New York City youths arrive in Bryn Mawr for ‘Fresh Air’

cludes organized group activities including swimming lessons at Conestoga Swim Club; many of the children do not know how to swim and families are careful to monitor them near the water. Other activities include a bowling and pizza party at Devon Lanes, a hike at the Willows in Radnor and ice skating at the Philadelphia Skating and Humane Society rink in Ardmore.

In addition to the Bryn Mawr stop, children were welcomed by families in Chester Springs and Doylestown.

As families waited for the bus to arrive Monday, they talked about the program. Host, Kara McMahon of Wayne, found out about the program after living in New York. She was waiting with her children, Brady, 9, and twins Jack and Luke, 7, to meet Kinglesy, 7 for the first time.

“We Facetimed him and he seemed very excited to learn how to ride a bike and to go swimming,” said McMahon. “We’re going to take him to swim lessons, visit the aquarium, golfing and hiking.”

Kristen Stern of Lafayette Hills, a special education teacher at Devon Elementary, was waiting with her daughters, Avery, 7, and Addison, 9.

“They were up at 6 a.m. and so excited,” Stern said. They hope to take Anialay, 7, to the Elmwood Zoo, make slime and go swimming.

“It’s been great, the first year I was amazed at how helpful and polite Ben was, I said, ‘can you show my kids,’” said Megan McNeill of Tredyffrin, who along with her husband Brian and sons Davis, 17, and Devon, 11 have hosted Ben, 13, for the third year. “I feel we have a relationship with him now.

“It’s beneficial for our children,” McNeill said. “They get to understand how other people live.”

Asked what motivated him to host Brian, McNeill pulled out his phone to show an excited social media post from Ben about his Fresh Air trip. “He is so excited to come,” said McNeill. “That is why I do it.”

Interested families can apply for the 2019 summer season at http://www.freshair.org/.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Fresh Air host families, the McMahon family of Tredyffrin and the Stern family of Lafayette Hills, wait to welcome their guests for a week as part of the program to allow New York City children of limited means a chance to enjoy a week with a guest family in the suburbs and country.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Nevaeh, right, gives Ceclia and Elliana Burnetti of Media hugs after she arrived on the bus from New York as part of the Fresh Air Fund, which offers city children the chance to spend a week in a more green, suburban and rural setting. This is the fourth year the Burnettis have hosted Neaveh.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Laurie Cameron of Radnor welcomes Joshua back with a big hug, after he arrived on a bus from New York as part of the Fresh Air Fund, which offers city children the chance to spend a week in a more green, suburban and rural setting.

Fresh Air host Kristen Stern of Lafayette Hill with her daughters, Avery, 7, and Addison, 9, welcomes Anialay, 7, for a week as part of the program to allow New York City children of limited means a chance to enjoy a week with a guest family in the green setting of the suburbs and country.