Classes, Co-ops, and University Model Schools

Classes:

McKinney Roughs

Beautiful park that hosts all kinds of fun events, classes, and camps.  Call the front desk at 512-303-5073 to be put on the mailing list.

McKinney Roughs Nature Park

Junior Naturalists

First Saturday of each month through May 09

10 -noon, $5 per child, ages 6-10

Children will look deeply into the natural world to learn the skills of
a true naturalist. Practicing the naturalist skills of journaling,
tracking, research and keen observation, they will experience nature
through outdoor art, games and activities that hone all of their senses.
Pre-registration is required. Call (512)303-5073.

Join other night-sky revelers for a chance to marvel at the beauty of
the planets and be awed by our Earth’s place in the galaxy. The wonders
of the universe will come to life when viewed through our Dobsonian
telescopes. Our astronomer will tell stories about the constellations
and point out other wonders as they appear. Bring lawn chairs and
blankets for comfort. Fun for the whole family! Program will cancel for
inclement weather. Call (512) 303-5073 before 5 pm to confirm or call
our 24-hour community program hotline at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 7530.
Registration is not required.

C.H.A.A. Saints

Saints offers Physical Education (PE) in a Protestant Christian setting with qualified instructors for low cost.  No one is turned away due to money. Scholarships are available.

www.chaasaintstx.com

EASY Theatre:

Offers classes and opportunities for various types of artists to display their talents

www.EASYtheatre.com

***If you are at all interested in the possibility of joining EASY Theatre
rehearsal classes which start rehearsals in late February either in BASTROP
or in AUSTIN so you can perform, then you should really see our last
semester’s class show performances!

You can see anything from sweet musicals with first year student, to a
comedy starring teens who’ve completed their third year. You can even see
an all adult cast most of whom are homeschooling parent who rehearse one
evening a week performing a children’s musical.

Links to all the show and class info for Bastrop and Austin is at

http://easytheatre. com/

Engela Edwards is offering: Two touring shows for teens (the one is Bastrop
Play is already full, but there is room in the Austin Musical.) This one is
the most expensive, because it includes the youth theater festival fees for
a 5-day theater conference where the cast performs with 14 other theater
companies from around the state and attends workshops and parties with
hundreds of other youth actors from Texas. $150 to $185 plus you have to
figure in what it will cost you to stay in a hotel and eat out for 5 days
four nights in June.

One Play rehearsal class for 5-up in Austin which rehearses on Thursdays.

Multiple musical and play classes in Bastrop for ages 5 up ($100 to $130 for
the semester) which rehearse on Wednesdays.

A musical version of Alice in Wonderland for an adult cast in Bastrop which
rehearses on Tuesday nights for the bargain price of $35 for the semester
which includes two tickets, your script, and four performances.

Song and Dance for Alice for teens which rehearses afternoons on Tuesdays
$50.

Lots more info on the website, but if you have questions call 303-5516.

Engela Edwards

Director/instructor and homeschooling mother

Tribe

Offers sports for homeschoolers

www.tribeconsolidated.org

Backyard Food Production Workshop

These fill up very quickly, so if you want to register, please contact
cindy@gvtc.com.

This one-day workshop is for those seeking to grow more of their own
food. It is appropriate for those with either a large suburban backyard,
to rural homesteads with acres of land. The course is held on a family
farm where we depend on these sytems to grow a significant part of our
diet. We have implemented and experimented with a variety of food
production techniques drawn from organic farming, permaculture,
agroforestry, indigenous teachings, historical anecdotes, and missionary
work in third world countries. The climate and soils of Central Texas
provide many challenges; this workshop will give you several years jump
on getting production going.

A list of topics covered are:

Water: rainwater catchment, ponds, wells, grey water systems, earthworks
Gardens: how big?, location, composting, building soil, mulching, living
shade cloth
Greenhouses & hoop houses: why we use them and when.
Home butchering: (please do not attend if you cannot handle the killing
and processing of a small animal)
Animal husbandry: breeds, health, reproduction, housing, feeding,
watering, processing, predators, and rotation.
Small animals: free range, netting, pens, coops, and tractors. Pros &
cons of chickens, turkeys, geese, rabbits, and guienas
Orchards and agro-forestry: Growing a food forest and managing orchards.
Calorie crops: how much area?, sweet potatoes, sunflowers, peanuts, grains
Other possibilities: edible landscaping, wild-crafting, and eating insects
Community: sharing, learning, and trading with those around you
Sunday February 8, 2009 from 9:00am – 5:00pm.
The workshop is held at a rural farm within an hour drive SE of Austin,
TX. The workshop fee is only $100 per person and includes the workshop,
notes, and workbooks. Bring your own lunch. This is an outdoors
experience so dress appropriately. Class size is limited. Contact
cindy@gvtc.com for further information and to register.

Co-ops:

Bastrop Independent Christian Co-op:

Christian families that meet for organized classes and park days.  They require you to sign their statement of faith.

www.roundupranch.org

University Model Schools:

One Day Academy:

Offers classes with professional instructors, Christian setting, and classes one day per week

www.onedayacademy.com

Cornerstone Academy:

Christian based academy meeting twice per week offering a part-time format for middle and high school students

www.cornerstoneacademy-bastrop.com

4-H Shooting Club

Hi, 4H-ers. Our neighbor (a handgun safety teacher and shooting
enthusiast,
Ken Jenkins) did some quick research for us when he found we were
looking
for a 4H certified shooting club. There is one in LaGrange, which
meets the
3rd Sunday from 2PM-4PM. Regrettably, that’s today and I didn’t get
the
info quickly enough. We are welcome any time; however, he suggests
we call
first to make sure nothing came up to move the planned date. His
name is
EDWARD KUBOS at 979-743-0248. An alternative contact is: Craig
Oltman at
979-968-3815. Everyone shoots for a couple of hours, then there is a
4H
meeting for those who wish to attend.

The next one would be Sunday, March 15th, 2PM-4PM.

Directions:
* Highway 71 East towards Houston, through Smithville and then to
LaGrange.
* Highway 77 Exit.
* Left, or North, (over the freeway) for 3.5 miles.
* Past the Fayette County Fairgrounds on your left, where 4H’ers
show
their animals every year at Labor Day.
* Up a hill; there’s a 2′-diameter orange sign on the right,
pointing
off Hwy 77 to the range.

Smoothing the Way

The Smoothing The Way courses will be starting up Thursday, August 27th at 7pm.  This is geared for new homeschoolers or if you missed any classes in previous years.    Melody Gillum(512-639- 9341) is leading the classes this year.  Or you can go to the website www.smoothingtheway .com for all the info.   Classes will be held in the AQUA building on Old Austin Highway in Bastrop the 4th Thursday of every month until May (will be different in November and December).

There is a fee which includes the books and a life time membership.  Every month has a different topic and the book is great for resources.

From the website:

Smoothing the Way is a support group dedicated to serving first-year homeschooling mothers. Each month a topic of specific interest to the new homeschooler is offered. Veteran homeschooling moms and guest speakers are available to inform and encourage those who have decided to take on the exciting, yet sometimes daunting, task of educating their own children.