Tag: physical education

New Homeschool Gym Class in St. Charles

The homeschool mom that worked to get this going submitted info about this new opportunity: http://www.facebook.com/SportsplexHomeSchoolGymClass

This is cut and pasted from the facebook page:

This group was created to share information about a Home School sports class being offered in St. Charles.
Day: 2nd & 4th Friday of the month
Time: 1:30-3 pm the 2nd & 4th
Cost: $30 (per student) for a 3 month class
Age: 5+ (to optimize the coaches time we need to keep this class for school aged children K-12th grade range)
Class info: The facility has the ability to teach many sports including – Flag Football, dodge ball, t-ball, kickball, soccer, capture the flag.

HOW TO REGISTER:
Log onto www.sportsplexstc.net.
Click on Registration. Families will have to set up New Membership accounts in order to register.

Once they are New Members, click on Register across the top. Choose the following for each child:
Register— Pull down and select child. It will only allow children ages 3-18.
Pull down Program Type and select “Classes & Camps”
Pull down Season and select “Home School Classes Spring 2013”
Pull down League/Group and select “Home School Spring Classes”

At that point, the class information will pop up and you can click on the blue “Register”
You will be asked if there are medical concerns for that child. Click “Continue”

At that point, you will go to checkout, and a list of all dates/times will be shown. It shows that you are paying for 6 classes at $5.00 each, but it is not possible to pay for fewer than 6 classes at this time. If you miss, you miss. The $20.00 Membership Fee is waived for your families for this class.

Each participant MUST sign a liability waiver on their first visit to Sportsplex. We will have a stack of them and your guests can sign them when they arrive. If parents want to play too, they can pay $5.00 the day of.

I love that parents can play, too.  🙂

Unique homeschool soccer opportunity

Received this via email and Amy said she would love to have this shared with a broader audience. Please contact her directly for more information.

As many know, I am the founder of the Homeschool Youth Soccer League
(HYSL). I have been approached by a gentleman from Chicago Fire, the
professional soccer league right here in Chicago (
http://www.chicago-fire.com/) about a wonderful opportunity for the soccer
enthusiasts among us. This offer, I putting out to not only the HYSLeague
members, but to the homeschooling community at large because I am certain
that there are several of us out there who would love to participate in
this wonderful opportunity.

Wednesday, October 3rd Chicago Fire celebrate their 15th year anniversary.
With many activities, and a game that evening, they have offered to sell
tickets to a large group of us at a discounted price. If we have at least
100 people interested purchasing tickets at $14 per person, we would also
be given the opportunity to play on their field before the game! They are
also offering a parking pre-purchase price of $12 (over reg. $15). The time
I was given was 3:00pm for this date, but will verify because I see the
game is at 7p. (It could be that we are invited by 3pm to the festivities
going on that day, and will have our pre-game play on the field during this
3-7pm slot.)

I’m just, first, putting feelers out there to see if we can even come close
to 100 people. If this seems to be something of interest, and we would have
100 to take advantage of this opportunity, then I would move forward to
finalize plans with Chicago Fire.

If you think your family would like to participate, could you please email
me asap: mommy@nakitababy.com and let me know how many tickets you’d
purchase for this event?

Homeschool Trampoline Time!

From Epic Air:
HOME SCHOOLING PROGRAM
We are pleased to announce that we will be offering a Home Schooling time block.  This will be on Wednesdays from 1:30pm – 3:00pm, beginning Wednesday, May 2nd.  The cost will be $8.00 per jumper.  Families larger than 4 kids, there will be a $2 discount for additional siblings (not cousins, or nieces or nephews or grandkids or friends…).  Each jumper must have a signed waiver by their parent or legal guardian.  No exceptions, just like in any other case.
Facility is only a few months old and looks amazing!
Address: 1675 North Lancaster Road, South Elgin, IL
Directions: WEST of McLean and EAST of Randall Road.
East on Stearns Road from Randall Road to first left, Umbdenstock.   From Umbdenstock, make 2nd right on Lancaster Road.  Please use Google Maps to find them.  Maquest does not have them located correctly.
More info or questions:

847.608.0600 office

http://www.epicairpark.com

http://www.facebook.com/epicair

“You Ready To Jump!?”

Dodgeball, Trampoline Arena, Foam Pit, Long Tracks, Basketball, Parties, Events

Fitness incentive program

plunge

We all may be seeking fitness motivation that keeps our New Year’s goals rolling, and while this incentive is for the students, maybe it will help us keep our own plans in line.

Raging Waves Waterpark offers an incentive program that will really get kids moving.

From their site:

Welcome to the 2012 Plunge into Fitness Program

Children Kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to Plunge into Fitness this spring as Raging Waves Waterpark joins the battle against childhood obesity. The fitness initiative runs March 5 through April 30, and each child completing the program requirements during this seven-week period will receive a free Raging Waves full day admission pass.

The Plunge into fitness program requires a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day, which totals 25 hours for the seven week period. Any activity that increases heart rate qualifies including: walking, running, biking, playing team sports, skateboarding, swimming, jumping rope and hopscotch. For the duration of the program, each child will complete a fitness log provided by Raging Waves. Once complete, a parent will sign it and the child will turn it into his or her teacher by April 30th. All children kindergarten through 8th grade, including homeschoolers, are encouraged to join this program and earn a free Raging Waves full-day admission pass.

They even have posters to download and all the info right there on their site.  Sign in doesn’t actually start until April 30 when you may use your log in id and password they provide to upload all participating students at once. Everything must be received online only by May 15, 2012.

They say they also give you an opportunity to buy additional tickets for 25% off!

Check out all the details for their Plunge into Fitness program.

Open swim for homeschoolers

We have really enjoyed the gym and swim classes we have taken at the Centre, and here is an opportunity for all homeschoolers to enjoy some swim time during their break from the regular gym and swim classes.
Times and fees are listed below, and contact information for further information as well.

Home School Drop-In Swim

Home school families – come down to The Centre for
swimming on the following Thursdays when our regular
program is not running during the holidays. The cost per
child is $2.75 and $3.25 for adults. Times will be from
1:00pm—3:00pm each day.

Thursday, December 1
Thursday, December 8
Thursday, December 15
Thursday, January 5
Thursday, January 12

Contact Brett Lind at 847-531-7017 for more information.

The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120

Gym and Swim

Gym and Swim classes are enrolling around the Chicagoland area in preparation for the upcoming semester.

Please share if you know of one that is not listed here:

Naperville: YMCA

Meets on Fridays from 1-3:15

Age: 6-16
In the pool, children will be split up according to age and ability level which can range from beginner to competitive. We will cover the five components of YMCA swim lessons, which are personal safety, personal growth, water sports & games, and rescue to give your children a well-rounded aquatic lesson.

In the gym, children will be split up according to age. The younger group will be given a more traditional gym class that will teach the fundamentals of basketball, soccer and other group sports. The older group will be more focused on fitness, stationary cycling and group fitness.

Session: 11SEP (Sep 6-Oct 22) 1 day a week for 7 weeks

Session: 11OCT* (Oct 23-Dec 17) 1 day a week for 7 weeks

Elgin: The Centre

These classes are available Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 1-3. They have been known to fill up, so register soon!

If you’re home schooled, come out to The Centre and have some fun!! Our Gym and Swim program features a one hour swim lesson and a one hour physical education class each week. A variety of sports including basketball, soccer, and floor hockey will be played in our gym and kids will get some free time to swim in our awesome Adventure Island at the end of their swim lesson. The program is for all home schooled 5-15 year olds, and there are sessions offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Children may be registered for multiple sessions. Each session is ten weeks long, the first beginning on Tuesday, September 13. Come to The Centre to register today!! $54/R $64/NR

The Centre Front Desk is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, please call Brett Lind, Youth and Teen Coordinator, at 847-531-7017.

I know there used to be one in Schaumburg, but could not find any current info on it, but I did come across this about homeschool programs at Spring Valley.

There’s got to be more gym and swim classes, but that’s all I can come up with right now. If you know of one or participate in one, please share!

Martial Arts in Elgin

Last week was birthday week in our house. And, as much as I love planning parties, I don’t mind a break now and then. So, I was thrilled that one of my daughters requested to have her party hosted at a martial arts facility to which she had earned a free party.

Before I share about our wonderful experience let me give you a peak into the behind the scenes activity. I called and set up a time for the party  and a couple days later received a phone call from the gentleman that would lead the class during the party. He asked, “Do you homeschool?” Of course, I told him we did. To which he responded that he had been homeschooled through high school. That got me excited right off the bat. But, that was only the beginning.

Kim’s Black Belt Academy hosted a well organized party. They took care of the RSVPs, followed up with people we had not heard back from and kept me in the loop every step of the way.

They made the cupcakes and lemonade, and filled the pinata. They kept the kids happy and moving for an hour and a half and even gave me the list of gifts and givers.

So, from the party stand point this was a great place to go. All the girls had a great time and they learned some new skills. Most of them had little or no martial arts experience, so this was a first for them. They all did a great job giving it a good effort and the instructors really helped them do their best and feel comfortable.

Oh, and they even video taped the party and sent out the video via email. How great is that?

I wanted to share about this not just so you would know about a great party place, but because they would like to start a martial arts class geared toward homeschoolers. After the quality experience we had with everyone there I was happy to share about this opportunity.

If you are wondering if this could be for you they even have a free trial option. You can set up a time to have a private lesson and get comfortable before you actually join a class.

They make an intentional effort to teach more than physical fitness. Kyuki-do focuses on character development as well. On their website they say this:

At our academy, we use the martial arts as a vehicle to develop the following traits in a child:
– Self-Esteem
– Self Discipline
– Focus and Concentration
– Confidence
– Physical Fitness
– Leadership
– Courtesy and Respect
– Positive Attitude
– Enthusiasm
– Teamwork
– Goal Setting
– Self-Control
– Better Listening

Many of these came up in just the short time that we enjoyed our party there. A series of classes would just deepen the growth in these areas. If you are looking for something fresh to add to your physical education for the upcoming school year I would encourage you to check out Kim’s Black Belt Academy. They have two locations, one in downtown Elgin and the other on the west side of the city, both with the same focus of building confident kids.

Homeschooling rock climb

Info from Vertical Endeavors:

Vertical Endeavors offers Homeschool Days to homeschool students and families! Indoor rock climbing is a great way to introduce your students to a unique experience in a controlled, professional environment. Vertical Endeavors offers a variety of experiential education opportunities where students can broaden their horizons, try a new activity, and step out of their comfort zones. The benefits of indoor rock climbing include promoting mental and physical health, improving self-esteem and self-confidence, encouraging teamwork and leadership, and developing problem-solving and goal-setting skills.

2011 Homeschool Schedule

  • July 13
  • August 17
  • September 21
  • October 19
  • November 16
  • December 21

Rates/Times

  • $10/person
  • 1-3 p.m.
  • Includes harness

Download button

NOTE: Registration is on a first come first service basis. Sessions often fill fast, so sign up early. 100 maximum participants. Ages 4 and up. Contact us to sign up: 630-836-0122.

Both students and parents are encouraged to sign up for a Basic Safety Lesson but it is not required to participate in Homeschool Days. This introductory lesson covers knot tying, belaying, rope management skills, the use of technical equipment, and climbing commands. An emphasis is placed on the skills needed to climb and belay in a controlled environment. Although belay skills can be learned by any individual who is ready to learn them, please keep in mind that you must be 14 or older to test out to belay at Vertical Endeavors.

Every participant, including climbers, chaperones, and spectators must complete a Vertical Endeavors Liability Waiver. Please double check each waiver to make sure it is complete. Anyone without a fully completed waiver will not be allowed to participate.
Location: 28141 Diehl Road, Warrenville, IL Telephone 630.836.0122 Fax 630.836.0132

Review — Fitness 4 Homeschool

Mom, what are we doing for PE today?

Ummm, oh yeah, that.

It’s on the schedule, but sometimes turns into unplanned active time rather than a formal teaching time. We do calisthenics, practice basketball skills, or run around the walking trails at the park by our house. So, while we don’t generally miss PE (it is required), we don’t always have a good plan for it either.

Until now. I got a new follower on Twitter one day and had to check out this Family Time Fitness company. They offer a PE curriculum geared toward homeschoolers. It comes complete with warm ups, cool downs, and fun activities to go in the middle. Each class took us about a half hour to complete, but your family might take slightly longer or shorter than that depending on the age and focus of your kids. It was just right for our school day.

Product: Fitness 4 Homeschool

Details: A complete PE curriculum especially for kids in K-8. This one year program will give you activities for 5 days a week for 52 weeks.

Price: $77 (not much more than you would pay for one child’s PE class for the year at many co-ops!)

What I loved . . .

  • Beyond a PE class. More than just filling a class requirement, this program is about being healthy and active. That’s why it doesn’t fit in a neat 180 day school year. Fitness is for life and this program helps you toward that end.
  • Builds on basics. Arm circles, leg lifts, calf raises. Fitness isn’t really complicated, but coming up with a plan can be time consuming. They have done that for you. Took lots of familiar activities and exercises and added in some fresh ideas to make it sparkle, and packaged it up in an easy to use format for everyone to follow along with. PE planning with this product takes a few seconds of clicking each day rather than a half hour or more to plan the week.
  • Made for in house. While you could definitely enjoy these activities with another family they are designed to be done in house. We have our own little one room school house, but even if you homeschool one child, most of these activities could be done together without a larger group.
  • Video demos. We all hear those instructors saying to make sure you do it the right way so you don’t strain anything. With short and to the point videos that you access online, you can all see what it should look like. The demonstrations have an adult and children performing the various actions.
  • Great for an age mix. We used this with a kindergartener, an 8th grader and a few sprinkled in between. They all were able to participate at their levels and really enjoyed the activities. In watching it I was thinking it was geared a little young for my 8th grader, but he did not complain one bit and especially appreciated that we actually had a more planned PE everyday rather than getting pushed off or made more informal because it was unplanned.
  • Can be reused, or stretched over a couple years. In the summer we tend to be more active, so our formal PE tapers off a bit. If that is the case in your house you could easily stretch this over two years. And, many of the lessons could be repeated without boredom for even longer. You have permanent access to the videos so this is a great one time purchase that can establish your PE plans until high school!
  • Excellent exercise. I love these classes. I work up a light sweat while doing the activities along with my kids.  Again, nothing complicated, but just some simple activities that require me to get up out of the “teacher’s chair” and get moving with them. It is definitely helping me get and stay in shape in this season where homeschooling consumes my days.

Some considerations . . .

  • Do need some room. We run out of room in our school room for these, so it is really better to head outside if the weather is tolerable. Allow yourself plenty of room to swing those arms without smacking file cabinets or children. You can watch the videos inside and then head outside to actually perform them.
  • Might want to supplement with team sports or other group activities. What this program does not do is teach your kids basketball skills or soccer drills. I think this is also an important part of the PE program, so we try to balance our time and make room for team sports here and there throughout the year.  And, they say they have something in the works to do that type of thing at home as well. Definitely keep your eye out for more products from this homeschool friendly company.

We definitely needed this product right here, right now. My PE was getting a bit dull and needed more direction. I was so thankful for the videos and planning that were packed in there to keep all of us moving. I definitely believe that a good PE class helps the rest of the day go  better as well. In our house anyway, they’ve got to move before they sit.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Family Time Fitness For the purpose of reviewing it. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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Homeschool soccer in South Elgin

From a reader:

Wanting to get the kids out for some fun and exercise?

This is a low key, relaxed setting. We have a large range of ages, sometimes as young as 4 or 5 through adult. Parents are welcome to play! We will learn some basic soccer warm-ups, drills and skills, so expect a little structure. There is no fee. Let us know if you are interested, and we will keep you posted by email. I will try to send an email “reminder” out no later than noon on Fridays.

Danny Kubasak will be coaching again this year. We look forward to another great year!

We would like to stripe the field as we have done in the past, but would need donations for the paint.  The field needs to be striped about every other week and the cost of paint is approx. $15 each time. If funds are available for paint, volunteer help for the striping would be appreciated. If we do not have funds for the paint, we will mark the field with cones.

WHEN:

Beginning Friday, May 6

Weather permitting, Fridays 3:30-5:30. Come the weeks you can. Don’t worry about the weeks you can’t.

3:30-4:00 come if you can to warm-up and practice on your own.
4:00-5:30 practice some basic soccer skills and join in on a fun game of soccer.

NOTE: We have the field reserved until 6 p.m. so we might go over at times. If you need to leave @ 5:30 please feel free to.
WHERE:

Fox Meadow Park, South Field

On the corner of Jenna Dr & Hobart Dr just west of Fox Meadow Elementary School in South Elgin

WHAT TO BRING:

water
soccer ball (we would like everyone to bring their own if possible)
sunscreen?

bug spray?

NOTES:

-There is a port-a-potty & children’s playground for the younger ones. There is a picnic table and a few benches at the playground.

-Parent’s/guardians might want to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on.

-Please do not drop your child off unattended. If you are unable to stay, please make arrangements with another adult to be responsible for your child.

-Younger children are welcome to play understanding that soccer can be rough at times. The ball sometimes accidentally gets kicked into people and more often than not it hurts really bad.

-If we have too large of a turn out, we will be dividing the children up into 2 groups according to age.

Email Melissa for more information at: mmartin0698 @ sbcglobal (dot) net  (remove spaces and substitute the “.”)