Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center in Oregon, IL

Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center‘s new Executive Director, Dr. Danny Pierce would like to invite your home school group to Stronghold for outdoor education, team building courses and to tour our castle.  Dr. Pierce recently came to Stronghold after being a professor in Outdoor Education and Physical Recreation in Tennessee. For years, Stronghold has proudly offered a flexible curriculum to meet every class’ needs and desires.

More information, email chris@strongholdcenter.org

Here’s some info from their website:

Stronghold’s outdoor education curriculum, supported by challenge education and field experience, helps young people to discover their role in the ecosystem.

The outdoor education program is experience based, offering a balance of physical activities and academic exercises. Topics can include Nature and the Arts, Astronomy, Field Science, Birds of Prey, Water/Soil Conservation, Geology, and Orienteering with Maps and Compass, and many more. The curriculum is tailored to meet your class/objectives and meets Illinois State Learning Standards in all seven areas: language arts, math, science, fine arts, social studies, foreign language, and physical education.

Program
Our professional staff will help you to create a multiple-day schedule specifically designed to meet your curricular needs. There are 20 classes from which you can choose. A few of our featured topics include astronomy, field science, bird and animal studies, water and soil conservation, and map and compass use, plus cooperative games and teambuilding. Day programs are also available.

Lodging
Lodging options for your students and staff include wooded retreat lodges, campsites, or the Castle.

Food Service
Our dining room provides a variety of child-friendly entrees, including meatless options for lunch and dinner, along with soup and salad bar and dessert choices. Beverage bar with milk, juices, hot cocoa, coffee, and tea is available during all meals. Breakfast includes hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, and egg and meat selections.
Dietary restrictions are easily accommodated with advance notice.
Prepared sack lunches containing a sandwich, fruit and dessert are available from the Stronghold kitchen. Beverage service can be arranged.

Stronghold offers an outdoor education experience designed specifically for you and your students! Located in Oregon, Illinois, the beauty of nature exists in a variety of environments, all along bluffs overlooking the Rock River.

City Colleges of Chicago open house

Open Your Path To A Successful Career

City Colleges of Chicago can put you on a path to a successful career with an education that works—without all of the debt. Learn more at our Fall Open House on Wednesday, April 13 at our seven college locations.

​We will hold two sessions to fit your schedule: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.​ and 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Visit the college that serves your College to Careers interest. Not sure which College to Careers program to select, use City Colleges’ Program Finder to learn more about career possibilities and the skills needed to succeed.

Interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree? Starting your higher education journey at City Colleges of Chicago can save you up to $40,000. City Colleges partners with four-year colleges and universities to maximize your transfer credit.

To RSVP, click here for the 10 a.m. morning session or click here for the 6 p.m. evening session.​     .​

If you have any questions, please contact 773-COLLEGE.

Falyn Harper | College Recruiter

South West Area – Kennedy College Territory

773.997.4570 (cell) | fharper2@ccc.edu

Volleyball in Sugar Grove

Received via facebook:

Dear Home-school Families,
We want to invite all the home-school volleyball players out there (ages 10-18) to a couple hours of volleyball training from 9-11 A.M. Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Village Bible Church (847 N. Rt. 47 in Sugar Grove). It will be an All-Skills Clinic, run by Coach Kathy Evers. We will be covering passing, setting, and hitting and get some scrimmage time in.
Please RSVP to Kathy Evers, eversbirth3@gmail.com, if you are able to attend. There is no cost for the clinic.
If you have any questions please contact Kathy Evers.

Incorporating Science naturally into your home(school)

Guest post from Jamie Strand of Scicamps.org

Photo from Pixabay

3 Fun Lesson Plans for Kids Who Love Science

When parents foster a love of science in their children, they grow up observing, questioning, experimenting, thinking critically, and reasoning. These kids love to hypothesize, figure out why things work the way they do, and experiment while playing. Sometimes, it is more difficult to teach science to kids who already love it because they know so much about it. The basics won’t cut it with these kids because they already have a good understanding of fundamental science concepts. That’s why it is important to use fun, unexpected science lessons with kids who love science. Here are a few options:

1. Construct a Bird’s Nest

Most kids have peered up into the branches of a tree and seen a bird’s nest, but they may not realize just how much work the construction of one requires. Having them construct their own is a fun way to experiment, explore building materials, and gain insight into the amazing world of birds to appreciate some of nature’s most clever builders!

Start by going on a nature walk in a wooded area to get a real look at birds’ nests up close, being mindful not to touch or disturb them. Look closely and make a list of all the materials you observe: twigs, straw, leaves, grass, etc. Look out for any man-made materials — birds often use newspaper and stray pieces of cotton or cloth they’ve found to cozy up their homes.

Next, have the kids gather the kinds of materials they saw used in nests during the nature walk. Make sure there are enough supplies for everyone to build. Don’t forget a small bucket of mud to help hold the pieces together!

Head inside and give everyone workspace protected with newspaper. Have the kids use the materials to construct their own bird’s nest. Help them test to ensure they’re sturdy and hold together. Test them out by placing them outside in tree branches, a hidden corner of the fence, or anywhere else they think a bird may want to call home. Discuss what materials made the strongest nests, what extra substances they added for insulation or camouflage, and all the trials and error involved in the process.

2. Dancing Oobleck

Kids may understand the three states of matter: gas, liquid, and solid. But, they may not realize that there is a strange fluid, called Oobleck, which is a solid and a liquid. You’ll begin by making thick Oobleck with two cups of cornstarch and one cup of water. Allow kids to play with the Oobleck for a bit to realize that when it relaxes it is a liquid, but when they push on it or move it quickly it becomes a solid.

Now is a good time to talk about why the Oobleck changes its state; it is a pressure-dependent substance, like quicksand, that is a liquid when it moves slowly because the cornstarch particles have time to separate but a solid when it moves quickly because the particles are forced together.

To begin the Dancing Oobleck experiment, you’ll need a subwoofer, a thin metal cookie sheet with sides, an MP3 of an audio test tone, and food coloring. Place the cookie sheet onto the subwoofer’s speaker and pour in the Oobleck. Search online for Subwoofer test MP3s. Experiment with various tones to see which works best, and be prepared to turn the volume up fairly high. (The three frequencies that typically work the best are 40Hz, 50 Hz, and 63 Hz.) Kids should make observations of the Oobleck at each frequency.

If you don’t mind a bit of a mess, or stained kids’ fingers, allow kids to add a few dots of food coloring to the Oobleck and test the frequencies again. It is fun to see how the colors mix and it helps kids visualize the ways in which the Oobleck moves by watching the colors mix and form shapes.

3. A Day in the Life of…

There are all kinds of science careers that revolve around animals, but do your kids know about their options?

Have a discussion about different animal-related fields and careers, covering everything from veterinarians, zoologists, marine biologists, animal trainers, and animal behaviorists. Let each child pick their favorite career, then write a “Day in the life” story. They can research it online, in books, or even interview someone in the field. (If you can swing guest speakers for most or all of the careers, even better!)

After they’ve written their stories, ask them to present to them. Have them explain why they chose that career and then read their story aloud. Would they interact with animals directly? What kind of skills are required? Did the research live up to the initial idea they had of the career, or was it different?

Building a bird’s nest, dancing Oobleck, and picking animal-based careers are just a few lessons that will excite kids who love science. Challenging kids who love science with lessons and experiments like these, which take their assumptions and basic knowledge to the next level, is a great way to get them to love science even more.

Jamie Strand loved being homeschooled. Today, he teaches at a local community college. He created SciCamps.org with a friend in order to make it easier for kids throughout the U.S. to find science and math camps in their area. In addition to teaching, Jamie loves spending time with his wife and young daughters.

Suzuki in Western Springs

Received via email:

The Western Springs School of Talent Education
enthusiastically welcomes homeschool students to our program!

We have openings for new students on weekday mornings and early
afternoons for families who would like to schedule lessons during the
normal school day.

The Suzuki Method also emphasizes several techniques which often
coincide with the goals of homeschooling parents. Visit wsste.com for
more information.

Fermilab Open House

Family Open House

(from their website)

Join us for an afternoon of science fun.

The Fermilab Family Open House is a party for children of all ages to learn about the world of physics.

Watch video on YouTube of a previous event. Watch the calendar for the next one! The Open House is co-supported by Fermilab Friends for Science Education and the Education Office.

  • Watch Mr. Freeze’s fabulous cryogenics show!
  • Tour the universe!
  • Explore physics concepts with hands-on activities!
  • Ask a scientist your physics questions!
  • Take a tour, and more!

When: January 31, 2016, 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Audience: The Open House is most appropriate for children in grades 3 and up. Children must be accompanied.

Registration (Tours only): The event and tours are free. Registration is only needed for the tours. The minimum age for Linac tours is 10 and for the Neutrino Horn Production Site and Muon g-2 tours is 14. No exceptions. Go to the Registration Page to sign up for a tour.

Contact: Maureen Hix, Lederman Science Center, Education Office
P.O. Box 777, Batavia, IL 60510-0500
(630) 840-5588, edreg@fnal.gov

Fermilab Opportunities

Fermilab Science Adventures — January – May 2016

The Spring 2016 Science Adventure class list, registration instructions and a downloadable registration form are available on our website. http://ed.fnal.gov/sciadv

In addition to many favorite classes, look for these new and returning adventures:

January 23, 2016 – Hands-on Engineering, grades 2-4

February 6, 2016 – Nanotech Investigations, grades 4-6

March 12, 2016 – Earth Engineers, grades 6-8

April 2, 2016 – Girls Scientific Salon, grades 3-6

April 30, 2016 – Caring for Critters, grades 5-8 – NEW!

May 7, 2016 – Wild and Wonderful Weather, grades 3-5

Spread the word to your friends. To be added to our e-mail notification list, contact sdahl@fnal.gov.

Links to Upcoming Public Events:

Fermilab Family Open House – January 31, 2016, 1:00 – 5:00 PM

The FREE open house will be most appropriate for families with children in grades 3 and up. Tours restricted to those ages 10 and up. Go to the website to register for the tours. Watch the website for updates.

Wonders of Science (Ages 7-12) – April 17, 2016, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Tickets: $4.50/person (nonrefundable). Online registration and payment available. Contact edreg@fnal.gov (preferred) or 630-840-8259 with questions. Printable registration forms available on our website at: http://eddata.fnal.gov/lasso/program_search/wos_form.html

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)) High School Career Expo April 20, 2016, 5:30 – 8:30 PM

The program, held at Fermilab’s Wilson Hall, is FREE and no registration is required.

Get to Know the Lederman Science Center

Explore Fermilab science from a kid’s point of view! Bring your family for a guided tour of Lederman Science Center exhibits on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon. No registration is required.

Fermilab Science Adventures is also a Facebook Group.

If you are a Facebook member, go to the top search box and search for “Fermilab Science Adventures” and click “Ask to Join Group” on the top right. As a member you can read and post questions and comments to the other members of this group. You can also have online chats with other members of the group.

Contact Program Staff

Spencer Pasero, Education and Public Outreach Manager, spasero@fnal.gov

Susan Dahl, sdahl@fnal.gov

Circesteem

This looks super fun! Received this via email, but haven’t tried it myself.

Brief Description: Circus Classes and Open Gym
Mondays from 11-2pm
January 25 – March 28

Join CircEsteem and connect with your homeschool community while engaging in a dynamic open gym space on Mondays. Open space available for your children to play while a variety of curricular circus classes* are held for an additional cost each hour concurrent with Open Gym.

Open Gym:
$100/Family (You will be charged the $100 family fee after your registration is complete) – DISCOUNT: $65/family if you sign up for curriculum classes as well!

Circus Curriculum Classes:
1:00 – 12:00pm  Tumbling/Mini Trampoline Aerials (Silks, trapeze)
12:00 – 1:00pm  Partner Acrobatics Structured Group Games (no class enrollment necessary)
1:00 – 2:00pm   Intro to Circus (juggling, tight-wire, gym wheel, plates, rola-bola) Gym Wheel
1:30 – 2:00pm   Circus Tots

http://circesteem.org/homeschool-classes/