Boys' 10-14 yrs (+/-) group get-together will be at Stratton Brook State Park TODAY

 Boys' 10-14 yrs (+/-) group get-together will be
at Stratton Brook State Park, 149 Farms Village Road (Route 309), Simsbury, CT, from 1-3pm. All are welcome, regarless of ager or gender!

Look for me (in my trademark tie-dyed shirt -- I'll dress the toddler in tie-dyed too just to make us really easy to find ;) on the beach at the swimming pond, on the side nearest the parking lot. There is no fee during the week.
There is also a stocked trout pond for fishing, trails for hiking, etc.

Hope to see you there! Next week's get-together will be at Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington.

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (12 yrs), Gabe (10 yrs) and Clara (18 mos)

Summer Boys' 10-14yrs group hangouts start this Thursday

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

Our summer Boys' 10-14yrs group hangouts start this Thursday, July 18, from 1pm- 3pm, and our location for this week is Mashamoquet State Park on Rte 44 in Pomfret, CT. Enter the park at the main entrance off Rte 44 (if traveling eastbound, it will be the first right after the Campground entrance, which is located beyond Wolf Den Rd), and park by the swimming pond or in the main parking lot. We will meet on the beach along the shaded side. I will wear tie-dye in order to make myself easy to be seen. :)

Swimming in the pond and fishing in the stream, as well as hiking, are all possibilities at this location. Israel Putnam's famous Wolf Den is also located at this State Park (a short drive, then moderate hike, from where we are meeting) if anyone wants to organize a hike once we all get there. I will
personally be sticking near the swimming water -- too buggy and muggy for me to spend much time in the woods this week!

Feel free to come as early and stay as late as you like! I will probably be there regardless of the weather (unless they wind up predicting severe weather for the entire afternoon), and will actually be shooting to get there right about noon, so if you want to come earlier look for me!

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!! :)

The rest of our summer schedule is as follows:


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

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.


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 (18 mos)

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/

**********************************

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