midwest – Chicagoland Homeschool Network

WWII Event

From midwayvillage.com:

Experience the World War II Era

Saturday, September 26, 2015 11 am until 5 pm

Sunday, September 27, 2015 11 am until 4 pm

World War II Days includes elaborate and realistic battles complete with tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and exciting pyrotechnic displays. Saturday the battle shows are featured at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. Sunday the battle time is 2:30 pm.

The popular World War II Days returns this year and promises to be bigger and better than ever! With more than 1,200 re-enactors representing the soldiers of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy and Japan. In addition to the action on the battlefields, enjoy the skirmishes in the Village and Woods, demonstrations and displays in the buildings, woods encampments and the ambiance of the beautiful venue.

Maps of the event site will be available when visitors arrive showcasing the battlefield and the various encampments and attractions. Everything we offer will be held rain or shine.

Visitors will also experience:

Elaborate 1940s displays in historical buildings on the museum property acting as the back drop of a European village during World War II

Encampments of Allied and Axis troops in the Midway Village woods and realistic skirmishes integrated in the historic village

Soldiers’ base camps filled with period vehicles, tents and artifacts

Shop for World War II memorabilia from numerous vendors

Food and refreshments available for purchase

A 1940s era USO-style swing dance 7 pm, Saturday, September 26. The public admission is $7. Registered re-enactors and vendors are free with a wristband. Admission is paid for the dance at the door the evening of the dance.

This is one of the largest World War II era re-enactments in the United States with over 1,200 uniformed re-enactors from 40 states representing soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, France, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Italy and Germany along with 70 to 80 vintage tanks, halftracks and other 1940s era military vehicles!

Back By Popular Demand – Friday Evening Tour
The Behind The Lines tour will take place again on Friday evening from 5:30 pm until 7:30 p.m. Tour guides will take you through the Village to get an up close look at what is in store for the weekend. Space is limited. Make reservations for the tour by contacting 815-397-9112.

Looks amazing, but there’s more! School groups can get a sneak peak on Friday as the troops roll in. Here’s the link to the form to register as a school group, you will want to do this soon as space is limited.

Silver Dollar City Homeschool Rates

Silver Dollar City has a homeschool weekend in the fall

Event Details

Exclusive Homeschool classes available! Tickets must be pre-purchased.
Continue to watch the website for a Homeschool Weekend Schedule of Activities.
Registration at Guest Relations Horseshoe from 8:30-Noon (pick up FREE goodies).
The Marvel Cave Mystery Tour is back in 2014! Join fellow spelunkers as you travel through Marvel Cave attempting to solve the mystery of what nearly wiped out our Gray Bat population a couple decades ago. Complete a student workbook as you go from station to station gathering evidence and solving equations to help you determine the culprit. Book early, only 1 tour available.
Meet master craftsmen and watch them in action as we Salute The Great American Cowboy during National Harvest Festival.

Event Ticket Prices
Adult (age 12+):$47.00 + tax $50.51
Child (age 4-11):$37.00 + tax $39.77Price includes 2-day admission.

Ticket Details

Meal tickets available and include buffets! These optional meal tickets are charged in addition the admission price.

• Adult: $11.82 ($12.70)

• Child: $6.33 ($6.80)

Or you can use this special Homeschool rate with a code anytime, it looks like. Check the web for all the details.

(Thank you, Kristen!)

STEM explore at Midwest Museum of Natural History

STEM Exploration Lab this Saturday!

STEM Exploration Lab
This Saturday, March 30, 10-4:00

The Museum will be packed with 50 hands-on science experiments. From lasers and lights to magnets and mirrors, this event will be a blast for the entire family!

Admission (ages 3+):
$10/non-members, $8/members
Because the event will be throughout the Museum, this fee applies to all guests on 3/30
– OR – purchase a membership (or add a year to your existing membership) and get in for FREE!

STEM Exploration Lab is presented in partnership with NIU STEM Outreach and sponsored in part by CMJ Technologies, the Mary E. Stevens Concert & Lecture Fund, and 89.5 WNIJ

Career night in Dekalb

Received via email (please share!) What a great idea for a homeschool gathering:

What: Career Night

Where: The Evangelical Free Church of Sycamore-DeKalb 150 Bethany Rd. DeKalb, IL 60115

When: February 18^th starting at 6:30p.m.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an engineer? A photographer? A graphic designer? Come to the family meeting on the 18^th and learn from ten different professionals. This evening is for the whole family. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. James Glenn, a homeschooling father of 6 and the Midwest Regional Admissions Director for College Plus will be sharing on “Dreams, Desires, and Decisions.” From 7:00- 8:30p.m. each professional representative will be available at tables to discuss their profession and answer any questions. For children 10 and under there will be the opportunity to earn a small prize for participating in the career night “treasure hunt.”

This event is also open to people outside of HEART, so feel free to invite other families to come on out.

Educator’s Night at the Museum in Sycamore

Hi Homeschool families!

The Midwest Museum of Natural History is holding an educators’ open house on Thursday, February 28, 4:30-6:30 pm. The event is for teachers, scout leaders, homeschool parents, and other educators in the community. Explore the Museum, enjoy refreshments, and learn about the resources the Museum has to offer. The event is free. Please rsvp by calling the Museum at 815-895-9777 or reply to this email.

We hope to see you there!

Molly Trickey

Executive Director

Calendar of Events
A quick view of events, classes and other things of interest. Enjoy!

Coming up…

Heart Dissection
February 16

Big Run Wolf Ranch
March 16

STEM Exploration Lab
March 30

Educators’ Night at the Museum

Thursday, February 28, 4:30-6 pm

You’re invited! Join us for an open house for educators at the Midwest Museum of Natural History in Sycamore.

Explore the Museum, enjoy refreshments, meet our live animals, and learn about the programs we offer, including our new Educator Resource Boxes.

The event is FREE, but please RSVP by calling 815-895-9777 or email information@mmnh.org

Educator Resource Boxes are supported by a grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

Where: Midwest Museum of Natural History
425 West State Street • Sycamore, Illinois 60178
Phone: (815) 895-9777 •

Website: www.MMNH.org

Free talk on Applied Evolution

Applied Evolution: Implications in Law and Medicine

When: Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Refreshments:

6:45 – 7:00 pm

Presentation and Q&A:

7:00 – 8:30 pm

Presented By:

Richard Marrano

Where: 25 W 560 Geneva Road, Carol Stream

The entryway is just west of Gary Avenue on Geneva Road, on the north side of the street. Enter the drive just east of the sign (next to Slide Chart Company), and park behind the building. Enter through the rear door. Handicapped parking is in front, with entrance through the front door.

For more information, visit: www.midwestcreationfellowship.org,

Free admission and refreshments, but donations are welcome

Sponsored by the Midwest Creation Fellowship

www.midwestcreationfellowship.org

Free Creation talk in Carol Stream

Midwest Creation Fellowship talk, “The Six Days of Creation” by John Dingess, on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. at 25W560 Geneva Road in Carol Stream, IL 60188.

Contact: Midwest Creation Fellowship

Phone (847) 223-4730

Email wscmcf@hotmail.com

Website http://www.midwestcreationfellowship.org

The Six Days of Creation.

Do you know that the six days of creation can be understood in threes reflecting God’s triune nature? You are invited to join us as we see what Genesis 1 says straightforwardly in context with other Scripture. Origin science will be used to provide models to help visualize how God formed the earth and universe.

Guest speaker, John Dingess, is a former President of the Midwest Creation Fellowship, following Paul MacKinney, one of MCF’s founders. John has made his living for 34 years as a chemist in product development and has been awarded three patents for his work on chemical product formulations. His full bio is posted on: www.midwestcreationfellowship.org.

Meet us for free coffee and refreshments at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. The talk and Q&A will be from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Please note that our November meeting is on the second Tuesday rather than the first.) Admission is free, but donations are welcome. We meet at: 25W560 Geneva Road in Carol Stream, IL. The entryway is just west of Gary Avenue on Geneva Road, on the north side of the street. Enter the drive just east of the sign (next to Slide Chart Company), and park behind the building. Enter through the rear door. Handicapped parking is in front, with entrance through the front door.

For more information, visit: www.midwestcreationfellowship.org, email: wscmcf@hotmail.com, or call: (847) 223-4730.

Upcoming events at the Midwest Museum of Natural History

A couple events coming up at the Midwest Museum of Natural History:

Safari Sprouts

Wednesday, April 25, 10:15-11:15 am

$8/child (or purchase a 4-class card for $28), adults free

Call 815-895-9777 to register (walk-ins welcome too)

Spend a morning discovering nature at the Museum through games, crafts, stories, and songs, plus a live animal visit each month! Designed for ages 3-5 with an adult.

Severe Storms and Tornadoes:

the perspective of a storm chaser and scientist

a presentation by Dr. Walker Ashley, Northern Illinois University

Thursday, April 26, 7-8:00 pm

$4/person, Members free
Dr. Ashley will examine the science behind severe thunderstorms in the U.S. to discover how and why they form. He will also discuss the many myths surrounding severe storm hazards and storm chasing.

InHome Conference coming soon

If you are looking for a Chicago area homeschool convention, this is the first of many to come this year. Find more information and registration info on their website:

Online registration is now open for the 2012 InHome Conference!

You are invited to participate in a truly unique experience that embraces the non-sectarian homeschooling community. The 15th InHome Conference is scheduled for March 15th to 17th, 2012, at the luxurious Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles, Illinois.

Whether you’ve been homeschooling for years or are just starting out, you do not want to miss this event! This year’s InHome Conference features new workshops, along with popular ones from the past, for all ages. Children will love the wide variety of interests that will be explored from theatre to nature to LEGOs (and much more). Teens will enjoy reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Adults will appreciate the learning seminars, the sharing of information, and the support as they engage with other like-minded homeschooling parents.

This year, Ac•Rock will bring a rockin’ opening to the conference. Performing everyone’s favorite classic rock hits, this a cappella quartet sings the doo-wop standards audiences expect and more recent rock hits you might not expect to be performed by an a cappella group. Their shows are an engaging mix of tightly-crafted music and freewheeling humor that appeals to audiences of all ages.

And don’t miss out on all the other “extras”. From the opening night Meet & Greet to dancing the night away with both a family and teen dance to watching the kids strut their stuff in the talent shows, there is fun to be had by everyone.

Don’t delay, log in and go to the registration link today to sign up for the best homeschooling conference in the Midwest!

Remember to bookmark InHome Conference | Illinois Non-Sectarian Homeschooling Options for a Meaningful Education at www.homeeducatorsconference.org as a favorite so you may check in periodically for the latest news. Also, join our Yahoo Group and find us on Facebook.

Don’t forget to make your hotel reservations at http://homeeducatorsconference.org/general-info/hotel-reservations.

Essay contest

Have you entered the essay contest? A couple months still to get your entries in. Take advantage of being stuck indoors by having your kids do some writing with a purpose. All the details below and at Midwest Creation Fellowship’s site.

Here’s some info to get you started (but, fyi, I think their ages are switched on their categories):

Purpose:
To encourage the development of skills in research, analysis and logical reasoning through preparing an effective presentation of a thesis in a creation-oriented paper.

Prizes: Senior High Level (Ages 11-14*)

$250 First Place
$100 Second Place
$75 Third Place

Junior High Level (Ages 14-18*)

$100 First Place
$50 Second Place
$25 Third Place

* Entrants 14 years old on April 30 may enter either Junior or Senior division

Topics: must strongly relate to the subject of creation vs. evolution, from a creationist perspective. Suggestions:

Why do cultures around the world…
…have the same star constellations?
…have very similar legends, such as a gigantic flood?
…offer blood sacrifices to their god(s)?
Reasons why I believe in creation
Vestigial organs: a vestigial argument
More topic suggestions