Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Resources for outdoor adventures

Russell with a heart-shaped treat. senk 2013
Earth Day should really be a part of every day. That is what I'm teaching my boys.

Messages of savoring nature's beauty, appreciating the hard work of gardening, and interacting with the real world out there are mingled throughout their homeschooling curriculum. But, it's more than just a curriculum; it's a way of life. Learning is as much a part of living as living is of learning.

No matter where you live, there are ample opportunities to enjoy (often free) activities that help your children get into the great outdoors. In the Shenandoah Valley, our family frequents Shenandoah National Park - hiking along paths that start along Skyline Drive's slow meander along the mountain crest. An annual pass pays for itself by the second or third trip, so we make that an anniversary gift each August. In addition to state or national parks, consider visiting town parks (which often splash natural colors and textures even amid cityscapes) or zoos or vineyards or living museums or farm markets, etc. For Earth Day, our family ventured to Stanley, VA, and helped to plant grapevines at Wisteria Vineyard. We relished the family time traveling over Massanutten Mountain. As enjoyable as the (free) event was, our family also learned (together) many valuable lessons: how to properly plant a grafted grapevine (which can be applied to any grafted plant), the importance of working together (many hands really do lighten the workload), how to follow directions and observe carefully, etc. By the end of the morning, Joey could properly stake a vine and Ezra was a master at gently placing grapevines into prepared holes. And, did I mention, the learning was free!

Joey & Ezra at Wisteria Vineyard.
senk 2013
It can be difficult to find those few good resources that yield information on fun outdoor events in your area.  But, be diligent - ask friends and family, surf the Internet, and ask proprietors of the places you frequent. Where I live, a great resource for upcoming events and places to visit is "The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia." Click on the "More events" link in the "Things to Do" box on the bottom lefthand side of the webpage. Then, peruse the plethora of opportunities which are listed in order of date. If you're visiting the Shenandoah Valley, this is a great place to start discovering events or locales in an area you may enjoy. 

Often, some of the most exciting outdoor excursions are unexpected ones. Just be open to new learning experiences - especially ones you can do as a family. Not only do you create meaningful memories, but you weave more closely the threads of learning, living, and loving.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Putting an "i" in culture

Culture refers to an exposure to intellectual training, fine arts, and a study of the humanities. It also includes the beliefs, customs, values, and way of life of people all around the world. Of course, I also think of the culture grown on a petri dish in the lab for scientific study. And, this time of year, I consider all the tillage happening.

Regardless, incorporating concepts of culture is an integral part of any homeschooling activity. This could include historical, anthropological, or archaeological studies of various peoples, as much as an appreciation for the arts. But, doing so requires some common sense and care. There are inappropriate ways to experience culture - especially when there are potentially negative consequences (e.g. nefarious rites - just Google human sacrifices to get an idea of what I mean). Careful and respectful consideration of culture, though, will provide your child with a well-rounded understanding of the beautiful variety among people.

One way I incorporate cultural practices into my children's lives is to expose them to ways other people celebrate certain holidays or traditions, while still being true to our own religious understandings. At Easter time, for example, the boys and I make lambropsomo, which is a flavorful bread loaf decorated with a twined Byzantine cross and topped with naturally-dyed eggs. We put our own delicate touches into the result by adding alpha and omega symbols, a vine of grape leaves and clusters, etc. Ezra was particularly enamored with creating his own bread roll - carefully rolling bits of vine for his baked good. Russell spearheaded dying eggs by cooking beets and soaking hard-boiled eggs into the colorful water until they glowed dark pink. The final result was quite delightful (and tasty, too).

There are so many ways to explore the wealth of meaning in the world. Find a way to incorporate culture into your family's life and share the results in the comments section. Maybe you practice the Greek custom of giving gifts on your birthday (in lieu of or addition to receiving them). Perhaps the Chinese practice of cleaning your home on New Year's Day is something you do. Or, then again, your family might find meaning in creating your own traditions (e.g. a long-ago friend's parents hid Easter baskets filled with goodies in unlikely places; to find the baskets, they had to follow wandering threads like Theseus in the labyrinth). However you decide to put culture into your family or you into the culture, have fun and share a passion for learning with your child.