Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

America's Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.*

(Of course, many of our 394 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit! here: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm )

Mark your calendar for these fee-free days in 2011:

April 16-24 -National Park Week
June 21 -First day of summer
September 24 -Public Lands Day
November 11-13 -Veterans Day weekend
(was January 15-17 - MLK's birthday

Making the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors with their own special offers.

participating National Parks include:
Thomas Edison National Historical Park (NJ)
Morristown National Historical Park (NJ)

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (NY)
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site (NY)
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (NY)
Saratoga National Historical Park (NY)
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site (NY)

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (PA)
Fort Necessity National Battlefield (PA)
Johnstown Flood National Memorial (PA)
Steamtown National Historic Site (PA)

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation
entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and
fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Geo Washington Reenactment

Although the park was all but closed last year, thanks to the Bucks County Visitors Bureau, the beloved Christmas Day reenactment that has to do with the birth of America, not the birth of Christ, will live on.

• Saturday, December 4, 7pm -2nd Annual Save the Crossing FundraiserLocation: Crossing Vineyards & Winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, PA. 215-493-6500 crossingvineyards.com . Fees: Tickets $100 Per Person. Proceeds support the reenactment of George Washington’s Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware. Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres, wine, beer, spirits, music, and a live auction. Tickets may be purchased at Crossing Vineyards or by visiting crossingvineyards.com. Can't attend? Please consider a donation!
  
  
• December 12, 11am-3pm -Crossing Dress RehearsalFees: Fees charged. Full-blown re-enactment of the crossing with Military impressions, period building open and period demonstrations throughout the day.
  
  
• December 25, 1pm -Christmas Day Crossing Join us in honoring the soldiers of 1776 as we recreate their heroic Crossing of the Delaware. Wear warm clothes, arrive early and be prepared to walk a bit from parking as we always have a full house to celebrate the holiday in this patriotic fashion.

Walking Tour of the AT&T “Pole Farm”: 10/23/2010

Free Historical Walking Tour of the AT&T “Pole Farm”
Lawrence & Hopewell Townships, Mercer County
by Lawrence Historical Society ( http://www.thelhs.org/ ) Saturday, October 23, 11a.m.

This is a free event but pre-registration is required. To register, visit http://bit.ly/d4NMyu.
This is expected to be 1-2 hours, 1.75 mile.

The 800-acre "Pole Farm" section of Mercer County Park Northwest began the 20th century as farmland, but then was converted by AT&T into what
was for several decades the world's largest shortwave transmitting station, with more than 2,000 poles supporting antennas carrying phone
calls to cities around the world. However, by the close of the century it had reverted to open parkland set aside for passive recreation, one
of the few major 20th century industrial sites in New Jersey to have vanished almost completely. Join Lawrence Township Historian Dennis
Waters for a walking tour to learn about this important story in the history of communications and to visit several locations where traces
of the past can still be seen.

About the walk: We will meet at the "pole" near the Federal City Road entrance to the park at 11:00 a.m. sharp and walk to the parking area
near the Keefe Road entrance. This will be a leisurely 1.75-mile walk on well-maintained trails over generally flat terrain, though you
should be prepared for possible wet or muddy spots and there is one small stream crossing. We may wander a short distance off the trail
once or twice. Plan on two hours, but longer if you need to walk the 1.75 miles back to your car. If you do not want to walk back, you are
encouraged to carpool and leave a car at each end. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at the park.

The rain date is Sunday, October 24th, same time.

Homeschool Aquarium Days (Camden,NJ)

Camden's Adventure Aquarium is offering homeschool weeks --- where you get the group rate discount, even if you're going with just you & yours on any of these dates:
Dates Available:
September 13th - 17th
October 4th - 8th
November 15th - 19th
December 13th - 17th
Pricing: $11.00/person

*All prices do not include additional 7% NJ State tax. However, advanced reservations are required. Please complete their order form and mail/fax with payment at least 10 days prior to chosen date. Walk-up customers will receive regular admission prices.

Lunchroom reservations can only be made for groups of 15 or more. Please plan ahead and complete a reservation request form and a representative will contact you within 1-2 business days.

Interested in adding a film from our 4D Theater to your visit? Click here to learn about all of the movies now playing in the 4D Theater.

Advance reservations are required. All orders must be in ten (10) days prior to your requested visitation date. No orders will be taken over the phone. The above admission rate applies to orders made in advance only. Walk-up customers will receive regular admission prices. Thank You!

Adventure Aquarium
1 Aquarium Drive
Camden, NJ 08103
P: 856.365.3300 x.7544
F: 856.365.3311

UACNJ observatory at Jenny Jump

The United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey (UACNJ) operate an observatory in Jenny Jump State Park in Hope, NJ.

Public programs are offered every Saturday evening from April through October. These programs begin at 8 PM with a lecture on an astronomy-related topic and include observing with the 16” Greenwood telescope if the weather cooperates. Lectures are held rain or shine. Star-gazing until 10:30, weather permitting.

See www.uacnj.org for more information.

Upcoming programs (for the latest, see their website):

- 10/16 - Getting started in Astronomy

United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey operates an observatory in Jenny Jump State Forest off Far View Road in Hope Township. Public programs are offered every Saturday evening from April through October. These programs begin at 8 PM with a lecture on an astronomy-related topic and include observing with the 16” Greenwood telescope if the weather cooperates. Lectures are held rain or shine.

For more information, see www.uacnj.org or contact Diane at jefferfamily@gmail.com.

All ages are welcome to attend. See the latest schedule under "Public programs".

Past Programs included:

• Buying or Building a Telescope - Finding our how to get your own telescope
• Astrophotography - An amateur astronomer takes you on a photographic tour of his universe.
• The Latest Findings in Astronomy - Our present understanding of the celestial phenomena in our Cosmos.

If you have an interest in astronomy or just need an excuse to get out on a Saturday night, UACNJ is seeking adult volunteers (observers) to help with these public programs. Observers help with all aspects of the public program – directing cars for parking, setting up a/v equipment for the speaker, handling sales of astronomy books and trinkets, preparing the lecture hall, etc. – and need not have a vast knowledge of astronomy. Those who are interested can train to become qualified to use the Greenwood telescope.

See www.uacnj.org for more information.

If someone wants to arrange for a private session (lecture and observing) for a homeschool group, this can be done for a nominal fee (probably $3 per person). If you are interested in something like this, please let Diane Jeffer know (jefferfamily@gmail.com) and he will put you in touch with the appropriate person.

CCM's Longo Planetarium

CCM's planetarium has been renovated & renamed & re-opened!!

Next public shows: August 13, 2010, 7:00 pm

August 14, 2010, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm & 5 pm

Peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of years to witness the birth of our universe. On this breathtaking excursion you'll witness the formation of galaxies and explore some of the most wondrous nebulae and astronomical structures yet discovered. As your travels continue, you'll fly deep into our own Milky Way galaxy and return home to Earth on a spectacular tour through the solar system.

Cohen Hall building is currently being renovated which could affect the air conditioning in the Longo Planetarium. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

CCM Planetarium admission prices for their monthly programs look the same as in 2007 & 2008!

$5 for adults, $4 for CCM students/faculty/staff and seniors,
$3 for kids 12 and under

Annual Discussions with Holocaust survivors - April

Survivors Speak - A Discussion with Holocaust survivors at Morris Museum
Morris Museum does this every spring. 10:30 a.m. – noon, Fee: $7 per person

These programs will be presented in the museum’s Bickford Theatre and

pre-registration is required. Space is limited. A suggested resource list is provided to participating classes prior to the program.

These programs allows teachers to address the New Jersey Holocaust and Genocide curriculum, as well as to address issues of character education.

Survivors Speak – A Discussion with Survivors of the Holocaust

Wednesday, May 5 for Grade 6 - 8
Thursday, May 6 for Grades 6 - 8
Wednesday, May 12 for Grades 9 -12 (high school - it is a different discussion!)
Thursday, May 13 for Grades 6 - 8
Wednesday, May 19 for Grades 6 - 8
10:30 a.m. – noon

Program Fee: $7 per person

High School Discussion
usually mid-April for Grades 9 -12 (book early, especially for a large group, sometimes as of Oct., there were only about 100 seats left!)

Middle School
early-mid April for Grades 6 - 8

Middle and high school students and teachers are invited to participate in this significant program which brings participants face to face with Holocaust survivors in a compassionate and educational environment.

Barbara Wind, director of the Holocaust Council of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest in Whippany, moderates the program and provides a brief overview of the Holocaust and its place in the history of modern day genocides. Members of the United Jewish Communities Holocaust Council Speakers Bureau then speak about their individual experiences during the Holocaust. From concentration camp survivors to hidden children, survivors give first-hand accounts of the atrocities of war that are descriptive, powerful and poignant. Students will have the opportunity to meet these living witnesses, as well as participate in a question and answer period.

The program is presented in the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum and

pre-registration is required. Space is limited. A suggested resource list is provided to participating classes prior to the program. Call the Morris Museum at 973.971.3710 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to register.

Find directions.

Poe Evermore

Poe Evermore at the Mt. Hope Winery (same place as Renaissance Faire)

2775 Lebanon Road * Manheim, PA 17545

11/09/2009 - 1:00 PM

students/chaperones @ $14.00

To learn more about Poe Evermore, please go to;

www.PaRenFaire.com

If this sparks interest, there is also the Edgar Allan Poe house in Philadelphia.

Homeschool Days - New England

Plimoth Homeschool Day (Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, MA):

Friday, September 18, 2009
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Are you a Homeschool family? Join us for an open house at Plimoth Plantation to learn more about our Colonial and Wampanoag educational programs and explore our museum’s sites. Homeschooling families receive reduced admission for the day. Enjoy hands-on activities on our Wampanoag and Colonial education sites and take advantage of discounts on membership and in the museum shop.

Admission is offered at the group rate of $19.60 for adults, $11.50 for children 6-17, and under 5 are free. This combination rate includes admission to all sites, including Mayflower II.

The 2009 program may be similar to the 2007 schedule. For more information, call 508-746-1622 ext. 8359 or email programservices@plimoth.org.

Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (Providence, RI) seems to have a homeschool adventure almost every month. Advance registration required.

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (Mystic, CT) has homeschool classes sometimes. Check for them in the Mystic Events listing or call (860) 536-1216 for pricing and to register. Example:

• Thursday, September 4, 2008, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.
  Homeschool Class – Insects. Designed for children ages 5 – 7.
  Learn about the characteristics that define insects, and how scientists group them. We will head out to the field to see which ones we can catch.
• Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
  Homeschool Class – Map & Compass Reading. Designed for children ages 8 – 12.
  Learn the basics on how to read a map and use a compass to find your way around the Nature Center. If you have your own compass please bring it.
• Saturday, September 20, 2008, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
  Homeschool Class - Insect Field Day
  Spend the afternoon catching insects with your family and friends. We'll take a closer look at the unique adaptations and see how many different species we can find before releasing them back into the wild.
  

Mystic Seaport Educators' Weekend: usually in April - Educators and their families (up to four people total) are admitted free to Mystic Seaport – The Museum of America and the Sea – as part of Educators' Weekend sponsored by the Museum. Teachers, administrators and support staff are welcome. Free admission will be granted upon presentation of a school or union ID card or a copy of school letterhead.

and from the seller of Christian homeschool curriculum, some nice lists of Museums:

• Museums in Rhode Island for Homeschoolers
  http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/articles/museums_in_rhode_island_for_homeschoolers.html
  
  
• Museums in Massachusetts for Homeschoolers
  http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/articles/museums_in_massachusetts__for_homeschoolers.html
  
  
• Museums in Connecticut for Homeschoolers
  http://www.thejubileeacademy.org/articles/museums_in_connecticut_for_homeschoolers.html

Organizing "CSI Live": 3/16/2009

Mad Science: CSI Live, Monday, March 16, 10 a.m.
Mayo (Community) Theatre, 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ, $8/seat.
Plan to be there by 9:45 a.m. Be sure to leave enough time for parking.

Program Length: 60 minutes.
Recommended for Students in Grades: 4 - 9.

Take an exciting, interactive journey through the fascinating world of crime scene investigations as an audience of recruits is enlisted to help CSI investigators solve a crime by analyzing mysterious gases, launching experimental projectiles, firing lasers across the scene of the crime, and using superior logic and forensic know-how to uncover hidden details!

Study Guide available.

The show is recommended for 4 - 9th graders. I assume that you know your child best and can determine whether or not they would be interested and whether they can behave in a way that is appropriate for at least a 4th grader.


Money due to me: January 14, 2009
RSVP to lady@wubison for my address. You will be confirmed when I have your check.
You will also get my cell phone number in case it is needed on the day of the event. What is the best way for me to contact you in the case of a late cancellation? Money will only be refunded if the show is canceled and the money is refunded.

Morris Museum

Morris Museum (Morristown) . See the new wing they've finished. Click for directions.

2008 - 09 "On School Time" shows include: Usually at 11 am & 1:30, For $10.00 for non-members, $8.00 for groups of 20 or more. (They also have discussions with Holocaust survivors every spring - different sessions for middle and high schoolers.)

• Dr. Doolittle : Signstage On Tour, Monday, February 16, 2009, Ages 5-13, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. The classic doctor who talks to the animals told in a unique way. The stage is filled with the movement of hands and bodies yet every word is spoken to make sure all audience members, both deaf and hearing, don't miss a thing.
  
  
• A Dancing Storybook Adventure : Dance Innovations, Saturday, March 21, 2009, Perfect for the Entire Family!, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm, probably $10
  This magical dance journey revisits three beloved children's stories, THE LION KING, HAPPY FEET, and THE WIZARD OF Oz as they "Ease On Down The Road" through jungles and ice. Artistry, numerous dance styles (from Tap to Ballet to Modern) and performers of all ages make this show Perfect for the Entire Family!
  
  
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe : Marionette Players, $7/seat, Pre-K - 4th grade. Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 10 & 12:30; Wednesday, April 1, 2009,10 & 12:30; Thursday, April 2, 2009, 10 & 12:30; Friday, April 3, 2009, 10 am only.
  Also (for $10/seat) Friday, April 3, 2009 4:00pm, Saturday, April 4, 2009, Ages 4-10
  Live actors and marionettes perform this endearing and exciting C. S. Lewis classic. Three children discover an old wardrobe in an ancient house that transports them to the bewitched land of Narnia. Only the children can break the spell with some help from Mr. & Mrs. Beaver and Aslan the Lion.
  

• DANCIN’ WITH THE HONEY BEES,Clifford Wright-Sunflower, $7/seat,
  Thursday, May 21, 2009, 10 am & 12:30, Grades: 1-6. Clifford Wright-Sunflower is a master beekeeper and environmentalist. Aided by an eager volunteer from the audience dressed in beekeeping equipment, Clifford demonstrates the precision of a beekeeper working a beehive. He transforms the entire audience into a working hive. With bodies busily buzzing about in the functional dance of the beehive, children learn first-hand about the delicate and complex balance of the bee colony. After the honeybee dance, children are divided into smaller groups to visit with an observation hive of bees, to make a beeswax candle and, most importantly, to share bee fears, experiences and questions.

Summer 2008 Shows were mostly in July, and mostly for the under 12 year old crowd. They sell out fast.

Other 2008 - 2009 shows were:

• The Kazoobie Kazoo Show : Rick Hubbard Producers, Inc., Friday, November 7, 2008, Ages 3-13, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. Exceptional fun with music, laughter, and of course…kazoos. The finale features the entire audience as members of the grand kazoo band!! Everyone leaves the show humming with their own personal kazoo.
  
  
• Einstein Alive! (Marc Spiegel) : Tuesday, December 2, 2008, $7/seat, 10 am & 12:30 pm, Grades: K - 5. Marc Spiegel brings Albert Einstein to life! Professor Einstein talks about his life, his difficulties in school, and the "adventures" within his mind. He speaks about his fame and what it means to be a theoretical physicist. Professor Einstein uses song and audience participation to show what "strange" motion is and what the terms "relative" and "frame of reference" mean.
  
  
• Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble : by Unity Community Center, Saturday, December 27, 2008, Ages 4-adult, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. Unique drum beats and traditional African costumes and acrobatics celebrate the beginning of Kwanzaa, the annual festival of family, community, culture, and peace.

2007-2008 On school time SHOWS included
these which may be annual:

1. PSA - A Discussion with Holocaust Survivors(Morris Museum, Morristown), Middle School discussion - April 1,2,16 & May 7. High School Discussion April 15.
   
   
2. Organizing -Dancin' with the Honey Bees, Clifford Wright-Sunflower, Grades: 1-6, Morris Museum (Morristown), Tuesday, May 13, $6 per seat (museum tickets not included), 10 a.m show (or go to the 12:30 show on your own.)
   

Went to a Garden Party...

Sunday, August 24
Exhibit Opening "Who's Minding the Store?" & Member's Garden Party
1-4 PM
At Acorn Hall
The opening of “Who’s Minding the Store?” will take place at the Society’s annual Garden Party and feature a “Pie Contest” and “Home-grown Tomato Competition.” A raffle will include a gift certificate to a local food business and food-related merchandise. "Who's Minding the Store?" is a traveling exhibit from the Jewish Historical Society of Metrowest. A reconstructed store from Morris County’s earlier days, the exhibit will demonstrate how people once shopped for food and other essentials. The exhibit will be augmented with agricultural, dining, and food merchandising artifacts from the collection of the Morris County Historical Society.

Homemade Dessert Pies Contest & Jersey Tomatoes Contest
Entry forms are now available on-line and at Acorn Hall on the day of the event.

Entrants for the various contests should bring their pies and tomatoes, with competed application forms, to Acorn Hall, 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Pies should be accompanied by their recipe.

Judging begins at 2:00 p.m., beginning with any cream pies. No refrigeration is available.

Pies will not be returned.

MCHS members are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn of Acorn Hall. Tea and dessert will be served.

Follow this link for contest rules and entry form.

America By Food

Key Ingredients: America By Food is a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that stirs the senses and has something for the whole family. Trace how immigration and technology have changed eating habits throughout 500 years of American history. Explore the culinary and agricultural traditions of New Jersey. From the Pinelands bogs where Elizabeth White cultivated the commercial blueberry to the Newark factory where M&Ms were invented to the nonalcoholic grape juice created in Vineland by Thomas Bramwell Welch, New Jersey has a rich and vibrant heritage of food innovation, tradition, and production. For more information about the exhibit and the programs that will be running in New Jersey, visit the official NJ Key Ingredients page at http://www.njch.org/keyingredients!

The Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, Key Ingredients: America By Food, shows how regional traditions and international influences have shaped American cooking. The six host sites in New Jersey will hold Jersey-specific events and show Jersey photos, including a Good Humor truck in Morristown; picking blueberries in Woodbine; and duck hunters displaying their bounty in Tuckerton.

January 31, 2009-3/15/2009: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ (Thanks Mary!)

last updated: Jan. 30, 2009.

Organized "ILIAD", 11/18/08

Payment was due in August. If you come the same day, maybe we'll see you?

Iliad, Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 10:30am, at the State Theatre, New Brunswick,
$12/seat.
10:30 curtain. Plan to be at the lobby by 10:10.
Admission: Lobby doors open one hour prior to the announced time of each performance. Theater doors open at least 15 minutes prior to curtain. Latecomers are seated at the discretion of the management.

Iliad, presented by Aquila Theatre Company.
Program Length: 90 minutes.
Recommended For Students in Grades: 6-12,

Described by The New York Times as “a performance of staggering power,” Aquila Theatre Company’s staging of Homer’s Iliad creates a “stunning, stirring, and memorable” theatrical experience. The action-packed production tells the essential parts of Homer’s Trojan War epic through superb acting, dynamic movement, and original music. Inspired by Stanley Lombardo’s acclaimed English translation, the production transposes the visual setting to World War II to emphasize the timeless relevance of “the greatest story ever told.”

If there is a study guide, it is not expected until 1 month before the performance.
Those who paid will have seats confirmed. I have not worked with the State Theatre before & I have no idea whether they will let me "add on" later.

Berrie Center, Ramapo College 2008 Schooltime Performances

2008 - 2009 Schedule
Berrie Center, Ramapo College, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Call 201-684-7202 to reserve seats. Last year they also took reservations/payment for lunch for "on show time shows"!

Study guides are provided two weeks prior to performances.
I assume there are more, but they are not easy to find on their website. No liability is accepted for any typos. Price not yet known.

• October 14, Tuesday, American Place Theatre Literature to Life series, The Things They Carried, 2 p.m.
• October 17, Friday, Schooltime Performance: World of Robots, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• December 3, Wednesday, Schooltime Performance: Mathemagic, 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Box Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 12-8 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Quiet Valley

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm is a non-profit, educational corporation dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Pennsylvania's agricultural heritage. 150 years ago, located just outside Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, less than two hours from the New York City Metropolitan area, Open to the general public from June 20 to Labor Day from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1pm to 5pm Sundays. Closed Mondays. They conduct school and special tours in the fall, winter and spring. Period-dressed "family" members reenact the life of the original Pennsylvania German family who lived on the farm from the 1760s to 1913. The farm also hosts a number of special events throughout the year.

Programs periodically offered include these. You can also schedule these for a group of your own. (Prices are Spring 2008 prices.) For their complete calendar including special events and workshops, visit their website: http://www.quietvalley.org/.

• Farm Tours (Grades 3 and up): 1/2 - 2 hours. $5/student.
  
  
• Farm Hand Adventure (Grades 3 and up): This program lasts 3 1/2 to 4 hours. $10.
  
  
• 1893 One Room School House (Grades 3 and up). This program lasts 3 1/2 to 4 hours. $6.50/person.
  
  
• Molly/One Room School House (Grades 1 and 2). This program lasts 3 1/2 to 4 hours. $5/person. $100 minimum.
  
  
• School House Program: Learn more about what a typical day of school was like in 1893 and why it was such a big part of the community. 10am to 2pm, (with about a ½ hour for lunch). Cost: $5.00 each person per session, with a maximum cost of $30.00 per family. Maximum group size: 12.
  

All materials will be provided. Please bring your own lunch. Dress in appropriate attire and be ready to have fun.

For more information or to register please call the Farm at 570-992-6161 or E-mail farm@quietvalley.org

Homeschool Program

In the spring, from April through mid June, Quiet Valley’s Homeschool Program is an educationally meaningful and enjoyable program for children ages 10 and up. Students will have the opportunity to learn about Pennsylvania German history by experiencing it first hand through a variety of seminars, demonstrations, and projects. In addition, they will become an integral part of our spring School Tour Program by working closely with our staff members in a variety of activities. The homeschool participants will bring the farm to life by coming one day per week (for either 5 weeks, or the full 10 weeks) in authentic costume for a period of 4 to 6 hours. Each day will begin with an educational seminar on a variety of topics related to life as it would have been during the 19th century. These may include: large and small animals, social customs, gardening, wool dying, and much more.

Children will then assist our guides on the actual tour, helping with animals, weaving on the loom, cooking on an open hearth, assisting in a one room school “lesson” or helping during the barn/smokehouse portion of the tour. Students may even be given the opportunity to conduct a portion of the tour under supervision.

??? Questions or Information ???
Please contact the Office: by phone at (570) 992-6161 or e-mail farm@quietvalley.org The Office is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4 (or leave a message and they'll will get back to you)

Organized "Mayhem Poets", 12/09/08

Payment was due in August for my trip. If you come the same day, maybe we'll see you?

Mayhem Poets, Tuesday, December 09, 2008, 10:00am, at the State Theatre, New Brunswick,
$8/seat.
10:00 curtain. Plan to be at the lobby by 9:40 a.m.
Admission: Lobby doors open one hour prior to the announced time of each performance. Theater doors open at least 15 minutes prior to curtain. Latecomers are seated at the discretion of the management.

Mayhem Poets, Program Length: 1 hour.
Recommended For Students in Grades: 7-12.
With words, humor, and extreme hip-hop energy, the Mayhem Poets raise poetry to a playful and powerful new level. Witty and wise, they boldly engage the audience with the issues that rock our world—from Dr. Seuss to school to fast food. Their clever, eclectic riffs are as much Mad Magazine and the Simpsons as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Home-grown in New Jersey but rapidly gaining international recognition, these beat-boxing bards keep the rapid-fire rhythms flying in a clever concert of words that will inspire students with the power of poetic/theatrical expression.

Study Guide available.

Those who paid will be confirmed when I hear from the theatre. They will not confirm seats or hold reservations without payment. I have not worked with the State Theatre before & I have no idea whether they will let me "add on" later.

Sculpture Grounds

Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ. Open Tuesdays through Sundays. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. year-round (closed to public on Oct. 11, 2008). Admission $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students 13+, for ages 6 - 12 $6. Guided tours by appointment only. Pick up a brochure for self-guided tours. Click for directions.

Specials: Free admission (Thursday, September 11, 2008)

Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, NY, (about an hour from the GW bridge), Open April to mid- November, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission $10 for adults and $7 for students (K - 12). Docent tours 2pm daily. Click for directions.
Free children's day is: August 23, 2008

information consistent with their website entires as of: September 2007
Always a good idea to confirm.

Duke Farms

Duke Farms in Hillsborough is closing some of its exhibits for renovation (I think on 5/25). If you want to see them as they are, book a trip through Museum tix. You need to use this even to get tickets for their (many) free tours.

I think the indoor display garden is the one that will "never be the same".

American History Reenactments

Reenactors can regularly be seen at Fosterfields Living Historical Farms, Morristown, NJ (check their monthly schedule). A better way would be to check each "regiment's" schedule. There are re-enactors at Historical Speedwell one of the last weekend every June for "Civil War" weekend. (June 19-20 in 2010.)

Washington Crossing, PA (especially in December, of course!)

15th New York Cavalry "Red Neck Ties" comes to NJ sometimes. 4th Battalion, NJ Volunteers is in NJ, but the events on their website are not up-to-date.

Further Afield:
Old Sturbridge Village, MA (year-round, 4 homeschool days a year)

Colonial Williamsburg, VA - year-round, also offers 2 Home Educators Events each year - each about 10 days long! The next ones are: 6-19 September 2008, Feb. 21 - March 8, and Sept. 12-27, 2009. Spring 2008 had rates as low as $5 per day!

Plimouth Pnatation (MA) has one or 2 homeschool days a year.