Claymation & Robotics at P.S. 139 In Rego Park Queens

This season Yvonne Shortt will be teaching robotics and claymation at P.S. 139. It should be a fabulous year. The kids are creative and excited to do great things. This is a perfect fit for the type of classes Yvonne loves to teach. In 2009 Robo Tech, a First Lego League Robotics Team coached by Yvonne and her husband, came in 2nd for robot design and first for teamwork. It was such an honor

Yvonne has her M.S. degree and has worked in technology for over fifteen years. She has taught in middle and elementary schools for several years and has two daughters in the public school system.

Yvonne will typically choose to teach in one or two schools a year depending on her schedule.

Cooling Off In Rego Park

The Intex pool is fabulous for spaces with little room, like Rego Park. This pool can be inflated in the summer and taken down in September. It comes complete with a pump and filter. The price ranges from $60-$600 dollars. This pool holds 5000 gallons and took 30 minutes to setup and 10 hours to fill. This one is 16 feet in diameter. You can use either a chlorine or salt water system for cleaning. Rebecca and Clara love swimming in this pool in the summer. We usually put it up the second week of June and take it down in early September. When we are away, usually three to four weeks in the summer, you can set the pool to run on a timer.

We hope you get the chance to install this pool in your backyard or perhaps your building manager might see the benefits of installing this easy to setup pool for some cool summer fun.

Rockaway Beach

Past stores, apartments, and houses is a beach where you can dig a deep hole in the sand, make a sandcastle with a moat, "ride" the waves, and swim into them. Many children also jump over the waves. They love the ice cold thrill that travels through their body. This beach is called Rockaway Beach on 116th street. You can buy a football that is nearby and throw it to family members. Although it may be crowded at first, if you start walking left from where you come in, its fairly empty and peaceful.

---------

(this beach is accessible by taking the "a" or "s" train to 116th street in Rockaway Park, Queens)

I am Rebecca West, age 11. I hope you love this beach as much as I do!

Water Taxi Sand Beach At Fulton Street

Kids love sand and the Water Taxi Beach at Fulton Street in Manhattan might be a great way to give it to them. Take most any train down to Fulton Street, follow Fulton Street to the Seaport, and follow the restaurants in the Seaport to the end of the pier. We went down to the beach at around 4:00 on a Monday and had a blast.  The girls played in the sand, made some friends, and ate fries and chicken from a store located right on the beach. Don't let the fact that you can't go swimming stop you from visiting this beach. Also be advised the beach doesn't let outside food into their beach area. However, we brought in grapes and water and no one seemed to mind. Afterward we walked along the pier and found a Haagen Dazs store.  The people who worked there were really nice and served up huge scoops of ice cream for all of us.  We enjoyed the sandy beach and we hope you do too!

The High Line & Amazing Shakes For The Kids

The High Line is an amazing park for the entire family. The High Line is located high above the street, 30 feet to be exact. Running from Gansevoort to 20th Street (34th when finished) on 10th avenue. You can walk through the park and identify flowers, sit on recliners with wheels that roll along the old train track, relax on a bench that doubles as a little slide, or just bring a book and find a quiet spot to read with your kids. Clara and Rebecca loved watching the cars passing on the street from way up high. They were also in awe of the way in which the freight train tracks were integrated to make a beautiful and unique park.

After the High Line, head over to the Chelsea Market (9th Avenue between 15th and 16th streets) and have an amazing shake at Ronnybrook Milk Bar. They make amazing milk, too, and distribute it in old glass bottles, like your parents used to get. They have shakes like apple pie a la mode, which tastes like the real thing.

Clara, Rebecca, Richard, and I had lots of fun and we hope you do too!

Victoria Gardens (Amusement Park) And More

Some parents might choose to take their children to Adventure Land or Great Adventure, but near a secluded oasis of trees, daffodils, and lilies, tucked away in Central Park, exists an amusement park named Victoria Gardens. This place is a special treasure for my kids, Clara (age 6) and Rebecca (age 11). Enter the Park at 59th and 5th and follow the path north to 60th. The music and laughter will help lead you there. Rebecca and Clara loved the rides, sometimes riding on the same ride three or four times. For $22.oo you will get an all day pass. Stay in the amusement park for an hour or so then go and explore Central Park and come back later. Don't forget to get your hand stamped for reentry. After you leave the amusement park, there are some fun things to do in Central Park.


In the 60's, right near Victoria Gardens, there are some great rocks and trees for climbing that your kids will be sure to enjoy. Clara and Rebecca loved running around in Central Park looking for rocks and trees to climb. The taller the better. After you finish rock climbing, you might find it the perfect time to head back to Victoria Gardens for more rides.

There are so many great places to go to eat near Central Park and I'm sure your kids will be saying the infamous '"I'm Hungry" right about now. Shun Lee is conveniently located right outside of Central Park. Just leave the park around 65th and Central Park West. Walk on 65th on the North side of the street and you should see Shun Lee at 43 West 65th street. Shun Lee has cool carts that come around with a variety of dim sum, my kids loved the shrimp with chives. The lights on the ceiling and walls (see picture above) are in the shape of all the animals represented in the Chinese calendar. I hope you enjoy your day as much as we did!