Extracurricular Activities

[jolenegreen]

Hi everyone! Just wondering what u sign your kids up for...for fun!? We dont have much around here so Im looking for ideas!!!

[Maluhia]

Soccer
Hula
Guitar Lessons


In N. New York (my ILs are there) I think I'd work on Sewing Lessons becuase there are so many really talented ladies I've met there who still quilt by hand, etc. and the art is so rare these days.

[luv2homeschool]

bowling (we did the free bowling at kidsbowlfree.com)
sewing (I will teach this)
museums
Art classes (wen we can afford it)
tennis
hiking

[earthmama369]

In the past we've done cooking for kids, drama, artist trading cards, piano lessons, swimming, group nature hikes, things like that. And a lot of playdates and playgroups. For activities, this semester we asked the kids to pick one thing they were interested in and we'd try to find it for them. DS is going to do gymnastics and DD is going to continue piano.

[elizawill]

typing it out, it seems like a lot for us, but it really isn't. all of this is either free or dirt cheap.

my daughter will take:
-co-op bi-weekly (story of the world, habitats, and board games)
-gymnastics bi-weekly
-4-H monthly, plus field trips
-horsebackriding bi-weekly
-awana weekly


my son will take:
-co-op bi-weekly (story of the world, habitats, music & movement)
-lego club bi-weekly
-4-H monthly, plus field trips
-gymnastics bi-weekly
-horsebackriding bi-weekly
-awana weekly
-tae kwon do weekly (but i *think* we're dropping this)
-there is also a homeschool pokemon club that he really wants to attend, so i'd like to make that happen for him.

[dubatatamama]

We usually do swim and soccer, but this year, we are signing them up for a homeschool gym class which is all fun games (not like a PS gym glass). It runs for 14 weeks, so it will give us something to do each week through Christmas. We are still searching for a new place to do swim lessons because we were not thrilled with the place they have been going.

ETA: We also do a weekly homeschool co-op and library story time as well, but those are free

[karemore]

We've always done library storytime. This fall DD (5) is old enough to do the lego and board game events at the library as well. They had programs all summer we've enjoyed.

We just found a homeschool nature program at a state park in the area. They meet once a month and did a three day program this summer.

DD has been doing gymnastics since she was 3 1/2. She tried ballet and modern dance this summer in an intro 5 week program. I think she'll continue in the fall.

We're starting 4-H this fall, there's a homeschool environmental group that meets twice a month.

We'll start Daisy Scouts next month.

Sunday School. We did Vacation Bible school this summer and there are programs throughout the year at church.

I'd like to find a music program, and or a drama program for her based on her current interests.

[AnnR33]

As far as regular extras:
DS-age 11 takes karate and archery
DD-age 8 has a Girl Scout troop and guitar lessons
Both-1x per month class at the nature center

We have weekly play days with a group of homeschoolers too.

Once in a while:
art classes
pottery classes
swimming lessons
science classes

[briansmama]

Originally Posted by elizawill

typing it out, it seems like a lot for us, but it really isn't. all of this is either free or dirt cheap.

my daughter will take:
-co-op bi-weekly (story of the world, habitats, and board games)
-gymnastics bi-weekly
-4-H monthly, plus field trips
-horsebackriding bi-weekly
-awana weekly


my son will take:
-co-op bi-weekly (story of the world, habitats, music & movement)
-lego club bi-weekly
-4-H monthly, plus field trips
-gymnastics bi-weekly
-horsebackriding bi-weekly
-awana weekly
-tae kwon do weekly (but i *think* we're dropping this)
-there is also a homeschool pokemon club that he really wants to attend, so i'd like to make that happen for him.

Elizawill, all of these activities sound like so much fun! How do you have all of these things free or dirt cheap?

Horseback riding costs $65 per 1 group lesson here, and lego class is $150 per 6 week session. 4-H was a bust, martial arts was $125 month, and co-ops cost a fortune too.

We'll do these things (but only 1 at a time), but I would love to know how you're able to find these resources at a good cost.

[frugalmama]

We just do PE once or twice a week. It's free through the city for homeschoolers.

[AllyRae]

My child that's homeschooled does:

Tang Soo Do (Korean Martial Arts) once a week
Gymnastics once a week
Nature science class at our local arboretum (free)
Library story time (free)


She'll also be starting a co-op that is once a week (for her age level, they just have a montessori class and a general playing class, but once she hits kindy, there will be a lot more choices)

We also do at least 1 field trip every week (either as a family trip or as part of a homeschool group) and at least 1 playgroup every week (as part of la leche league or our AP group). Once our other little one is a little older, we'll probably hit the free science homeschool class at our local museum as well.

[nov05mama]

Weekly
Monday Co-Op
Library Story Time

Monthly
Nature Class
Lowe's Workshops (usually 2 per month)

Starting in September, we will have Science Club every 2 weeks on Wednesday mornings and are probably going to get involved in 4-H now that he's old enough to join.

The only other thing my husband and I are in process of deciding on is when to have him possibly start karate. Everything above is FREE aside from Nature Class...the classes are 3/$10 or $4 per class, so super cheap!

[AAK]

Anna (grade 5 this year):
Often participates in community theater
Dance (weekly)
Piano (weekly)
Basketball (winter)
Girl Scouts (2x/month)
May start going to a homeschool group at the museum (2x/month)

Kayla (grade 2 this year)
Mother/Daughter book club (1x/month)
Piano (weekly)
Dance (weekly)
Soccer (fall/spring)
Girl Scouts (2x/month)
Wants to find a pottery class for winter.

Maya (prek)
Dance (weekly)

We do other stuff as it comes up if it fits in our schedule. We also try to schedule stuff during the day when we can. I don't like our evenings being hectic. The girl scouts is a multi age troop and I am leading the Brownie section this year. I bring Maya too--so it is a "girls night" for us. I didn't list it under Maya since she isn't really old enough to be in the troop yet. When Anna is in a play, she misses some other things, but drama is a priority for her. And, when she is in basketball, she doesn't audition for a play.

Amy

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by briansmama

Elizawill, all of these activities sound like so much fun! How do you have all of these things free or dirt cheap?

Horseback riding costs $65 per 1 group lesson here, and lego class is $150 per 6 week session. 4-H was a bust, martial arts was $125 month, and co-ops cost a fortune too.

We'll do these things (but only 1 at a time), but I would love to know how you're able to find these resources at a good cost.

i live near charlotte & the homeschooling community is HUGE here. homeschoolers network for cheap classes during business & school hours. there are also groups that find community centers or churches that will host us for free, so if the parents run the "class", there is no charge. it is awesome, and works especially well for someone like my family (i.e. small budget). this is the cost of things here...

-co-op bi-weekly $60 for the year
-gymnastics bi-weekly $5 first child and $4 for sibling
-4-H monthly, plus field trips free, BUT there may be a $25 charge for the robotic parts if we decide to join that particular class (there are several classes forming out of one group)
-horsebackriding bi-weekly $10 per child (this class has a 5 kid minimum, so we do it with friends. the same place offers equestrian homeschool classes too for the same cost where the group is larger & the owner teaches on a specific topic)
-awana weekly free
-tae kwon do $5 first child, $4 siblings
-pokemon club free
-lego club free (but this is not a league - just a club)

they also offer art, yoga, show & tell, PE, etc. it is all free. our co-op meets on the same day though, so we can't attend those classes. plus, gas is a killer. i don't actually live in charlotte, so it's costly for me. it is awesome though!

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by nov05mama

Weekly
Lowe's Workshops (usually 2 per month)

yes, i forgot about this. we enjoy the home depot one as well!! they are so much fun!

[briansmama]

Thanks for all the great info, Elizawill! I want to move to Charlotte