Who Says Homeschool’s Not Fun???

***Sorry for the mixed up narration on this post. I worked for WAY too long on it and still couldn’t make it look right. I am just not “techy” at all! 😦

We are a homeschool family and I am completing my 18th year of being a homeschool Mom! We began this adventure when Katie was in Kindergarten and will complete the journey next year when Jake graduates from high school! I can say without hesitation that choosing to homeschool our children is one of the best decisions that Greg and I ever made. Homeschooling has afforded our children some great opportunities. Jake and I took advantage of one such opportunity last month.

Jacob is enrolled in a Marine Biology class through our ocal homeschool group and last month his wonderful teacher arranged for the kids to go on an extended field trip to Saint George Island in Florida! I was fortunate enough to be able to go along as a chaperone; although the kids were so great, there was little chaperoning needed! There were six students and five adults including the teacher.

We rented a house on the beach and Mrs. Dunklin, the amazing teacher of the class, had planned a week packed full of learning and fun!

Day 1: We arrived at the beach house after dinner and got settled in. Jacob didn’t waste any time in teaching everyone to play Spicy Uno!

Sam is a bit of a blur here. 🙂

Day 2: We made a visit to the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea.

Later in the afternoon, we headed up to Wakulla Springs State Park. We took a beautiful boat ride and saw lots of interesting critters…birds, gators, manatees, etc.

We ended the day with a beautiful sunset!

Day 3: Went to State Park Youth Camp at St. George for a cool lesson and the kids got to dissect oyster clusters and find lots of cool sea critters!

Then back to the house for lunch and another round of Spicy Uno!

 

There were beautiful nature trails at the center.

The kids found a snake eating a frog. (Disgusting, I know!)

Attended an informative lecture about estuaries.

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch, we made a trip to the Apalachicola Estuarine Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was back to the house for some hot tub time, an evening beach walk and of course…more Spicy Uno!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4: Labs on the beach, followed by a beach walk.

The gang!

The house we stayed in.

Jake found a live starfish!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5: We took a ferry ride to St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, then stopped in Apalachicola on the way back to the house. We ended the night with a spaghetti dinner, but not any old spaghetti dinner. The kids had to eat with kitchen tools…no regular utensils. Jake got an ice cream scoop. 🙂

Lunch on the beach!

Eating steamed shrimp on the dock.

Enjoying a black-bottom coffee from the local coffe shop. Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6: I didn’t take many pictures. We did another morning nature walk, then spent the afternoon in Apalachicola. We ate lunch at a local seafood restaraunt, enjoyed the cute book/knitting shop, and made another stop at the coffee shop! That evening the kids watched Finding Nemo to wind down the week.

I think we wore them out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7: We packed up and headed home, thankful for the blessing of homeschooling and for the wonderful week of learning, fun and friendship!

Trusting His Plan,

Sandra