Fantastic Fall Programs at Brandywine Creek State Park!

Celebrate the First Official Fall Weekend by Heading Outdoors and Enjoying Brandywine Creek State Park!

Spaces are still available for these fantastic fall programs happening this weekend!

Call 302-655-5740 and register today.

Autumn Hayrides
Friday, September 28 at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. (go online for additional dates and times on select Fridays and Saturdays through November! www.destateparks.com)
Join us for an old-fashioned hayride through the park followed by a campfire and s’mores. Bring a blanket and cuddle up for a 45- minute tour. Group Hay rides available. Pre-registration is required, call (302) 655-5740. $5 per person

Science, Nature and Fun Hayrides
Friday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (additional dates and times available in October and November…visit www.destateparks.com for information)
You become the scientist when we combine fun with scientific data gathering. Participants, 12 years and over, will help gather data about our deer population using an after dark spotlight along with a DNREC scientist. Data collected will be used in the statewide Quality Deer Management initiative. Dress for the weather.
Space is very limited! Please register early. $10 per person.

Bird Walk Series
Saturdays, September 29, October 27, November 24, December 29, 8 a.m.
Birders from the Delmarva Ornithological Society will lead the group, providing tips and advice to all interested bird watchers. A continental breakfast, provided by the Friends of Brandywine Creek State Park, will be served. No program fee.

National Public Lands Day at Flint Woods Nature Preserve
Saturday, September 29, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
National public Lands day offers participants an opportunity to learn more about their public lands. In this fun program, you will get to visit Flint Woods Nature Preserve and learn about the invasive species that are encroaching upon the preserve. You will also receive a reference card listing the seven Leave No Trace Principles for Outdoor Ethics. Bring your sense of adventure and love of our open spaces to this fun and interactive program. Advance registration required. $4 per participant (includes transportation to the preserve).

Hawk Watch Series
Sundays, September 30, October 7 and 28, 11a.m.-12p.m.
Hawk Watch Hill is the perfect place to watch different species of hawks migrate. This series of programs is open to anyone interested in our wild raptor population. Pre-registration is suggested. Meet at the Nature Center. $2 per participant.

Nicole Merrick
Program Coordinator / Naturalist
Brandywine Creek State Park
PO Box 3782
Greenville, DE 19807
Tel: (302) 655-5740
Fax: (302) 577-7756

For more information about Brandywine Creek State Park and its programs, please visit www.destateparks.com/bcsp/bcsp.asp or call 302-655-5740.

Educator Savings Week at Borders!

Wednesday, September 26 - Tuesday, October 2

Enjoy 25% off your personal and classroom purchases of list priced books, CDs, DVDs, cafe items, gifts & stationery and more* when you bring in your current homeschool educator ID.

Don't miss the special reception of food, fun, and prizes:
Friday, September 28 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at Borders stores nationwide. To locate a store near you, please click on Store Locator or call toll free 888.81BOOKS.

For more information, please visit the Borders Educator website.

Classes at the Delaware Theater Company

Registration for the fall classes has already begun!

For Kids and Teens
Acting Up! (ages 8-12) Saturdays, September 29-November 10, 9:00-10:30 a.m., $165
Acting for Teens (ages 13-18) Saturdays, September 29-November 10, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $165

For Adults (ages 18 & up)
Beginning Acting I, Sundays, September 30-November 11, 5:15-7:15 p.m., $195
Beginning Acting II, Sundays, September 30-November 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m., $195
Improv for Adults, Tuesdays, September 25-November 6, 7:00-9:00 p.m., $195

For Working Theatre Artists (ages 18 & up)
Master Class: Actors' Collaborative, Mondays, September 24-November 5 (no class Oct. 1), 7:00-9:00, $150

To register:
Call (302) 594-1104, ext. 204

For more information visit their website.

I'm back! And I have a cautionary tale to tell...

You may have noticed, I have not been on line for close to two weeks. My computer's hard drive suffered a catastrophic failure. I will spare the sordid details. What I will say is that I was a mess. I felt like half my brain had been removed. I use my computer as a tool, heavily, in a great many aspects of my life. More to the point, I store an awful lot of information, which is quite meaningful to me, solely on my computer!

Computers and the information they store for us are quite vulnerable and therefore should always, always, always, be backed up in some way. Of course, despite this knowledge, I have not backed up a computer in years. Worse, this is not the first time I have had a computer fail. The last time, however, it was the logic board that was fried, the hard drive was fine and consequently all my precious information was retrieved. I was not so lucky this time. This time it was the hard drive that was now toast.

There is much drama to this tale. The short version is this: ten days of coming to terms with the loss of contacts, the loss of conveniences, of photos, of stories and other personal writings, of financial information and business records and mega bite after mega bite of personal records, much that would be difficult to impossible to reconstruct, all gone... But Macs are wonderful machines and they are supported by even more wonderful layers of customer service. Despite all my sins, which in this case were many, including never activating my extended warranty when I purchased it and the only receipt for the warranty and the computer being in electronic form contained in the now nonfunctional hard drive, despite all this, and having never backed up my computer, this story does have a happy ending.

Apple helped me track down the reseller from which I purchased the warranty, I was able to get a copy of the purchase receipt for the extended warranty and the computer and therefore Apple activated the warranty retroactively and replaced my hard drive and my worn out key board at no cost. And, most momentously, due to the sheer persistence and tenacity of a Mac Genius named David at our local apple store, all my precious information was finally coaxed off the wrecked hard drive before it spun no more...

Moral?
Back up your computers - now!

Free Sunday Mornings in September at the Brandywine River Museum!

Free Sunday Mornings in September
September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2007

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with this marvelous museum. Discover the wonderful world of art every Sunday morning in September. Enjoy free museum admission and discounted new family memberships from 9:30 a.m. until noon.

Currently exhibiting:

Flights into Fantasy:
The Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection of Children's Illustration
In this collection, children are frequently recurring subjects, and the psychological state of childhood where the mind wanders freely into a world of wonder is a prevailing theme. From the Golden Age of Illustration, the exhibition includes works like Arthur Rackham's delicate pen illustration for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and William Heath Robinson's imaginative illustration for A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Field Trip Planning:
Be sure to visit the educators' section of their web site. You will find information to help you prepare your family for their visit to the museum. You will also find information about their quality programing available to schools. Programs are available for a variety of ages and interest and the fees are reasonable. This would be a great place to plan a field trip for your homeschool co-op or to organize a trip for any interested group of homeschoolers...

The Brandywine River Museum is located just off Route 1
in Chadds Ford, Pa.
Telephone: (610) 388-2700
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(Extended hours until 6:00 p.m., Dec. 26-30)
Closed Christmas Day

Regular admission:
Adults, $8.00; seniors (65+), students with ID and children ages 6-12, $5.00. Free for children under 6 and Brandywine Conservancy members.
AudioTours, $3.00

Zome: Septemeber Model of the Month and an amazing "Design Your Own" special offer!

Rhombi-cubocta-fish

This month's model was designed by Ron Woods for his 6-year-old grandson, who complained that too few models look like something familiar. But crafty Ron snuck some elegant geometry into his model, too: it's based on a stretched cuboctahedron.

You can build it with an Adventurer kit plus 4 short red struts, or purchase just the parts you need with the Rhombi-cubocta-fish kit.

Don't miss this very special, Special!
It's called "design your own special." That's right! Tell Paul Hildebrandt at Zome what you need, what you can afford, and he'll see if he can make it happen. Need a boatload of parts for a special workshop you're planning? Or a large kit for a special grandkid, but all the others are going to want one too? Or perhaps you need a bunch of Zome parts in special colors for a sculpture you're planning?

Now's the time to make it happen. Just let Paul know what you need and what you can afford. If you can't afford anything, well, it can't hurt to ask! Drop him a line at paulh@zometool.com, and be sure to put "Zome Special" in the subject line. He can't wait to hear from you!


* This is a really good time to take a look, or a second look, at Zome's educators web page. It is chock full of ideas, support materials and lesson plans for using Zome in art math and science. Incorporate Zome into your curriculum plan, create a Zome challenge for your co-op, or do some early holiday shopping. Then take advantage of Paul's unique offer!

Center for the Creative Arts

Center for the Creative Arts offers a series of classes designed specifically to help new artists find their creative selves. Their “Quality Time” class schedules assist families in scheduling that allows all members of the family to experience the arts at the same time. Classes are small and comfortable, offering the freedom to experiment without fear of failure and the opportunity to realize a new set of skills and artistic abilities. All past students are encouraged to return to further explore and perhaps try a new art form.

Home School Art Class:
"Art for the Home Schooled Student"
This class will be offered at a later date.
Please contact the CCArts office for more information.

The Center for the Creative Arts (CCArts) is conveniently located on Route 82 and Upper Snuff Mill Row in Yorklyn, Delaware, just minutes from Hockessin, Wilmington and Newark.

Call to take a tour of the site and discover how CCArts can enrich your life through the arts. (302) 239-2434. You may also visit their web site.

Jo-Ann Fabrics: Teacher Rewards Cards!

Jo-Ann Stores is proud to support teachers and education in each and every community.

Jo-Anne Stores offer an exclusive Teacher Rewards Discount Card to make purchasing supplies more convenient and affordable. Teacher Rewards Discount Card holders are also Preferred Jo-Ann Customers and receive these great benefits:


* Teacher Rewards Discount Card for 15% off your total purchase
* Receive advance notice of sales & special events via email and mail
* Money-saving coupons
* Inspiration for future creative projects

* Some exclusions apply.

JoAnn offers their teacher discount cards to homeschoolers.
You can apply either online or in the store.
Michael's no longer offers a teacher's discount card but they will offer a discount to holders of the JoAnne Fabric's teacher discount card!

Dance classes for the very young!

Dance classes with Ms. Kim at the award winning Anna Marie Dance Studio!


Many of us know Ms Kim from the various dance classes she has taught for young children. She has taught classes in dance and theater for homeschoolers at the Brandywine Y as well as teaching special classes for various homeschool co-ops. She is one of the sweetest human beings I have ever had the pleasure to know and all the children who have taken one of her classes seem to adore here!

Now Anna Marie Dance Studio is offering special daytime classes for the very young, taught by Ms Kim.

Mommy and Me
for 2-3 year olds.
Mondays and/or Wednesdays 1:15-10 am

Creative Movement
for ages 3-3 1/2
Mondays and/or Wednesdays 10:15-11 am

These classes are offered for a 10 week session
September 24th - November 28th, 2007

For fees and information call Anna Marie's Dance Studio:
(302) 475-3949

Also check out the dance class the studio is offering JUST FOR BOYS!

Anna Marie Dance Studio is located on Naamans Road above Kirkwood Fitness in North Wilmington.
website

Ashland Nature Center: Now an Offical Hawk Watching Station!

An official hawk counter tallies the birds each day and data is sent to the Hawk Migration Association of North America to analyze trends in migratory raptors. You can join the hawk watch anytime Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, September 4th to November 30th (except Nov. 22 & 23.) The Hawk watch is free to members.

Suggestion for Homeschoolers: Start your own hawk watching journal!
*Bring a good pair of binoculars.
*A bird identification book on birds of prey, hawks, raptors.
*A journal, a small drawing book or a mead notebook works well.
*A hand held weather station is a fun addition, you can get these online at places like Edmond Scientifics or at many other homeshool or science suppliers. These devises measure all sorts of things from wind speed to air temperature and barometer readings. If you are persistent with your internet search you can find one for a reasonable price.

(The people from the nature center will also have some binoculars and scopes and identification books to share, but it is good to have your own to keep a constant watch.)

In your journal start a page for each visit:
Record the date.
Record the weather conditions, as much information as you have.
Keep a tally of the different kinds of hawks you see.
Make a drawing or two.
Make special notes of rare birds that you see.
Note the time of your sitings.
Note how long you were there, how many other people were there,
maybe make notes of what other people spotted that you did not.
Record your thoughts and feelings.
Note the seasonal changes each time you go...

Your Hawk Watch Journal could expand into a naturalist's journal that you can add to throughout the year. Teddy has a special bag where he keeps several id-guide booklets, his binoculars, his journal, some pencils and his hand held weather station. He grabs this whenever we go for a nature walk or when the birds are active in our feeder!