Hop Toad Studios- A Creative Center for children, teens & adults in Chester Springs, PA

The super quaint entrance to Hop Toad Studio

This past fall, I learned of the newly opened Hop Toad Studio, located in the Eagle Village Shops in Chester Springs.  Since my oldest daughter is more of an artist than an athlete, I immediately stalked the website looking for more information.  The owner, Anna, is so easy-going and welcoming.  She suggested the local MOMS Club I’m in come in for a fall craft event!  It was a great deal and the children and parents were overwhelmingly impressed.  I then proceeded to talk to her about hosting S’s birthday party at the studio.  About 6 weeks prior to the party, we had a private meeting with Anna to pick out the theme of S’s party.  She chose a fairy theme.  Anna was quick to come up with a solution for the boys attending the party who may not want to make fairy wings and wands- bat wings and wand!  Perfect!

Miss Anna giving the instructions before passing out the wings and paint to the children.

On Saturday, February 2nd, we had S’s two-hour celebration with 15 of her friends.  Some parents stayed, though many left.  Miss Anna and her employee were there to instruct, assist, set up, clean up, and advise us along the way.  The party flowed so perfectly for this 4 year old age group.  An overview of the party- they first came in and colored or played in the “toy nook” until everyone arrived.  Then we draped the children in the provided smocks before they began to paint their wings and then wands.  While the tables were cleared off for lunch, they played with the toys.  There wasn’t one complaint or stray child.  I can’t say enough how well it all FLOWED!  After lunch, the children played a little, then we gathered again to sing and eat cake and then the party was over!  By that time, the wings and wands were basically dry and so the children were able to try them on before taking them home.  Both that day and the next, I received several emails and texts from parents saying how much fun their children had.  So glad to know it wasn’t just my own 4 year old birthday girl and her 2.5 year old sister!

“The Scene!”

Birthday girl intensely painting.

While checking out the website, you can learn more about the birthday parties Hop Toad Studio offers. They are so unique and personal to your little cherub.  It’s what really won me over!  The parties are for ages 3 and up and there are so many themes to pick from, or you can suggest your own!  Best of all, the project that is made is the souvenir for the mini-guests to take home!  All of the space, instruction, and supplies are included.  It’s SUCH a stress-free way to host a kid-party since you don’t have to set-up, plan, or clean-up!  H-E-L-L-O!!!  We ordered pizzas, brought a cake and drinks, and that was it.  Zero hassle.  And these types of parties aren’t exclusive to a birthday celebration, the studio will also host groups such as girl scouts, homeschool groups, wine and canvas events, and mom’s groups!

Playing in the “toy nook” before lunch was ready.

Some of the finished wands!

If you have a child who is looking to get their creative juices flowing, I would highly recommend checking out this sweet little studio.  Their philosophy that art and creativity are fundamental to the development of a well-rounded childhood and are meaningful, valuable forms of self-expression for teens and adults is demonstrated throughout all of their programs. Their art classes instill confidence and harbor growth & development while fostering creative thinking – a necessary practice for personal expression, self-reflection and fun for all ages.  Hop Toad Studio is a place where all artists can come to learn, grow and continue their individual journeys with art teachers who are passionate about teaching real and effective artistic techniques for students of all ages (seriously, as young as 1.5 years old). They offer a great selection of beginner and intermediate art classes for both children, teens and adults. 

Venture to the site (www.HopToadStudio.com) and be sure to sign up for their newsletter and also like their Facebook page to stay in the loop on new class offerings and special events.  It’s how I recently learned of their awesome summer camp they are offering!  Hop Toad Studio is teaming up with Valotta Music Studio to offer a really unique and fun Art & Music Summer Camp with shadow puppetry, music and performance.  This Art & Music Summer Camp for kids ages 4-12 will be from June 10th-Aug 16th. You can find more details on the site.

Beautiful completed fairy and bat wings hang to dry  until the children go home with their artwork

Scout Leaders: Schedule an outing or overnight at My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Lionville

Any Scout Organization may reserve time at My Gym (Lionville) for an exciting event of fun, games, gymnastics and more. Experienced My Gym Staff will facilitate a program of games, relays, and gymnastics; utilizing our High Bar, Trapeze, Rings and Tumbling equipment. 1 hour time slots can be reserved through any of the My Gym staff in the afternoons, evenings or weekends, subject to availability. Just call My Gym to schedule your Scout Adventure at 610-363-6090.

Scout Adventure Options:
1 Hour Event – $5 per scout

The Almost Sleepover – 3 hour program followed by an optional pizza party ($30/scout with a 12 scout minimum)

Scout Sleep Over – 3 hour program followed by overnight sleepover and breakfast in the morning($40/scout with a 12 scout minimum)

Philly.com Article about controversial Girl Scout decision to close Camp Tweedale in Oxford, Chester County, next summer

Written by: Bill Reed, Philly.com

Girl Scouts, parents, and former scouts in southern Chester County and around the region are hitting the streets and the Internet, and it’s not to sell cookies.

They’re signing petitions, distributing fliers, designing buttons, and posting comments on Facebook and websites – all to reverse a controversial Girl Scout decision to close Camp Tweedale in Oxford, Chester County, next summer.

Camp Tohikanee in upper Bucks County and Hidden Falls in the Poconos also are scheduled to close as early as next June. Those camps have their supporters, but nothing compared with the response defending Tweedale.

“Where are Chester County girls going to go now?” asks Stephanie Bernasconi, 20, of West Chester, who attended Tweedale for eight years and worked as a counselor last summer. “Other camps are two to three hours away.”

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, which covers nine counties, based its decision on a two-year study of its six largest camps. The council determined that three camps can handle its 41,195 scouts, and it chose the three it considers best suited to expand programs and facilities.

The council was looking to the future and each camp’s potential for growth, says Kim Fraites-Dow, senior director of development.

But that will leave the Philadelphia area, which accounts for 73 percent of the membership, with only one overnight, year-round camp – Camp Laughing Waters in Gilbertsville, Montgomery County. The other two camps are Wood Haven in Schuylkill County and Mosey Wood in Carbon County.

Chester County ranked second in membership last year with 6,519 Girl Scouts ages 5 to 17, followed by Bucks with 6,410. The closings would leave each county without a camp in its backyard.

“There’s so much we can do there: archery, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, science programs – even a Harry Potter program,” Bernasconi says of the 120-acre camp overlooking Octoraro Reservoir. “There are day camps, which are good for 6- and 7-year-olds, and overnight camping for older girls.”

Bernasconi posted a petition to save the camp on change.org after the council’s decision became public, aiming for 1,000 signatures. That goal was reached in 18 days, and the signatures keep coming.

Proximity is key, parents and volunteers say, because the camps are used for more than overnight stays. Participation in day and weekend programs would be difficult to impossible when a long drive is required, they say. And they dispute last year’s site assessment assertion that “all camps are about an hour travel distance from membership.”

Each of the council’s six camps operated in the red last year, with the largest losses posted by those scheduled to remain open. Laughing Waters led the list with a loss of $189,429; Tohikanee was fourth with $106,336, followed by Tweedale with $103,031.

The study projects most of the population gains through 2020 to be outside the Philadelphia area – except for an 18.1 percent increase in Chester County.

“This was a difficult decision for everybody, especially since the legacy councils had divested camps before the merger,” Fraites-Dow says, “so these are good camps.”

Four years ago, the Freedom Valley, Great Valley, and Southeastern Pennsylvania councils merged into the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, with total membership of 50,000. And now Tweedale and Tohikanee, the last of the Freedom Valley camps, face closing, as popular camps such as Sunset Hill in Chadds Ford did before the merger.

The two-year assessment process included three surveys and three town-hall style meetings.

“I feel like I was scammed,” says Karen D’Agusto, a manager for the Girl Scouts’ Brandywine Valley Service Unit, about the survey she filled out.

“They asked, ‘Would you like air-conditioned cabins? Would you like heated cabins? Would you like horseback riding?’ Sure I would,” she says. “Then, we find out – they’re closing our camps.

“If I had known they were going to eliminate primitive camping or eliminate Tweedale and all that it offers, I would never have answered that way.”

D’Agusto also attended one of the Town Hall meetings.

“I thought Tweedale met all the requirements – I thought it was safe,” she says. “There’s nothing like its waterfront. Laughing Waters doesn’t have a lake.”

Once the council posted the 53-page Property Committee report on its blog on June 17, D’Agusto and fellow Tweedale supporters sprang into action. They conducted meetings and set up a website (www.friendsoftweedale.org) and Facebook pages (“Save Camp Tweedale and Tohi” and “Save Camp Tweedale!”), attracting hundreds of comments – including many on the council’s blog.

They also are lining up lawyers, accountants, and other experts to review council and camp finances and programs. They want know where the proceeds of cookie and camp sales have gone.

The council, meanwhile, is working on the next step – planning how to close the camps and what to do with the properties. More town halls, which started last week, “will come up with good ways to close the camps,” spokeswoman Fraites-Dow says.

Chester County “has one of the strongest memberships – the largest number of Gold Awards, and a lot of volunteers,” Fraites-Dow adds. “It’s important to see what we can do there.”

What can you do?

Sign the Petition to Keep Camp Tweedale Open

Share your favorite Camp Tweedale Memories Below.

We will forward this link with the comments onto the Girl Scouts of South Eastern PA.

Calling ALL Scouts! Register for ‘Badge Day" at The Franklin Institute!

It’s Badge Day at The Franklin Institute!
Saturday, May 7, 2011

9:30am to 4:00pm
Out of this World Astronomy programming just for you!

Help your Scouts work towards:
Space Explorer Try-It (Brownies GS)
Sky Search Badge (Junior GS)
Space Exploration Interest Project (Cadette GS)
Astronomy Belt Loop & Pin (Cub Scout)

Your Day at the Museum Includes:
· Admission to The Franklin Institute
· Special programs to celebrate National Astronomy Day
· Fels Planetarium Show
· Opportunity to make your own Star Field
· Special Guest Speaker—Cosmologist and Chair of the Department
of Physics and Astronomy at University of Penn, Professor Larry Gladney
· Sky gazing in the Joel N. Bloom Observatory using our historic refracting telecope.
· Badge requirement worksheets
· A souvenir activity patch for Scouts

Cost Per Person: $17.00

IMAX shows, 3D shows, and Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop are not included, but are available for an additional fee . Spring Scout Day was a sell-out, make sure you don’t miss out. Reserve today! Registration Deadline: April 27, 2011. Contact Group Sales at 1.800.285.0684, weekdays 8:30am to 5:00pm

Girl Scout Day at The Chester County Historical Society

Girl Scout Badge Day: Folk Art

Chester County Historical Society

www.ChesterCoHistorical.org

Fulfill all of your requirements for the Folk Art Badge for Junior Girl Scouts. Supplies and snacks included.

Date: November 14, 2009

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Admission: $20 per Scout, pre-registration required.