Monday, April 30, 2007

Butterflies and Mother's Day at the Brandywine River Museum

Butterflies and Mother’s Day

What do butterflies and Mother’s Day have in common? The Brandywine River Museum!

On Saturday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m., the Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy will host a gardening program, Butterflies on the Brandywine, for children aged 3-10 years.

We will wind our way through the Conservancy gardens in search of butterfly habitat and talk about how to create the same habitat in our own backyards. After our butterfly adventure, we will gather in the Museum classroom and put together a “special butterfly flower” to give as a Mother’s Day present.

To conclude the program, each child will receive a certificate for a free plant that may be redeemed the same day at the Conservancy’s 26th annual Wildflower, Native Plant and Seed Sale being held in the Museum’s Courtyard.

The program is free and open to members of the Brandywine Conservancy.
Space is limited.
Please call or email the Young Friend’s office to register at 610-388-8315 or tfontaine@brandywine.org.
In case of rain, please be prepared with the appropriate rain gear and boots.

Young Friends Event Committee for this program: Tara Wood and Susanna Meserve

__________________________________
Tessa Fontaine
Brandywine Conservancy
P.O. Box 141
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Direct to Young Friends: 610.388.8315
Direct to Private Events: 610.388.8112
Fax: 610.388.3814
tfontaine@brandywine.org
www.youngfriends.org
www.brandywinemuseum.org

Sunday, April 29, 2007

BVHERO's Annual Homeschoolers Expo


BVHERO hosted its annual Homeschoolers' Expo on Saturday evening, April 28th.

















Several wonderful exhibits by the various homeschooling families highlighted some of their accomplishments for the year.















The families enjoyed games, pizza and viewing student produced movies and media presentations.
A good time for all!





Entertainment was provided by Young Musicians of Distinction, an all homeschoolers' concert band.


















Talented Young Musicians delighted us with solo performances on the flute, saxophone, mandolin and guitar!










BVHERO stands for Brandywine Valley Homeschooling Resource Organization. This organization is in flux and is redefining itself once more as a predominantly “resource” organization. BVHERO continues to host monthly meetings which are sometimes planned events with speakers and sometimes informal chats, more like a moms' night out. Members and non members are invited to attend these monthly meetings. Those new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling are especially encouraged to come, meet other homeschooling parents or guardians, ask questions, pick up materials and basically join in the fun!


You can check out dates, times, location and any special notes about these meetings on their Website:

www.geocities.com/bvhero

BEHERO hosts annual events, such as the Homeschool expo, the Homeschooling Information Night, an annual picnic and a back to school trip to the beach on the first day of the public school calendar. There is a Yahoo group where individual members are encouraged to organize field-trips, park days, classes, share information and network. Access to the Yahoo group is for members only. Membership is now free. Along with access to the Yahoo group and a wonderful group of homeschooling families, you get a BVHERO membership card. The card gives you access to educator discounts throughout the region. There is a simple application process, the application will soon be available on the website. For now, email Carol (current president) at:

bvheroes@hotmail.com

Friday, April 27, 2007

Barnes & Noble Educators Appreciation Week Sale!

April 28 - May 6th, educators receive 25% off on in store purchases. During this week educators can also receive 10% off on most CDs and DVDs. You simply need a Barnes & Noble Educators Discount Card and some form of state issued ID, such as a drivers license.

For homeschoolers, you can get the Barnes & Noble Educators' Discount Card by showing them the letter from your state verifying your homeschool registration or some other verification of your status as a home educator. For example, both Barnes & Noble and Borders accept the BVHERO membership card as verification of your status as a homeschooler. With the Educators' card you receive a 20% discount all year long. The Barnes & Noble Educators' discount card is free as compared to their membership card which carries an annual fee.

Certain restrictions apply.
You cannot combine the Educators' Discounts with Membership Discounts. On most books the Educators' Discount card will give you a better deal. Some books, however, and usually all media and specialty items get a better price with the membership card.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Odds Bodkin, Storyteller and So Much More!

The first time I heard Odds Bodkins spin his musical web of story and song we had simply stumbled upon him in a bookstore somewhere in New Hampshire. It was one of those now nearly extinct places, not a chain but a place where you can get lost in the packed isles of books, many hard to find, some dusty, some crisp, all mixed in a heady array, enticing you to get lost for hours, browsing then spending much more than you should on much more than you will ever have time to read...

My son, still just a toddler, was mesmerized from the moment we walked in by the unexpected voices and sounds. Odds sat on the floor, surrounded by children, playing unfamiliar instruments, creating voices, music and tales, seemingly from some another time, some other place.

I walked around the store while my husband and son sat in the circle. The atmosphere was so transformed, I thought we had stepped through a porthole or fallen into a community dream.

I came home with every tape available from Odds at the time. My children have grown up listening Odds' stories and surrendering to the spells cast by his music and his myriad of voices. Warm summer nights, twilight and breezes through the window, a young child falling off to sleep, dream-walking with Little Proto, chasing the Tea Cup Fairy, matching wits with the Czar and the Wise Little Girl. Even today, my son, now 15, turns off his lights and listens before he falls asleep to Odds "telling" no, performing, solo, the epic tale of the Odyssey.

If you have never listened to any of Odds Bodkin's Storytelling audio recordings, you are really missing something.

My family has gown up on this wonderful collection of stories, songs, history and art. There is something in his repertoire for every age, though all ages in our house love all his work.

It is a dream of mine to someday get him down here to give one of his workshops to our homeschooling community.
And a concert, open to all the kids young and old in our region?

Check out his website to get a taste:

http://www.oddsbodkin.com/

Who is Odds Bodkins?
(from his website)

Odds Bodkin’s character-voice and music-filled storytelling style has been mesmerizing listeners, young and old, for twenty-four years. The New York Times dubbed him "a consummate storyteller" while TIMEOUT New York writes, "Master Storyteller Odds Bodkin is the talk of the town with his remarkable one-man Art of the Tale." His most recent recording, The Harper and The King: The Story of Young David won the Parent’s Choice Gold Award, The Dove Family Foundation Award and the Storytelling World Award.

A graduate of Duke University, Mr. Bodkin taught storytelling and imagination for seven years at Antioch New England Graduate School while pursuing a full-time career as a children’s author and musical storyteller. He has been a featured teller at The National Storytelling Festival, performed twice at The White House, and at schools, universities, museums and theaters across America. He has told stories and conducted workshops as far afield as Bangkok, Thailand and Great Britain.

Perkins Panda, a special product for children born blind and their families created with Perkins School for the Blind, features three original Odds Bodkin children’s books, three audio’s, and a Gund Panda toy.

His all-original music on 12string guitars, Celtic harp, grand piano and other instruments makes his collection of stories resemble pieces of musical theater as much as storytelling. His seventeen award-winning audio recordings range from original dino-musicals for young children (his multiple-award winning Little Proto Trilogy) through an eclectic collection of international folktales, fairytales, and comic tall tales. His audios have won the Golden Headset Award, Parents’ Choice Gold and Silver Awards, two Indie Awards, the Storytelling World Award and many others. His four children’s picture books are published by Harcourt, Houghton-Mifflin and Little, Brown publishers and have won The Pick of the Lists, Booklist Editors’ Choice, The Storytelling World Award and the New York Public Library’s 100 Best Titles for Reading and Sharing, among others.

His renowned epic tellings -- The Odyssey (four hours long) and -- The Rage of Hercules -- have earned him a national reputation, in --Billboard’s words, as "a modern-day Orpheus."

His popular website, oddsbodkin.com, features an online store offering Bodkin’s books, CD’s and MP3 downloads, an occasional blog, and other features.

Oak Meadow's Annual Curriculum Sale

Oak Meadow's annual curriculum sale is going on now!


Spring Sale Through June 30

The following items are 20% off
Pre-K through 8th grade curricula (printed & online)
K-8 teacher manuals

The following items are 10% off
Enrollments
High school Curriculum
K - 8 craft kits


About Oak Meadow:

(from their website)

Oak Meadow combines a deep understanding of the developing child with strong academic standards. In addition, we not only focus on the blossoming intellect but the heart, hands, and spirit of young children by providing lessons that are both developmentally appropriate and holistic. Therefore, your child will immerse themselves in the creative arts, music and movement as well as language arts, mathematics, social studies and science. Because our curriculum is designed to effectively address a variety of learning styles, children are able to successfully engage with their studies and relax into learning! Our goal is not simply to provide factual information, but also to inspire your child to learn and thrive.

Early Years: Pre School and Kindergarten
Because younger children learn primarily through imitation and doing our curriculum features a great deal of healthy activity and movement. We provide lessons rich in experiential exercises that will stimulate learning through action and imagination. Your child will experience a multi sensory education as they explore a world of color, song, rhythm and verse, all the while learning about themselves and the world around them! Here, the letter B is transformed into the belly of a bear and numbers dance and sing. Learning is alive and your child is a part of the action!

Middle Years: Grade School through Middle School
In the middle years we fully engage the student through the use of descriptive stories that inspire your child’s emotional life and encourage them to care about the topics they are studying. Historic men and women become human beings that your child can understand on a fundamentally human level. The Grade School curriculum continues to bring the experiential exercises as in previous years, but now abstract thinking begins to appear as scientific observation is encouraged and explored.

High School
Where younger children learn through doing and then are aided by a strong emotional connection to their subjects, the high school student requires greater intellectual challenges as abstract thinking takes center stage. Oak Meadow Lessons now reflect the older students' need for expertise in subject matter as well as their desire to discern what is true for themselves. They are given projects to express their individuality and think creatively. We provide them with a world of information that is more complex and leaves room for their unique interpretation. Our goal now is to encourage thinking that will prepare them for future aspirations

Friday, April 6, 2007

Delware Children's Theater: Spring updates!

Spring eNews From
THE DELAWARE
CHILDREN'S THEATRE


IN THIS ISSUE

Theatre for the "Very Young"
A successful Adult Actors Wing fundraiser
Our final season production
Summer TheatreArts Workshops
A new look for our website


Next on the DCT stage ...

THE SEARCH FOR OTHER TIGGERS
A WINNIE THE POOH ADVENTURE

Follow Tigger, Pooh, Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Piglet, Owl, and the rest of your favorite A.A. Milne
story book characters as they search the Hundred Acre Wood for other Tiggers. This entertaining, original,
and interactive musical is fun for the entire family - even the youngest Tigger in your group.
This production is part of our introductory theatre for the very young.

April 14th & 15th
(Two performances daily at 12 PM & 3 PM)

Tickets are going FAST! Buy yours today before they sellout!

(302) 655-1014



=====================================



ANNIE

Everyone's favorite red-headed orphan managed to sellout six shows making ANNIE one of the most
successful DCT Adult Actors Wing fundraisers in recent history. Audiences packed the DCT for each
performance and were witness to a beautifully executed production by
Stage Director & Producer, Marie Swajeski with Musical Direction from Tony Romano.

More than forty talented actors from the tri-state region graced the DCT stage with their energy and exceptional "character." Of course, it takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes to mount a production of this magnitude, and over 20 crewmembers created, built, and ran the show without ever being noticed by the audiences. Without their unwavering commitment to the DCT, there would be no show.

Thank you to our performers, technicians, musicians, volunteers, and staff
for making this a memorable event for our DCT guests.

And to our loyal supporters... we are forever grateful for your continued dedication to the DCT. A thousands thanks for your loyalty... we couldn't do it without you!



=====================================



Our Season Soon Closes
Help the DCT end its 2006-2007 theatrical season with a triumphant "ROAR!"

Bring your family to the Delaware Children's Theatre to support a true classic...

HEIDI

A marvelous musical adapted from the classic novel by Johanna Spyri. Poignant episodes and humorous scenes unfold as Heidi brings happiness to her grumpy grandfather in Switzerland and to little lame Clara.

April 29th, May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, & 20th
(all performances at 2:00 PM)

Tickets are $10 each

Recommended for children and adults 4 years of age and older



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Summer TheatreArts Workshops Announced

The Delaware Children's Theatre will be holding week-long beginning
actor workshops this summer.

Our introductory TheatreArts classes include
general information and knowledge about:

basic theatre techniques that are taught through the use of drama games, improvisations, monologues, and role playing based on story telling and through the use of scripts.
the process of auditioning and how to "audition"
projection
stage geography
theatrical components such as lighting, make-up, props, set design, etc.
There are three one-week summer workshops available.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 15, 2007


Children 4 and 5 years old
June 18 - June 22
Time: 9 AM to 10:30 AM
Cost for week: $100

====================

Children 6 to 8 years old
June 18 - June 22
Time: 11AM to 2 PM
Cost for week: $125.00

====================

Ages 9 to 13 years old
July 9 - 13
Time: 10 AM to 2 PM
Cost for week: $225.00

====================

For additional information about our upcoming summer TheatreArts classes,
please call (302) 655-1014 or send an email to info@dechildrenstheatre.org.

Visit www.dechildrenstheatre.org to download our registration form.



=====================================



Have You Visited the DCT Website Lately?

The DCT has recently updated its website with a complete "makeover." If you haven't seen it recently, visit www.dechildrenstheatre.org. At the site, you can easily navigate the links to find information about the theatre... tickets... auditions... workshops... and much more.

Don't delay... visit today!



=====================================

CONTACT US

The Delaware Children's Theatre
1014 Delaware Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19806
(302) 655-1014

www.DEChildrensTheatre.org

Email: info@DEChildrensTheatre.org




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