campus.    During the semester, overnight accommodations will be on campus in the dormitories.

Fall 2011:

*American Indian Cultures and Their Impact on American Society — September 16-18, 2011
*Study, Learn and Speak English — September 16-18, 2011
*History of American Sports – September 30- October 2, 2011
*Regional Identities - American Culture – September 30- October 2, 2011
*TOEFL/English Preparation Course — October 28-30, 2011
*History of American Women- American History — October 28-30, 2011
*Celebration of Holidays- American Culture — November 18-20, 2011
*History of American Music — November 18-20, 2011
*American Government, Politics, and Social Issues – November 18-20, 2011
*Growing up in America- American Culture — December 9-11, 2011
*Critical Reading and Expository Writing — December 9-11, 2011
*History of American Music — December 9-11, 2011

Registration Form with payment should be mailed to:

University Au Pair Program
Winnick House
C.W. Post Campus
Long Island University
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, New York 11548

Make check payable to:  Long Island University.

Register by phone with a credit card:  516-299-2359.

Fax registration form: 516-299-2363.

    Lehigh Valley Au Pairs – NOW is the time to begin thinking about completing your Education Requirement for the Au Pair Program and taking a “Weekend Class” is a perfect way to earn three (3) credits in just one weekend.   Sojourner Douglass College in Baltimore, Maryland is one of the Weekend College locations you can choose.    Please see Sojourner Douglass College’s web page for the courses offered.     www.weekendprogram.org    If you have any questions please  call Angela Garnett Program Coordinator at 301-213-2404.   Don’t wait too long — classes fill up quickly!

Lehigh Valley Au Pairs - Please note that — in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene — and with much of our Lehigh Valley Area without electricty — both OFFICIAL Au Pair Meetings scheduled for tonight (Monday) and Wednesday are CANCELLED.   If any Au Pair / Host Family needs to speak with me — please try my home phone.  Au Pairs:  You are, of course, encouraged to meet together any time .. where it is safe and ”powered”.   Thank You.