The Sooner You Get Behind, the More Time You Have to Catch Up

The lake at ICC

Last Friday, I went to Indian Creek Camp for a Pathfinder Leadership Retreat. We had workshops on Friday evening, all day on Sabbath, and a general session on Sunday morning after breakfast. The workshops that I went to were: Concepts of Outdoor Education, Cold Weather Camping, Backpacking, Resources, Geocaching, and Discipline. I learned a lot and had fun too.

The chapel at ICC

Monday night was our first Pathfinder meeting of the year. The director went over the "how to's" for the new kids. They learned how to "fall in" and "fall out", how to stand at attention and do an "about face". They tied some of the knots that they will have to learn this year.

Tuesday morning, T and I went to our first college classes (Freshman Comp for T, Intermediate Algebra for me). We both survived--T is probably the youngest in his class and I am probably the oldest in mine.

Wednesday, I took the car back to the mechanic to work on the "check engine" light problem so I could get it to pass the emissions test and get my new tag. Before I got home with it, the light was on again. We took it back and left it for him to work on on Thursday.

Thursday, T and I went back to school. We each had quizzes. T had to write a 500 word essay in class. We talked about "polynomials". I picked up the car from the mechanic's again--the light came on again. Guess I'll have to go to the county office building and see about getting an extension.

Thursday night, the Pathfinder club met at a local pool to work on the Beginner's Swimming Honor. All but one got the swimming requirements done--still have to do a couple safety requirements. We were there for about 2 hours--everyone seemed to have a good time. We had two instructors, so divided the kids into two groups.

School Starts

T started school yesterday--11th grade! Still homeschooling. He is doing Switched on Schoolhouse for Bible, History, Chemistry, Spanish, and College Planner (these subjects are all on the computer--assignments, grades, lessons, etc.). His Algebra 2 is from Saxon (traditional textbook--we'll have to make the assignments, grade his work, etc.--it does come with video instruction discs). He'll be taking Comp. 101 at the local community college this semester and receiving both college and highschool credit for English.

Science Expo

T makes a thingy to keep his egg from breaking. He was given a couple squares of cardboard, some bubble wrap, a piece of masking tape, a couple straws and pipe cleaners, some rubber bands, and a raw egg.
The egg is placed in a box and dropped from 8'--if it survives, then 12', then 16'.
Egg drop--16'.
T makes silly putty.

Our local community college held a science expo on Thursday, April 3. Science students made exhibits and demonstrations which were open to the public. The highlight is the egg drop (described and pictured above). Hands-on experiments (like silly putty) were popular. There were live reptiles, a water-bottle rocket launch, paper plane making, and many other exhibits.