CT Homeschool Network Conference and Book Sale Donations

Passing this along.......

 CT Homeschool Network has updated their website. It is an organization that supports all homeschoolers in the state of Connecticut and has gone to bat for us throughout the years as Conn. politicians attempt to regulate us. Even as recently as the Fall of 2012!

It is free to join!

http://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/

They will be hosting a conference in the fall!

Save the date! Bring the whole family for a fantastic day of all things home education!

CT Homeschool Network Conference
Saturday, September 14, 2013
10 AM – 3 PM
at St. Mark's Episcopal Church
147 Main Street
New Britain, CT

As the list of vendors, speakers & more is currently developing, we'll be updating this page with the details by late July & early August. We'll be taking homeschool conferences to a whole new level! Stay tuned!

http://cthomeschoolnetwork.org/home-schooling/conference/

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Donations now being collected for the Connecticut Homeschool Network Conference scheduled for Saturday, September 14, 2013 at St Mark's Episcopal Church, 147 West Main Street, New Britain, Connecticut.   Save the date!   All manner of educational materials are being accepted:  all kinds of books, curriculum of all kinds, puzzles, games, cds, dvds, kits, and more.  All educational items are wanted. 

As you finish up with classes this year don't clutter up your shelves with educational materials you no longer need.  Please donate them to the educational resource sale that will be held at the CT Homeschool Conference.  This worthy cause will be returning the proceeds to the homeschool community in the form of scholarships for homeschoolers that will be gifted annually, and some will be used toward CT Homeschool Network's business expenses.

Educational Materials can be dropped off at one of several collection points between now and September 7.   Please donate the items you no longer need, and then don't forget to come to the book-fair on September 14 while you are at the homeschool conference.   We will have some great surprises and prizes and treasures in store for you!

Collection points - email one of these people to get an address where you can drop off your donations:
Kris McCue, Simsbury, email fvhegroupis@hotmail.com

Pam Hayn, Colchester, email pmh1116@netscape.net

Leslie Lichenstein, Preston, email Lichtnsten179@comcast.net

Diane Connors, Columbia, email DrMomOfTen@hotmail.com

Mark your calendars! Boys' hang out Summer Schedule

Here is the list of dates and locations for the Boys' 10-14 yrs (ish) hang-outs for the summer. We will be meeting at a different location on Thursdays every week all summer, starting on July 18th. Please feel free to 'crash' our get-togethers even if you don't have boys in the target age range -- these are all public venues, you are more than welcome to come hang out with us even if you have no boys at all!! :)

Most of these locations are free during the week (I think Sandy Beach is the only exception), and all offer swimming and fishing as options. Our official meeting time will be 1-3pm -- however, I expect most of us will take advantage of our leisurely summer schedules to extend our day and enjoy the water, weather, and companionship! :) I will post reminders about each week's location and address and any specifics you need to know a day or two prior to the date.

RSVPs are NOT necessary, and you can feel free to pick and choose any or all the dates and locations.

July 18 -- Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Pomfret

July 25 -- Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury

Aug 1 -- Sandy Beach* (Crystal Lake), Ellington (*admission fee)

Aug 8 -- Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold

Aug 15 -- Bigelow Hollow State Park, Union

Aug 22 -- Gay City State Park, Hebron

Aug 29 -- Salmon River, Colchester

Looking forward to a fun-filled, relaxing summer!! Hope to share it with many
of you! :)

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (17 mos)

Reminder Boy's hang out Thursday

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst........

Just a reminder that our boys' 10-14 yrs hangout group is getting together tomorrow, June 20, at Valley Falls on Valley Falls Rd in Vernon from 1-3pm. (Any age/gender siblings are always welcome!) We will meet on the beach -- I may not be able to get there right at 1 tomorrow, but others should be there, I think we're going to have a great turn-out. AND our streak of amazing weather for our get-togethers seems to be holding!!
*as far as I can tell, they have not yet begun to charge admission at Valley Falls, but bring $5 per carload just in case*
For anyone who doesn't already know me, I'll be the one toting a toddler along with my two boys -- both she and I will be sure to wear tie-dyed shirts, so we should be easy to recognize, so come on up and introduce yourself if you don't already know me! :) Kristi Sweeney will also be there (although she's not sure she'll make it right at 1 either), her son Matthew is quite tall and has shortly cropped hair and will be carrying a fishing pole :).
Don't have a son in the target age range?? Don't let that stop you from coming and having some fun with other homeschoolers! Our boys' age guideline is only for planning purposes :)
See you tomorrow for a fun afternoon at the park!!

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (17 mos)

Homeschool boys hang-out at Valley Falls this Thursday

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst......

The final boys' 10-14 yr (+/-) hang-out time for this school year will be on Thursday, June 20, from 1-3pm, at Valley Falls Park on Valley Falls Rd in Vernon, CT. Any age/gender siblings are always welcome. RSVP is not necessary, just come and have some fun! :)

As far as I can tell, Valley Falls does not start charging for
parking/admittance until June 24, but to be on the safe side, bring $5 per car load just in case.

Swimming, fishing, hiking and a playground are available. Fishing has become fairly popular with our group, and I am going to be available to help anyone new to fishing who would like to learn how to fish with bait (worms +/or
nightcrawlers). I will bring the bait, you should bring an appropriate fishing pole, hooks and bobbers. We will be doing strictly catch and release fishing. By CT DEEP state regulations, if any adult is going to touch a fishing pole, they need to have a fishing license. Children in our group's age range do not need a license.

I will be posting a list of summer locations and contact person info for weekly dates (starting July 11) where there will be boys between 10-14 yrs hanging out and enjoying the water on Thursday afternoons - most locations will include swimming and fishing.

Hope to see you at Valley Falls this Thursday!

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10), and Clara (17 mos)

Sonny's Place in Somers, Ct. June 19, 2013

Passing this along from Laurie Fraher........

Hi, I have organized a day to go to Sonny's Place in Somers, CT.  They have mini Golf, Go Karts, Rock Wall, Moneky moton, Batting Cages, Driving range, arcade and a Restaurant.
This is what they offered us: June 19th  starting at 11:30 - 4:00 we are under HELP - Homeschool Group
 Come and go as you need.
$6 meal deal which is choice of Hamburger, Cheeseburger (Angus Burgers locally grown and pasture raised no hormones or antibiotics), grilled cheese, hot dog or Veggie Burger with fries and a drink.
$5 golf , $5 rock wall, Monkey Jump $6, and Go Karts $6

Please pass this on to friends and family who may want to attend. 

Sonny's Place is located:  349 Main Street, Somers, Ct 860-763-5454
www.sonnysplace.com

Saxon and Oak Meadow homeschool books for sale

Passing this along from Jackie Yeo, please contact her if you are interested at yeo.is@cox.net


Homeschool books for sale

Saxon 7/6 Hardcover book, Test booklet, answer key $15

Saxon 6/5 Hardcover book, test booklet, answer key, $15

Saxon Homestudy kit, Math 1, with manipulatives & Teacher’s book, $20

Saxon PHONICS 1, book 2 and reading books, unused, $5

OAK MEADOW 5^th grade US HISTORY AND ENGLISH, $15

OAK MEADOW 5^TH GRADE US HISTORY & ENGLISH TEACHER’S MANUAL, $15

OAK MEADOW 6^TH GRADE ANCIENT CIV AND ENGLISH, $15

OAK MEADOW 6^TH GRADE ANCIENT CIV & ENGLISH TEACHER’S MANUAL, $15

OAK MEADOW 7^TH : ENGLISH 7, $15

OAK MEADOW 7^TH GRADE WORLD HISTORY (BOTH BOOKS), $15

OAK MEADOW 7^TH GRADE TEACHER’S MANUAL, $15

OAK MEADOW BASIC LIFE SCIENCE, $10

There are many more topical books to support the above years.  Come and look, $1 each. 

CONTACT JACKIE AT yeo.is@cox.net for pickup or media mail shipping

Check it out: Connecticut Homeschool Network under new leadership

Reminder: Boys hang out at Salmon Brook Park Thursday June 6

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst........

A reminder for all: The boys' 10-14 yr hang-out will be tomorrow, Thursday, June 6, from 1-3 pm at Salmon Brook Park, 215 Salmon Brook St, Granby, CT. Salmon Brook park features a wading brook, fishing, ball fields, and playgrounds. Boys ages 10-14 (ish)and their any-sex, any-age siblings are welcome to come hang out and bring whatever they'd like to do with other boys their age. Parents will visit casually while the boys participate in whatever activity happens to appeal to them. This is VERY casual, you do not need to RSVP, just be sure to introduce yourself if you don't already know someone in the group. It's honestly not even necessary to have boys, just come hang out if you want to.

Our next date will be on Thursday, June 20, from 1-3pm at Valley Falls in Vernon (I will post more details later this week).

At tomorrow's meeting we will be working on coming up with a schedule of where we MIGHT be each Thursday afternoon throughout the summer (same time frame, 1-3pm) -- these will be locations with swimming or water play availability (and likely fishing opportunities as well), and will be scattered throughout the state for variety and to make sure everyone has a chance to do something local.

We are also planning a beach date (CT Shore)in early September to kick off the new school year, so look for details about that towards the middle of August.

Any questions?? Feel free to contact me at collieherd@cox.net Hope to see you all at Salmon Brook tomorrow! It looks like our string of beautiful weather for our dates is continuing!!

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12), Gabe (10) and Clara (16 mos)

Capture the Flag this Friday

Passing this along from Kim Starkey....

The last 'Capture the Flag' in Ellington will take place this Friday, rain or shine.  Please bring a group game in case your child doesn't want to play in the rain.  If there’s no lightning or thunder we will still be playing in the rain.

12:30pm – 2:00 pm  Brookside Park on Route 140.