Looking for a homeschool convention? There are some fun homeschool and unschool conventions that I have heard about coming up. If you have any others to share, leave the information in a comment. Hope you get to go to at least one this year!

Good Vibrations Unschooling Conference

SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2009 – SAN DIEGO, CA

Have several friends making it to this one. I would have loved to go but choose the Disney one.

Read more about this great convention at Good Vibrations Unschooling Conference. Be registered by August 14!

Not near California? Here is another great unschooling conference:

Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering in Ohio

Where can you surf indoors, play carnival games, and chat with John Taylor Gatto all in the same day?

At the 3rd Annual Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering in Ohio, that’s where!

February 8-12, 2010 Kalahari Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio

Registration is Open! Visit our website at http://www.ugo.unschoolgathering.com/

Fun abounds in this week-long gathering of unschoolers at the world’s largest indoor waterpark!  Our 2010 UWWG is bigger and better than last year – we’ve doubled the size of the conference area.  More room for Funshops, Talks and Special Events!

And…  guess what?

NO Registration or Conference Fees!

That’s right – all you pay for is your room registration – at our group’s super discounted room rates – and your family receives a week of waterpark fun and unschooling camaraderie!

In addition to John Taylor Gatto, this year’s UWWG features some of the best unschooling voices around:

·        Ben & Kelly Lovejoy
·        Gail & Broc Higgins
·        Dayna Martin
·        Heather Burditt & T.J. Phillips
·        And more

Stay in Touch and Learn More by joining our yahoo discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UWWG/join.

Ask questions, share plans, get excited!

2009 Getaway Stone Mountain Georgia

The School’s Out Forever Homeschool Getaway

October 8-11, 2009

Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta Georgia

We invite all homeschoolers, who have left school and the idea of school in the past, to join us for an exciting, family supported getaway at the beautiful Stone Mountain Park, in Atlanta Georgia.  Are you and your family moving forward to create a new path?  Come join us and others on this same journey.

and last but not least the one we are making it to this year:

Disneyland Homeschool Convention in Sept

This is in conjunction with Disney Youth Education Series classes. Click the link for more info.

Wherever you choose to go, just GO! Get some support, make new friends and enjoy your homeschooling freedom!

Just booked us! WOOHOO! So excited to be staying at the Grand California. I have ALWAYS wanted to. We went to this two years ago and it was by far one of our favorite homeschool experiences ever. This is the last year they plan to organize it so go if you can! My kids LOVED taking classes from the Disney staff!

Join thousands of homeschoolers at the Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference as we celebrate our freedom to homeschool, network with new friends, and be examples for the growth of homeschooling! This conference will be held September 14-17, 2009 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

WHAT IS THIS?

FIELD TRIP: Kids ages 8 and up can take a Y.E.S. (Youth in Education Series) class, taught in the theme parks by Disney staff. These can only be reserved in advance through a booked group, no walk up registrations for YES classes.

CONFERENCE: Exhibit hall and workshops – a carefully selected program, with something for everyone. Walk up registrations welcome, advance registration appreciated.

RALLY: Celebrate our freedom to educate our children as we feel best. Cheer with special guests who are homeschoolers and work hard to preserve your rights.

NETWORK: This is a priority with our organizers, so expect to meet new friends as you interact in scheduled group activities. Talent show, homecoming dance, more.

VACATION: You won’t find a less expensive trip to Disneyland, from the park hoppers to the hotel rooms, seriously. Your family will thank you over and over again. Send them off to the theme parks, while you soak up some conference action – it’s a win, win solution to past dilemmas of what to do with the kids. Bring the skeptical inlaws – they will get a first hand glimpse of the benefits of homeschooling.

There is so much to do, just download the updated complete conference packet and see for yourself – most of your questions can be answered in the packet: www.notbacktoschooldays.com

Walk up rates are now in effect, but we have added more vendors and more classes, so for those who have procrastinated, here’s a 5-day coupon to save 50% on your conference passes – put in code LATE3 at the bottom of the first page of registration. The coupon will expire on July 24th.

Membership in the sponsoring organization is not required to attend this conference, it is open to all home educators, and especially inquisitive and skeptical inlaws and neighbors. Bring them and show the real fruits of freedom in education!

Hope to see you!
Contact (not me!): Dianne McLean
fieldtrips@sw-home-edu.com

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

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

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

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

The deadline to get in on the Amateur Talent Show for homeschoolers
has been extended to April 7th.

This talent show will be held at Disneyland during our private party
dinner on Monday, September 15, 2008. This is not a professional
show, so don’t feel like you have to be a professional or have a
recording contract to perform. We welcome anyone who wants to get
out there and strut their stuff!

If you, your group, or your children have a talent to share –
singing, dancing, choreography, magic tricks, comedy (standup or
skit), theatrical, or any other entertainment – we would love to
have you!

The guidelines are as follows:
1) You MUST sign up early and submit a short video or photo with a
typed version of your lyrics and content. All entries must be
postmarked no later than April 7, 2008.

Why do you need to submit the lyrics and content? Because
Disneyland wants to review everything to make sure it is appropriate
for Disney format. Keep the lyrics clean, non-political, and kid-
friendly, and the attire appropriate – and you should be fine. DO
NOT SUBMIT THEM DIRECTLY TO DISNEY. We have to send all of the
entries to our Disneyland rep in one big package. Submit all
entries to:

Southwest Home Educators Association
P.O. Box 22482
Bullhead City, AZ 86439

2) Entry into the show does not get you tickets into the park, or
entitle you to dinner in the private arena. We tried to get this –
but unfortunately Disneyland says everyone needs to pay. This
talent show and dinner coordinates with our 3-day Not Back To School
Days field trip for homeschoolers that runs from September 15-17,
2008. If you want to perform, but do not want to hang out in the
private party arena or have dinner, the Disneyland staff will escort
you out after your performance.

The dinner tickets cannot be purchased at the gate, this is a group
activity and must be purchased through the group. If you would like
a great deal on park hopper passes, we have them for $109 per person
(they are $185 at the gate) for three full days of park hopper fun –
PLUS they include up to TWO of the new Youth in Education Series
(YES) classes. Again, these park hopper tickets cannot be purchased
at the gate – they are under group contract.

3) Visit our website for details – to purchase tickets, or to read
more about this fantastic family adventure!

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

Dianne McLean, Director

The next Disneyland field trip is booked for September 15-17, 2008 and will
include a 3-day park hopper pass. More details are coming in the next week –
and more activities are being included in this Not Back to School Days adventure
to meet your requests.

Last month’s field trip had nearly 300 participants registered in classes. To
read about the Sept. 2007 trip, visit our website.

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

Disney Homeschool Days
January 14-15, 2008

I LOVED the Disney Youth Education Series. I so wish that we could go to this next year but our 14 day (yes, we are INSANE) trip to DisneyWorld last year sort of blew our budget. Anyway, hope someone out there gets a chance to take advantage of this great opportunity!

Are your homeschoolers ready to push their education to the next level, or simply needing a new out-of-the-box challenge? Disney Homeschool Days offer exciting programs that are sure to enhance and add a new level to your homeschool curriculum. Pre-registration ends January 7, 2008 in order for materials and tickets to be mailed out for your convenience.

Disney Speaker Series – Disney professionals will engage students on the topics of culture and science. Your students will also receive a work book for each series! $43.15*

* Passport Around the World –Learn about their lives growing up in other countries and how they have adapted to life in the United States
* Science, Disney Style – Disney professionals share how science is the building block to all that we do here at Walt Disney World® Resort!

Self-Guided Booklet – Disney Homeschool Days participants receive these workbook materials with your Disney Homeschool Days ticket. These workbooks are yours to keep, as you take advantage of additional learning opportunities around Epcot®.

Open Enrollment in Disney Youth Education Series – This gives your students the opportunity to join one of our most popular Disney Y.E.S. Programs. $24.00**

* Dynamics of Technology Monday, January 14 only
* Everyday Chemistry Tuesday, January 15 only
* Synergy in Science Monday, January 14 & Tuesday, January 15
* NEW! Disney’s Ocen Discoveries Monday, January 14 & Tuesday, January 15

Not only is this great opportunity for your students to grow, but a fantastic way for your students to network and learn with other homeschoolers. Disney Homeschool Days welcomes individual homeschooolers as well as groups of 10 or more. Parents and extra guests can also join in on the activities taking place and designed specifically for you.

Specially-priced Disney Homeschool Days packages are available. Book today as space fills up quickly. Pre-registration ends on January 7, 2008 in order for materials and tickets to be mailed out for your convenience. Plus, groups receive one complimentary ticket for every 10 purchased!

Make your plans to visit us during Disney Homeschool Days this September! For more information, please call 1-877-939-6884 or click here.

*Disney Homeschool Days Package includes admission to Epcot®, self-guided workbooks and the Speaker Series for $43.15 **Add-on a Disney Y.E.S. program for $24.00. Form of payment accepted are credit cards or cashier’s check.

For more info go to the official page