​Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year — a time for costumes, creativity, and community fun! At Liberty Lake Foundation, we believe every child deserves to enjoy the magic of trick-or-treating while staying safe and confident. Whether you’re heading out with little ones or hosting festivities at home, here are a few friendly reminders to help keep your Halloween happy and hazard-free.

1. Choose Safe Costumes
When picking out costumes, make sure your kids can move and see clearly. Opt for bright colors or reflective tape so drivers can spot them easily. Use face paint instead of masks when possible to avoid blocked vision. Check that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping and flame-resistant for safety around candles or decorations.

2. Light the Way
Bring a flashlight or glow sticks to light the path as you walk. Not only does this help your group see where you’re going, but it also makes you visible to others. Remind kids to stick to sidewalks and cross streets only at corners or crosswalks.

3. Trick-or-Treat Together
Younger children should always have an adult with them, and older kids should travel in groups. Before heading out, talk about staying with their group, only visiting well-lit homes, and never entering a stranger’s house or car. And of course, make sure everyone knows your plan — where you’ll go, and when you’ll be home.

4. Check Those Treats
Before anyone digs in, take a few minutes to look over all candy. Discard anything that’s open, unwrapped, or unfamiliar. For kids with allergies, be especially cautious — and look for houses offering Teal Pumpkin Project treats, which provide non-food goodies for everyone to enjoy!

5. Safe Celebrations at Home
If you’re greeting trick-or-treaters, make sure your walkways are well-lit and clear of tripping hazards. Keep pets safely indoors, use battery-operated candles in pumpkins, and enjoy the evening from a safe, welcoming distance.

6. Remember What It’s All About
​Halloween is about laughter, imagination, and community connection. Take the time to snap photos, share smiles, and make memories that last far beyond October 31st.

​At Liberty Lake Foundation, we’re proud to support families in creating joyful, safe experiences — not only during Halloween but all year long. From all of us, have a fun, safe, and spooky Halloween! 🕸️

Area residents can test their mettle – and tolerance for icy waters – as the Liberty Lake Foundation in Mansfield Township hosts its second annual Polar Bear Plunge, Jan. 21, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The event will raise funds to pay for activities and resources for area youths, as well as an annual “campership” program, which subsidizes camp tuition at area camps for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.

For those who are less hardy, but still want to help the cause, there is also a “Chicken Dip,” in which participants can run into the lake up to their ankles/knees. But neither plungers nor dippers need fear: hot beverages will be on hand to warm the insides, and a fire will be ablaze to warm the outside. The Tower Dogs food truck (best hot dogs in the world) will be on hand, and a DJ will be spinning high-energy motivational music.

Participation fee is $25, which includes an event T-shirt. Plungers are encouraged to form teams and get sponsorships/pledges from friends and businesses. High Achieving fundraisers will receive special prizes. All money raised goes to the 501c3 nonprofit Liberty Lake Foundation.

“This seemed to be a natural for us.  We have a lake, we know a lot of families, we have winter weather, so why not combine them to benefit area children? I’m happy to lead the charge into the water,” said Andy Pritikin, owner of Liberty Lake Day Camp and proud board member of the Foundation. “Last year’s event was 70 degrees, and we raised a few thousand dollars- This year we expect much colder conditions… and even more participants!”
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To learn more about the Polar Bear Plunge, to register or sign up a team, click here.

Founded in 2010, the Liberty Lake Foundation was created with the belief that all children deserve opportunities learn, grow and flourish. Sponsoring an annual calendar of events, philanthropic opportunities and a summer “campership” program, the foundation acts as a spearhead for area families to help create a caring, supportive community for all.

Liberty Lake is located at 1195 Florence Columbus Road, Bordentown, New Jersey, and is the home to the area’s largest children’s summer camp, picnic/special events site and the NJ Renaissance Faire.

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A scary good time was had by all at this years Liberty Lake “Scary Godmother” Fall Fun Fest. Kids and adults enjoyed Haunted Hay Rides, Pumpkin Painting, outdoor Scary Godmother movie on the hill and so much more.

​What a successful and beautiful day, as local families and businesses came together despite the (wrong) weather reporting! Special thanks to all of the volunteers who worked hard to ensure a fun time for all who attended!

​Andy and the Liberty Lake family were recently awarded the Voice of Business award for all they have contributed to the local business community-Day Camp, Picnics, Renaissance Faire, Foundation, Volunteerism, Activism and more. We couldn’t be prouder, and we share this award with everyone who has worked with us, entrusted us with their children, attended an event or volunteered for our foundation.

​We are pleased to reveal our new website.

You can now go to one central location to learn about the foundation, how you can get involved and easily make donations.

This Friday, May 8, one of our favorite charities, HELP HENRY SEE AND HEAR / Accessing Independence
is holding a Coach Bag Bingo night at the Westampton Crescent Shrine. Grab a chance at winning a Coach bag in one of 16 games of Bingo, followed by a basket raffle including a Kitchen Aid standing mixer, a round of golf, trip to Disney, free week at Liberty Lake and so much more. Today (Tuesday) Henry, Jack and I will be on NBC 10 in Philly during the 11am and 6pm hours- talking about the event, Liberty Lake, and Summer Camp– tune in! For more info on this great organization, check out: ​https://www.helphenryseeandhear.org/ 

And if you missed Community Day, you would have missed the Lazarovici kids hawking Scavenger Hunt tickets for their Mom’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year campagin! Camp Mom Andrea Dobin has drawn inspiration from a colleauge who has battled blood cancer, as well as my son Justin- whose 3.5 years of successful treatment is thankfully drawing to an end. “60 Minutes” ran an amazing episode recently describing advances being made in cancer treatments- and much of it has been done with the help of fundraisers like this one. If you would like to support Andrea, the LLS, and cancer research- click here: http://www.mwoy.org/pages/nj/nnj15/adobin

At Liberty Lake, we say that TO LEAD IS TO SERVE, and we try to find ways to give back to the community. Our Teen Leadership Program has terrific guilds and service initiatives that show our teens that giving back is more than just a few lines on their college application- and we hope that all of our initiatives teach the value of giving back to all of our campers.

Andy Pritikin

Saturday, February 21st is the FIRST EVER LIBERTY LAKE GA-GA FEST at the Moorestown Mall from 12 noon to 4pm.

It’s open to the public- so bring your friends- because our Liberty Lakers will be showing their skills, even if they are a tad rusty…

​The event will take place in the square in front of Lord & Taylor- through the Chipotle entrance. We will have two Ga-Ga courts: A big one for the big kids, and a new small portable one for the little kids. The portable one is going to be available for backyard GA-GA parties when it gets a little warmer out!

There will be LOTS of prizes including COOL GA-GA Shirts for the winners, and assorted goodies for the top finishers of each game. We will be adding up wins and points this day, as well as our GA-GA FEST #2 on April 25, and hold a GA-GA FEST FINALS at the Liberty Lake Community Day on May 2, at Liberty Lake. Show up any time between 12-4, and be ready for some hot GA-GA action during this COLD winter!

HOLD ON… WHAT IS GA-GA?

Good question!

Ga-Ga is the most popular American Summer Camp game, which originated from Israel. Played with a very soft and safe ball, Ga-Ga is a cross between Dodgeball (if you are hit below the wasit, you’re out), Handball (you have to slap the ball), and Gladiator (the last man standing, is the winner of that round). Most importantly, if I came into Liberty Lake any day of the summer and said- “All activities are cancelled so that we can play Ga-Ga all day” – children would rejoice, as they LOVE to GA-GA!