As a homeschooler, I love the fact that my job changes every year. That it’s an endless learning adventure. Unlike public school teachers, I teach new subjects every year. Sure, the pay is awful (okay, nonexistent), but homeschooling satisfies my thirst for knowledge. It wasn’t until I started homeschooling that I realized just how much I enjoy learning. Over the years, I can only hope that I’ve sparked a similar enthusiasm for learning in my children and other homeschoolers as well.
My family’s homeschooling has always been interwoven with our homeschool group. Much of what I plan for the group folds over into further learning for us at home. Each special interest group, each field trip, and every park day are potential sources of inspiration, information, and support. Here’s a glimpse of what our group’s been up to this fall.
Special Interest Groups
By far, the most rewarding activities of Green Mountain Area Homeschoolers are our small, special interest groups. These groups vary in size from 10 to 30 students and are made possible by the commitment and enthusiasm of both the students and their parents. Below are a few photos from our groups that were active this fall.
Green Mountain Youth Speakers and our Spanish Conversation Group will continue through the school year. This month, we finish our 2022 Roots and Shoots project and start our National History Day performance rehearsals and a holiday Gingerbread Bridge Competition through the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado.
Field Trips
Our outings this fall included the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Miller Farms, and a new one for our group – Denver Graffiti Tours, which we highly recommend.
Park Days
Field trips and small group projects can change with the seasons, but regular park days are the backbone of our group. Here in Colorado we’re able to meet up at area parks year-round, sometimes even sledding in the winter. Nearly everyone makes their first foray into our group on a park day. It’s here that they make connections, find friends, and then join us for whichever field trips and special interest groups fit their schedule and interests.
I share all of this as one part congratulations to all who participate, one part invitation for those who’d like to join us, and one part inspiration – perhaps our adventures will inspire you to try something new.
Looking Ahead
They say today is a gift and that’s why it’s called the present. I get that, but as a homeschool parent and group leader I also feel like I always need to be planning ahead. That planning makes for lots of good ‘presents’.
I’m currently working on more field trips and group projects for the winter, but guess what? Although I can’t claim any credit for this, we’ll have three new babies in our group by next spring! We welcomed one in October and two are due in early 2023. I love that our group can include such a diverse range of ages, from newborns to homeschoolers, and offer something for everyone.
With a group or on your own, as a newbie or a veteran, celebrate the gift of homeschooling – it’s an endless learning adventure.
Enjoy it!
Related posts:
Celebrating Six Years of Youth Public Speaking (Green Mountain Youth Speakers)
2022 Roots and Shoots Project: Know Your H2O (through the Jane Goodall Institute)
Spanish Language Resources (Spanish Conversation Group)
Two Ways to Learn History (National History Day)