Homeschool HUB News Update--July 8

Homeschool HUB News Update--July 8 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 July 12--Homeschool Beach Day at Fuller's $1/pp July 15--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp July 15--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental. MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 1) Michiana Track & Field Day 2) High School Musical Jr. Performance 3) Outdoor Summer Jam Festival with the Pistons 4) Michigan Youth Policy Summits - IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP!! 5) Bethel to Host Community Health and Wellness Expo 6) Summer Art Camps 7) Volunteer Opportunities 1) 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. 2) High School Musical Jr. Performance I would like to invite area families to come see High School Musical Jr., a live show.  It will be held Friday, July 29th and Saturday, July 30th at 7pm at the Dowagiac Performing Arts Center (57028 Riverside Dr., Dowagiac MI,  49047).  Tickets are only $5.00.  I think this would be a fun activity that families could do that is inexpensive also. Families can buy tickets at The Red Raven in Dowagiac (201 South Front St.), Majerek's Gift Shop in Niles (213 East Main St.) or at Niles Scrapbooking in Niles (2830 S. 11th St. or 31 or 933 depending on what you call that road).  They could also email me at mmbakerson@yahoo.com for tickets or buy them at the door.  It is reserved seating and all of the seats at the performing arts center are great. You won't have to worry about being able to see or your younger child being able to see.  It a beautiful center, seating 843 per night. I have attached a poster with all of the information on it as well.  We hope that you come and see the show and support area children in their hard work over the summer.  Thank you so much.   If you have any questions please email me at mmbakerson@yahoo.com. Thank you, Michelle Bakerson 3) Outdoor Summer Jam Festival with the Pistons The Detroit Pistons and Medical Weight Loss Clinic are hosting a Summer Jam Camp Day from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. This interactive event includes activities, entertainment and special appearances by Strength and Conditioning Coach Arnie Kander and additional Pistons personalities. The cost of the event is $10 and includes access to all activities and a complimentary ticket for a future Pistons' home game. The outdoor event tips off in the parking lot of The Palace and youth activities include: inflatable games, a sport court, balloon animals made by Palace Patrol, basketball shots on the Pistons' Year Round Hoops truck and live music. The Auburn Hills Police and Fire Departments will be in attendance, showcasing their vehicles to the youngsters. The event culminates with an indoor pep rally on the Pistons' basketball court including appearances by Pistons' mascot Hooper; Flight Crew; Palace Patrol; live music by DJ Earl; and a basketball clinic on the court with Pistons' School Assembly Director Coach Aaron Smith. Additionally, Arnie Kander will demonstrate fitness techniques and discuss how to maintain a healthy diet. This fitness-driven pep rally is in support of the NBA Fit initiative, which is the league's comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through grassroots programs and events. More than 1,500 children are expected to attend and there is still space available to sign up. "This is the first year the Pistons have hosted a Summer Jam. We are very excited about the opportunity to have some fun with the community during the off-season and celebrate Pistons basketball," said Ryan Bertschman, director of group sales and premium events at Palace Sports & Entertainment. Employees of both Palace Sports & Entertainment and Medical Weight Loss Clinic will be onsite to provide support and to facilitate activities throughout the day. It's not too late to order tickets for this great event, please pass this along to any of your families and have them contact me at 248.377.8638 if they would like to attend.  See attached form for more info. Have a great day! Michelle : ) 4) Michigan Youth Policy Summits - IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP!! As some of you already know, we had to make some last minute program changes to our 2011 Michigan programs. This is our last (promise!) campaign to reach out to our broad circle of MI contacts and try to recruit some final student participants. We are accepting individual student participants, as well as teams with or without chaperones.  Students can now choose 1 of 2 YPS programs on Great Lakes Water Resources: v  Kalamazoo: Western Michigan University. July 10-15. v  Midland: Northwood University. August 7-12. Both of these options are overnight programs. Students receive full food and lodging for the week-long program for the student commitment fee of $50 (scholarships are available). Please pass this information along to your high school student contacts. YPS is truly a unique, fun and exciting opportunity, and we so appreciate your help connecting students to YPS this summer. Thank you, Jessye Crowe-Rothstein Program Manager Youth Policy Summit The Keystone Center 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Suite 509 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-452-0139 Fax: 202-452-113 www.youthpolicysummit.org 5) Bethel to Host Community Health and Wellness Expo Author, speaker and celebrity Chef Mark Anthony will bring his vegan-eating message to the Community Health and Wellness Expo at Bethel College on July 10. The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center. Admission is free, but an offering will be taken to help offset costs. Sponsored by Bethel College, Sodexo Inc. and the First Seventh Day Adventist Church of South Bend, the Expo will feature a cooking demonstration with Anthony, along with sampling and stunning fruit and vegetable displays.  For more information, call 574.807.7618. To learn more about Anthony, visit his website at www.chefmarkanthony.com. 6) Summer Art Camps There are still opportunities to enjoy the activities that make this time of year one of learning in a different way. I am still looking for interested students for the July art camps. We had an awesome Hobby Lobby Camp! The boys especially enjoyed it! The painiting classes are for adults, so if you have wanted to learn to paint, this class is for you! Gloria Seitz Art instructor 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 metal tooling. The theme for the younger art camps will be ART AROUND THE WORLD. ADULTS, HERE'S THE PAINTING CLASS YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TAKE: 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 copy of a masterpiece or an art book (at least 8x10": calendar or magazine photos work well as well as personal photos and bringing several choices is a good idea). Having your own personal brushes is also preferable. Pick a subject based on what you like and not on how difficult or easy it looks to paint!!! 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 $55 for the six hours of instruction and includes all materials except a sketchbook and pencil. Save $5 on the cost if you send in payment. Please call Gloria at 574-271-8069 by July 12 for the Niles classes and by the 18th for the Oaks classes or email her at seitzhome@sbcglobal.net .  Check out the website. www.newcreationsart.com   Classes do fill up, so be sure to get your registration in early.   7) Volunteer Opportunities A) NEW BUFFALO CITY BEACH SWEEP! The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan's Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) is privileged to lead and facilitate a series of six beach clean-up at New Buffalo City Beach beginning on Monday, July 11th, from 8-10 a.m.  All youth and families are invited and should contact Callie Campbell to participate.  Parent or guardian signatures are required on both photo releases and parental release forms, available upon arrival.  Beach parking fees are waived for volunteers who participate in this project.  Youth will earn community service hours that may be applied toward school, employment, and personal development. The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan seeks to achieve four fundamental goals for youth volunteerism: to engage young people in service projects that are challenging, rewarding, and educational; to serve the unmet needs of the community and its residents; to promote among young people a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity of their community; to promote a lifetime of service among young people.  Youth interested in volunteering with the clean ups should contact Youth Volunteer Coordinator Callie Campbell at: youth@volunteerswmi.org, 1-269-983-0912 or 683-5464 for more information. B) Volunteer at Fernwood Info Afternoon If you have ever considered volunteering at Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve, this is your opportunity to check it out, with no obligation, and see if they have a volunteer option that is right for you. You can meet Fernwood's new volunteer coordinator Judi Jason and discuss the details.  www.fernwoodbotanical.org If you have wondered whether Fernwood has volunteer opportunities just right for you, here is your chance to learn more. Drop by from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 10, to enjoy refreshments and visit with Judi and our staff about volunteerism at Fernwood. We will answer any questions you have about available opportunities, what is required, and the benefits derived from volunteering at Fernwood. Staff will show you around and explain each volunteer opportunity, so you can find the right fit for you! Already a volunteer? Stop by and say Hi to Judi and let us say thanks once again for volunteering your time to Fernwood. Volunteers are a vital part of the Fernwood team. More than 250 people volunteer at Fernwood each year, contributing thousands of hours of service. If you are not currently a Fernwood volunteer and would like to join our volunteer staff, this is a good time to consider it, but there is certainly no obligation. Make an afternoon of it and enjoy the WAUS Second Sunday Concert at 4:00 pm, with Carla Trynchuk performing on the violin.    Volunteer Opportunities Railway Garden The railway garden is open for it's third season and is perhaps one of the most fun places to be at Fernwood. Kids get excited to see the G-scale trains and butterfly cars zipping around the track. Adults enjoy the whimsical buildings of the Roadside Attractions theme this year, as well as our local buildings, all made of natural materials. Volunteers greet visitors and answer questions about the exhibit. Several shifts are available. Take a weekly shift or sign up whenever you can. Farmers' Market Fernwood has a booth at the Buchanan Farmers' Market each Saturday again this summer, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. We are looking for volunteers to staff our area, where we offer plants and gift and garden shop items. Fernwood staff will set up and take down, and volunteers are needed to make sales and hand out Fernwood newsletters and flyers. A great place for someone who likes to visit with people and spread the good word about Fernwood! Saturday Member Morning Greeter We invite our members to enjoy an early morning walk, birding, or photography on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings at 7:30 am, through fall. We ask these early morning visitors to check in at the Visitors Center , so we currently need a volunteer to greet these visitors on Saturday mornings. Staff unlocks the door at 7:30, and volunteers are asked to stay until the front desk staff arrives between 9:00 and 9:30. Then enjoy your own walk! Front Desk Reception Area Weekend Support Volunteers are needed at the front desk on weekends to greet visitors and take admissions, answer general Fernwood questions, orient visitors with maps and directions, and answer phones. It's fun to see where our visitors come from and to make their visit to Fernwood a great experience. Nature Center Do you enjoy the outdoors and sharing the wonders of nature with children? Consider joining our Volunteer Educator Corps (VEC) to help teach students about plants, animals, and habitats. Training is provided. Volunteer opportunities also are available for trail maintenance and Nature Center tasks. Gardens and Grounds Work alongside a staff gardener or consider adopting an area of the garden to maintain during the green season. Consider joining us on Wine and Weed Wednesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Do you have carpentry or mechanical repair skills? These skills are gladly welcomed in our buildings and on the grounds. Other Volunteer Positions Our Board of Directors are all volunteers, and our committees are chaired by volunteers. We can use the talents of volunteers to write grants, enter computer data and do Internet research, help with bulk mailings, and park cars and monitor trails during special events. We have a busy summer ahead with many exciting things happening. We couldn't do the great work we do without our volunteers. Please consider giving your time and talent to Fernwood in any way you can. If you are unable to attend the event on Sunday, July 10, email Judi Jason for more information, or download a volunteer application and bring it to Fernwood on your next visit. Thank you! Contact Us: 269.695.6491 www.fernwoodbotanical.org info@fernwoodbotanical.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: 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.