Category: Field Trips

Skiing anyone?

Wilmot Mountain has a great skiing deal for homeschoolers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check out their homeschool flyer for all the details.

For more information or to make reservations for groups of 15 people or more contact Wilmot at:

Email: homeschool@skiwilmot.net

Phone: 262-862-2301

Pricing:

Under 6 years old (includes lift ticket): ski rental $10; snowboard rental $20

7 and over: lift ticket, lesson and ski rental $25 or snowboard rental $35

Helmets are also available for rent for $10

Sad to say that we likely have quite a bit of winter weather left, so you might as well take advantage of it.

Grab some homeschool friends and hit the slopes!

Election Day

As homeschoolers, we often have an extra interest in our elected officials as we hold our freedoms a little dearer than the average American might.

You most likely already know that this coming Tuesday, February 2nd, is election day in Illinois.us flag

You may also have spent some time researching who to vote for, you may have even already voted! Either way, the electoral process is an important one for our kids to understand.

Here are some links to help in talking to or teaching your child about elections and the road to a political seat in our state and country:

– Illinois board of elections

– Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government offers some lesson ideas for various ages about elections and a variety of other government related topics.

– Education World has some election day ideas. Many of these center around the presidential election, but some are applicable to any election.

Also, if you are still researching, some conservative organizations publish survey and voting results for various candidates to help you in this important decision.

– A general listing of who is running along with basic background information from Congress.org
– Illinois Federation for Right to Life

– Illinois Family Institute

Iditarod!

Go Team!

Registration closes on January 31 for the eIditarod.

If you have not followed this amazing race in the past, I would encourage you to do so this year. And, I would encourage you to check out the eIditarod project hosted each year by Walter McKenzie. You simply join  their Yahoo group and follow along at the level that suits you.

They offer projects, lesson ideas, information and encouragement as you mush alongside these amazing men and women in the wilderness of Alaska.

Here are some previous posts of mine, at Delighting In His Richness, about the Iditarod and how we took advantage of the eIditarod project.

Also, be sure to check out the official Iditarod website for more background information on the race, the mushers, and the dogs.

Fermi lab open house coming next month

This is open to all families, but registration is required. Feel free to see their website for more information:

Fermilab Family Open House

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2009 Open House such a great success, by helping, getting the word out, or attending! The 2010 Open House will be held on Sunday, February 21 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Every year we have the Fermilab Family Open House.

Register for the Open House (no charge)

This is a party for children who bring an adult with them to learn about the world of physics. (There’s plenty for the grown-ups, too.)

A tentative schedule of events includes:

The Open House will be most appropriate for children in grades 3 and up (tours restricted to adults and children age 10 and up). The event is free, but registration is required. Be sure to sign up for tours. You should pick up the tickets for the tours in the atrium on the day of the event.

Look at pictures from the 2007 (pdf) and 2008 Open Houses.

Fermilab Education Office

Homeschool Conferences

Did you know that we have four different homeschool conventions or conferences coming to the Chicagoland area this year?

The first one takes place in just a couple months. The InHome Conference (This is a non-religious based group):

March 18 – 20, 2010
Pheasant Run Resort and Spa
4051 East Main St.
St. Charles, Illinois

A little background on this conference taken from their website:

During the 90s, Illinois HOUSE planned and produced conferences for Illinois homeschooling families which grew in size and frequency until it made sense to incorporate them as a separate activity. In 1998, the Home Educators Conference Fund (HECF) was formed as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and a section 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity. In both its volunteer base and its governance, HECF has drawn from a wide selection of committed and talented homeschoolers. Our presenters and volunteers are current or former homeschoolers from all over Illinois, and elsewhere in the US where homeschooling has flourished. HECF’s “InHome” event is a forum for grassroots insights; we enjoy sharing our experiences and recognizing the expertise within our own communities.

Then, in June, the Illinois Christian Home Educators have their annual convention:

June 3-5, 2010
Calvary Church
Naperville,IL

More details yet to come on this convention.

In August, the Chicago Homeschool Expo returns for a second year:

August 5-7, 2010
The Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center
1551 N. Thoreau Dr.
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173

From their website:

The Homeschool Expo is a “don’t miss” whole family two day event with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of products where parents can review and purchase the latest curriculum, hear great speakers who give practical encouragement, and receive personalized help and answers to any question. Our workshops especially emphasize the practical aspects of working with children in ways that will promote their educational, social and emotional growth.

And, finally, Apologia Live is coming in October:

October 8-9, 2010, in Chicago, IL
Westin NW in Schaumburg, IL

Their website has this to say about this event:

These will be exciting, spiritually refreshing events specifically designed for homeschool moms and those thinking of homeschooling. We have planned these retreats with you in mind. Fellowship with like-minded women will encourage you and foster renewal. All of the speakers are veteran homeschool moms who know the pitfalls, the pressures, and the panicked-times of homeschooling. Yet they also know the joys, blessings, and eternal benefits of homeschooling. All of the messages will focus on different aspects of Standing Strong in Christ.

Plan now to attend one (or more) of these events to help keep your homeschool growing and meeting your family’s needs.



Discovery Center Museum Homeschool Classes

One of my family’s favorite children’s museums in the Chicago area is actually in Rockford. We have enjoyed a membership on and off at the Discovery Center Museum and appreciate that they appeal to a broader range of “kids” than many other children’s museums.

Coming up in the month ahead they have classes designed especially for the homeschooler:

Bring your child to Discovery Center Museum for memorable and exciting learning experiences. We can accommodate small groups as well as individual children, and we offer a wide range of schedules and themes.

Advanced registration and payments are required for participation in all Home School classes.

***Please note that admission to and exploration of Discovery Center Museum itself are separate from the Home School classes.***

Home School Winter/Spring 2010

Preregistration required. To register, call 815-963-6769 or drop by the Discovery Center office during normal business hours. Payment must accompany registration.
Class registration opens December 18 for members,
December 22 for Public.

Class fees: $11 Members / $13 Public; ages 6 and up

High Voltage Science

If you like lightning, then this class is for you! Discover how to build up, store, transfer, and discharge electrical jolts both big and small. Have a hair-raising time with the Van de Graaff generator, discover which materials make the best charges, and get zapped by miniature bolts of lightning!

Wednesday, February 3
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Under Pressure

Explore the amazing science of air and water pressure. Use atmospheric pressure to hold back a flood, discover a barometer in your bathroom, and put on the squeeze to make a diver sink and float. Experiment with Bernoulli’s principal and Pascal’s law and test your own strength against the power of pressure.

Wednesday, March 10
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Simple Machines I

What are simple machines? Where would we be without wedges? How do screws help our lives? Get a feel for mechanical advantage as you lift an incredible mass with a GIANT lever. Build simple machines and measure their effectiveness as we explore forces and more in this class about levers, inclined planes, wedges, screws.

Wednesday, April 14
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Simple Machines II

Build a free-wheeling car, design a pulley-driven message-carrier, calculate the turns on a series of LEGO gears, and much more! We’ll turn the force around in this follow-up class about wheels and axles, pulleys, and gears. Note: While the Simple Machines I is not a prerequisite, this class will build directly on themes from that class.

Wednesday, May 5
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Lots of great classes in the works. Check out their website for more details and to register.

Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

Last week we enjoyed a fun outing with my parents to Fullersburg Nature Center. We ended up there during a preschool story time, in which my kids made up most of the audience, but they learned some new information about beavers and other animals native to that preserve.

The nature center has a variety of animals for viewing, stuffed and living, a partial woolly mammoth skeleton from nearby Blackwell, puppets and books, loads of information on the creatures of the area, and lots that kids can get their hands on. A popular display had about a 2 1/2 foot square wooden box with silly putty type substance covering the bottom. Stored along the sides the kids could find prints of various animal tracks that they could then press into the putty to make their own animal tracks. Cards hanging next to the display helped them figure out which animal they had and a bit about the animal as well.

My kids also enjoyed the giant bird nest they could climb into and pretend to welcome mama bird home. Puppets and books help create a fun environment for kids in the cozy nest.

My mom brought a simple craft project that also involved animals and fine motor skills — weaving. She always has surprises tucked away, like this one from Oriental Trading Company,  for times like that. Simple, and yet it tied in nicely with all they saw and learned that day.

After some time inside, we headed down the trail to the Graue Mill. Although closed for winter, we had a quick walk around outside and watched the ducks in Salt Creek nearby. It will not open again until mid-April. You can get those Museum Adventure passes for some free admission at that time.

After our fun day there, I found on their website that they offer other educational resources. The center offers field-trips which would be a great option for your homeschool group. Fullersburg Woods also offers educational loan boxes. Their website says, “Each box includes reference information, lessons and activity outlines, and natural objects for display and for use with activities.”

Even as the winter weather sets in, as long as you dress for it, a hike outdoors can do wonders for bringing a special refreshment to your day, and you never know what you might spy along the way.

Be sure to check out the detailed Field Trip listing on our site when you search for more ideas to add some sparkle to your school day.

Mid-winter Renewal from ICHE

From the Illinois Christian Home Educators:


I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
~ Jeremiah 31:25

Please join us for the ICHE Ladies’ Midwinter Renewal on January 16, 2010.  The day will be one to look to the Lord.  He has promised to refresh and to satisfy you.  

You will be so blessed by all that is being planned.

Marilyn Boyer is our dear guest speaker. Marilyn delights in raising and teaching her 14 children to walk in the ways of the Lord, and she is looking forward to spending the day with you. A well-known conference speaker and author, Marilyn brings with her over 30 years of home educating experience. Her sessions will include the following titles: Pushing the Reset Button, Holding Their Hearts, and Learning to Delight in Your Children.

This event will be held at Christ Church of Oakbrook located at 501 Oakbrook Road, Oakbrook, Illinois 60523. The doors will open at 8:30 a.m., and the conference will be from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The cost is $35.00 per person. This includes a delicious luncheon. Beautiful gift certificates are available for husbands to purchase for their wives, or you can purchase one for a friend. Registration information is available at www.iche.org under events.

You’ll be so encouraged and refreshed with the sessions, the worship of our Lord, and the fellowship with like-minded ladies. Come and join us. You’ll be so glad you did!

Sign up now at www.iche.org under events.  The registration deadline is January 8, 2010.

Physics with a BANG!

Check out the following information on an upcoming Physics demonstration and lecture through the University of Chicago:

We would like to invite the Chicagoland Homeschool families to our 3rd annual Physics with a Bang! Holiday Lecture and Open House at the University of Chicago.

Physics professors, Heinrich Jaeger and Sidney Nagel plan to present their favorite physics demonstrations during the Holiday Lectures on December 12th (repeated at 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm). From 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, there will also be an opportunity to talk to University of Chicago scientists and engage in hands-on activities during our Open House.

A website about the event can be found at:
http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/pwab

This location of this event:

Kersten Physics Teaching Center
5720 S. Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL

For more information contact:

Eileen Sheu
Outreach Director
University of Chicago
Materials Research Center
(773) 834-9916
ecs@uchicago.edu

Philippe Guyot Sionnest is the organizer of the Open House. Sponsored by the James Franck Institute, the Department of Physics, and the Materials Research Science & Engineering Center

Field Trips to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Two homeschool field trips have been set up to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The organizer has arranged for 50 seats for each.

The first performance is on Friday, February26, 2010, at noon. Tickets are $8.50 each. This is a special school day performance of the Mozart Experience.
The second event is on Friday, April 30, 2010, at noon. The cost is  $7 per seat. This is also a special school day performance of a family tailored event, the Firebird.

Money is due by December 14, 2009.

To confirm details or for more information contact Julie by phone at 708-484-5014

Note: This field trip is not connected with the Chicagoland Homeschool Network, and is posted here as a service to area homeschoolers looking to connect and benefit from organized group activities.