Crystal Lake Today

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst....


Quick reminder: the boys' 10-14 group will be getting together today, Thurs, 8/15, from 1-3 pm at Sandy Beach at Crystal Lake on rte 140 in Ellington, CT. Look for us in the shade near where the deep side and shallow side division is. (I'll be wearing a tie-dyed shirt, and so will my toddler.) There is a fee for this beach, $5 per adult, $3 per child over 5. **ALL HOMESCHOOLERS OF ANY AGE AND GENDER ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO COME AND MAKE CONNECTIONS!!!**

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (19 mos)

***canceled***boys' 10-14 group for today

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst....

The weather forecast stinks for both tomorrow and Friday, so I'm going to go ahead and cancel the Boys' 10-14 yr group's planned get together that was scheduled for today.

We will try again next week at the same location, Sandy Beach at Crystal Lake on Rte 140 in Ellington, on Thursday, August 15, from 1-3pm. At that get-together we'll decide on locations for the final 2 weeks of August.

Any questions can be directed to me at collieherd@cox.net

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (18 mos)

Change of Schedule to boys' 10-14 group

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst.........

Based on the great turnout yesterday (and the lack of turn-out at the Simsbury location last week), the desire from most of the attendees to keep our gatherings more local, and to take advantage of this awesome location before it closes for the season, we will be meeting for the next 2 Thursdays at Sandy Beach at Crystal Lake on rt 140 in Ellington. Locations for the final 2 Thursdays of the summer will be determined based on the desire of attendees.

*see schedule below*

We will meet for the next 2 Thursdays (8/8 & 8/15) in the shade on the beach near the center of the beach (pretty much directly across from where you drive into the parking lot). Fishing is not allowed on the beach, but can be accessed off the beach, although the boys decided that this is a better location for swimming than fishing, so my guess is most will leave their poles at home. 

There is a small fee at Sandy Beach, $5 for adults and $3 for kids 5 and over.

SCHEDULE CHANGE:

Thurs 8/8: Sandy Beach at Crystal Lake, Ellington

Thurs 8/15: Sandy Beach at Crystal Lake, Ellington

Thurs 8/22: TBD

Thurs 8/29: TBD

FOR THE FALL:

We will start by meeting on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month at Connors Park in Somers, from 1-3pm, for casual hang-out time and anything the boys want to bring with them to do. We will schedule other activities and locations based on the interest of attendees. There's a lot of potential for this to grow if the interest is there, but this gives everyone something to rely on for planning.

Feel free to email me at collieherd@cox.net  with any questions.

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10) and Clara (18 mos)

Weekly Chess Workshop in Ellington

Passing this along from Stacey Dieterle, Please contact her at sdeets5@gmail.com with any questions

Ellington Chess Club

5 Miller Lane

Ellington, CT

Invites you to participate in a

Weekly Chess Workshop

    

6 weeks; 1-hour session;

Thursdays; 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Meeting on August 22, 29

September 5, 19, 26; October 3

COST:    $72/Student (6 weeks)

$60/Student for two or more children

from the same family

Make Checks Payable to: DJA Chess Instruction

Scholastic Chess Workshops – All Levels

Learn to play the game of chess!  This is for players that want to learn new strategies and ways to win as well as other chess “secrets”.   Beginners are also welcome (those that do not know how to play at all).  You will learn all the basic moves of the chess pieces, their values, piece interaction, and how to win (checkmate).

For Chess Questions contact David Aldi at:

dja21857@yahoo.com

For meeting site questions contact Stacey Dieterle at:

sdeets5@gmail.com

Chess is a fascinating game, which can be played and enjoyed at all levels.  Educational research indicates evidence of a strong positive correlation between chess and student academic performance.  The practical application of the skills learned while playing chess are the same skills necessary for academic excellence and lifelong success:

·           Concentration

·           Critical Thinking

·           Problem Solving

·           Strategic Planning

·           Creativity

·           Pattern Recognition

·           Analysis

·           Evaluation

·           Competition

·           Good Sportsmanship

·           Good Decision Making !!!

Any child exhibiting impolite or disruptive behavior will be dropped from the program.

Cut out and Return to David Aldi, 248 Mill St., Southington, CT  06489         Please return promptly as space is limited.

Name _______________________________________   Grade ___________

Parent ________________________________  School _________________

Address ________________________ City ____________Zip code ________

Phone   1___________________________________________

Phone   2 ___________________________________________

Email ______________________________________________

Boys' 10-14 group get together canceled today, we will meet Friday Aug 2

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst.......

With the weather being so iffy this afternoon and our location requiring an admission fee, I'm going to cancel our scheduled boys' 10-14 group get together for today, Thurs, 8/1. Kristi Sweeney and I are planning on going to Sandy Beach at Crystal Lake in Ellington on Friday 8/2 instead -- I will plan to get there around 12:30, we will plan to meet at the far end of the shallow side (all the way to the right when facing the water) so that kids have the option of swimming or fishing. There is a small entry fee (I believe adults are $5 and children over 5 yrs are $3) at this beach. Be sure to read the posted beach rules when you arrive, the lifeguards do enforce them.

Our next scheduled get-together is at Hopeville Pond State Park next Thursday, 8/8, from 1-3pm. Lori Pajor has agreed to be the contact person for that location, she will post location and contact information at some point in the next several days.

Hope to see some of you in Ellington on Friday! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at collieherd@cox.net

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (18 mos)

Boys' 10-14 yrs (+/-) group get-together will be at Stratton Brook State Park TODAY

 Boys' 10-14 yrs (+/-) group get-together will be
at Stratton Brook State Park, 149 Farms Village Road (Route 309), Simsbury, CT, from 1-3pm. All are welcome, regarless of ager or gender!

Look for me (in my trademark tie-dyed shirt -- I'll dress the toddler in tie-dyed too just to make us really easy to find ;) on the beach at the swimming pond, on the side nearest the parking lot. There is no fee during the week.
There is also a stocked trout pond for fishing, trails for hiking, etc.

Hope to see you there! Next week's get-together will be at Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington.

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12 yrs), Gabe (10 yrs) and Clara (18 mos)

Summer Boys' 10-14yrs group hangouts start this Thursday

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst..........

Our summer Boys' 10-14yrs group hangouts start this Thursday, July 18, from 1pm- 3pm, and our location for this week is Mashamoquet State Park on Rte 44 in Pomfret, CT. Enter the park at the main entrance off Rte 44 (if traveling eastbound, it will be the first right after the Campground entrance, which is located beyond Wolf Den Rd), and park by the swimming pond or in the main parking lot. We will meet on the beach along the shaded side. I will wear tie-dye in order to make myself easy to be seen. :)

Swimming in the pond and fishing in the stream, as well as hiking, are all possibilities at this location. Israel Putnam's famous Wolf Den is also located at this State Park (a short drive, then moderate hike, from where we are meeting) if anyone wants to organize a hike once we all get there. I will
personally be sticking near the swimming water -- too buggy and muggy for me to spend much time in the woods this week!

Feel free to come as early and stay as late as you like! I will probably be there regardless of the weather (unless they wind up predicting severe weather for the entire afternoon), and will actually be shooting to get there right about noon, so if you want to come earlier look for me!

Please feel free to 'crash' our get-togethers even if you don't have boys in the target age range -- these are all public venues, you are more than welcome to come hang out with us even if you have no boys at all!! :)

The rest of our summer schedule is as follows:


July 25 -- Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury

Aug 1 -- Sandy Beach* (Crystal Lake), Ellington (*admission fee)

Aug 8 -- Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold

Aug 15 -- Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union

Aug 22 -- Gay City State Park, Hebron

Aug 29 -- Salmon River, Colchester

Most of these locations are free during the week (I think Sandy Beach is the only exception), and all offer swimming and fishing as options. Our official meeting time will be 1-3pm -- however, I expect most of us will take advantage of our leisurely summer schedules to extend our day and enjoy the water, weather, and companionship! :) I will post reminders about each week's location and address and any specifics you need to know a day or two prior to the date.

RSVPs are NOT necessary, and you can feel free to pick and choose any or all the dates and locations.


Looking forward to a fun-filled, relaxing summer!! Hope to share it with many of you! :)

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (18 mos)