Homeschool HUB News Update--May 27

Homeschool HUB News Update--May 27 Homeschool HUB phone: 269-240-6094 email: homeschoolhub@yahoo.com   website: www.hshub.org Editor: Andrea Bikfalvy   The information below is offered to you as a service.  Please research and decide for yourself the value to your family.  The Homeschool HUB does not endorse any programs or services other than those offered by the Homeschool HUB.     Send information to be added to the update no later than the Thursday before the week you want it to appear:  homeschoolhub@yahoo.com ON THE CALENDAR: Details for the following events are on the calendar at: www.calendar.yahoo.com/homeschoolhub June 2--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp June 17--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental. GENERAL INTEREST G1) New at the website G2) Big Dig Essay Scholarship G1) New at hshub.org Added to Random Fun and Interesting Stuff this week: They are really taking the idea of "going green" seriously. See what it's like to live in a really smaller house and what the ultimate car pooling looks like: http://www.hshub.org/Random_Fun_Stuff.html G2) Big Dig Essay Scholarship   Sponsored by Antiques Trader TV, this is open to high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores.  They give one award of $3,000.  The deadline is June 1st.  Write a 500 - 1,000 word essay about what you could bury today that your relatives would dig up in 200 years, and the discovery would solve all their financial worries.  The details are here: http://www.antiquetrader.tv/studentscholarship.php MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 1) Tillers International Summer Classes and Events 2) Summer Art Camps in the Michiana Area 3) Niles Extended Community School Offerings 2011-2012 4) Volunteer Opportunities 1) Tillers International Summer Classes and Events If you are interested in seeing lots of working oxen with their teamsters, come see the MODA Gathering June 24-26. I'm waiting to hear from MODA when the best time to see oxen in the fields and will let everyone know ASAP! Upcoming Classes: Home Chicken Slaughtering- #171 With the increased interest in small scale chicken keeping, more people would like to relearn the skills related to home slaughtering of chickens. A skill which used to be had by many, it's more and more difficult to learn. Come to Tillers and learn with skilled staff how to humanely slaughter your home raised chickens. Product: Each person gets one chicken. Enrollment: 6-15 Minimum age: 14 a/ June 11, 2011, Saturday 8:30-5:00pm, $95 per person Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI With Paul Bontrager and Tillers staff "Everything But The Beak"- Chicken Cooking Class- #170 It seems fewer and fewer people really know how to cook these days. The traditional idea of a Sunday roast chicken still exists but it's often a ready roasted chicken from the store. People of only a generation or two ago understood the need to use as much of an animal as possible. This class will teach you what you need to know! Learn how to truss a chicken for roasting, properly cut up a chicken and prepare a variety of dishes using the chicken, neck, skin, liver, kidney, heart, feet, and carcass- in other words, "Everything But the Beak" Product: Each person gets one chicken to cut up and take home plus dinner consisting of all the dishes prepared. Enrollment: 6-12 Minimum age: 14 a/ June 12, 2011, Sunday 10:00-5:00pm, $145 per person Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI With Channon Mondoux and Lori Evesque Basic Bench Metalworking - 320 Learn the basic bench metalworking skills (metalworking operations carried out with hand and non-precision power tools, except forging and welding) that form the foundation of your shop. Skills include identification and selection of materials, measuring and laying out work, sawing, drilling, tapping, filing, grinding, cold bending, tool selection, care, safe use, and more. These skills are useful in any home or business shop, as well as for anyone interested in working in international development, increasing your self-sufficiency for repair and fabrication. Class discussions and materials can be driven by student interest and backgrounds. Enrollment: 4 to 10 Minimum age: 14 a/ June 4-5 Sat-Sun 8:30 am-5:00 pm $165 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Ray Ott and John Sarge (5 openings) Farming with Oxen & Horses - 250 A unique opportunity to put skills in ox and horse handling to work. In the last days of spring, we immerse you in a wide variety of field work—the last tillage and plantings, the first cutting of hay, and cultivating out early weeds. Part of each day is spent learning skills and the rest in field practice. Coaches help you hone field skills and draft animal handling. Assignments depend on skill, but we entrust you with real farm work. Activities flex with the weather. Enrollment: 4 to 16 Minimum age: 12 a/ June 6-10 Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5:00 pm $270 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Dick Roosenberg, Dulcy Perkins, and Duane Westrate (NOTE- this class may be cancelled due to low registration- if you are interested, PLEASE call the office ASAP!) Blacksmithing I - 310 This fast-paced introduction to smithing moves you through the fundamentals; basic hammer skills, heat treating, forge welding, and identification of "found" steels. It provides a foundation of experience on which to build with practice. With an anvil for each student, there is plenty of hands-on learning and superb coaching in this popular class. This is an excellent start for either a hobby or a new occupation. Product: chisel, decorative hook, etc. Enrollment: 4 to 12 Minimum age: 14 With John Sarge, Tim Carr, Herb Nehring, and guests f/ June 9-10 Thurs-Fri 8:30 am-5:00 pm $155 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI, precedes Blacksmithing II (Only 2 openings- Be Quick!) g/ July 9-10 Sat-Sun 8:30 am-5:00 pm $155 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI (10 openings) Blacksmithing II - 311 Build on skills learned in Blacksmithing I. More hands-on projects improve your hammer skills and add to your techniques. Make tools for your shop. Tool making gives more forge welding and tempering experience. Coaching speeds your progress. This is a great way to enjoy and refine your smithing skills. Enrollment: 4 to 12 Minimum age: 15 With John Sarge, Tim Carr, Herb Nehring, and guests b/ June 11-12 Sat-Sun 8:30 am-5:00 pm $155 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI (Only 4 openings- next class not until September!) Rope Making - 194- May be cancelled due to low enrollment- call now! On small farms and in maritime activities, people depend on ropes for efficient handling and securing of cargo, sails, or livestock. This important skill has application for modern craft, home, and farm use. Learn the basics of laying up and making rope, as well as selection of appropriate materials. Students will make a simple hand-held rope maker to take home. In addition, we will teach several knots and splices. Enrollment: 4 to 12 Minimum age: 12 a/ June 11 Sat 8:30 am-5:00 pm $80 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Chuck Andrews and Joe Rafacz Mission Style Rocking Chair - 466 Build a Mission style rocking chair based on an antique made in the early 1900s in Buffalo, NY. The class will include learning how to use a variety of woodworking machines and hand tools. Most of the joinery is mortise and tenon. The project also includes bent pieces. Product: Mission rocking chair. Enrollment: 2 to 3 Minimum age: 14 a/ June 11-13 Sat-Mon 8:30 am-5:00 pm $275 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Dave Kramer (Due to late cancellations, we still have 2 openings!) Natural Fiber Dyeing - 198 Discover the wide range of dye colors available from nature. Contrary to popular belief and Hollywood, the world before chemical dyes was not a drab world of grays and beiges. Natural dyes made from plants, barks, roots, and insects can provide a wide range of colors, both muted and bright. This introductory workshop will show you how to create beautiful, lightfast and washfast color from natural dyes. We will teach you how to find dye materials and use them to obtain the best results, prepare protein fibers for dyeing, and dye the fibers. We will use natural dye plants from Lori's dye garden, native and imported dye material. You will learn to prepare the dyes, to mordant, to dye protein fiber, and to experiment with color by using postmordant baths and afterbaths. Proper safe handling of natural dyes and mordants will be covered. Enrollment: 4 to 15 Minimum age: 14 a/ June 18 Sat 8:30 am-5:00 pm $85 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Lori Evesque (6 openings remain) Wooden Spoke Shaves - 454 Make a fine flat-blade spoke shave with a beautiful hardwood body and handles. Spoke shaves are simple tools originally used to round the edges of wooden spokes. They are practical tools for any hand tool woodworker. Experiment with a variety of old spoke shaves, and learn how to shape your own. Product: spoke shave. Enrollment: 4 to 10 Minimum age: 14 a/ June 18 Sat 8:30 am-5:00 pm $85 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Gil Chesbro New Class Just Added! Coopering- #445b- July 30-31 Due to popular demand, a second basic coopering class (buckets) has been added to the schedule. The new class will be on Saturday and Sunday July 30-31. Registration is available on-line and through the office. Only 6 openings remain so act now! Enrollment: 4 to 10 Minimum age: 14 b/ July 30-31 Sat-Sun 8:30 am-5:00 pm $185 Cook's Mill, Scotts, MI with Chuck Andrews, and Peter Cooper Lodging for Classes Don't forget, if you are from outside southwest Michigan and need a place to stay for a class, Tillers has rooms available in our lodging house. Camping is also a possibility. Rates are reasonable ($40-$70/night and $7-$10 per night for camping). Tillers Store We have lots of new books in the store in preparation for all the upcoming classes. We have books on raising grass-fed cattle, cattle health, cooking grass-fed beef, raising donkeys, basic butchering, homestead animals, cheese making, soap making, spinning, and more. Take a look at the website or call to see if we have something you are looking for. Remember, Tillers members and students receive 10% off publications carried in our store. Many other publications, apparel items, food products (including new beef bundles: www.tillersinternational.org/tillers/store_foodandfarmproducts.html) are available. Check the website or call the office for more information. TILLERS International 10515 East OP Avenue Scotts, MI 49088 USA www.tillersinternational.org 2) Summer Art Camps in the Michiana Area Gloria Seitz, a certified K-12 art teacher, will be teaching art camps at Hobby Lobby in Mishawaka and Community Evangelical Free Church in Niles. The camps will run for 90 minutes each day and consist of a variety of projects, using materials such as paint, clay, scratch art, and plaster. The theme for the younger art camps will be ART AROUND THE WORLD.  Older students, age 12 through adult will be doing a painting of their choice and will need to purchase a 16 x 20 canvas and bring a large photo or painting (at least 8x10": calendar or magazine photos work well as well as personal photos). Having your own personal brushes is also preferable. CLASSES WILL BE HELD at Hobby Lobby in Mishawaka from June 21-24. Ages 6-10 will meet from 10-11:30 a.m. Ages 9-13 will meet from 12:30 -2 p.m. Older students and adults will meet for a painting class from 2:30-4 p.m. CLASSES WILL BE HELD at Community Evangelical Free Church in Niles, MI from July 19-22. Ages 6-10 will meet from 10-11:30 a.m. Ages 9-13 will meet from 12:30 -2 p.m. Older students and adults will meet for a painting class from 2:30-4 p.m. CLASSES WILL BE HELD on the south side at the Oaks, 16323 Roosevelt Rd. Mishawaka on July 26-29. Ages 6-10 will meet from 10-11:30 a.m. Ages 9-13 will meet from 12:30 -2 p.m. Older students and adults will meet for a painting class from 2:30-4 p.m. The cost is $50 for the six hours of instruction if you pay early and includes all materials except a sketchbook and pencil. Please call Gloria at 574-271-8069 before June 15 to enroll for the Hobby Lobby Classes, and by July 12 for the Niles and Oaks classes or email her at seitzhome@sbcglobal.net .  The website will  hopefully be available after May 13. www.newcreationsart.com   Classes do fill up, so be sure to get your registration in early.   3)  Niles Extended Community School Offerings 2011-2012 Niles Extended Community has a tentative list of offered classes for the upcoming school year.   It will be updated as the summer progresses.  See attached file for details. 4) Volunteer Opportunities A)  Friends of the Carousel Meeting You are invited on Wednesday, June 1, to a Friends of the Silver Beach Carousel meeting to be held at the Shadowland Ballroom at the Silver Beach Center , 333 Broad Street in St. Joseph at 7pm.  The summer season is about to start, so come to see what's new at the carousel! Many things have changed since the carousel opened in January of 2010.  You may be surprised by all of the improvements.  The carousel has a new entry system, looks brighter and sounds different.  The refreshment stand is completely transformed.  There are new attractions in the museum and the gift shop has expanded. This meeting is for everyone; volunteers, potential volunteers, or anyone interested in the carousel.  Bring your friends and see the opportunities we have to serve your community and have fun at the same time.  We are looking for people to help the carousel operators, make & sell popcorn and cotton candy, serve as museum guides, greet and direct visitors, talk to groups about Silver Beach history and help with special events throughout the year. Light refreshments will be served.  Please let us know if you can attend.  Call 269-428-9174 or email jjfisk@gmail.com. Pat & Jonathan Fisk, Silver Beach Carousel Society B) Help Head Start move Tri-County Head Start is consolidating programs into one facility as an effort to save funds and better serve their families.  They need help doing the move. WHEN:      Tuesday, May 31, from 8 am to 11 am. WHO:         5 or 6 volunteers WHERE:     Head Start at the Spinks Corners location, 1720 Park Road in Benton Harbor WHAT:        Help move equipment and supplies from one building to another. For more details, contact: Debra Panozzo Adult and family volunteer coordinator Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan 269-983-0912 ext 13 St. Joseph 269-683-5464  Niles www.volunteerswmi.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINKS TO SHARE: Check out the new links on www.hshub.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLASSIFIEDS Looking for a group?  Join the HUB!  We need you! There are several benefits of membership including a travel club and a resource library that includes things like books, games, laptops, video cameras and other items to borrow (free, members only). Members receive first chance at events and classes when availability is limited.  The cost of membership is only $24/year.  Information about becoming a member is on the website at www.hshub.org   Have something for sale, free or trade?  Advertise here! Homeschool groups are welcome to advertise their group, too.  It's free! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LETTING IT RIDE: Amazon.com--Please come to www.hshub.org before you shop at Amazon.  You can either shop the Associate Store listed in the Menu bar or click on the "Help the Homeschool HUB - Purchase at Amazon" link just below the Menu bar. By using this link to Amazon The Homeschool HUB will earn money through Amazon's Associates program on everything you purchase. So whenever you think "Amazon" please remember your purchase can help The Homeschool HUB. The Homeschool HUB is collecting used textbooks.  Contact Diane Day:  joharding_20@yahoo.com or 269-445-1900. The Homeschool HUB is continuing to collect Campbell Soup labels, Campbell's Chunky Soup labels, Campbell's Healthy Request labels, Campbell's Select harvest, Franco-American, Pepperidge Farm, Spaghettios, Swanson, V-8 Beverages, V-8 Fusion, Prego Italian Sauces and Campbell's Food Service.   Give your labels to any board member or bring them to our homeschool functions. --AND-- We are still accepting Boxtops for education labels.  You can find these on many products. Go to Boxtops for Education.org for more info, and then SAVE SAVE SAVE  those labels.  Each one nets 10 cents and every 10 cents adds up. You can give them to any HUB board director or bring them to any of our functions that we will be having.  Thank-you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DISCLAIMERS: While the Homeschool HUB believes that these events or opportunities may be of value to home educators, announcements do not constitute an endorsement by the Homeschool HUB, or its Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of individual parents to determine the appropriateness of any event or opportunity for their children. Participation in any event is voluntary and the participant assumes complete responsibility and liability for themselves, their family, anyone accompanying them, and their personal property.