Homeschool HUB News Update--June 17

Homeschool HUB News Update--June 17 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 21--Homeschool Beach Day at Fuller's $1/pp June 24--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp July 7--HUB Board of Directors Meeting 7 pm, Niles Police Complex July 15--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental. GENERAL INTEREST G1) New at the website G1) New at hshub.org Random Fun and Interesting Stuff: Talk about camouflage skills!! If you can get on facebook, check this out: http://www.hshub.org/Random_Fun_Stuff.html MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 1) Debate Camp for Teens 2) Colonial Dancing (English Country Dancing) 3) Midwest Ox Drovers Association Gathering 4) St. Joseph River Paddlefest 2011 5) Summer Internship with Stipend 6) Niles Extended Communitity Program is online 7) 2011 Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts 8) Michiana Track and Field Day 9) Volunteer Opportunities 1) Debate Camp for Teens A great opportunity is coming right here to Niles, MI!  Ethos is putting on a summer debate camp for homeschool students right at Community Evangelical Free church on August 22-26th.  This is a great opportunity for your students age 13+ to learn everything they need to know and gain some great communication skills to last a lifetime.  Registration is open at http://ethosdebate.com so check it out today.  We took 3 students to this camp in Ohio last year and I highly recommend it for current and new students considering debate.  This could easily be a large part of your communications credit for high school whether or not you decide to debate in the fall.  For more questions contact Gina Reynolds, reyncg1@aol.com.  Early registration prices end July 1st. 2) Colonial Dancing (English Country Dancing)   Saturday, June 25 at 7:00 pm. Location:  Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Ave, St. Joseph. Michigan.   Come dance and have fun.  Please forward this to anyone who might be interested. No experience and no partner required. Bring a snack to share if you'd like. Wear comfortable shoes! For more information, contact Noel Bash at bash5849@sbcglobal.net 3) Midwest Ox Drovers Association Gathering Tillers International Hosts Annual Midwest Ox Drovers Association Gathering June 24-26--Focus on Practical Use of Oxen on Organic and Small Farms On Friday through Sunday June 24-26,Tillers International will host the annual Midwest Ox Drovers Association gathering. The gathering is free and open to the public.  Come see oxen at work! On June 25, oxen of various breeds and ages will perform farm and field work, including plowing, cultivating and hay making, plus advanced skills in competition courses. This is a great time to see what oxen are capable of doing in the fields on a farm.  There will also be a variety of educational sessions being held during the day including snow removal with oxen, moving hay bales with oxen, incorporating cattle manure into your garden, manure management, and others. For one session, Tillers Construction Coordinator, Rob Burdick will be discussing his dump cart design and inviting the MODA gang to brainstorm on design issues. For a bit of amusement, participants will test their throwing skill by playing cow patty bingo. June 26 will feature a Parade of Breeds and Ox Walk Wagon Train tour of Tillers grounds. The event concludes with a drawing for the first place raffle prize, a pair of started Brown Swiss calves. Other prizes will also be presented.  The best times for the public to visit will be 1 pm Saturday for the Oxen competition and 9 am Sunday for the Ox Walk and Wagon Train Tour of Tillers grounds. Raffle tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00. Proceeds benefit the association. Participants do not need to be present to win. For more information about the event, see www.midwestoxdrovers.com/2011_Gathering.html Tillers Internationals mission is to preserve, study and exchange low-capital technologies in order to increase the sustainability and productivity of rural communities. 4)  St. Joseph River Paddlefest 2011   I hope you will be able to come out to St. Pat's Park and participate.  Please register on-line at www.paddlefest.org.  Fee for most races is $15 per person, which includes t-shirt and lunch.  On-line registration closes on Thursday the 24th.   This will be our 10th annual Paddlefest and we are looking forward to another great day of both fun and competitive paddling at St. Patrick's County Park on the St. Joseph River in South Bend, Indiana.  As always, we have races for every kind of paddler:   * 2 mile "Fluid Fun" Fun Race * 8 mile "Half Marathon" * 16 mile "Marathon" (with prize money for solo paddlers!) * Memorial Hospital "Duathlon" (3 mile run, 2 mile paddle) * South Bend Tribune "Youth Pond Race" (ages 5-12)   Races begin at 9:00 am Sunday morning the 26th, with a mandatory race meeting at 8:30.  Please arrive early to get your boat number and to set up!!  Park gates will be open by 7:00.  All participants get a Paddlefest 2011 t-shirt and lunch after the race; we will host an awards ceremony at about noon.  See our website for details (www.paddlefest.org).   Please spread the word to your friends and family.  Visit us on Facebook and "like" us to receive event updates and tips: http://on.fb.me/kHLyT0?r=bb   And if you would rather volunteer than paddle, please be in touch! The Paddlefest Organizing Committee info@paddlefest.org   =====================================================   This year Paddlefest is joining "On The River" to help sponsor "In The River" on Saturday, August 6th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon.  This non-competitive, "200 Boat Float" aims to get as many paddlers as possible on the St. Joseph River near Howard Park in downtown South Bend, in order to promote recreational paddling and the long-term health of the St. Joseph River.  We're encouraging everyone, young and old, to come on down and put their canoes, kayaks, and rafts in the river right downtown! "On The River", on August 5-6, turns a vacant lot in downtown into a full-fledged beach, complete with 2,000 tons of sand, palm trees, tiki huts, a giant main stage, great food & beverage and thousands of people who love to have fun in the sun.   On the River 2011 is actually three distinct events. Friday is Teen Night, complete with a Battle of the Bands competition, live DJs, volleyball, cornhole, fireworks and other fun games. Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. is Family Day, and will include children's activities and games, face painting, balloon artists, bounce houses, and a volleyball clinic. Then on Saturday night from 3 p.m.-11 p.m., the 21+ Beach Bash features a 6-on-6 volleyball tournament, cornhole tournament, hog roast, a great menu of food & beverages, a great lineup of bands, and a spectacular fireworks display.  Bring chairs and blankets and come enjoy the beach in downtown!   Visit www.ontheriverfest.com for complete event information. 5) Summer Internship with Stipend Revolutionize how technology helps volunteers connect to volunteer opportunities in Southwest Michigan!  The Volunteer Center is offering an 8 week summer internship, with a stipend, to assist with the launch of Hands On Connect. The Volunteer Intern will clean up existing data and get ready for transfer to new system, test the new system and assist with developing training materials.  The volunteer intern will need to work independently under the guidance of the implementation team and have a high level of computer and internet skills. For more information and to submit a resume please contact: Sharon Davaran at volunteermi@volunteerswmi.org or at 983-0912 extension 12. 6) Niles Extended Community now online! Here is where you can go to get info on the Niles Extended Community Program: http://nilesschools.schoolwires.net/212620428164940510/site/default.asp They will be adding more detailed class descriptions and information as things become set.  Also, in the Community Resource class area, the Video Production class will be one they offer. They haven't added the Equine Science class yet because they are still ironing out some insurance issues, but it's 90% certain it will be offered. It will be added as soon as it's confirmed. You can put this class down on the regista=;oprion form if you are interested--put a backup class in case it doesn't happen or in case it fills up.  If you only want to participate if that class is available, note that on the form. 7) 2011 Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts Free plays in the park!  Family-friendly plays Heidi and The Sound of Music will be offered.          * Wednesday, July 6:  Children's play "Heidi": 5:30pm; "The Sound of Music": 7:00 pm     * Thursday, July 7: Children's play "Heidi": 5:30pm; "The Sound of Music": 7:00 pm     * Friday, July 8: Children's play "Heidi": 5:30pm; "The Sound of Music": 7:00 pm     * Saturday, July 9: Children's play "Heidi": 4:30pm; "The Sound of Music": 6:00 pm     * Sunday, July 10: Children's play "Heidi": 4:30pm; "The Sound of Music": 6:00 pm All Performances are FREE!  Lawn Seating: Bring a Blanket or a Lawn Chair.  Kindleberger Park is in the Kalamazoo area.  More info at: http://www.kindleberger.org/theatre.php 8) Michiana Track & Field Day Family Fun Opportunity!  All Home School families, Indiana and Michigan, are invited to participate in the Michiana Home School Track and Field Fun Day.  This event is for ages 3-14 and will take place on July 23rd from 9-noon at Niles High School Football Stadium.  Events will include; broad jumping, long jumping, softball throws, and various races which will include a "Chicken Relay".   Please see the attached for details and registration. 9) Volunteer Opportunities A) Krasl Art Fair Krasl Art Center is celebrating this summer with their 50th Annual Art Fair.  The place to be is going to be on the bluff in St. Joseph on the weekend of July 9 and 10.  Do you have a few hours to volunteer, before or after you visit the fair? Tasks looking for volunteers include: 1)  Booth sitters: cover the booth for an artist while they take a break. 2)  Krasl Kids Zone Helpers:  Activities for kids: show them how to do it, supervise, restock supplies, etc. 3)  Water Sales:  Water will be for sale - benefits the Krasl Art center 4)  Visitor Survey Helpers:  survey the visitors as to their Art Fair experience. 5)  Parking and Operations:  provide directions as to parking for both visitors and art fair participants, tend to the behind the scenes details required to make the event go smoothly. The volunteer coordinator with the Krasl Art Center will be able to provide you with details as to slots and tasks that are open - to see if it fits your schedule.   Danielle Shepherd   Krasl Art Center   dshepherd@krasl.org  Ph: 269-983-0271  Cell: 269-876-9475 www.krasl.org Or 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 QUICKBOOKS AND/OR ACCOUNTING HELP SOUGHT The treasurer of the Homeschool Hub is looking for a little volunteer help with Quickbooks and/or Accounting.  If you have knowledge of either or both and have a little free time, I would be willing to bring it to you! Once you show me, I can take it from there. Approximately 1 hour. I have open availability! Call Diane Day 269-370-4589. 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: