Beaver Golf Lessons
From the time my son was walking, I was encouraged to get him involved in sports like football or basketball as early as possible. While that seemed logical, I was not sold on the idea of a contact sport. Golf, on the other hand, I could support and my son has been playing since he was 4. He is now 8 and competes in tournaments.
I highly encourage all parents to expose their children to the sport and Glen Beaver's homeschool group golf series is a great way to do it. His classes are currently being offered at Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach and Dyer Park in Riviera Beach (about 5 minutes from the Turnpike Beeline Exit). Visit HomeschoolGolfPalmBeach.com for more information.
I highly encourage all parents to expose their children to the sport and Glen Beaver's homeschool group golf series is a great way to do it. His classes are currently being offered at Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach and Dyer Park in Riviera Beach (about 5 minutes from the Turnpike Beeline Exit). Visit HomeschoolGolfPalmBeach.com for more information.
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Columbus Foundation
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The Columbus Foundation provides tours of historical replicas of The Nina and The Pinta. They crew members actually live on these ships and when they dock at ports they allow visitors to step aboard and learn how Christopher Columbus and his crew would have lived while exploring new lands.
They were docked in Jupiter in the Spring of 2019 so we went with our Classical Conversations Group. It was a great way to bring our curriculum to life. The ships are a sight to see and the crew members were so delightful and very engaging with the children. |
Crayola Experience
I know this one is not in Palm Beach County but so many families visit Orlando I thought I would share. I visited the Crayola Experience prior to starting my home education journey and we loved it. My son loved seeing how crayons are made not to mention getting to name his own crayon. There are so many little fun craft projects available that can even make most adults smile. We have returned twice since and I can honestly say we have experienced all that there is to the max.
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Creation Studies Institute
When I learned about the Creation Studies Institute Museum I could not wait to schedule a field trip because it tied-in perfectly with our Classical Conversations Scripture Memory Work Genesis 1:1-27. Warning, this one is in Broward County. They offer a number of different experiences for your children and all of them help your child to build a biblical worldview. As a parent, I appreciated the hands on approach to learning that they offer. If you are not willing to make the trip to Deerfield Beach, they will bring the experience to you in Palm Beach County. Call 954-771-1652 for details.
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Jupiter Creamery
Our trip to Jupiter Creamery was organized by Parents Educating Children. It was so refreshing to see a small farm. My son was overjoyed the entire time. He had the opportunity to feed and groom the cows, learn how to milk a cow, chase chickens and pet a pig in his pen. He was even surprised to learn that milk could be used to make soap. We are thankful to Suzie for her willingness to share her knowledge with us.
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center
This is one of the places I kept hearing about but had yet to experience. We were already in the area visiting the Nina and Pinta replica ships at Harbourside Place so we hopped over to Loggerhead Marinelife Center for the 2:00 pm tour. Unfortunately, it was sold out so we opted to tour the facility on our own. The volunteers are a wealth of information and their passion for the sea turtles is evident. My son was able to participate in the Junior Vet Lab which was free and incredibly fun. If you are interested in formal homeschool options they offer monthly options as well.
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McKee Botanical Garden
It seems a little nutty to drive all the way to Vero Beach to visit another botanical garden but I am so glad we joined Parents Educating Children for this trip. McKee is very different from Mounts. The history of this little gem is fascinating and the new play area was designed so artfully. Who knew there was so much to learn about orchids and bamboo?
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Mounts Botanical Garden
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I had visited Mounts Botanical years prior when they hosted the Lego brick creations. It is very peaceful to walk through. Parents Educating Children organized this visit which included a tour and a lesson on how to plant tomatoes. My son and I turned this experience into a little scavenger hunt since were were studying the differences between a monocot and dicot. |
Navy Seal Museum
After a visit to McKee Botanical Garden, I decided it would be a great opportunity to visit the Navy Seal Museum on the way back to Palm Beach County. It is a small attraction with a big punch. Not only did we learn about the history of what is now called the Navy Seals but my son was able to explore some hands on exhibits including the obstacle course. Had I known, it was situated a few steps from a tranquil beach I would have packed a picnic lunch.
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Okeeheelee Nature Center
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The Okeeheelee Nature Center is located in Okeeheelee Park. It is a little gem. We have visited and explored on our own but the field trip we attended with Parents Educating Children was so much better.
I was surprised to learn that the nature center is also a sanctuary for a number of prey birds. They are not kept on site but they were present for our group visit. Additionally, the children were able to investigate owl pellets and we were led on a guided tour of the trails. It was very informative. |
Parents Educating Children
In my initial stages of researching homeschool activities, I stumbled across the Parents Educating Children website and was excited to see that a group of homeschool parents gathered once a month at a park in Wellington not far from where I live. Even more exciting was the fact that they were hosting a meeting for new homeschool parents. Upon my arrival, I was greeted warmly by the leaders of group. The meeting was informative but also very encouraging. Listening to stories about students now in college and beyond who were once homeschooled gave me the confidence boost I needed to press onward with my journey.
The monthly park meetings are free of charge but if you join the organization for a small annual fee of just $25 (an increase to $35 will be effective Fall 2020) you gain access to planned field trips. Simply register, pay and show up the day of the event. There are other benefits as well.
The monthly park meetings are free of charge but if you join the organization for a small annual fee of just $25 (an increase to $35 will be effective Fall 2020) you gain access to planned field trips. Simply register, pay and show up the day of the event. There are other benefits as well.
Riverbend Park
After our visit to Jupiter Creamery, I wanted to maximize my time in Jupiter so it was suggested that I check out Riverbend Park which was conveniently located on my way back to Wellington. We were missing our Classical Conversations Community Day so the park would provide a great environment to make up the Animal Nature Walk activity. While there we also discovered that the park was once the site of Seminole War Battles. My on loves history so this information got his mind thinking and opened up a discussion about why the Seminoles had to battle for land that they lived in first. Overall, I found the trails to be well-marked and the people sharing the trails with you were friendly.
Riverbend Park is also the home of Pioneer Day and The Battle of Loxahatchee Education Days. I highly recommend registering for these days. The tour guides are very informative and the exhibits offer hands on learning experiences for your children.
Riverbend Park is also the home of Pioneer Day and The Battle of Loxahatchee Education Days. I highly recommend registering for these days. The tour guides are very informative and the exhibits offer hands on learning experiences for your children.
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Saints of Florida Homeschool P.E.
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I had an opportunity to attend the open house for "Saints" in Wellington last year. In their program, your child will get to experience three hours of various sports in a Christ-centered environment while you take time to plan the week, run errands or just take care of you. I really like the idea of an organized P.E. program but it just did not work in our schedule or our budget.
The coaches are incredible, they really take time to invest in each child, even at the open house. My son had a blast learning archery and playing other sports. He was especially moved by how the coaches implemented biblical teachings into the games. |
Violin Lessons
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My son started learning the violin through a group strings program that was offered at a local elementary school but when he started taking private lessons with Karen LaFrance at her home office in Royal Palm Beach he blossomed. The personalized attention that Mrs. LaFrance provides allowed him to be challenged and to move ahead of his peers. She is recommended by the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County and she supported the 2018-2019 Parents Educating Children Yearbook.
Background: Karen LaFrance, Violin Teacher in the Western Communities, is a graduate of the University of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and a Minor in Violin. She taught Music Education in Massachusetts Public Schools from 1973 to 1986 and Florida Public Schools from 1986 to 2013; For the past 50 years of teaching Violin, she has used a combination of Traditional Methods and Dr. Suzuki's "Mother Tongue Method." Playing the Violin improves concentration, memory, reading skills, cognition, and self expression. She also prepares students to audition for the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County and BAK Middle School of the Arts if that is their goal. Mrs. LaFrance can be reached at 561-254-3727 or violin.kj@gmail.com. |