Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camp in Chester County

Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps offer comprehensive, non-contact football instruction for kids ages 6-14. These camps are led by professional educators and coaches with supplemental instruction from Eagles Heroes such as Garry Cobb, Sean Landeta, Frank LeMaster, Joe Pagliei, Vince Papale and others. Kids learn to throw, catch, defend, form block, form tackle and explode out of a stance with proper technique and improved speed. Equally important is the emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship, self-esteem, good health and fitness.

For more information or to find a camp near you, please Click here.

Regal Cinema’s Summer Movie Program for Kids and Families 2011 Schedule (Regal, Downingtown)

Every Tuesday & Wednesday at 10:00am beginning June 21st, the Regal Cinemas in Downingtown will offer Summer Movie Express…

Enjoy family friendly movies for just $1 (pricing is per person, ages 3 and over)! The doors to the theatre will open at 9:30 am, the seating is first come / first serve and the concession stand will be opened and fully stocked. There are a few changes this year to the Summer Movie Program:

1. Newer movies, all presented in crystal clear digital projection.
2. Because of this new Digital Projection Technology, seating capacity for these features is nearly unlimited. Anyone who has attended the summer film festivals in the past knows that these shows fill up fast. Thanks to the latest in projection technology, the theatre is now able to show these movies in multiple different auditoriums at the same time! Pretty Cool, right?!?

Guests attending these shows will need to stop at the box office this year to purchase their tickets. There are no special pricing packages or advanced ticket purchases available.

June 21 & June 22
Megamind (PG)
Open Season (PG)

June 28 & June 29
Yogi Bear (PG)
Open Season (PG)

July 5 & July 6
The Last Airbender (PG)
Open Season 3 (PG)

July 12 & July 13
Muppets Take Manhattan (PG)
Cats & Dogs (PG)

July 19 & July 20
Ramona & Beezus (G)
The Spy Next Door (G)

July 26 & July 27
Kitt Kittredge (G)
Alpha & Omega (PG)

August 2 & August 3
Muppets From Space (G)
How To Train your Dragon (PG)

August 9 & August 10
Charlotte’s Web (G)
The Karate Kid (PG)

August 16 & August 17
Jason and The Argonauts(G)
Legend of The Gaurdians (PG)

Summer Fun Days at My Gym Lionville – Save 20% on Registration!

SUMMER FUN DAYS!
June 13th – August 26th
My Gym Exton
138 Eagleview Blvd.
Lionville, PA 19353

610-363-6090

SUMMER FUN DAYS are for ages 2.5-9 YRS. OLD
(children will be grouped together by age)
My Gym Summer Fun Days will include:
• Age appropriate games, songs & relays
• Basic gymnastics, sports and karate skills
• Arts and crafts
• Story time
• Snacks

Get ready for early registration nights for My Gym Lionville – Summer Fun Days! Save 20% off of your total by registering early. Check out the session schedule and registration form and pick your days!

Bring your children to play while you sign up for Summer Fun Days!

6:30-8 pm on the following Tuesdays:
Feb. 15th, 22nd , Mar. 1st & 8th

SAVE 20% on registration by coming during these times to register! Plus get a free gift while supplies last! In-Person Registration required. Selection of dates and payment rquired to get the pre-regitration special. Free Play is limited to Summer Fun Days registrations only.

If you have any questions about Summer Fun Days at My Gym Lionville please call 610-363-6090

ZooSnoozes are Back at Elmwood Park Zoo

Overnight campouts at the zoo are an annual favorite! The evening is chock full of activities, including a barbecue, live animal show, crafts, campfires and s’mores. Campers must bring their own gear and EPZ will supply dinner and breakfast.

The rate is $40 per person and members receive a 10% discount. Children must be at least 2 yrs. of age. Register Now! Space is limited and fills up quickly.

The first ZooSnooze is July 17 and registration closes July 14. Click here for more information. To register, call 610.277.3825 x240.

Additional Dates:
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Saturday September 18, 2010
Saturday October 2, 2010

Exton Square Mall Summer Food Drive to benefit the Chester County Food Bank

Exton Square Mall Summer Food Drive to benefit the Chester County Food Bank
Monday July 12 – August 29, 2010.

Summer is here and kids are home from school. Some of them are out having fun, some of them are hungry. Hunger can be hard to see in Chester County….but it is there!

Right now 1 in 10 people are skipping meals due to lack of food, and that is why we are holding a SUMMER FOOD DRIVE. Our children who receive school breakfast and lunches are not eating well this summer. YOU CAN HELP. JOIN EXTON SQUARE MALL AND THE CHESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK, as we gather lunch items for kids to help the 40,000 households in Chester County that do not have enough food.

The Goal: To bring an impressive amount of food to feed children and their families in our area who are in need this summer.

Donation Location: Food Donation Bins will be located at the Customer Service Center, in the lower level of the mall near LensCrafters.

Food Needed:

Cereal
Canned Juices
Juice Boxes
Spaghetti Sauce and Pasta
Canned Meats
Crackers or Cracker Packages
Snack Bags
Fruit Cups
Variety Snack Bags
Grocery Gift Cards

For more information please visit: http://www.chestercountyfoodbank.org or http://www.extonsquare.com

Downingtown Library Seeks LEGO Creations for Public Display

Downingtown Library

330 East Lancaster Avenue

Downingtown, PA 19335

610-269-2741

The Downingtown Library is seeking LEGO enthusiasts of all ages to display their creations at the library this summer.

From traditional planes and ships to imaginative and intricate sculptures, the library will accept both predesigned models and original LEGO designs on Tuesday July, 13th and Tuesday, July 20th.

The models will remain on display at the Downingtown Library throughout the summer. For more information please call 610-269-2741

Join The World’s Largest Radio Flyer Wagon Mosaic

July 4th weekend is almost upon us, which means one thing- patriotic celebrations all wrapped up in red, white and blue! Families all over our great country will be heading to parks, beaches and backyard barbecues to commemorate the occasion with fireworks, sparklers and other symbols of Independence Day. And many of them will be pulling behind them another American icon in a certain signature color- a Radio Flyer Wagon!

Since 1917, the famous little red wagons by Radio Flyer have been a favorite of families and kids everywhere. Boasting more than a dozen award-winning wagon models and a complete line of tricycles, scooters, and other ride-ons, Radio Flyer is as synonymous with outdoor play as summer itself.

There are endless ways to enjoy your little red wagon, from standing out in the crowd at the Fourth of July parade, to toting all the ingredients for a fun summer picnic. Not only will your red wagon provide hours of outdoor adventures, it will bring a lifetime of memories too. That’s why Radio Flyer is celebrating the beginning of summer by launching the World’s Largest Wagon Mosaic. Simply capture your families’ Radio Flyer moments on camera and go to http://www.radioflyerart.com/ to add your photo and help the legacy of the little red wagon live on!

Don’t forget to follow @RadioFlyerSmile on Twitter and visit Radio Flyer on Facebook for great updates and insider information

DIY Summer Camp… Chesco Mom Style

I have not signed my kids up for Summer Camp this year. KA–RAZY, I know.
I have decided to come up with my own Summer Camp…Chesco Mom style! Here are a few of the “sessions” that I have come up with….so far.

Week 1 – Water Camp
This week is shaping up to be a scorcher so we are jumping into DIY Chesco Mom Summer Camp and our handy dandy $15 Walmart inflatable kiddy pool. I am also bringing out the slip and slide, sprinkler and the grand finale water balloons.

Week 2 – We love Animals Camp
My kids LOVE animals so I have a few super fun field trips planned.

We are visiting one of our very favorite places in the world – Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines.

Ryerss Farm is open to visitors daily between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m and visitors are welcome to bring baby carrots and slided apples to feed to the horses. There is no cost to visit Ryerss. My daughter’s favorite horse is “Matisse” so if you visit with your family please give him an extra little pet for us…

Springton Manor Farm – We are also taking a trip to visit Farmer Jim at Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore. Springton Manor offers a FREE “Farm Passport” for little visitors. They are invited to visit the animals in the barn and stamp their “passport” after stopping at each animal pen. Also FREE at Springton Manor is the Butterfly House. Just opened for the season, The Butterfly House is home to many different species of butterflies, both native to Pennsylvania and exotic species. Butterfly House hosts guide you through the butterfly habitat, sharing all sources for water, food and shelter during each of the life stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis/pupa and butterfly.

Field trips to visit to both the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown and the Philadelphia Zoo are on the schedule. The Elmwood Park Zoo is not too big,not too small – it is just perfect for young children. Our favorite exhibit at EPZ is the prairie dog habitat located at the back of the zoo. They are so cute and active. We also enjoy the walk thru barn and we LOVE the HUGE play ground area. Mommy Tip: Parking at The Elmwood Zoo is FREE!

A favorite of ours at The Philadelphia Zoo is the brand new all-wooden, hand-carved and hand-painted carousel featuring endangered species found within the Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon Rainforest Carousel includes 30 bird, reptile, mammal and amphibian “seats,” as well as two spinning snake chariots. The cost for a ride on the carousel is $3.00.

Last but not least on “We love Animals Week”….Wild Safari at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. Wild Safari at Six Flags, is is a drive-thru safari only 1 HOUR away from our house, a straight shot up the NJ Turnpike. This is a PERFECT field trip for a hot day. Enjoy the animals from the comfort of your air conditioned car. The animals are behind electric fences and low to the ground barb wire in designated open air, free range enclosures and some behind moats but from the car it looks as if they are only a few feet away. The lions & tigers are caged. They both have really big enclosures. Much like the zoo. The first time we went we were told that the monkeys jump on your car and fling poo.. NOT TRUE! They are no where near your car. I think that is a Philly urban legend… unless someone has a recent monkey poo story.. do share.

Week 3 – Backyard Discovery
This weeks theme is a shout out to my “Backyard Discovery Mom Ambassador-ship“.

To start the week off we are going on a nature scavenger hunt. I “Google” image searched lots of bugs, critters and nature-y type things that you would find in the typical Chester County back yard and copy/pasted the images into a word doc. My little ones will spend the afternoon running through our yard scratching items off their lists.

Picnic in the woods– We have a large wooded area behind our house, separating the two phases of our neighborhood. My kids call it “the forest”. To explore the forest we are packing up our picnic basket and taking a hike in the woods and having a picnic – deep in the “forest”.










Walk in The Jungle – The woods on the other side of street, from our house – we call “the jungle”. Last year I hosted a playgroup ” Walk in the Jungle”. I purchased goodies for the kids from Oriental Trading Company. I LOVE that catalog/website. It is a Mommy playgroup, party, crafty must have!
I bought inflatable animals to hang in the trees and misc. and trinkets for them to collect as they journey through the jungle. This year.. to kick it up a notch, I am working on a map for the kids.. Dora style. Rock, Tree… Our house….! I hung bananas in the trees for a mid-walk snack.

Late Night “Light Bugs” – One of the best things about summer is late nights with even later mornings. The kids think they are getting the special treat of staying up late when actually I am the one getting the treat when the kids sleep late the next morning! One of my favorite summer family activities is letting the minis stay up late and run around to catch “light bugs” as my daughter calls them. I watch them from the comfort of my deck surrounded by my beloved citronella candles. For the record when it comes to the “light bugs” we are catch & releasers!

Well .. that is all I have scheduled so far. Stay tuned for more DIY Summer Camp – Chesco Mom Style and if you have any ideas on how I can keep my no camp attending toddlers busy…PLEASE SHARE! Seriously PLEASE share! Click here to contact me!

DIY Summer….Chesco Mom Style

My family is swinging and sliding the summer away on our new Highlander Play set from Backyard Discovery. The Highlander is a pre-stained, cedar play set with tons of play features. It has a raised fort with four levels that start with a picnic table on the bottom and end up top with a dual roof clubhouse and porch! There are two belt swings and a two-person glider and my kids are having fun zipping down the super speedy 10′ slide.

We recently invited a few friends over for a “break in the swing set” par-tay. My kids love to play pirates with the telescope, wheel and glider on the play set so we decided our par-tay would have a pirate theme. I had big hopes for our pirate party! Pre-party I hit the party store and bought skull & cross bone plates, cups & napkins and lots of gold coins, necklaces and eye patches. I was really comitted to the pirate theme. The kids loved all of the pirate stuff for the first few minutes then somehow the party turned into playing house with the different levels of the play set being different rooms in the house. Before I knew it baby dolls, books and a tea set were thrown into the mix and the gold pirate treasure coins turned into money to pay the lady at the make believe grocery store.

During the party the adults hung out on the deck, reminiscing about their childhoods and swing sets of the past. I remembered my swing that my grandfather had hung between two of the tallest trees in his backyard. At full swing I was probably 10 feet off the ground. 10 feet! What was I thinking?!? I would swing the day away then peddle back down Memory Lane to the house on my hot pink big wheel with pink and purple steamers.

One of the things I love the most about our new swing set is watching my children use their imaginations and play with each other. We live in a world of instant gratification. Instead of peddling a bike, kids press a button and zoom around in mini electric vehicles. Instead of blowing bubbles with a wand that inevitably will spill and get them all sticky – they press a button and on an automatic bubble blower and wah-lah instant bubble with no fuss or mess. Even board games and books have gone digital. Now don’t get me wrong I own five electric kiddo play cars, have gone through multiple bubble blowers and love our Xbox and Wii… I thank the good, good people at Leapster just about every day for our Leapster 2. It is my go to child entertainer. There is place for all of the gadgets and gizmos, but I really feel there is a NEED for kids to use their imaginations and reconnect with an “UN-connected” way to play…you know no batteries, no power cords, no controllers, no headphones…. Just good old fashion make your own fun.

This summer as a way to have my kids “power down” I have lots of backyard, outdoor “summer adventures planned”….stay tuned for more posts on DIY Summer,Chesco Mom Style….

Celebrate Father’s Day riding the rails of The West Chester Rail Road