Virginia State Parks Trail Quest

My boys and I enjoy going on day hikes. (The boys enjoy camping too, but Mommy likes running water and electricity when she's getting ready for bed.) We are lucky to live in a state with a wonderful state park system and to live fairly close to several state parks.

My oldest son and I just signed up for the Virginia State Parks Trail Quest program. This program is to encourage people to get outside and enjoy what Virginia State Parks have to offer. When you sign-up you are encouraged to print a list of parks. Then when you visit a park you collect that park's secret code and submit it online to earn pins. My oldest son loves collecting patches and pins.

This program in and of itself is not educational, but many of the state parks offer great educational programs and getting outside to observe nature is a wonderful learning experience.

If you're interested in learning more, visit www.virginiaoutdoors.com/getoutside/trailquest.

Northern Virginia Home Education Conference

The Northern Virginia Home Education Conference takes place in about two weeks, on July 9 & 10, at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. They have tons of exhibitors, many interesting workshops and demonstrations, and a used book sale. I went last year, and I must admit that it was a little overwhelming. I definitely suggest that you take along a list of topics your child will be studying, so you can weed through all of the information that is available at the conference. I left the conference with so many pamphlets, papers, and books; all interesting and excellent materials, but not all of it useful to me and my sons.
I'm looking forward to going again this year; and sharing my impressions and any really useful information I learn here.
For more information about this year's conference, you can visit their website-- www.novaconference.net.

Out with the old, in with the new

I'm recommitting myself to this blog--I've gone at least 6 months without posting. But, my new goal is one posting a week. We've finally wrapped up 4th grade for my oldest son. Just last week he completed his CAT test. We are still awaiting the results to be submitted to the school board to show he is achieving at a satisfactory level.
Each year as we wrap up one school year and I prepare to begin the next, I am thankful for the fresh start. It's an opportunity to evaluate what worked and what didn't from the previous grade. My son thinks of summer as a respite from structure and work. I think of it as a time to explore new curriculum and materials, a chance to plan our schedule and activities, and an opportunity to dream of the perfect homeschool year to begin in September.