A few weeks ago I posted about the wonderful opportunity by MomCentral to be a Feld Family Activator by attending the show and giving away tickets. Last night was the opening night for Disney On Ice here in Denver. The show was INCREDIBLE. The Incredible’s (aka The Parr Family) take a vacation to Disneyland where they try their hardest to blend in as a ‘normal’ family. But the evil Syndrome shows up and captures Minnie and Mickey. The Incredible’s of course, save the day and all ends well. We had a great time as a family. Parking is really easy at the Coliseum which was a big plus!

All of the Feld Family Activators got together before the show and were treated to a dinner, character meeting, and lots of fun souveneirs for the kiddo’s. It was a wonderful night. I had a great time meeting some of my twitter friends in real life: @KristieMcNealy @geekymommy @milehighmamas @amnichols

If you have not yet bought your tickets to the show, use the code on this flyer to get a family four pack for $44. That is just a little more than the cost of going to the movies and so much more memorable.

I also heard that MomCentral is looking for moms in other cities who may be interested in being a part of the Feld Family Activators. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the experience!

I will be at this with bells on. Please try to join me!

For 2009, we are going even bigger and better – it will be a conference. Not just a conference, but the first-ever HOME EDUCATION conference held at a Disneyland hotel! Our official Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference dates are September 14-17, 2009.

Through your feedback and surveys, we have also added more park hopper days, even lower pricing on the hotel rooms, added a second Disney hotel for more choice, and are planning a host of activities to provide opportunities to meet new friends and mingle. There will be T-shirts and buttons – so people can identify each other in the parks. The theme of the conference is “Be an Example” and we are planning to bring in lots of opportunities to do just that! With a conference abound, we will have opportunities to share the joys of homeschooling with many people who have always wondered, but never took the initiative to learn anything about home education. Disney is providing us with plenty of signage and exposure, so all the families who are there on vacation will know that there is a homeschool conference going on. We are hoping they will ask you questions, or stop in at the conference center, and become inspired.

So we need YOU to be there and be an example for homeschooling, and share your joys and experiences. In case you are wondering, I am not alone this year. We have an excellent committee, and more volunteers are popping up every day to help out. They are contacting exhibitors, speakers, and helping to organize everything. It’s so exciting to be able to have a conference and to contribute to the growth of homeschooling!

This year’s registration page has been simplified, you will find the YES classes on the second page after you choose which of the 2, 3, 4, or 5 day park hoppers you want. There is so much to see, just check it out:

http://sheadisney2009.eventbrite.com

Hope to see you again in September!

Dianne McLean

SHEA Regional Director

The official 3rd Annual Not Back to School Days Rally™ at Disneyland – September 14-17, 2009 – is now going to offer a full service conference and you won’t want to miss it!

This is a great opportunity to show the public what homeschooling is really all about – and celebrate our right to homeschool – as we embark in one of the most family-friendly places on earth – Disneyland! The highlights for this year’s Rally and Conference are:

- Deeply discounted group rates on park hopper tickets
- Y.E.S. classes taught by Disney staff – learn concepts in Physics, Animation, History, Leadership
- Conference with exhibit hall, speakers, workshops, more
- Food discounts at the conference
- Deeply discounted hotel rooms at Disney hotels
- Homeschool Talent Show
- Homecoming Dance for Teens
- Welcome Reception to meet new friends
- Twilight sessions for parents after the parks close
- Gifts and Talents Fair (show off your favorite subject)
- T-Shirts and Buttons to identify homeschoolers in the parks
- Souvenir Program

Membership in SHEA is not required to attend any of these activities. To find out more about this year’s rally, please visit our website: http://www.southwest-home-education.com

To go straight to the reservations page, use this link: http://sheadisney2009.eventbrite.com

Hope to see you!
Dianne McLean
Regional Director

Explore the relationship between biotic and abiotic components of the marine ecosystem. This lab includes a fish dissection, water chemistry, aquarium science, and a study of the oceanic food chain. Aboard the R/V Sea Explorer students examine benthic and pelagic habitats by deploying oceanographic sampling equipment to collect a variety of marine specimens.

November 3rd 2008 – Advanced Living Systems Lab/Cruise
at Dana Point Ocean Institute

$50/person (includes drinks and snacks, bring lunch)

I am now able to open the ASFT registration to any interested persons (6th grade and above) who would like to join us onboard the R/V Sea Explorer. The “class” will be run at a high school science level, but adults and younger students (6th grade and above) may rotate thru the various activities at their own level/speed/interest. I only have a few openings, so please respond asap if you are interested.

For more information, please contact: Luv2hsmy3@yahoo.com

For our 2nd Annual Not Back to School Days at Disneyland, September 15-18, 2008, we have over 1200 people registered and prepaid. Included in that registration, are 9 families that SHEA has sponsored to go on the trip who otherwise could not have afforded to do so.

To help raise the funds for this sponsorship, we received generous donations including a Carnival Cruise for a family of four (upgrades are available for larger families) a Wii game system, and an Ipod. These prizes will be awarded on September 15, 2008 during our talent show and dinner which will be held from 5-7:30pm at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier hotel Pacific Ballroom.

Tickets are still available for this spectacular show, where homeschoolers provide the entertainment while you enjoy a scrumptious buffet prepared by Disney’s chefs! Price to attend is just $33 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $20 for kids (ages 3-9). Remember, that price includes dinner AND a show!

If you are unable to attend the show, won’t you please consider assisting us with the sponsorship by purchasing a raffle ticket today? For each $5.00 donation, you will receive one entry into the drawing and you could win the cruise (next year’s family vacation would be all taken care of!), the Wii (wouldn’t that be a great gift for your family?), or the Ipod (wouldn’t that be great for yourself?).

You do not need to be present to win, just be sure your ticket purchase includes a valid address and contact information. We need to sell 1000 tickets to completely fund the 9 families, so be sure to pass this around to all your local groups and affiliates. You do not have to be a homeschooler to buy a raffle ticket!

Thanks, and to find out more about SHEA, or purchase your tickets, visit our website today:

http://www.southwest-home-education.com

I am passing this on from a yahoo group that I am on. If you are interested in it let me know and I will get you in touch with the coordinator. Looks really great, wish my kids were old enough!

I have schedule two Advanced Science Field Trips for 9th-12th grade students interested in working with the Staff and Marine Biologist at the Dana Point Ocean Institute. In addition to the Ocean Institute staff members, two adult chaperones will be onboard to help any students requiring assistance.

Each program requires pre-registration with payment (not refundable, but fully transferable). Space is limited and these events are filling quickly.

November 3rd 2008 – Advanced Living Systems Lab/Cruise
at Dana Point Ocean Institute

Grades 9th-12th 9:30a-2:00p
$50/person (includes drinks and snacks, bring lunch)

Explore the relationship between biotic and abiotic components of the marine ecosystem.

This lab includes a fish dissection, water chemistry, aquarium science, and a study of the oceanic food chain. Aboard the R/V Sea Explorer students examine benthic and pelagic habitats by deploying oceanographic sampling equipment to collect a variety of marine specimens.

January 21st 2009 – Advanced Floating Laboratory
at Dana Point Ocean Institute

Grades 9th-12th 12:00p-4:00p
$65/person (includes drinks and snacks)

Student oceanographers apply sampling and research protocols for water chemistry and biological monitoring.

Students will participate in benthic fish counts, chlorophyll productivity analysis and current measurements. Equipment available includes an otter trawl net, plankton net, Peterson grab sampler, Van Veen grab sampler, Van Dorn bottles, a new bioacoustic array, side scan sonar, CTD water analyzer, and a meteorological station.

Over 1000 people are registered to attend the official Not Back to School Days at Disneyland from September 15-18, 2008!!!It’s simply amazing that homeschooling comes as a result of our great freedom to choose. What a wonderful opportunity we have. And who would have thought you could actually homeschool at a theme park, like Disneyland?

This is the homeschooling rally you won’t want to miss!From a beach bonfire, to YES classes, to a host of scheduled get togethers, we’ve been planning and planning since October of 2007.You can be sure that there will be plenty of opportunity to meet new friends, and have a great time while you are filling out your syllabus!

Want to join us?Get on the website to find out more and see what’s left, it’s just a couple of weeks away and we don’t want anyone to miss out! There’s just 4 rooms left at the Grand Californian, Disney’s premier hotel which can start at $400 a night and go up. Our rate is only $219 a night, and it includes a spacious and well-appointed room with a queen bed, a bunk bed, and a trundle under the bunk. The room sleeps 5 comfortably, more if you want to squeeze them in.What a magical experience it is to stay at this hotel, right in the middle of everything Disneyland has to offer.Private entrance into California Adventure, and Downtown Disney, plus you can’t get any closer to Disneyland’s main gate.Remember, just 4 rooms left, so hurry!

Need to be part of the rally, but don’t want to attend the theme parks? All are invited to share in a special evening at the Paradise Pier hotel ballroom on Monday, September 15th from 5-7:30pm. While you enjoy a special buffet dinner prepared by Disneyland’s chefs, you will be delightfully entertained by some very talented homeschoolers. They had to submit recorded tapes to even get in this show, so please come out and lend your support for their efforts! The dinner/show tickets are just $33 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $20 for kids (ages 3-9). What a great way to set examples for your skeptical in-laws or neighbors who just don’t get it invite them to a well-organized event! Remember, the price is for dinner AND a show.

Got teens? Got teens who crave get togethers with other teens? Get them a ticket to our Homecoming Dance! Immediately following the dinner/show, we will ask everyone to exit the ballroom and then we’ll only be letting the teens back inside. More and more teens are going HOME to get their education, thus, a dance for them a Homecoming Dance to celebrate their decision to take their education into their own hands.Tickets for the dance are just $21 each and rebates apply for multiple tickets purchased on the same order.No tickets will be sold at the door. Modest dress code enforced. The dance is from 8-11pm.Not like other events which typically hold their dance at the end of the week, we wanted this to be an outstanding opportunity for them to meet new friends, and then spend the next few days getting to know each other!

http://www.southwest-home-education.com

Dianne McLean

Regional Director

Registration is now open for School at Sea 2009!!

In addition to an exciting week-long vacation aboard the Carnival Conquest, September 6th-13th, we will provide you with unique programs of special interest to homeschooling families.

Come along and join the fun as we visit Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel … ride the Jamaican bobsleds, visit Dunns River Falls, swim with the rays at Stingray City, snorkel beautiful reefs, walk on white sand beaches, explore Mayan ruins, take a Mexican cooking lesson … or just relax with family and friends!!

Our special Group Pricing rate for School at Sea families will help you enjoy more, but spend less.

Port Days are yours to enjoy however you choose. We will offer Sessions and Panel Discussions each Sea Day where we will present topics such as:

Online Options – Complete Curriculum, Individual Classes
Materials Suppliers – Science, Foreign Language, Classical Education, Unit Studies
Homeschooling for Highschoolers – Courses, Record Keeping, College Admission, Learning Abroad
Elective Subjects – Art, Music, Physical Fitness
Everything Else – Curriculum Planning, Testing, Exchange Student Program

We also have many fun-for-the-whole-family activities planned for the Sea Days, such as Physical Fun&Fit Challenge, Trivia Contest and our “Adventures at Sea” Scavenger Hunt … plus lots of onboard surprises!

Your School At Sea 2009 program begins with your “Welcome Packet”, where you will learn interesting facts about the ports with a fun mix of history, social studies, geography and science. The program continues with your “100 Days” packet, which includes daily activities to help you count down to your upcoming adventure. We will offer pre- and post-cruise optional activities such as the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and the Moody Mansion Museum of Galveston. Finally you will board the Carnival Conquest and let the fun begin!! After your week onboard the Carnival Conquest, your program is still not over. You will receive a “Cruise Memories” packet to commemorate your School at Sea 2009 experience.

If your family would enjoy a week at sea, participating in our School at Sea 2009 program, and visiting such fascinating ports as Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel … I look forward to hearing from you!

For more details, please contact: Karen Hall – School at Sea
part of Worldwide Family Vacations.
(949) 466-3571 or (866) 476-5712
Karen AT WorldwideFamilyVacations.com

To all attendees of the SHEA Not Back to School Days at Disneyland….

We have added a HOMECOMING DANCE AND SOCIAL for teens ages 14-17 for Monday, September 15th immediately following the Talent Show and Private Party Dinner.

The Talent Show and Dinner has been moved to the Paradise Pier hotel ballroom. This was done at Disneyland’s discretion due to the nature of some of the talent being performed. But it worked out great because now we have a stage for the performers, better sound system, and a really nice arena for our dinner.

Disneyland is not charging us additional for this, however, they have allowed us to keep the ballroom after the talent show and dinner to have our teen social at an extremely discounted price. This is so exciting – a semi-formal dance just for teens!

Space is limited, and so is the time to order your tickets. If your teen is interested, please place your order today at: http://sheadisney2008.eventbrite.com

If you have not ordered the dinner/talent show tickets, this is also limited on space and is a great way to show your support for those who are performing – they are afterall homeschoolers!

Thanks for your support and we will see you in September!

Southwest Home Educators Association

Place: Shark Reef, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Date: July 17, 2008
Time: 9:30-11:45 am

Cost: $5 per kid. $12.95 per adult any adult registering 4 or more
children on one order will get a $10 rebate off their admission*.

Details:

This is an educational fieldtrip that consists of a one hour guided
tour and a one hour private classroom session. Pre-teaching
materials are available and I will be holding an online pre-
teaching session using a virtual classroom – where attendees can
participate from the comfort of their computer. More information
about the online pre-teach will be sent to those enrolled closer to
the date.

This fieldtrip is for ages 5-17. The Shark Reef asks that we limit
the number of adults so this is the perfect opportunity to give a
fellow mom a little break and team up to take kids in small groups.
Adults that are chaperoning 4 or more children will get a $10 rebate
off their admission*. In order to get the rebate, you must register
at least one adult and 4 kids (or more) on one order. Kids under 5
and strollers are not allowed due to space in the classroom. The
paying adult will be responsible for all children on their order.

This event is PREPAID and NOT REFUNDABLE. In order to facilitate the
online pre-teaching event, sales for this fieldtrip end July 1st.
There is a very limited amount of tickets and this will sell out
quickly. Regular admission is $10.95-$15.95 so this is a GREAT deal
and a wonderful educational experience. Kids are often (though not
guaranteed) given a free ticket to return another day so this makes
it an INCREDIBLE deal.

*Rebates will be given after we receive the order and verify that
there is at least one paying adult and at least four paying
children. You will receive the rebate via the same method you paid
(paypal, credit card, e-check).