Activities Schedule for Dec 22-28,2008

**Friday and Saturday

Shuttle to CANNON MTN. - Picks up at Pollard Brook at 8:45am &

South Mountain at 8:55am**

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR ANY AND ALL CRAFTS AND TOURS AT THE RECREATION DESK

Monday December 22nd, 2008
8:00am Coloring Contest & Photo Scavenger Hunt Begins
Show us your creativity! Simply stop at the Front Desk or the Recreation Desk for your worksheets!

9:00am Day Break Update
Join the Recreation staff for a fun and informational gathering where we will update you on all of our activities, local events and answer any and all questions you may have! This is a VERY informative meeting!

10:30am Snow Shoe Tour to Lincoln Woods ($15 per pair rental fee– No Transportation Cost)
We will meet downstairs at the Recreation Desk to set you up with your snowshoes and poles if you prefer. We will then take the van to the Lincoln Woods trail located off the Kancamagus Highway. This event is weather permitting, however if there is no snow at the time of the tour, we will still conduct the tour and be taking a brisk walk instead!

1:00pm 3-D Holiday Cards
Come down to the fun factory and make holiday cards with a 3-D pop out center. Similar to pop-up books, these cards are sure to make your holiday wishes happy ones!

2:00pm Plaster of Paris Hand Molds ($3 per mold)
Come on down to the Fun Factory to make a great holiday gift. You will take plaster in a mold, put your handprints, or foot prints in the mold.

7:00pm Teddy Bear Picnic (FREE EVENT)
Bring the kids down to the main lobby dressed in their pajamas with their favorite teddy bear! We will vote on two children’s books to read and provide free popcorn and juice for all!

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
9:15am Viaggio Spa Representative will be in to show off all of their great products! (FREE EVENT)
A certified Estition will be speaking with you in regards to all of the products and services offered by Viaggio Spa. This is a great informational meeting in order to prepare for a spa treat later in the week, or possibly next time you are in the area!

10:00am Trip to Littleton ($5 Transportation Cost)
Join Steve on a trip to downtown Littleton, a great place to finish up any last minute Christmas Shopping! We will make stops at Chutter’s General Store, which has the world’s longest candy counter! We will also stop at the only working Grist Mill still operating in the state of New Hampshire.

4:00pm Candy Bar Bingo (Entry fee: 1 candy bar per card)
Event will be held in the Fun Factory at Pollard Brook. One candy bar per card is required as an entry fee. Bring a friend or the entire family, but don’t miss out on all the fun! This is the chance to show us your skills!

5:00pm Wine and Cheese Social (FREE EVENT)
Guests are invited to gather in the main lobby area at Pollard Brook to enjoy a wide variety of select cheeses and wine. Event will run 1 hour. Guests are limited to two glasses per person.
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Wednesday, December 24rd, 2008

10:00am Design your own 3 inch Globe Ornament ($2 per Globe)
Head on down to the Fun Factory to check out our examples of our small globe designs. Use anything you would like in order to create a perfect family ornament for this year’s Christmas tree.

12:00pm Snowflake Window Clings
Create snowflakes using puff paint that when dry, you can stick to your windows for a lovely holiday decoration!

1:00pm Secret Location Snow Shoe Tour ($15 per pair rental fee– No Transportation Cost)
We will meet downstairs at the Recreation Desk to set you up with your snowshoes and poles if you prefer. This event is weather permitting, however if there is no snow at the time of the tour, we will still conduct the tour and be taking a brisk walk instead!

6:30PM and 8:30PM Candle Light Service at Loon Mountain
Non– Denominational service starting at 6:30PM and 8:30PM. See Front Desk to see our list of restaurants open for Christmas Day!


Thursday, December 25th, 2008

ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT CLOSED– CHRISTMAS DAY

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Friday, December 26th, 2008
10:00am Gifts in a Jar ($5 per Jar)
Choose between making a layered chocolate brownie mix, spiral festive soup mix, or even bring home a special treat for your four legged friends with our layered dog biscuit mix!

12:00pm Coloring Contest Deadline! (Please pass in all colored pages to the Front Desk)
Make sure to come to the Recreation Desk on Friday to see if you made our Coloring Contest Wall of Fame!

1:00pm Decoupage Art ($2- $5 depending on type of glassware chosen)
Bring your personal vacation photos or use our brochures and pamphlets. Choose many different colors of tissue paper and word art to create a wonderful collage of your favorite memories on vacation!

5:00pm Meet and Greet with our Adventure Concierge, Eric Pyra (FREE EVENT!)
Outside at South Mountain you will enjoy gathering around a warm fire by the outdoor patio for a great opportunity to ask Eric about all you need to know on your vacation! Also a great chance to meet fellow
Vacationers.

5:30pm Bretton Woods Night Skiing Shuttle (Friday and Saturday)

MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE WITH ADVENTURE CONCIERGE

Saturday, December 27th, 2008
8:00am Yoga with Sue at Pollard Brook ($5 cash only)
Take some time for yourself and indulge in this one hour beginners yoga class. It may be just what you need early in the morning to get your body awakened and ready to go! For those who have never tried it, this is your chance!

10:00am Toddler Paint Hour ( FREE EVENT)
Bring the kids to the fun factory for a chance for them to meet other children and finger paint or paint a picture to bring home! This event geared for children ages 1-6, older children are welcome to join in the fun!

11:30am Photo Scavenger Hunt / Coloring Contest Finale!
Bring your photos down to the Recreation Desk, if you complete the hunt, you win a prize! If your coloring contest picture is up on the wall by the exercise room you also win a prize!!

1:30pm Snow Shoe Tour to Loon Mountain ($15 rental fee per pair)
We will meet downstairs at the Recreation Desk to set you up with your snowshoes and poles if you prefer. We will head on down our main driveway and take a left towards Loon Mountain . We will be following a paved path with a total round trip distance of 1.6 miles. This event is weather permitting, however if there is no snow at the time of the tour, we will still conduct the tour and be taking a brisk walk instead!

4:00pm Sand Art Design Making (4-6$ based on size)
Located at South Mountain...Come down and create a necklace, or jar full of sand art. Layer different colored sand in different patterns to create a masterpiece that you can enjoy forever!

Ski Shuttles start this Weekend to Loon & Cannon

Starting this Saturday the Ski Shuttle to Loon will start 1/2 hour prior to the mountain opening.

LOON WEEKDAYS: Loon’s Shuttles run every 20-25 minutes every day from both resorts. They start at 8 am and terminate at 4:30 pm.
LOON WEEKENDS: Begins at 7:30 am and terminates at 5:00 pm.

NEW THIS YEAR will be a daily shuttle to Cannon Mountain. We are very excited to offer this service for our guests who ski at Cannon. This is also an ideal option for familes who want to go to different ski areas.

NEW CANNON SHUTTLE (Weekends and Holiday Periods only): The new Cannon Shuttle will pick at Pollard Brook once daily at 8:45 am and return to Cannon for a 2:45 pm return trip.

The Cannon Shuttle will also pick up at South Mountain at about 8:55 a.m. with the same return trip time.

December 18, 2008 Christmas Caroling on the Common

4th Annual Carols on the Common

The Town of Woodstock is hosting the 4th Annual Carols on the Common on Thursday, December 18th at 7 pm.
Members of the Lincoln Woodstock Middle and High School Chorus and Brass Band will be leading traditional Christmas Carols on the Town Common (Soldier’s Park) in North Woodstock.

Everyone is invited to attend and participate in the traditional New England holiday experience.

Free hot chocolate will be available courtesy of the Woodstock Ladies Auxiliary as well.

Cutting a Christmas Tree in the White Mountian National Forest

The following is from the White Mountains National Forest:


It’s winter in the White Mountains! Come enjoy the snow and the crisp clear air in your
National Forest. Cutting your own Christmas tree can be an exciting time for the entire
family. Imagine how folks did it in the old days – bundle up, make a lunch, bring your
handsaw or ax and look for that special tree. Remember, while a wild tree may not have the
perfect appearance of a commercial tree, it will create memories of a special time together.
You will need a permit to cut any Christmas tree in the National Forest. You can purchase
your permit for $5 at any White Mountain National Forest Office. These are located in
Gorham, Bethlehem, Plymouth, and Conway, NH and Bethel Maine.

Choosing a Tree
Several different types of evergreens grow in the White Mountain National Forest. Many
people prefer the balsam fir because of fragrance and needle retention. Others prefer the
spruce because of the fullness of the branches and the classic shape. You can tell these two
trees apart by “shaking hands” with one of the branches – you will notice soft needles on the
“Friendly Fir” and sharper ones on the “Spikey Spruce”.


Please remember:
• Trees are for personal use only, not for resale. Each family may cut one tree per permit.
• Use only hand tools to cut Christmas trees. Chainsaws are not permitted.
• Make sure you are on National Forest land. Respect the rights of landowners when
crossing private property.
• Do not cut trees in or near; campgrounds, picnic areas, Experimental Forests,
Wilderness, active timber sales, or within 100’ of a state highway. Ask if there are any
known “off limit” areas.
• Do not cut trees larger than 8” in diameter at chest height. Pack down limb piles low
enough so they are within 2’ of the ground. Scatter limbs and wood at least 25 feet
away from roads, streams, hiking trails, and property boundaries.
• Cut your tree so remaining stumps will be less than 10” in height.
• Attach your tree tag after cutting and before transporting your tree.

Caring for your Tree at Home
Once home, you’ll need to give your tree proper care to keep it fresh and attractive and to keep
your home safe throughout the holiday season. Keep the cut tree in a bucket of water in a cool,
shaded area, which is sheltered from the wind until you are ready to set it up. Trim an inch or
two off the bottom of the trunk just before putting the tree in its stand to allow the tree to take
up water once its moved inside. Your tree will be very thirsty, so take care to check the water
level in the stand often - at least two hours after you set it up and at least once each day. The
water level should always be above the bottom of the tree’s trunk. Your tree will keep its
needles longer and be more fire resistant if it is kept watered.

Remember to place your tree as far as possible from a fireplace, radiator, television set or other
source of heat or electricity. Avoid decorations that burn readily such as cotton or paper or wax
candles. Check lights and wiring for worn spots and cracks and take care not to overload
electrical circuits.

After the holidays, think about recycling your tree – what about a potpourri of balsam needles
to remind you of the holidays throughout the winter? Or set your tree in a snowbank to create a
playground for the chickadees and nuthatches in your backyard.

Cutting your own Christmas Tree near Lincoln, NH

Over the next few weekends you will be able to come up and cut down your own Christmas Tree.
The most popular place to do that is the Rocks Estate in Bethlehem, NH. Here you can go 7 days a week and cut down a tree. They have several nature trails that you can hike or snowshoe on where you might see some winter wildlife. Some people would call the experience of going here a "Norman Rockwell Christmas". They have a variety of events occurring on a weekly basis.

My favorite place to go is Windy Ridge Orchard in North Haverhill, NH. We go here during the Fall on our Autumn Tour to Apple pick, but they also have cut your own Christmas Trees. You will enjoy a tractor ride down over the ridge and be able to select your own tree. I went with my family last year and my kids enjoyed riding the Toboggan in the snow and trying to find that perfect tree. The cost was around $30 per tree and was a great opportunity to create a Christmas memory with my family. After we harvested our tree the tractor brought us back up to the baler and then they helped tie the tree up to the roof rack. We went into the gift shop to look around and purchased some cider. We will be repeating the tradition this year.

Caution for Late Fall & Early Winter Hiking

NH OUTDOOR COUNCIL REMINDS LATE-AUTUMN HIKERS TO "HIKE SAFE"CONCORD, N.H. -- Fall foliage in New Hampshire's mountains has come and gone, and with the changing seasons comes new challenges for White Mountain hikers. With the cold, ice, and snow of this time of year in mind, outdoors authorities are advising the Granite State's late-autumn visitors to "Hike Safe."

"New Hampshire's woods and mountains are a great place for recreation any time of year, but each season brings with it special challenges and hazards," notes New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officer Lt. Todd Bogardus. "Frankly, the nature of the mountain environment is that it can be a dangerous place. Hikers who are looking forward to an autumn mountain adventure have to realize that winter conditions come early to the mountains, so they have to be prepared for trail conditions that are very different from those they may have enjoyed in summer or early fall."

According to Bogardus, mountain visitors have to take special precautions to enjoy their adventures safely. "Hikers should most definitely take a look at high-mountain weather forecasts, to be better prepared for conditions at this time of year," says Bogardus. "As a general rule, it's significantly colder, windier, and snowier, the higher you climb. Knowing the forecast, and preparing for likely conditions with appropriate clothing, is very important, and even more critical is assessing actual conditions in the field and acting accordingly."

High in the White Mountains, temperatures can get below zero even in October, let alone November or December. Winds are often strong and chilling, visibility can be very poor in low clouds, and snow can fall at any time. Dress in layers to suit varying conditions, and carry extra warm clothing and rain gear in your pack. Above all, warns Bogardus, "Don't press onward 'no matter what' - adjust your actual trip to conditions as you find them, and plan ahead for a safe return. Be willing to turn back."

As fall gives way to winter, Bogardus notes that, in addition to colder weather, there are important matters related to trail conditions that hikers sometimes overlook. Trails get snowy and icy at this time of year, sometimes making them hard to find, and often slowing people down as they try to find a safe way to negotiate slippery sections of trail. "Crampons" - special ice spikes strapped to boots - or similar traction devices can make slick, ice-covered stretches of trail much easier to travel. If you find yourself going much slower than anticipated, says Bogardus, don't hesitate to turn around and head back down.

Another often-overlooked factor is how short the daylight hours have become, and that they'll continue to get even shorter into late December. "An early start, taking maximum advantage of available daylight, is critical - as is having a good flashlight or headlamp, plus spare batteries and a back-up source of light," cautions Bogardus. He adds, "Already this season, hikers have ignored what should be obvious and have been caught out after dark with no light source."

Some locations in the White Mountains have added hazards. "The Forest Service Snow Rangers have chronicled fatal avalanches on Mount Washington as early as November," says Rebecca Oreskes of the White Mountain National Forest, "and similar hazards can be found in other areas, especially those with steep, open slopes. Basic avalanche awareness is needed by all backcountry hikers, plus recognition of other dangers, such as falling ice."

Guidelines for enjoyable and safe hiking are contained in the principles of "hikeSafe," a joint initiative of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the White Mountain National Forest to promote safe and responsible hiking.

Oreskes says that the hikeSafe "Hiker Responsibility Code" sums up the basic tenets of backcountry safety. "Late fall hiking has great rewards, but it also comes with innate challenges and dangers. Being aware of and following the Code are important first steps toward an enjoyable and safe journey.

"There are six tenets of the code: 1) Be prepared with appropriate knowledge and gear; 2) Let someone else know your plans; 3) Hiking groups should stick together and not let themselves become separated; 4) Hikers should always be ready to turn back if circumstances, such as changing weather, dictate; 5) Hikers should be ready for emergencies, and, ideally, be set to "self rescue;" and 6) Those who know the code should share its lessons with others.

"In spite of the challenges, most autumn visitors to our state's forests and mountains have great experiences," says Bogardus, "and there's a better chance of having a memorable and satisfying trip if hikers follow the hikeSafe principles."
For information regarding the NH Outdoor Council and links to outdoor safety resources, visit http://www.nhoutdoorcouncil.org.
For more information about the hikeSafe Program, visit http://www.hikesafe.com.