Category: Field Trips

Father’s Day ideas

Need some last minute Father’s Day ideas for the kids to make or put together? Here are some from Lapbook Lessons. I know my crafty daughters will have a blast with these:

Hey Everyone!
Just some helpful links if you’re planning on a Father’s Day Lapbook……
or if you need something for you’re little ones to present Dad with this Sunday…..

Father’s Day Treat Tags (for gifts)
Dad’s Tool Belt
Father’s Day Coupon Cards/ Bookmark Coupons
Me & My Dad Printable Card
Father’s Day Coloring Pages
Father’s Day Poem


Father’s Day Lapbooks:
Father’s Day Lapbook (free membership)
Father’s Day Freebies:
Lapbook Examples:
please visit our forum and leave it in the comments section!
Don’t forget to post what you make!
Blessings,
Valerie
Also, through today you can get a free 8×10 collage at Walgreen’s
Any other fun ideas for Father’s Day? Homeschool dads deserve special recognition.

$1 movies!

$1 Kids Summer Movies Start on June 14 and runs 9 Weeks!

A Different Fun Film Each Week!

$1 per ticket, all ages!  Each week, Monday through Friday at 10:00am we offer an entertaining PG movie for only $1.

Playing at the following theaters:  Bay City 8, Canton Cinema, Capital 8, Forum 8, Grand Haven 9, Hamilton 16 IMAX, Holland 7, Jackson 10, Kalamazoo 10, Kendall 10, Krafft 8, Lafayette 7, Lansing Mall Cinema, Oxford 7, Portage 16 IMAX, Quality 16, Randall 15 IMAX, Saginaw 12, Savoy 16, W. Columbia 7, Wabash Landing 9, Willow Knolls 14

Click here for movie lineup

Bass Pro Shop family camp

Came across this info at The Happy Housewife‘s blog:

Bass Pro Family Summer Camp

From June 5- July 11, every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday there are free activities at Bass Pro Shops from noon to 6 pm. Activities include: pet safety, fishing basics, archery, shooting basics, animal identification, making s’mores, plants & insects, hiking and much more.

Looks like a lot of fun activities for the family. Check out the Bass Pro website for more information, and be sure to call ahead to confirm what you will find in the store that you plan to visit.  It does say the Chicago location does not have a shooting gallery, but it seems the other activities should be there.
You could enjoy:
  • making s’mores
  • casting pond
  • crafts
  • workshops
  • a free download of you on a Field and Stream cover
Looks like a great time for families and kids of all ages.

Volleyball camps

The following information is from Coach Lum at Westminster Christian School in Elgin. Feel free to contact him for more information about these opportunities for various ages to improve their volleyball skills and have some fun in the process.

I am the head varsity girls’ volleyball coach at Westminster Christian School (WCS) and wanted to share with you information about my Summer volleyball camps.  I am coaching various camps for girls and boys from grades 1 through high school at WCS (http://www.athletics2000.com/westminster/registration, scroll to the bottom) and the Top Flight Volleyball Club for outdoor (http://www.topflightvbc.com/campsclinics/docs/0910summer.pdf) and indoor (http://www.topflightvbc.com/campsclinics/jindoorcampsclinics.php).  Both facilities are in Elgin.

Of special interest though are the camps for volleytots and junior beach volleyball.  Volleytots start as early as the first week of June with my WCS Little Warrior camp.  If you know any friends with little girls or boys (grades 1-4) interested in playing volleyball, let them know it’s available.  We use a lighter ball, lower net, and smaller court to help the kids be as successful as possible.  Drills are shortened to hold the interest of the kids better also.

Top Flight junior beach camps start the second week of June and the last one starts the beginning of August.  You play either 2’s or 4’s, your choice.

Check out these unique opportunities for kids to improve their volleyball skills and IQ.  Thanks for your time.

~ Coach Guy

Guy Lum
– Head girls varsity coach at Westminster Christian School (IHSA ASEP certified)
– Team coach at Top Flight Volleyball Club (USAV IMPACT, CAP I, & CAP II certified)
– A Site Clinician for the US Youth Volleyball League’s Elgin location

Adler Planetarium free days

Free days at Adler Planetarium coming up next week. These are the free dates for the rest of the year:

Charter One
Charter One Discount Days at the Adler are made possible by the generous support of the Charter One Foundation.
June
September
October
November
December
7-11
7, 13-17, 21, & 28
5, 12, 19, & 26
2, 9, 16, 23, & 30
7, 14, & 21

Check out the Planetarium’s website for all the rest of the details and to plan your trip.

Free museum days this week!

More free field trips! Info from Free things in Chicago . . .

Looking for things to do in Chicago with the kids? Here are some of the museums in Chicago that have free days this week.  Found another? — leave a comment for the community!

The Chicago History Museum is free to the public every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm.

The Museum of Science and Industry has free general admission (basic entry) to the public on Monday May 3

The Adler Planetarium is free on May 4th with hours being 9:30am – 6pm during the summer; 10:00am – 4:00pm otherwise; Charter One Discount Days at the Adler are made possible by the generous support of the Charter One Foundation.

The National Museum of Mexican Art is free every day but closed on Mondays.

Museum of Contemporary Photography. Free every day and open Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm (Thurs. until 8pm), Sun. 12-5pm. 600 S. Michigan Ave. at Columbia College, Chicago.

The Notebaert Chicago Nature Museum has “Free Days” every Thursday.

The Oriental Institute. Free every day (suggested donation of $7 adults, $4 children). Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-6pm (Wed. until 8:30pm), Sun. 12-6pm, closed Mondays. 1155 East 58th Street at University of Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago is free to the public every Thursday evening (May 6) from 5pm-8pm.

The Chicago Children’s Museum is free for everyone – every Thursday evening (may 6 this week) from 5-8pm

The Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open to the public 365 days per year. Generally open 10am-5pm.

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.

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.

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)