Q&A with Events Manager Chrissy Osgood
Ahoy from the Rolling River Events Team! With our convenient, suburban Long Island location, our facility is open year-round to host a variety of family-friendly activities and events. The Events Team truly extends the camp experience beyond the summer! We sat down with Rolling River Events Manager Chrissy Osgood to learn more about creating memorable experiences for the community.
How long have you worked at Rolling River?
I have been working at Rolling River for 29 years! I started out as a counselor and then moved up to be the Navigator Division Supervisor. During the summer, I work in the Camp Office as well as continue to plan private summer events.
Why did you join the Rolling River Events Division?
I have always loved working with children since I could serve as a positive influence for their development. Before working as an Events Manager, I was an early childhood education teacher for almost 20 years (I even worked at Rolling River Day School as a teacher!) When I was approached about joining the Events Team, I felt it was a great way to continue introducing children to new experiences, just now outside of the classroom. Our events create lasting memories and serve as a great way for family bonding and socialization.
What skills make a great Events Manager?
Definitely organization and being detail oriented. Great events come from great planning and we spend weeks if not months going through every detail of an upcoming event. You also need to have excellent communication skills in order to delegate tasks. For example, our Fall Festival event typically has almost 50 staff members working so they need to be clear on their roles and responsibilities for the event to run smoothly. Finally, you need to be creative! We have years of practice from planning special events for camp- out Events Team is essentially just an extension of our summer programming!
What type of events do you offer at Rolling River?
We offer many different types of events and activities year-round- you can view all of the options on our website! Specifically, we specialize in children’s birthday parties, graduation parties, community festivals, character meet and greets, school picnics, corporate picnics, reunions, and holiday/vacation camp. Our campus has a casual and fun vibe so it’s perfect for sports activities, crafts, swimming and other recreational choices.
What is your favorite event that you have planned so far and why?
I would say that my favorite event so far has been “Santa’s Holiday Meet and Greet”. We hosted this event in December of 2020. Many venues were cancelling their Santa visits due to COVID. We were able to come up with an outdoor, creative way to bring Santa to camp and keep with important family traditions. The kids were so in awe when they arrived and it was great to offer a sense of normalcy for the holiday season. Also, the holiday decor is so beautiful and was a truly magical experience for all that attended.
In your eyes, what makes a great community event?
A great community event is one that has a wide array of family-friendly activities with a clear flow of the event layout. Additionally, the event must have clear branding from start to finish- same colors and signage, relevant music, consistent costumes. A great example was our Easter Bunny Bonanza. The event included organized egg hunt games, photos with the Easter Bunny, a candy bar and other relevant activities. The event colors were pastels and were consistent with the ticket sale website, signage, flyers, etc. It was very well received by the public!
What is your favorite birthday theme you have hosted to date?
I love a good safari theme with animals because I like that the kids can interact with the petting zoo or animal show. This theme also leads to a lot of other creative things you can do with the party including decorations, paper goods, favors, etc.
What does the Events Team offer in regards to picnics or reunions?
Since the party group has full range of the campus for private picnics, we can host a variety of sports activities and games. We also offer a multitude of catering options such as BBQ, hot food, deli sandwiches and more. Additionally, we have dozens of contacts for entertainment options including facepainting, DJs, bounce houses, characters, and so much more. You can literally bring your vision to life for hundreds of guests.
Why would a family choose to host their party at Rolling River over their home or another venue?
The number one reason is that we offer a premium service in regard to birthday parties. Our facility is spacious and meticulous and features both indoor and outdoor options. We only host one party at a time so it feels private and personal. Additionally, our parties are customizable to fit the needs of the guest of honor. We work with our clients to make their vision come to life and give them everything they are looking for regarding food, activities and entertainment. We take care of it all- planning, execution, guest experience, set up and clean up. Everyone can just show up and enjoy the party!
What advice do you have for families interested in planning a private birthday party with Rolling River Events?
Get in touch early! Since we host camp events throughout the year, we have limited dates available for parties. We offer many different activity options so I suggest that you speak with your child about what they enjoy, whether it be a sport activity or crafts project. Also, put your trust in the Events Team and know that we will carefully execute your vision to create a memorable event.
How can I attend or book an event?
Visit our dedicated section of the Rolling River website, email [email protected] or call 516-593-2267. You can also view the “Upcoming Events” page for information about the next event we are hosting at camp. I hope to see you at a party soon!
