Learn to Ride 2014


Our 2014 program kicked off on Sunday, January 26th at Windham Mountain. January is also the official Learn to Ride month and with a group of 37 youth participants, we did just that! The group is a mix of returning students and newbies, all with varying riding skills. This year, we also had a volunteer that was new to snowboarding. Our volunteer Matt, usually enjoys skiing, but took on the challenge of not only learning to snowboard, but to also chaperone a group of beginners. In addition, volunteer Shirley was also a newbie to snowboarding. It was interesting to see how the volunteers and the students would switch roles in motivating each other.

After every outing, we ask the group what they have learned new or discovered about themselves. Answers typically vary, but most feel that their biggest challenge of the day was continuing to try to snowboard after falling. Some cited they needed a pep talk to continue, others felt determined to get it, but all agreed, giving up wasn’t an option. Determination at its finest!

Believe Again 2013


In honor of Throwback Thursday, #tbt, here are the photos from the Ciccone Theatre gala, which was held on Saturday, May 4, 2013. The Dance Theatre of Harlem performed and after their performance met with our group and answered some of our questions. Special thanks to Joyce Becker of Bergen Community College for making this a reality for us!

 

Shred Love 2014


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Happy New Year everyone! We hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays and is now ready to get some riding in. Why? Because Shred Love’s 2014 Learn to Ride session kicks off this month! Our dates this year are Sundays: January 26th, February 2nd, and February 9th. Due to the Super Bowl being held in New Jersey this year (blah!), we have to schedule an alternative event. Some of the board members have suggested bowling or ice skating, however we would like to you hear from our riders and their parents/guardians, before we finalize our plans for 2/2/2014. What would you like to do? The event must be local and be completed by 4pm.

Our Learn to Ride program is the same as every year. Students do not need to know how to snowboard to register, but must commit to attending all of our dates. Shred Love is open to girls and boys, ages 8 – 18 years old. All participants must bring lunch or money to buy their lunch at Windham Mountain. A slice of pizza and juice is approximately $10.

Parents will receive a text message when we are approximately an hour away from our pickup/drop-off location. Parents, please be prompt will picking up students!

Our Learn to Ride program is free to our participants. We only ask that you consider making a donation to help cover the costs to run this program. Transportation costs alone for each participant is $112. Donations of prepackaged snacks, breakfast foods, juices, water, napkins, and monetary donations are greatly appreciated (and tax deductible!).

If you would like to volunteer for any of our outings, please send us an email at volunteer@shredlove.org/wordpress.

 

Shred Love’s 2014 Learn to Ride Program

Sundays: January 26 and February 9, 2014 at Windham Mountain

Pickup/Drop-off Location: W33rd St & Broadway, Bayonne, NJ

Drop off – 6am

Return – 7pm

All participants will receive snowboard pants, gloves, face masks, goggles, lift tickets, and rental equipment (snowboard and boots). All lessons are instructed by Windham Mountain’s instructors. Permission slips will be emailed on Wednesday, 1/22 and must be signed prior to student boarding the bus. Students must bring lunch or buy lunch at the mountain.

Click here to register now! Use session number 2206 and select Shred Love as your youth agency.

Please feel free to email me at eroyster@shredlove.org/wordpress with any questions and/or concerns you may have.

See you on the slopes!

Liz

Woman of the Year


 

Photo courtesy of Jersey Journal

Photo courtesy of Jersey Journal

On April 13th, our Founder and Executive Director, Elizabeth Royster had the honor of accepting the Woman of the Year award from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated ~ Sigma Zeta Zeta. She was nominated by Revenna Fowlkes, parent of Edward. Edward has been a part of Shred Love since the beginning!

You can read more about that special evening in Liz’s own words here.

Women’s History Month


Elizabeth Royster of Shred Love and Kim Whyatt of Creative Minds honored by Assemblyman Charles Mainor

Elizabeth Royster of Shred Love and Kim Whyatt of Creative Minds honored by Assemblyman Charles Mainor

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On March 21, 2013, Shred Love’s Founder, Elizabeth Royster was honored by the New Jersey General Assembly as a part of Women’s History Month. She was nominated by Assemblyman Charles Mainor of Bayonne and Jersey City for her outstanding work in the community. Elizabeth is also the recipient of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Zeta Zeta Chapter of Hudson County, 2013 Woman of the Year award! Please join us in congratulating her on these major accomplishments!

To purchase tickets to the Royal Legacy dinner, email zetaszzdinner@gmail.com for more information.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. ~ Sigma Zeta Zeta Chapter presents

Royal Legacy

Finer Womanhood Dinner Dance

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Casino in the Park

Jersey City, NJ

Tickets: $65 for adults ~ $40 for children under 12

iPad mini raffle ~ Mini Chinese Auction ~ Onsite vendors

Shred Love Ice Skates


 

Newport Skates 012

Shred Love ice skates?!

Shred Love ice skates?!

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Oh yeah, I’m ready!

Wait for me!

Wait for me!

Ok, it didn’t really go down like that, but I couldn’t resist. Shred Love hosted a night of family ice skating at Newport Skates in Jersey City and we had a great time. We had some beginners, even had a parent give it a shot, while some of the other parents laughed on the sideline. Don’t forget to join our newsletter to stay informed of upcoming events. Hope to see you at our next outing!

 

Newport Skates 022

 

Look ma, no hands!

Look ma, no hands!

Newport Skates 029

l-r: Chris, DeKar, Tyson, Savion & Liz

l-r: Chris, DeKar, Tyson, Savion & Liz

Newport Skates 032

Masai, Savion, and Alexis

Da'Shiona & Tyson

Da’Shiona & Tyson

She's running for the exit, lol!

She’s running for the exit, lol!

Chris, "wait, there's more pictures on Shred Love's Facebook page!"

Chris – “Wait, there’s more pictures on Shred Love’s Facebook page!”

 

Check out the rest of pictures and many more on Shred Love’s Facebook page.

Is it spring yet?


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Yes, its spring, but some resorts are just closing for the season. If you had a chance to get out and enjoy it, give yourself a pat on the back for taking part in a snowboard season that went out with a bang! End of March riding in Jersey?! Come on and admit it, you were shocked, amazed, but happy that you got full use of those season passes, lol!

See those happy faces in the picture? They were happy to have another season with Shred Love, snowboarding, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and ice skating. Check out our Facebook page to see the rest of the photos.

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On behalf of Shred Love and our participants, I would like to thank Windham Mountain, Alston Tours, our volunteers, donors, the participants’ parents and anyone else my foggy memory can’t recall, for helping us continue to serve the youth of our community! It is with your continued support we are able to put smiles on these faces. Please consider joining us next year and/or making a donation.

Cheers to 2013 Snowboard Season!

Liz

 

Romp to Stomp 2013


trail

 

2013 Romp to Stomp – New Jersey raised $45,000 for the fight against breast cancer. Thank you to the Shred Loves Pink team for contributing and helping to raise awareness of breast cancer. In May, we will be in Philly for the walk on Mother’s Day. Hope to see you in Philly and/or stompin’ with us in 2014!

DCIM100SPORT

Pink moustaches!

DCIM100SPORT

No pink ‘staches for the guys?

guy

DCIM100SPORT

Captian Lizzie Girl signing off for Shred Loves Pink

Fallen Leader – Day 2


Master of the Shred Love Temple:  Grasshopper, time has come for you to lead. You must spread your wings and fly.

The Apprentice Grasshopper:  Master I’m not ready, I’m not worthy.  There are still too many questions for which I seek answers.

Master of the Shred Love Temple:  You MUST answer the call.  In life, you must step out on faith.  You only have to believe in yourself. Follow your instincts. In you, lie all the answers you will need.

The Apprentice Grasshopper: I will try my best Master.

Master of the Shred Love Temple:  Do not try, simply do.

For the first time in Shred Love history, our fearless leader Ms. Elizabeth Royster had to miss an event (hey, family comes first as Savion was sick). She entrusted the success of the outing to her team of me, Geneva and Jerrie.  To compound the challenge, Shred Love hosted the Urban Girl Squad, who signed on as volunteers for the day.

Want more challenges?  We were meeting two new volunteers –Rozalyn and Shay for the first time.  Add to that, some guy named Old Man Winter started succumbing to the harsh effects of the dreaded flu.  However, failure was not an option.

Once arriving to the mountain, we were reunited for the first time this season, with our favorite Park Rat Volunteers Gio and Deondre along with the leader of Shred Love’s “the Ready Betties squad”, Michelle. The day moved along smoothly with no major hiccups as the Urban Girl Squad – Clare, Hannah, Charisse, Jamie, and Sue were on the training hill with the other first timers including Charisma, Bria and Adriana.  With Trey rolling in the mini park with Gio and Deondre.

Michelle riding with the “Regular Betties – Jackie, Armani Rae, Kayla, Alexis up the mountain.

Shay with Brandon’s crew of – Khaliq, Edward, Darius and Julius running the mountain, Jerrie and Rozalyn rounding out the rest of the Shred Love Team on the small chairlift slope (someday I’m going to remember the name of that trail). The day went along smoother than expected.

With Old Man Winter being completely under the weather, who could have asked for more?

The Urban Girl Squad – after a challenging morning and a better afternoon, enjoyed themselves.

As for the kids of Shred Love, they ALWAYS have a great time on the mountain.

As for our fearless and omnipresent leader, Liz, she can now find comfort in the fact that she has a competent team in the event of her absence.  Special thanks to ALL for making this event a success!

Master of the Shred Love Temple:  Grasshopper, you’ve done well.
The Apprentice Grasshopper:  Thank you, your Excellency.

Old Man Winter
(Heading for the Tamiflu)


Shred Love – Learn to Ride 2013


Winter, oh glorious winter. Happy Holidays, hot apple cider, chocolate covered waffles and snow covered wonderlands (did I mention salted-caramel hot chocolate?).  And in the still of ANY starry, winter night, if you close your eyes and listen closely, you can hear it calling ever so faintly, echoing off of the falling snowflakes.  Can you hear it? Can you hear the mountain calling, summoning all snowboards from their year-long hibernation? The time is upon us. It’s Go Time! Queue the music.

SHRED LOVE SEASON HAS RETURNED!

Sunday of President’s Day weekend (also the busiest weekend of the winter season, I may add… never seen so many riders and skiers on the mountain), Shred Love kicked off its Winter Snowboard program returning to wonderful Windham Mountain.  Under the superb driving skills of our bus driver Mr. Mike, we arrived on time to be embraced by a reunion of old friends and familiar faces, as well as, a few new soon-to-be old friends, as we ushered in the new season.

Returning Shred Love alumni Armani Rae, Brandon, Edward, and Jaden stepped up this season as Student Volunteers, helping with administrative tasks and team leadership on the mountain.   In addition, we had our other returning Shred Love veterans proving that they didn’t lose a step, or rather shred, since last season.  Nearly all returning Shred Love students were either riding on the small chair lift or further up the mountain – how’s THAT for progression!!!!

Then we have the beginners. Oh yes, the beginners, the fearless first timers, the noble novices, the rookie riders of the mountain range (hey – I can go on all day) – Tahjan, Charisma, DJ, William, Bria and Eric dared to strap up and drop in on lessons with Marcia’s team of instructors. By the end of the lessons, all were progressing quite well.

Awesome powder, mild temperatures, and brilliant sunshine characterized the day. In the end, it was a beautiful day for all.  Can’t wait until next week!

Old Man Winter aka Mel