Vacation Camp, Free Frosty Freez, Book Group, Detours and More

Holiday preparations can be a bit easier with some advance planning. Here are some fun ways to stay busy while minimizing stress this season:

• Middletown's  is running a Holiday Vacation Camp Dec. 27-31 for grades K-4. The camp will be held at from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours available for an additional charge. The cost is $125 per child with a maximum of $200 per family. The camp will include activities such as arts, music, physical fitness and sports, board games, crafts, team building and much more. Registration for camp takes place this Saturday, Dec. 11, and the following Saturday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at . All interested families should make an appointment to register by calling 847-1993 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• is holding a Frosty Freez Winter Challenge contest to find out where loyal customers have traveled and worn their Frosty Freez t-shirts during the off-season. Contestants are asked to post a photo on the Frosty Freez Facebook page of their shirt in front of a landmark to receive a free small ice cream when the popular ice cream stand re-opens in the spring. So far, contestants have posted pictures from Greece, Canada and Las Vegas. And if you don't have a shirt, just e-mail the folks at Frosty Freez at info@frostyfreez.com to find out what's available. That sounds like something a lot of Frosty Freez diehards would like to find under the tree! 
• has scheduled a book discussion for Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. for Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. There is still time to grab a copy. While there, select a book recipient to sponsor for the store's Giving Tree, which provides books to children in need up to 18 years of age on the island.
• The is extending store hours through Christmas. They will now be open on Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. They're also running a special of 20 percent off all Gund products.
• It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere we turned this weekend, trees were being transported from farms to homes. If the thought of prepping the holiday meal or party is too stressful, consider pre-ordering any number of delicious foods off the holiday menu at .

Know Before You Go:

• between Sachuest Point Road and Third Beach Road through Jan. 14, 2011. All vehicle and pedestrian traffic should seek alternate routes.
• Miantomoni Avenue was closed Monday between Fenner Avenue and West Main Road for continued road work, so be aware detours might still occur in that area of town.