08/12/2024
Heritage Explorers Homeschool Co-Op Registration is now open!
The Heritage Explorers Homeschool Co-Op will meet the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month September through May at 1 pm - 3 pm at the Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library in McArthur, Ohio - unless otherwise scheduled to participate in a learning adventure and during the months of November and December where we meet the 2nd and 3rd Thursdays due to holidays. We meet in the large conference room on the bottom floor of the library - use the back entrance and parking area for easy access.
A parent/grandparent etc. must attend the co-op with their child/children. Tagalong littles are welcome, but they must be kept relatively quite and not disruptive. Feel free to bring some quiet toys or a blanket so the little can spread out in the unused floor space to play. Wood blocks will be provided for use to help keep the wee ones entertained.
The Heritage Explorers Co-op is open for preschool through teens. We have a growing number of older kids participating in the co-op, so please do not feel the group will be too young for your teens! During gatherings at the library, the teens may be meeting in the seating area outside of the large meeting room to work on guided projects and activities on their own.
Regular Gathering Format:
The co-op is focused on American history and heritage skills. At each gathering the children/teens will be presented some type of learning material on the historical era we will be covering. We will be concentrating on the Pioneer Era, Westward Expansion, Native American tribes, and presidents and notable folks from that era this year. The co-op members will also be engaging in arts projects, STEM/STEAM, hands-on skill building, and field trips relating to those eras and food recipes along with inventions of that time period.
We will be using The Homestead Homeschool curriculum at our meetings. Families that are not already Heritage Skills USA Network members will need to purchase a family membership for $5 for a year's access to the American history curriculum by the first co-op gathering you attend. You can pay online using the link above or in person at the beginning of your first gathering session. You will be able to download the curriculum to print and use at home as desired, as well as have printed materials given to your children for portions used at the gatherings. Homeschool co-op theme units from last year and summer activity units are currently posted for download. Theme units for this year will be posted as they are completed and ready for use.
If you would like to have access to the entire The Homestead Homeschool curriculum, a family membership is $25 per year (no automatic renewal) for all of the theme units as well as homesteading guides, cookbooks, journals, and planners. Members also receive discounted admission and first access to class registration to all Heritage Skills USA hands-on learning events for adults and youth, which are held in the spring and fall at the Vinton County Fairgrounds. The Heritage Explorers Fest for youth and the Lady 'Steaders event are scheduled this October.
There is also a $2 per child per gathering attended materials fee to cover the cost of craft and project supplies provided for use. You can pay the materials fee by gathering date online or in cash upon your arrival to any session.
Please send your child with crayons/markers, scissors, and glue to each gathering.
During gatherings we will also play interactive learning games related to what we are learning, games just for fun at the end of each gathering, and have snack time. Children should bring a drink with them for snack time, along with a small snack. Two of our co-op moms will coordinate snacks each week so parents that would like to participate can bring a snack to share with the group and also typical "classroom style" cupcakes etc. if a birthday is to be celebrated during snack time.
We will have a long term project to work on this fall. The children and teens will be learning parts and making scenery and costumes to put on a pioneer themed play for their families. The play will be performed at the Lake Alma State park amphitheater , weather permitting or on the stage in the library meeting room. The play may also be performed during the Heritage Explorers Fest, if the children and the props, etc. are performance ready by late October. Register by clicking the link below:
https://forms.gle/P8d662FEMxdYYfon8
https://youtu.be/KWHtENWE9vY?si=NqZe85BwvaQJ3_XZ
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