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Bridget
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What would your dream homeschooling conference/retreat be like?
Programs for kids? Sessions for the whole family? Practical sessions on mega cooking? A demosration on how to teach a subject to multiple levels at once? Priests available for confession?
I'm just dreamin' here!
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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cathhomeschool
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I would love to be able to take a week and go as a family. There would be programs for the kids -- some school-ish (FIAR or lapbook, crafts) some not (nature hikes, bow and arrows and scout type stuff, games). (I know -- really, all of that stuff is "school" but the kids don't have to know that!) There would be Daily Mass at a "reasonable" hour -- not naptime and not 7am! Adoration and confession would be great. Programs for dad and kids together while mom is somewhere else -- maybe at that cooking session. I don't just need a session on mega cooking, though. I need MENUS and shopping lists! (I know that Saving Dinner is out there, and I use it some, but it never hurts to have more.  ) My mil and I agree that if someone would just tell us what to make, cooking would be so much easier! And yes, a demonstration -- not a talk -- on how to teach different subjects to different levels at once. And I would love lots of opportunities for fellowship and fun with all the different families there. The location would have to be someplace with woods and space -- not lots of cars and traffic to worry about with littles.
We participate in a family RE program here in which mom, dad, and all the kids participate together. The "leader" (whose wife lurks here on occasion) gives a talk, then we break into families for further discussion and to answer some pre-prepared questions, then we gather again to discuss and share. A family session like that would be cool and very workable with lots of kids.
I'm sure I've forgotten stuff.... but that's a start!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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lapazfarm
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All of the above!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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momwise
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cathhomeschool wrote:
| I need MENUS and shopping lists! (I know that Saving Dinner is out there, and I use it some, but it never hurts to have more. ) My mil and I agree that if someone would just tell us what to make, cooking would be so much easier! |
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Maybe the foodies among us ought to follow the music and art of the month idea and give us recipes and shopping lists each week. OTOH, maybe we'd become too addicted to this board!!
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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momwise
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cathhomeschool wrote:
| A family session like that would be cool and very workable with lots of kids. |
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Hmmm....a family session...that's an idea I never thought of before. It sounds like a neat idea though.
Well.....now you've got me thinking of a family reunion type of convention....maybe camping for 2-3 days at the end of it for those who can stay/be on vacation??
Team building activities here and there to break up the workshops (our teen track here in Denver will have these types of activies). A praise and worship singing session after morning Mass or in the evening.
Alas, this is the dreaming of the person who doesn't have to put on the conference
I'd like to have Confessions available as well as an Adoration chapel nearby.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Becky Parker
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Having activities for the kids would be a plus. I struggle with our local conference because while I LOVE the time that dh and I spend together "alone" at the conference, it is hard for me to find someone to watch the kids for an entire day. (We have to drive a while to get there so we're gone from about 6:30 am to after dinner.) A friend made a weekend of the conference with her husband last year and I was envious, but on the other hand, finding someone to watch the kids for that long would be difficult (we don't live near any family). There is another homeschool conference here (not Catholic) and I noticed that this year they are having a "kids conference" at the same time. I wonder what that would be like? I wonder if I would just worry about my kids all day, or if I would enjoy the conference more...I don't know.
Becky
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Bridget
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Lots of wonderful ideas!
Our local Catholic conference is nice. The organizers have said that it is hard to get speakers, much less volunteers. I'm not sure why, but Catholics are not great at volunteering in my area.  So I can see why a family conference would be even harder to pull off.
But I have this vague idea of a family conference. One that is fun for everyone. One that encourages the whole family in living the Faith and real learning. One that fortifies us to stay the course. One where our teens can connect and maybe find their future spouse.
But... it would take very dedicated, creative planners to do it. I hope it can happen one day soon.
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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momwise
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Take a look at the Australian Homeschool camp!
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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dhbrug
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As a follow up to Gwen's link to my post on our Catholic Homeschooling camp I thought I would give some more details.
Everyone arrives on Monday and there is an opening Mass in the afternoon followed by dinner and then some evening activity.
Tuesday to Thursday follows a standard schedule with breakfast finishing around 8:00 am, Mass at 9:00am followed by Morning Tea. A talk is given by a speaker - layman or priest - and then there is lunch. Afternoon free time is followed by another talk, then dinner at 5:30. (Dinner is n two shifts - littlies and then the rest). Then there is an evening activity - a concert on Thursday, bonfire on Tuesday.
Whilst the talk is on there are three children's sessions segregated by age run by a layman, priest or nun. There is confession available at any time and there are lots of priests, brothers and nuns either popping in or staying at the camp.
As you can see from the two photos I posted on the blog, there is no segregation of parents. The camp is very FAMILY and Faith focussed. The talks are more on family life and our mission in the world as homeschooling Catholic families. There are homeschooling supplies sold by various families attending and any discussions of the practical aspects of homeschooling are mostly done one on one or in small groups.
The focus of homeschooling is around the life choice. Education is a bonus and an important aspect, but the most important part is raising your family in the way closest to the mind of God and His Church.
All over, the camp is a wonderful way of meeting like-minded families, socialising and meeting old and new friends. Many marriages have resulted from the friendships started at these camps. 
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David
http://bruggietales.blogspot.com
dw Lana 89, dd 91, ds 93, ds 96, ds 98, dd 01, dd 04, ds 07
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Bridget
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I've had ideas about this floating around in my head for a couple of years now. I just don't think I have the skill or the clout to pull it off.
We have a great order of priests right here near us. Part of their apostlate is spiritual direction for families. They love homeschoolers and they are wonderful. They travel the country giving retreats and talks and would be perfect for this.
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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cathhomeschool
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Has anyone heard of/been to Catholic Familyland?
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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MicheleQ
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I think this sounds wonderful but oh my goodness what an undertaking! My experience from putting on a conference (happening in less than 2 weeks now - yikes!) is that poeple love your ideas but VERY few are willing to actually help. Or they volunteer and then don't follow through. I've already decided I am not heading another conference here next year (I am having a baby after all) but I also know that may mean there won't be one and that's a shame.
I go to a lot of homeschool conferences, but being a vendor means I'm working and rarely get to enjoy any of the talks. Though it is great getting to connect with people.  Bridget I'm not going to make it to Michigan this year. I have to attend a diocesan RCIA training seminar that weekend and I really can't miss it. I AM having someone run a table for me though.
God bless!
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
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Rachel May
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A friend in Hawaii went every year with her two kids and sometimes her husband went too. I don't remember anything specific except that they ALL loved it, even the skeptics.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Ideal HS conference?
