Pre-Trip in New York City - The 'City that Never Sleeps'

Tuesday, August 26th - Thursday, August 28th, 2025

NYC Skyline

Note: Below is a tentative list of activities.
The final schedule is subject to change, and activities may be added, removed, or adjusted as necessary.

What can we say about this place called Gotham? The City that Never Sleeps is the land of skyscrapers, the world's economic engine. We are heading to the Big Apple!

For a select few, this year’s JOE Pre-Trip will visit NYC and nearby from Tuesday, Aug. 27 to Thursday, Aug. 29. Led by natives who know the city as well as their grandmother’s matzah-ball soup, this trip will introduce both newbies and seasoned visitors to some of the city’s most intriguing destinations.

You will get to choose one of the following day-trips:

After our individual choices, we’ll converge on a sunset cruise on the city’s famous Circle Line Tour Harbor Lights Cruise

Then, hit the town to see the lights of Times Square and other parts of the city. 

On Thursday morning, we will head to the 'Meadowlands,’ a beautiful natural area just over the Hudson River in New Jersey. You can check out the Meadowlands via Kayaking or Guided Birding Walk.

We are basing this trip just over the Hudson River in New Jersey and near the Airport, where lodging is affordable, parking is easy, and the city is only a short train ride away.

Hotel Crowne Plaza Newark Airport

Schedule

Sunday, August 24th/Monday, August 25th – “Explore New York City on Your Own”

Come Sunday or Monday and stay in the same hotel to explore “the City” at your own pace, taking time to see many more sights. While no organized activities are planned until Tuesday evening, you can do many independently. Try window shopping along Fifth Avenue or visit world-class museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, or the American Museum of Natural History. Take in a Broadway Show, go to the top of the Empire State Building, explore the world-famous Bronx Zoo, or hop on the Cyclone at Coney Island. Contact the Pre-Trip Co-Chairperson at Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org if you need more ideas. Mosaic will advise on other early participants if you desire to coordinate activities amongst yourselves.

Tuesday, August 26th – “Official Start of Pre-Trip”

  • 3 pm – 6 pm Hotel Check-in.
  • 6:00 pm: The Official start of the Pre-Trip. Your Pre-Trip Chairs and Pre-Trip Hospitality Chair will greet you in the lobby. Everyone meets in the hotel lobby to walk to dinner. Anyone running late should go directly to the restaurant.
  • 6:15 pm—8:15 pm Note: Dinner is not included in the base price; pay as you go (Google Maps of hotels and restaurants).
  • 8:30 pm Meet You Leader Meeting at the hotel to discuss the itinerary for the next two days. Attendance is mandatory. No show, no go! Welcome kits, NYCGO Guides, trip itinerary, NJ Transit train tickets, train schedules, subway maps, NYC Bicycle maps, tour tickets, and Circle Line Cruise tickets will be distributed at this meeting.

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Wednesday, August 27th

  • 6:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast in the Breakfast Room adjacent to the hotel lobby (included for those staying in the hotel)

Then enjoy the following options:

Daytime Activities

Evening Activities

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON WEDNESDAY OPTIONS

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Thursday, August 28th

  • 6:30 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
  • 6:30 am–8:15 am Pack up and check out: Bring your luggage to the front desk for daily safekeeping. If you are driving, put your luggage in the car. Everyone must be checked out of their rooms before heading out for the day.
  • 8:15 am Meet in the lobby.
  • 8:30 am Drive to Thursday morning activities.

Then enjoy the following options:

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THURSDAY OPTIONS

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BE BACK AT THE HOTEL BY 1:00 pm

  • 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm - Lunch at a restaurant of your choice. The hotel has a restaurant and several options nearby. See MAP for options
  • 2:01 pm - Departure from the Crown Plaza Hotel Newark
  • 2:11 pm - Arrive at Newark Airport Terminal A to pick up people flying that day.
  • 2:22 pm - Depart from Newark Airport 
  • 4:00 pm - Arrive at Cedar Lake Camp, Milford, PA

 

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Transportation

Arrival to the Pre-Trip via Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Car

    • The drive from Newark Liberty International Airport to Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel takes 10 to 30 minutes.
    • If you arrive on Sunday, August 25, or Monday, August 26, you will be responsible for all transportation. The Check-in time is 3:00 pm.
    • Tuesday arrivals are welcome to arrive at Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel, 901 Spring Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201, any time after 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27th.
    • Parking costs $10/day.

Bus

Take BUS#62 to US1/9 North Ave Bus Stop # 33190. It will take 35 minutes to get from Terminal A (Stop 33190) and Terminal B (Stop 18788), 23 minutes, and 21 minutes to get from Terminal C (Stop 18789). The bus runs every 30 Minutes. The moment you see yourself passing the Crown Plaza Hotel on the left side of the road, single the bus to get off at the next stop. Walk back ¼ mile to the hotel. The cost is $2.90, an exact change or payment via the NJ Transit Mobile App

Boarding locations:

      • Terminal A - Location 117
      • Terminal B - Lower Roadway Bus Lane - Locations 7 & 8
      • Terminal C - Lower Roadway Bus Lane - Locations 4 & 5

Live Tracking of the bus via:

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Hotel Shuttle

The hotel shuttle leaves the hotel every 30 minutes during the hour (for example, 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:00 p.m.). You can meet the shuttle at the AirTrain P-4 Station. It does NOT circle the Terminals. It takes about 15 Minutes to get to the Hotel from this location. 

Note: From Terminal A, it might be quicker to use an NJTransit Bus. This is due to the 15-minute walk to the AirTrain from the Terminal, the 15-minute ride on the AirTrain, and another 15-minute van ride to the hotel. This is assuming the shuttle is waiting for you.  See above

Taxi

 

Public Transit

Click HERE for details on Public transit, either by bus or train. 

Click HERE for a map of bus and train locations around the hotel.

Bus

Train: 

Finally, and most importantly, please be on time for all events and stay together as a group. The bus/train waits for no one. We will leave the hotel promptly at the scheduled time. If you miss the train or get separated from the group, it will be your responsibility to find us or risk missing some of the day’s scheduled activities. Again, we will not wait for anyone!

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Mosaic Shuttle from Pre-Trip to Main Event

The Mosaic shuttle will leave promptly for camp on Thursday, August 28th, at 2:01 pm. Please meet outside the lobby with your luggage by 1:45 pm. The shuttle WILL NOT WAIT FOR ANYONE who is not ready for pickup when it departs from the hotel. Anyone left behind because they were not waiting for the Shuttle at the appointed time will need to arrange their transportation at their own expense to camp and forfeit the cost of the Mosaic Shuttle.

Cost of Mosaic Shuttle: Round trip/$60 One-Way $40. (The round trip will return you to the airport after the main event.)

Hotel

Leisure Meets Luxury at Newark Airport Hotel: Explore New Jersey from Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel. Minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport, the hotel supplies complimentary shuttle runs every 30 minutes for hassle-free travel. We are near Newark and Elizabeth and 45 minutes from New York City, where you can find shops, restaurants, and iconic attractions.

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Costs

Base Price

$TBD per person - Double or Couples Occupancy

$TBD per person - Single Occupancy

  • Includes:
    • Hotel Room from Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 night to Thursday August, 28th, 2025 morning at Crowne Plaza Newark Airport
    • NJ Transit tickets for Wednesday and Thursday Mornings
    • Breakfast on Wednesday and Thursday mornings
    • MOSAIC administration fees.

$TBD Extra per day for Single Occupancy on Sunday or Monday

  • Must pay for Single Occupancy for the duration of the Pre-Trip

$TBD Extra per day Double Occupancy for Sunday or Monday

  • Must pay for Double Occupancy for the duration of the Pre-Trip

 

**Note: We can only guarantee room rates until July 30th. Any rooms booked after that will be based on the hotel's availability, and prices may increase.

No Hotel Option: $TBD

  • Includes:
    • NJ Transit tickets for Wednesday and Thursday Mornings
    • MOSAIC administration fees.
  • This is not included during the Pre-Trip (You must make arrangements).
    • Hotel accommodations
    • Breakfast.
    • Transportation to/from your lodging of choice. You are responsible for meeting at Crown Plaza Hotel at the designated times at your cost.
  • An additional Mosaic administration surcharge of $50 on top of the No Hotel Option for anyone who books their own room at the Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel and attends the Pre-Trip.

 

All prices are US dollars.

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Registration

Please register for the Pre-Trip on the registration page while registering for the Main Event. You must participate in the Main Event to be able to attend the Pre-Trip.

Contact

Pre-Trip Co-Chairperson at Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org

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