My Top Three Free (or cheap) Community Resources For Your Homeschool
When it comes to planning the new school year, everyone has their favorite curriculum they tend to use as the spine of their homeschool. This is a good start, but what about those days that the books just aren’t cutting it and you need a little adventure? Maybe the mood has shifted and a trip away from the house might just save the day?
I’d like to introduce you to my top three community resources that are under utilized when we start planning our school year.
The key with these three resources is early researching. I want to encourage you to put in a little research in July or August, again in January or February, and again in April or May, taking time to quickly look at the calendars of these three resources. In my experience this can take as little as an hour each quarter. Heck, you could even work on this while watching your favorite show. I promise you, getting these activities on your calendar takes very little planning or prep on your end and can create lots of great homeschool memories for your family.
Activities provided by these resources are especially helpful on those days when you really need a lifeline and you still want to get some educational value out of your day. Most of the time, these resources require no reservation, no upfront payment, and no mom guilt if plans change, so you can feel good about putting activities on your calendar months in advance.
The Local Library
While having a great curriculum picked out is a weight lifted come the first day of school, sometimes a trip to the library is a refreshing break in your day. The thrill of finding new-to you-books or attending one of the library educational programs can be just as exciting as getting into that box of science materials you’ve been waiting for.
Tips for a successful trip:
With the many new authors and books available on the local library shelves, not all are as wholesome or age appropriate as you may prefer. If you're concerned about what your child may pick up, take a few minutes a couple of weeks ahead of your trip to place holds on some books by authors you’ve prescreened that they can pick up from the hold section when you get there.
Bring your shiny new school books to the library and do school work there for a change of scenery. With plenty of tables and a quiet atmosphere, this is a great place to spend time going over history with your kids. This is an especially helpful place to land if you feel cooped up in the heat waves of September or the chilly winter months.
Check the library website for a list of seasonal classes or activities they will be offering. They usually put out the schedule quarterly. Sign up for the activities that interest you at the beginning of the school year so you actually make time for them. Be sure to remove yourself from the registration to free up spots if there’s a wait list and so the staff can plan accordingly for supplies and staffing the activity.
Nature Centers
You ever just have those days where things aren’t going well and everyone just needs a do over…including mom? A trip to the local nature center can be a breath of fresh air after a stale day of homeschooling. If you have a nature center close by, many times they offer children’s classes, outdoor skills opportunities, or even a trail for unscheduled exploring. Moms and children of all ages can benefit from some time in nature throughout the week.
Tips for a successful trip:
Plan ahead. Just like the library, the nature center will have a monthly or quarterly calendar of events published. Check that at the beginning of the school year and plan on signing up to attend some conservation classes or hitting the trail if they have one.
Bring snacks. And second breakfast. And elevenses. Despite having just fed your children before heading out the door, they are hungry as soon as you pull into the parking lot. Lots of snacks are key to this outing. Pack more than you think you’ll need. Keep a bag of “van snacks” in the van at all times.
Bring just as much water as you do food. Everyone will be thirsty after all the snacking and walking. It’s much better to have thought this one through before heading out the door. We make it a rule that everyone is to bring a full water bottle with them every time we get in the van. Now it’s a habit for my family to grab a full water bottle before we get in the van.
Keep a change of clothes, towels, baby wipes, and some waterproof bags in your vehicle so when accidents or intentional muddy play happens you’ve got a plan.
Parks and Rec Calendar
As summer is winding down there are still plenty of free or cheap activities filling up the Parks and Rec Calendar of your town. Perhaps a concert in the park, a kids fishing derby, or fall festivals are on the calendar. I always like to check for free or cheap local events that are close enough to our home in case meltdowns ensue, have some sort of fun learning opportunity attached, or make for great memories.
Tips for a successful trip
Be sure to read the full description of the activity you’re going to so you are prepared for what lies ahead. Maybe you need to park at a certain parking lot that requires a lot of walking and you need tennis shoes. Perhaps there's a small fee per vehicle for the event. Maybe you can’t bring your own food in or need cash for food trucks. Always read the fine print so you don’t show up unprepared and have to make an emergency trip back home.
Is the event indoors or outdoors? Depending on the time of year, the weather might play a role in the cancellation or postponement of an event. If your parks and rec has a social media account, most likely that’s the first place to check if you think the event might be delayed. Check it before leaving your house. There’s nothing like the disappointment of showing up to something that’s no longer happening.
My last tip that’s applicable to all three resources is to invite your friends. There’s nothing more fun than showing up to a free or cheap event hosted in a public space that you don’t have to manage or clean up after and hanging with your besties. You’ll probably gain some cool mom points with your homeschool mom friends for finding the cool free activities and telling them about them. All you’ve done is spent an hour of your time watching reruns, searching three websites and picking a few fun things to add to your calendar. This is a cakewalk! I mean, utilizing these resources is way better than planning and organizing an actual field trip! IYKYK