Homeschool Outdoor Education

walcamp logo
Walcamp is a year-round outdoor ministry offering facilities and a variety of programs for youth and families, churches and other groups. Walcamp is located on 180 acres of forest and open fields on the Kishwaukee River in Kingston, IL, about 70 miles west of Chicago and 15 miles north of DeKalb, IL

They offer outdoor education classes geared especially for homeschoolers, and have one coming up in May.

Here is the info from Walcamp’s website:

Aquatic Antics
May 20, 2010 – 1:00pm -5:00pm

Ever wonder what life adventures take place under water? Prepare to get wet when you join Walcamp’s aquatic life for a day of creek stomping, amphibian searching, canoeing, and more as you discover many wonders of God’s creation.

The cost is $10 per participant and siblings under 5 are free. They encourage parents to participate as well. Participants should come prepared for water — towels, dry clothes, water shoes, and no flip-flops.

To register your students and family for a Homeschool Days event, please call 815.784.5141 or email Debra, registrar@walcamp.org at least 2 weeks before the event date.
If you are interested, you can also set up your own group activity by contacting Ben at 815.784.5141 or emailing media@walcamp.org.

Used curriculum sale in Elk Grove

Big sale coming at the Beacon Homeschool Group.

They have over 20 different families selling their used curriculum. Loads of things to choose from for less than new cost!!!
Bring small bills to making paying easier. 5’s, 1’s, and quarters!!

When: Tuesday, April 27 7:00-9:00pm
Where
: Elk Grove Village Public Library

Everyone is invited to come out and see the great finds!
For more details, check their website. www.beaconhomeschool.org

Beacon is a non-denominational Christian support group for parents who home educate their children. Their membership is open to any home schooling family for support. The goals of Beacon are to provide fellowship, encouragement, field trips, workshops, and resources for our members to benefit from.

Free bowling for kids

Brunswick Bonus Zone :: Members-Only Values and More

While homeschoolers keep the wheels turning all year as far as fun activities, field trips, and outings, the summer always gives us some special opportunities to take advantage of.
Thanks to reader Anastasia for this link:

Kids bowl FREE all summer long at Brunswick
http://coupons.bowlbrunswick.com/ballpass/
This is truly free, you just need to register online for the Brunswick Bonus Zone in advance of arriving for your free game of bowling. The program says members will receive one free game each day from June through August.

Presumably no other purchase is required, except for shoe rental if you would need those, but there are not a lot of details in the ad. I would encourage you to call your local Brunswick to find answers to any further questions.

Every Brunswick might not necessarily be participating, but there is a fairly good list that includes more than a dozen in the Chicago area, so you will likely find one not too far from your home. And, it’s free! Perfect for those rainy or too hot days that we are sure to encounter at some point this summer.

Sign up now and take advantage of this special program.

Disney’s Oceans teacher’s guide

Oceans Poster
Disney’s new film, Oceans, hit theaters today and if you are interested in working this into your school curriculum, they have a 42 page download available on their site. Go to Disney’s Oceans’ website and click on “for educators.”
They have an 8 page download and a 42 page download as well as some other resources and information. They had a mural contest, but registration has already closed.
A word of warning, that might not even need saying . . . These materials are from Disney and National Geographic, and as such come from an evolutionary mindset. I personally think there is enough beneficial information to make it worthwhile, but I wanted to include that so you can prepare how to best deal with it in your home.

Hope you find this information helpful whether you decide to go see the film or not.

Co-op in Fox Valley area holding open registration

Please contact Tri-Cities Enrichment Co-op directly for course descriptions or more detailed schedule information:

Are you looking for a homeschool group for your family, some additional enrichment classes, or academic classes to round out your curriculum at home? Consider Tri-Cities Enrichment Co-op (TEC)

We are a Christian homeschool group of families who will meet on Tuesdays (new day) for the 2010-2011 school year at Lord of Life Church – La Fox, IL – just west of Geneva in order to provide various classes to our children.  Our instructors are qualified teachers who love the subject areas that they are teaching. We pay these teachers to teach these classes.   As part of the co-op, parents are expected to serve at the co-op during the times that their children attend.   Since this is a parent run co-op, the success of our group depends on the involvement of caring, committed parents.

We offer Apologia Chemistry, Apologia Biology, Apologia General Science, Apologia Physical Science, and Science- God’s Design series, Spanish, Literature, Shurley  Language Arts/IEW Writing,  Art, ballet, Bob Jones US History, Speech , Old Testament Bible, American Girl History, Elementary Geography, Gym, and Classical Conversation’s Foundation classes.   We have classes for kindergarten through High School.

Please email tricitiesenrichmentcoop@gmail.com if you would like more information.

Open Registration for classes will be held at Lord of Life Church, Corner of Rte. 38 & Burlington Road-LaFox on May 17  from 12:30-2:00.   Registration packages will be provided at Registration or are available upon request.

Used curriculum sale in West Chicago

The following information came from the Homeschool University in West Chicago:

HomeSchool University

Used Book & Curriculum Sale

Where:
Community Fellowship

28W240 North Ave.
West Chicago


When:

Thursday, April 15th
from 10:30am – 2pm

SHOPPERS: Planning for next year? Looking for the books, curriculum and other educational resources you’ll need? Then don’t miss the HSU Used Book & Curriculum Sale on April 15th!!   Admission is FREE! This is the PERFECT place to find what you need at a fraction of the cost of new materials! We sort the books and provide lots of signs to help you find your way to those special items you’re looking for! Lots of categories to choose from…and even some FREE STUFF! Help us spread the word!!!

Interested in a homeschooling co-op for your kids?

Come visit our OPEN HOUSE Thursday, April 15th from 9am – 4pm

Free Educator Screening in Batavia

Randall 15 IMAX
Randall 15 IMAX Free Educator Screening
Book Your Group You and one (1) guest are invited to the Free Educator Screening of Under the Sea 3D and Space Station 3D. Additional guests will be charged $5.50 for one movie, or $10.00 for both. Date: Saturday April 24, 2010

Time: 9:00am Under the Sea 3D and 10:00am Space Station 3D (please arrive a half hour prior to check-in and register)

Place: Randall 15 IMAX® 550 N. Randall Rd. Batavia, IL 60510

RSVP: Email or Call 630-659-6762. RSVP by noon on Friday April 23rd. Please leave us your first and last name, school name, date, theater, and number of people attending. If registering via email, you will receive an email confirmation. If registering via phone, you will not receive a phone call to confirm your space.

Under the Sea 3D: Under the Sea 3D, a new IMAX® 3D adventure, transports moviegoers to some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, including Southern Australia, New Guinea and others in the Indo-Pacific region, allowing them to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea. It offers a uniquely inspirational and entertaining way to explore the beauty and natural wonder of the oceans, as well as the impact of global climate change. In IMAX 3D, the images will literally leap off the screen and float around the theatre, putting the audience in the movie. Narrated by Jim Carrey, Under the Sea 3D is directed by Howard Hall, produced by Toni Myers, produced for Howard Hall Productions by Michele Hall and executive produced by Graeme Ferguson. This Warner Bros. film is produced and distributed by IMAX Corporation. Website Teacher’s Guide 3-5 Teacher’s Guide 6-8

Space Station 3D: The story of this unique partnership of 16 nations building a laboratory in outer space — a permanent facility for the study of the effects of long-duration exposure to zero gravity and the necessary first step towards the global co-operative effort needed if man is to someday set foot on Mars. It is a story of challenges, setbacks and triumphs…and ultimately, the shared international victory of men and women whose dreams exceed the limits of life on this Earth.. Website Teacher’s Guide

SPECIAL NEWS! In March 2010, we converted to IMAX Digital Projection!  The advantage of installing a digital IMAX system is to economically show all large format releases, both Hollywood IMAX DMR titles and Traditional IMAX films such as Space Station 3D and Under the Sea 3D.  We hope to add more IMAX Traditionals to our library as soon as they are converted digitally.  We will keep you informed of new titles!

Group Rates: For groups of 10 or more, $5.50 per person (Traditional 45 minute films) or $8.00 per person for IMAX DMR 2D (Hollywood Feature Length) and $9.00 for IMAX 3D. Groups of 20 or more receive one free admission for a teacher or chaperone. Discount restrictions may apply.

If you have a date in mind already for booking your class, call Jeannette at 630-659-6762 or email jsmith@gqti.com

Our current IMAX Library: Teachers  Guide Click here

www.GQTIMAX.com


Homeschool encouragement from Jackie Wellwood

Check out this great opportunity open to the homeschool community to drink in some encouragement as we quickly approach the summer months:

Teaching Homes for Christ invites you to join them for an evening of encouragement with Jackie Wellwood, author and veteran homeschooler.  Jackie will share stories from her experiences—dealing with life’s challenges and finding joy and purpose in the journey. An experienced public speaker and entrepreneur, Jackie is the author of The Busy Mom’s Guide to Simple Living and two books of devotions for homeschool moms. She has been homeschooling for nearly twenty years and is the mother of seven.
Date and time: Monday, April 26th from 7:15 to 9 p.m.

Location:
Glen Arbor Community Church
204 Church Street
West Chicago, IL  60185

RSVP to Nancy McGinn, nancymcginn@gmail.com
(appreciated but not required)

Free entrance to National Parks

Hat tip to Tracy . . .

Next week you will be able to get into all 392 national parks for free!

Read about it on the National Park Service website, and see if any of these parks could fit into some homeschool or travel plans for your family.

Now, there is only one in Illinois that usually charges, (and will be free next week) and it is down near St. Louis. But, there are a couple in Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa. Take a look at the full list here.

Granted, 246 of the national parks don’t usually charge an admission, so you can enjoy those for free any day of the year.

You can check out the few others that are in Illinois, or elsewhere as well.

A word on taxes

If you have yet to file your taxes, you might find this tidbit helpful from the HSLDA:

From the HSLDA E-lert Service…
==============================

Illinois–Tax Credit for Homeschools

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

If you homeschool in Illinois, you may be eligible for a state tax
credit of up to $500 for homeschool education expenses.

Naturally, there are rules that must be followed.  But a very quick
summary is that you may be eligible for a tax credit of 25% of what
you spent above and beyond the first $250 for certain types of
homeschool expenses.

Check out http://www.revenue.state.il.us/Publications/Pubs/PUB-119.pdf
for an explanation.

Keep in mind that a tax credit isn’t a government aid program.  A tax
credit simply allows you to keep more of your own money. “Voucher”
programs often come with many strings attached, or soon produce
strings. But tax credits are different.  They do not create an
opportunity for the government to control your homeschool program.
Homeschoolers can confidently and safely use the tax credit to help
their family finances.

Governments tend to abolish programs that people do not take advantage
of.  By claiming a homeschool education tax credit as allowed under
the rules, you send a message to lawmakers that this helpful program
should continue.

Since the average homeschool family spends roughly $500 per student per year, you can likely take advantage of this information. More record keeping, I know, but this one might have some financial benefit!