Tag Archives: windham mountain

Shred Love Celebrates 5 Years of Service

Posted on by

ShredLOve5yr

Join us in celebrating our fifth year of service, as we couldn’t have done it without you! I’m extremely proud of the progress we’ve made as a group and as individuals. Collectively we’ve worked together to expose inner city and at-risk youth to snowboarding, developed the leadership skills of all of our participants, and tackled some of the roughest terrain on our snowboards and mountain bikes. Yet individually, we’ve all faced some of our greatest fears and overcame many obstacles. I’ve had the pleasure to share in many of the triumphs of the group; seeing a newbie link turns at the end of a lesson, watching our older students become group leaders, and listening to the group’s stories on the bus ride home is a reward in itself.

I started Shred Love to give back to my community and yet my community has given so much more to me in return. I’ve learned a lot within the last 5 years about community, relationships, problem solving and myself. There were many times I wanted to quit because of funding and managing the business side of Shred Love, in addition to balancing my family, my day job; my life in general. Through each hurdle you, our supporters, created a way for Shred Love to not only continue, but to also grow.

May the next 5 years allow us to continue to grow and serve more deserving youth and create many more life long memories!

Cheers!

Liz

Ride with Us

Posted on by

Shred Love 2014

 

 

Mother Nature has been really generous with the snow this year, so let’s hope she continues for our next outing on Sunday, March 2, 2014. In addition to snowboarding, we will be awarding all of our riders! So please, do you snow dance for one more coating of fresh powder and then I will personally join you all in the dance for spring. Pinky promise! 😉

Shred Love 2014 

Sunday, March 2, 2014 at Windham Mountain

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

Drop off – 6am

Return – 7pm

Students must bring lunch or buy lunch at the mountain. Text messages will be sent to all parents when we are an hour away from reaching Bayonne. Parents please be prompt! Also, all booster sheets can be returned then.

Thank you for being a part of Shred Love! It is with your continued dedication we are able to serve more deserving youth!

~ Liz

Learn to Ride 2014

Posted on by

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!

Shred Love 2014

Posted on by

120

 

 

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

Fallen Leader – Day 2

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Learn to Ride 2013

Posted on by

Registration is now open!

Our dates at Windham Mountain have been set! Join us on Sundays, January 20th, 27th, and February 3rd for our Learn to Ride program. Our program is open to boys and girls, ages 9 -18 years old. Our previous students that are 18+ are welcomed to join us as a volunteer this year *hint, hint Cornelius, lol!* To register a youth participant and/or to volunteer, please email us.

Registration closes on Thursday, January 17th! Be sure to register now and join our newsletter for more information.  

Urban Girl Squad

Posted on by

Urban Girl Squad's Group Leader - Caitlin

On Sunday, February 5th, Urban Girl Squad volunteered for a day of snowboarding with us! Urban Girl Squad is a social networking group in New York City for women in their 20s  and 30s. Membership to Urban Girl Squad gives you access to amazing parties, new fitness fun, tips on hosting your own party, styling your hair, and so much more! Membership is free, so ladies don’t waste any time signing up! Jersey Girls don’t fret, I’m an Urban Girl Squad-er myself. 🙂

Its no secret that Shred Love starts early in the morning (our bus departs from Bayonne at 7am, sometimes 6am), but the women from Urban Girl Squad had an even earlier start, as some came as far as Brooklyn. We greatly appreciate their dedication in helping us serve more youth through snowboarding. That day we served our largest group to date. Thanks again Urban Girl Squad! We’re looking forward to riding with you ladies again on Sunday, February 26!

Liz

Urban Girl Squad & parent/volunteer Ebony