Archive for the "Share My World" Category
Jan31

Interview with Luke Mohatt of Oasis in Central Park

Posted at 10:39 PM • View Comments

Since this will be the first year three of my children stay in Manhattan for summer camp, I had a few questions.

Luke Mohatt, Camp Director of Oasis in Central Park was kind enough to answer them -

1. How do your counselors help first time day campers get used to the idea of summer camp?

The most important step in this process starts right now with you!  We always tell parents to start talking about camp with their kids as soon as you sign up.  Excited parents = excited kids!  By beginning to discuss the types of activities and how great it will be to be in Central Park, you are sending your kids the message that this is going to be a great experience that they should be looking forward to.  This way when day 1 arrives the kids can’t wait to jump right in!

Once at camp our stellar team of counselors, division leaders and instructors help the campers acclimate to camp though name games and ice breakers.  EVERY Monday is a first day of camp for us, so EVERY Monday begins with group time where the campers get to know everyone in their group including their counselors.  Once we’re all familiar with each other the discussion turns to what the day will hold.  Every day starts with “circle” (much like you would see in your children’s classrooms) where the schedule for the day is discussed as well as any other important information.

2. What are some of the things kids always remember from attending to Oasis Day Camp?

The FRIENDS they make!  The personal connections that are made during summer camp are unlike any other that your children will make all year long.  Camp friends, more often than not, turn into those friends that you stay in touch with for the rest of your life.  When we say Amazing Summers, Lifelong Friends, we mean it!  And get ready mom, you’ll be filling that contact list with new parents to call for play dates all over the city!

Of course all of these friends build the sense of community in our camp.  We really are tight family!  The other thing that goes a long way in building this community are our CHEERS!  Get ready to hear your kids doing a little HI DEE HI or HEY OASIS!  Trust me, by the end of the summer, you’ll know them too!

3. If parents have been sending their children to day camp outside of the city for years, what advantages do they have keeping them in town to go to Oasis Day Camp?

There is just nothing else quite like spending your days in Central Park.  As New Yorkers we sometimes take for granted that we have this spectacular Park right here.  It is literally our “back yard” and yet we sometimes forget that it is even there.  By attending camp in Central Park we hope that we are instilling a lifelong love of the Park in our campers.  A love that hopefully they will pass on to their children.

Now, beyond this there are of course the litany of convenience reasons.  Children don’t have to take long daily bus rides to get to a camp that is just as fun and exciting as those outside of town.  With the full cooperation of the Central Park Conservancy we have access to all the best facilities that the Park has to offer.  It really does provide for an amazing experience!

4. What precautions are taken for children with peanut/nut allergies attending Oasis Day Camp?

While we are not nut-free, we are most certainly nut-aware.  Our camp nurse calls all families of children with allergies to discuss the specifics of each child.  This information is then passed along to the camper’s division leader and counselors to ensure the appropriate protocols are followed.

When a child with a nut allergy is in a group the counselors make sure to “screen” the lunches of the rest of the campers in the group.  As our lunches are kept in coolers this is able to be done very discreetly.  We make sure to keep any lunches that may contain nuts away from the lunches of campers with allergies, and when it comes to lunch time we (once again very discreetly) suggest that the child with the allergy sit with friends who are not eating products with nuts that day.  We also highly suggest to parents that they not send their campers with products containing nuts.

5. What do you look forward to most about the upcoming summer day camp season?

The happy faces on our campers and staff.  Every summer I wake up at the crack of dawn with a huge smile on my face because I know that I have the best job in the world.  I get to help make happy memories that everyone involved will carry with them for life.

Disclosure: This is a compensated post made possible by a promotion between MomSelect and Oasis Day Camp. As always, what I write is 100% my opinion.

Jan31

Oasis Day Camp – Central Park Summer Fun

Posted at 10:32 PM • View Comments

I always tell people who don’t live in New York “Relax, we have Central Park as our backyard” when they wonder where my children play outdoors.

And this summer, my children are using their backyard for summer camp.

All three of my camp aged children will be attending Oasis Day Camp in Central Park.

Oasis is a traditional day camp utilizing Central Park’s recreational facilities including tennis and basketball courts, softball and soccer fields, nature trails, and Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool. The campers also go on field trips within an hour’s distance from camp.

While Natalie has gone to summer camp in Long Island before, this will be her first summer staying in the city for camp. And this will be Harrison’s first year at summer camp. Luke has gone to camp in the city before so he’ll be used to having the city as his summer playground.

I went to summer camp for the first time when I was five. I had amazing experiences and can’t wait for my kids to tell me about theirs.

I love that Oasis Day Camp realizes families have summer plans so children can be enrolled for a minimum of two consecutive weeks (up to a maximum of eight weeks). Since we’ll probably go away for a week and a few long weekends during the summer, this kind of camp offering fits perfectly with the flexibility we need.

Want to learn more about Oasis in Central Park? Check out the interview I did with Luke Mohatt — the Oasis in Central Park Camp Director. They also have a Facebook page and blog.

Disclosure: This is a compensated post made possible by a promotion between MomSelect and Oasis Day Camp. As always, what I write is 100% my opinion.

Jan11

Beauty and the Beast 3D

Posted at 6:33 PM • View Comments

Disney has extended invitations to my family to their special events over the years.

Last Saturday, they invited us to a special VIP screening of Beauty and the Beast 3D.

When I was younger I didn’t see Beauty and the Beast.

I knew what the story was about but never actually sat down and watched the movie.

Not at the movie theater. And not when it was broadcast on television.

So I went to the theater at the Director’s Guild and put on the 3D glasses and watched Beauty and the Beast for the first time with my family.

It’s Rated G but there were times I was concerned my four year old may have been frightened. Thankfully, he wasn’t.

Afterward the kidlets went downstairs and had cupcakes and created castles.

There was also the opportunity for them to have their faces painted but since we had lunch plans after I steered them away from that line.

Here’s a clip from Beauty and the Beast 3D which is in theaters this Friday, January 13, 2012. And as a special treat, everyone who sees the movie will see a short film of Tangled Ever After.

Dec1

Macy’s Culinary Council – Chef Nancy Silverton

Posted at 11:51 AM • View Comments

Last night I headed to the Cellar Kitchen at Macy’s Herald Square to attend a cooking demonstration for the Macy’s Culinary Council.

Chef Nancy Silverton, co-owner of Mozza in Los Angeles was there to demonstrate her recipe from The Macy’s Culinary Council Thanksgiving Holiday Cookbook and her latest cookbook Mozza.

Although I was seated in the front row, the Samsung TV overhead made it easy for everyone in attendance to get a great view of the demonstration.

Although Mozza is actually three restaurants, every night its the mozza bar where you can usually find Chef Nancy Silverton.

She’s a West Coast native but back in 1982, she was in New York as a chef for Maxwell’s Plum and lived on 57th and First.  She talked about the culinary offerings back in the 80s and what supermarkets had readily available for those who wanted to cook with mostly fresh ingredients.

Her first recipe to demonstrate was the Stracciatella with celery and herb salad and celery leaf pesto. It was a wonderful springtime salad. During this demonstration, Chef Nancy talked about her home in Umbria and making basil pesto when she arrives for the summer. She also talked about the different olive oils and timing of their release.

Using a sandwich press, Chef Nancy made one of my favorite things … fettunta. I’m not a fan of dipping bread in poor quality olive oil at restaurants so a fettunta is my preferred way of having bread and olive oil.

This is the stracciatella she made using a local (as opposed to imported) Vermont burrata.

The recipe from the Macy’s Culinary Council Thanksgiving and Holiday Cookbook used turkey, feta, almonds, radicchio, arugula, and frisee.

Chef Nancy Silverton signed copies of her latest book and the Macy’s cookbook after her presentation.

If you haven’t visited Macy’s Cellar Kitchen for a demonstration you should put it on your to do list. It’s always nice to learn a few new ideas in the kitchen.

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