More Summer Fun

There are many things in the area--and as I get them I will post them.

Here are a few--not all free this time, but still good deals, and worthwhile of checking into. Let us know if you have experience with any of these:

My daughter attended the Sweet Home FUN IN THE PARKS last year. For 25.00, you can't go wrong for a summer full of Thursday activities that are well organized, and well supervised. You can even pick a few for a small fee. ( Click on the image, and it will open bigger, so you can enlarge it to read it)


Summer Camps--don't know much about any of them, but found them in the MOMs magazine for our area. Sweet Home Ranger District has many hikes and activities this summer. You can check it out here.
Some events that are worthy and we have attended or participated in:

JUNE 5th Free Fishing Day & Derby--NO FEE Contact KC Briggs 541-367-3492 or kcbriggs@fs.fed.us

JUNE 11th Cascadia Cave Heritage Hike 2.5 Miles Easy--FEE Meet at Sweet Home Ranger District 9am. Tony Farque tfarque@fs.fed.us This is an incredible hike to the petroglyphs...and it is a HISTORY walk as well telling of the Indians that lived in the area.

Please check them all out by clicking HERE above...as some are great, and even though the title of the document that opens says WINTER...it does go through summer.

IF you have items to list, scan them, e-mail them, send me a link or mail it to me, and I will get the info out. Also--any info on book sales, curriculum fairs or other worthy things, let me know! Check back often!

Free (or almost) Field Trip Opportunities

Free day at OSU's Kelley Engineering Center: See senior design projects, watch TekBot Triathlon, tour the wave research lab and more.

Free and open to the public on Friday, May 14th, 2010, 11 AM - 4 PM. For more info call 541-737-3101 engr.oregonstate.edu/expo2010

35 Free and Cheap Things to Do With Kids in Portland

Portland — By Lora on May 11, 2010 at 12:10

What’s kid-friendly, free and fun in Portland, Oregon? Here’s a warm-weather list to get you started. What would you add?

1. Play in Salmon Springs Fountain’s 137 jets at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
2. Enjoy a $3 family movie at McMenamin’s Kennedy School.
3. Watch ice skaters twirl at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink.
4. Enjoy one of Portland’s kid-friendly museums on a free or cheap day.
5. Try on glasses made from forks in Spoonman’s booth at Portland Saturday Market.
6. Go for a bird-watching hike on Sauvie Island.
7. Look for leprechauns in the tiniest park in America — Mill Ends Park.
8. Enjoy the Preschool Skate and Play at Oaks Amusement Park.
9. Get your thrills from the Portland Aerial Tram.
10. Ride the vintage 1921 carousel at the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter.
11. Seek Simpsons references in Portland’s Alphabet District (including Reverend Lovejoy, Mayor Quimby and Ned Flanders).
12. Stop and smell Barbara Streisand at the International Rose Test Gardens. You won’t even get slapped with a restraining order; the rose is named after the singer.
13. Listen to family tunes at Portland Farmers Market.
14. Sit in the Jamison Square waterfall and disappearing pool.
15. Find Ramona Quimby at Grant Park.
16. Ride the MAX to the Washington Park stop, the deepest train station in North America.
17. Play on an (extinct) volcano at Mt. Tabor Park.
18. Drink from a Benson Bubbler.
19. Speak out against early bedtimes from Pioneer Courthouse Square’s Echo Chamber.
20. Browse the picture books at Powell’s City of Books.
21. Make art from SCRAP’s scraps.
22. Head to a Portland Park — for movies or a concert.
23. Get inches away from salmon and horror-movie eels at Bonneville Dam.
24. Cool off with 620 feet of water at the second-largest waterfall in the U.S. – Multnomah Falls.
25. Discuss American history at Kidd’s Toy Museum, where vintage toys reflect the values of their day.
26. Try a Spanish, Mandarin or ASL storytime at Green Bean Books.
27. Cycle along one of Portland’s kid-friendly bike paths.
28. Let your mouth travel ’round the world — sample dishes from Portland’s food carts.
29. Bop along to a family-friendly music show at Milagros Boutique.
30. Play Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position and other retro games at Ground Kontrol with a pocketful of quarters.
31. Ride the Portland Streetcar.
32. Listen to a summer lunch concert at Noon Tunes at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
33. Get your fortune told at the wacky 24-Hour Church of Elvis.
34. Party pretty at the Portland Rose Festival.
35. Enjoy a cup of drinking chocolate at Cacao. Buzzing with caffeine, repeat 1-34.

FOLLOW THIS LINK to read the story where the links work!

Happenings around School

Ruth Swartzendruber, a parent in our group who does photography, was kind enough to volunteer to take some pictures of our group. She spent a day with us, and although some of the classes were empty due to testing, you can still get an idea of what happens in class. Thanks Ruth for your willingness to help out!

Dana Morehead-- Dana teaches Sign Language to all grades & PE to K-7th. She combines fun with learning, and works to ensure each child is on the right track, even to the point of working one on one during lunch.

Jennifer Ewing--

Jennifer is with us through the AmeriCorp Program, and has been working with our Creative Writing beginners this year. She brings a lot to the classroom, and enjoys working with the kids. She makes a fun environment, and works hard to have them get their minds flowing.

Shawn Garrett--

Shawn works with our High School aged kids teaching Science, History, Creative Writing & PE. He also teaches our 4th-7th Grade Creative Writing Advanced Writers class.






Shawnna Richards--

Shawnna teaches Science and History to K-3 and 4th-7th Grades. We are currently studying Native Americans in History, and have not only learned, but made some of the foods they would have made, including Jerky & Indian Fry Bread. In Science, we are doing a microscopy study, where the kids have brought in many things from home and the yard to view, as well as we've grown cultures, and done some cheek scraping. We recently worked through the Human Body and even worked with pigs to see how our bodies worked. The classes are geared to be age appropriate, and while they learn the same things, it's on different levels.


















If you are in need of some photography...give Ruth a call at 541-466-0948, or e-mail her at benswartzendruber@hotmail.com . She does great work. Check it out HERE

Civil War Re-Enactment Field Trip Events & Pictures

What a day!! We started with a VERY rainy morning, and right up until we arrived at 8:30, it was raining. The last sprinkle was felt at 8:45, and the rest of the day was PERFECT. What a blessing!
We had 105 in our group...the biggest ever. As we headed in the gate, we split into smaller groups, and each headed to the stations that interested them the most. What a great thing for the kids. Some of it was hands on, some of these guys brought their personal collections....spent their vacation time with our kids, and were eager to share their knowledge of the civil war. One of the "usual" treats, marching & guns was not the usual this year, and I convinced him to at least march our group. What a wonderful sport he was. These men & women who put this on are worthy of lots of praise, as they do a fantastic job with our kids.

We had several comments from the reenactors on the courtesy of our kids...well done.

We were treated to a small battle....and the kids loved the cannons, the horses, and of course the guns! It was great after taps, when everyone got up and went home! Too bad the real war didn't end that way.




Enjoy the pictures...I've split them into two sets, as there were so many. Out of 600+, these were the select ones....


From Station Learning....


The Re-Enactment



From Swartzendruber Photography