ATTENTION:

Please CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT or LOG IN, if you would like to vote.

Click here to see descriptions of each field trip.

Results will be posted in the Raw Learning Newsletter on Sunday, March 7th.

Field Trip- Thursday, March 4th—The Paramount to see STREB-RAW AND The Charlottesville Ice Park
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for after voting is completed on March 7th.
9:50 AM-Arrive Charlottesville.  Gleamer will park in the metered parking lot where the Farmer’s Market is held on Saturdays between South and Water Streets.  Cost is $.25 per ½ hour payable in quarters only.  Here is a link to a map of the area that might be helpful. The Water and Market Street Garages offer 2 hours of free parking with a ticket validated by The Charlottesville Ice Park.
10:00-Meet Gleamer in the vicinity of the fountain that is to the left of The Paramount if you are facing the marquee. 
10:05-Check in and be seated as a group.
11:30-The show ends and we will be dismissed as a group. The Sullivans will be heading to Revolutionary Soup for lunch. There are about 30 or so restaurants right on the Downtown Mall.
12:45-Meet at The Charlottesville Ice Park.
3:00 – Skating session ends.

Vote for Spring Trimester Field Trips! Here are your options:

Massanutten Water Park: Massanutten 
Play on the indoor water park
Bring your own lunch available
Possible date: Tuesday, April 6th or in early June
Length: 4 hours
Cost: Free for ages 0-2, $19 for ages 3 and up, $5 to just observe

Red Front Grocery store: Harrisonburg
Tour the behind the scenes operations of the store
Demonstrations and samples
Length: 1 hour
Cost: Free

Fishersville Wastewater Treatment Plant: Fishersville
Review a schematic and tour the plant
Possible date: April 20th to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd)
Length: 1+ hours
Cost: Free
Augusta County Landfill: Fishersville
Tour and information about what happens when an item is thrown away.
Possible date: April 20th to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd)
Length: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Sonoco Recycling Facility: Fishersville
Tour and explanations of how items are made ready to be recycled, as well as how and where they are shipped
Possible date: April 20th to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd)
Length:  ½ hour
Cost: Free

Maggie’s Beads: Staunton
Take a bracelet making class
Length: 2 hours
Cost: $10/ person who makes a bracelet

Quiet Acres Sheep Farm: Mount Crawford
Learn about rotational grazing and caring for herding dogs and sheep
Learn about Guardian Dogs that live amongst the sheep
Main focus will be hands-on interaction with Border Collies, sheep and lambs
Possible date: on a Wednesday in Late April/Early May
Cost: Free
AND
Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport: Weyer’s Cave
Check out the med helicopter, explore in small air plane and fire trucks.
Find out how check in and baggage scanning works.
Possible date: on a Wednesday in Late April/Early May
Length: about 1 hour
Cost: Free

Fast Track Go-Carts: Waynesboro
Ride go-carts; $3-$6/ride. Available for ages 2 and up.
Play Putt-Putt; $4/person
Use the batting cages; $1 token for 15 pitches
Play arcade games
Length: 1-2 hours

JMU Planetarium: Harrisonburg
View Orion: Legends of the Night Sky
-Animated film about the legends surrounding Orion
Mini-Star talk about what is in currently in the night sky
Length: 45 minutes
Cost: Free

JMU Planetarium: Harrisonburg
View Universe
-How the Universe was viewed in ancient times and how science views it today
Mini-Star talk about what is in currently in the night sky
Length: 45 minutes
Cost: Free

Luray Maze/Caverns: Luray
Explore Caverns, Car Museum, and Maze
Picnic lunch
Length: 3 hours
Cost: $10/kids, $19/adults

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library: Staunton
Tour and interactive activities
Divide into younger and older group
Length: 2 hours
Cost: Free for ages 0-5, $4 for 6-18, $8 for adults

Deauville Fallow Deer Farm: Bayse
Feed and pet the deer
See the multicolored eggs laid by the colorful chickens
Pick your own vegetables
Possible date: Late April or May
Length: About 1 hour
Cost: Free
AND
Shenandoah Bowling Lanes: Mount Jackson
Duck Pin Bowling
-Use 2-4 pound balls to knock down short fat pins
Possible date: Late April or May
Length: 1-2 hours
Cost: Games-$2.50 each, Shoes-$1.50 each

Funky’s Skate Center: Harrisonburg
Roller skating
Bring your own lunch available
Length: 2 hours
Cost: $3 per person includes skate rental

Misty Mountains Alpaca Ranch: Afton
Interact with the alpacas
Learn about their care and uses for their fiber
Length: 45 minutes
Cost: Free
AND
Gallastar Equine Center and Pig Sanctuary: Afton
Interact with the animals
Learn about them and their care
Length: 1 ½-2 hours
Cost: Free

Boxerwood Gardens: Lexington
Explore nature
Outdoor kitchen, mud pit, tunnels, hammock, bone yard, little brook
Trails, meadows and trees
Length: 4 hours
Cost: Free

EMU’s Hostetter Natural History Museum: Harrisonburg
Explore the museum and glowing rocks
See a short film
Interact in the Discovery Room
Possible dates: In April or May at 10AM
Length: 1 ½ hours
Cost: $4/person

HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc. (Formerly Base X): Fairfield
See how military shelters are manufactured and designed
Possible demonstration of rapidly deployable finished product
Length: 1 hour
Cost: Free

Long distance Field Trips

Kings Dominion Homeschool Day: Doswell (near Richmond)
Rides for everyone
Find out the Math, Science and Engineering behind it all
Roller Coaster Contest
Date: May 14th
Length: All day
Cost: $29.99 for ages 3-61 who are 48” and over; $24.99 for ages 3-61 who are less than 48” tall

Science Museum of Western Virginia: Roanoke
Hands on and interactive exhibits
Planetarium and Megadome shows
Fascinating classes and labs
Length: All day
Cost: $3-$9/person 3 and up, depending on desired experience

Westmoreland State Park: Montross
Hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating and swimming
Kayaking for fossils and sharks teeth
Possible dates:
Length: Overnight on a Friday
Cost: $20-$350/family depending on accommodations
 

Field Trip- Tuesday, February 23—Staunton Fire Department AND Staunton Police Department
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:15 AM-Leave Raw Learning for the Staunton Fire Department. The address is 500 North Augusta Street. Please let Gleamer know if you would like to follow her from Raw Learning.
9:30 AM-Begin Fire Department tour and demonstrations.
10:30 AM-End tour and leave for Staunton Police Department at 116 West Beverly Street. You can try to find parking on the street or you can just park in the garage off of West Johnson Street. The parking rate is between 25-50 cents an hour.
11:00 AM-Arrive Police Department.
12:00 AM-Finish tour and leave for Raw Learning.

Wednesday’s Trimester of Art
Patty DePoy will be joining us to share her cross stitching talent from 10-11. All supplies will be provided.

Friday’s Poetry and Prose Discussion Group (8:30-9:30)
Lynda Miles facilitates the Group to discover their inspiration. This week the participants will have the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of an environmentalist and marine biologist. Imagining that the participants are somewhere or something else, such as blue whales or other creatures is a fun way to explore feelings and find inspiration. Many of the participants enjoy writing or dictating their thoughts long after class is over.

Additional considerations for Field Trips for Spring Trimester (April 5-June 18)
Thank you for the input! The following destinations are added to the list below:
Roanoke Children’s Museum
Local cattle and/or alpaca ranch
Westmoreland State Park (overnight camping)
Boxerwood Gardens
EMU’s Hostetter Natural History Museum
Base X (Manufacturer of military shelters, generators and filtering systems.)
Please email additional suggestions to Gleamer .  Official voting begins on March 1st.

Initial Field Trip Considerations List
Massanutten Water Park
Red Front Grocery
Augusta Wastewater, Landfill and Recycling—Near Earth Day (April 22)
Maggie’s Bead Shop
Weyer’s Cave Airport
Quiet Acres Sheep Farm
Fast Track Go-Carts
JMU Planetarium
Luray Maze/Caverns
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
Deauville Fallow Deer Farm
Local horse ranch
Children’s Museum of Richmond
Science Museum of Virginia (in Richmond)
Kings Dominion Homeschool Day (May 14)
 

Happy Valentine’s Day Party
What fun! The crowd seemed to really enjoy all the festivities on Friday. Thanks for coming out everyone.

Field Trip- Wednesday, February 17--WHSV TV3 AND WVPT PBS
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:00 AM-Leave Raw Learning for WHSV TV3 in Harrisonburg. The address is 50 Main Street. Park in the garage that is around the corner, off of Elizabeth Street. Please let Gleamer know if you would like to follow her from Raw Learning.
9:45 AM-Begin WHSV TV3 tour.
10:15-10:30 AM-End tour and leave for WVPT PBS at 298 Port Republic Road.
11:00 AM-Arrive WVPT PBS where we will watch a few minutes of the taping of Virginia Farming before exploring all the different aspects of the station.
12:15 AM-Finish tour and leave for Raw Learning.

Field Trips for Spring Trimester (April 5-June 18)
Where would you and your family like to go for field trips this spring?  Email your suggestions to gleamer@rawlearning.org . So far we’re considering:
Massanutten Water Park
Red Front Grocery
Augusta Wastewater, Landfill and Recycling
Maggie’s Bead Shop
Weyer’s Cave Airport
Quiet Acres Sheep Farm
Fast Track Go-Carts
JMU Planetarium
Luray Maze/Caverns
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
Deauville Fallow Deer Farm
Local horse ranch
Children’s Museum of Richmond
Science Museum of Virginia (in Richmond)
Kings Dominion Homeschool Day (May 14)

We are Open!
Most days when other schools are closed, we are playing and learning together. Come join us! Just give a call first to make sure we haven’t gone sledding or are on an adventure in Staunton.  You’re welcome to come meet up where ever we are.

Field Trip- **Date To be Determined– Route 11 Potato Chips: Mount Jackson AND Duck Pin Bowling: Mount Jackson
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
**Route 11 Potato Chips was contacted in November and December. Gleamer was told to call back the week before we planned on coming. Gleamer called on Wednesday (2/3) and was told to call back on Thursday (2/4). On Thursday she was told that they still didn’t know when they would be cooking and to call back on Monday (2/8). Gleamer will call them tomorrow and will send out an email on Monday evening with further information and specifics.

Trimester of Art
Finish up your Valentines with Jennifer from 10-11 on February 10th. 

Happy Valentine’s Day Party
Friday, February 12th from 11-3 come to Raw Learning as a family for FREE!  Bring a “mail box” and some Valentine’s to exchange. We’ll have pot luck lunch. Napkin’s, plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery will be provided.

Expanded--Fun and Games
In addition to the Fun and Games: Focus on Strategy Group; we will also be hosting Simply Fun and Games. This group is for young people who just want to play games…with or without strategy, rules or focus! Simply Fun and Games will meet in the Art Room at the same time as the Focus on Strategy Group (Friday from 6:30-8:30). Pricing is also $5/person/week and sign up is also weekly. A volunteer will be needed to stay in the Art Room to answer questions and help put games away. 

Last chance-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.

Raw Learning Open House
Monday, February 15th from 8:30-3:30. Do you know someone who is questioning their child's current education path in a traditional public or private school? Invite them to come and experience an alternative.
 

Field Trip-Tuesday, February 2nd – Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: Verona AND Eli’s Fun Center: Verona
 
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:45-Leave Raw Learning (Please call (540.292.3002) or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.)
10:00 AM- Arrive Food Bank, donate items, and begin group tour.  
About 10:45 AM – Leave the Food Bank for Eli’s Fun Center.
11:00 AM- Enter Eli’s Fun Center. Be sure to bring socks and the Waiver.
12:00 PM-Eat packed lunch.
1:00 PM- Leave for Raw Learning.
 
Donate Food Monday and Tuesday
We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.
We have received 5 items and are looking to donate 20!
 
Trimester of Art
Come make Valentines with Jennifer from 10-11 on February 3rd. 
 
Happy Valentine’s Day Party
Friday, February 12th from 11-3 come to Raw Learning as a family for FREE!  Bring a “mail box” and some Valentine’s to exchange. We’ll have pot luck lunch. Napkin’s, plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery will be provided. I heard that Strawberry Cake is on its way!
 
Expanded--Fun and Games
In addition to the Fun and Games: Focus on Strategy Group; we will also be hosting Simply Fun and Games. This group is for young people who just want to play games…with or without strategy, rules or focus! Simply Fun and Games will meet in the Art Room at the same time as the Focus on Strategy Group. Pricing is also $5/person/week and sign up is also weekly. A volunteer will be needed to stay in the Art Room to answer questions and help put games away. 
 
Sign up this week-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.
 
Raw Learning Open House
Monday, February 15th from 8:30-3:30. Do you know someone who is questioning their child's current education path in a traditional public or private school? Invite them to come and experience an alternative.

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 26th –Blackfriars Playhouse: Staunton
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
8:30 AM-Leave Raw Learning (Please call 540.292.3002 or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to the Blackfriars Playhouse.)
8:45 AM- Arrive Blackfriars Playhouse and begin interactive group tour.
About 10:00 AM – Watch rehearsal of The Alchemist (funny and family friendly) for as long as desired.
No later than Noon - Leave Blackfriar’s Playhouse.
12:15 PM-Arrive Raw Learning.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.
We have received 5 items and are looking to donate 20!

Trimester of Art
Patty DePoy will be sharing her cross stitching talent and supplies on Wednesday, February 24th and Wednesday, March 3rd.
Jennifer Collins will be at Raw Learning every Wednesday at 10:00 (except for 2/24 and 3/3) to do scrap booking and to make cards for special occasions.  If you plan to attend the class, email her your pictures and she’ll print them out for you. She has plans to make Valentine’s on February 3rd and there is a party in the works for the following week.

Fun and Games: Focus on Strategy
Joe will be hosting this group weekly from 6:30-8:30.
Special pricing is a flat rate of $5/student.  Sign up is per meeting, not for the entire trimester. Parents can stay or drop off (with basic emergency information provided).  In addition to Joe, another parent volunteer will need to stay each week. Meetings will be weekly unless there is lack of interest, dangerous weather or no volunteer available.  Notification in case of cancellation will be provided before 4:30 on Friday afternoon.
**This class is taught on the level of a more advanced child or teen. A mature, focused and positive attitude is expected. The enrollee is also expected to have some basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.

Did you know that Raw Learning has a class only sign up option?
We do now! For $75 your young family member (ages 5 – 17) can attend a full trimester of any of the daytime classes available at Raw Learning. We offer 11 weeks of Science & Math, Cooking, Poetry & Prose, and Makers. Please see the Classes tab for more information.  Late sign ups are prorated.

DATE-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 19th –Funky’s Skate Center: Harrisonburg
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:30AM-Leave Raw Learning (Please call or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to Funky’s Skate Center.) The address is 100 Miller Circle, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
10:00 AM-Arrive Funky’s Skate Center. We have the place to ourselves. You can even request “a song and a shout out” online to be played on Tuesday when we are there!
About 12:00 PM - You are welcome to join us for a picnic lunch at the Kid’s Castle at Purcell Park.  Just pull behind Funky’s and park in the far right hand corner of the parking lot. Walk across the bridge and the playground is on the left.
1:00 PM-Leave Purcell Park.
1:30 PM-Arrive Raw Learning.

Did you know that Raw Learning has a class only sign up option?
We do now! For $75 your young family member (ages 5 – 17) can attend a full trimester of any of the daytime classes available at Raw Learning. We offer 11 weeks of Science & Math, Cooking, Poetry & Prose, and Makers. Please see the Classes tab for more information.  Late sign ups are prorated.

DATE-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.

Trimester of Art
Jennifer Collins will have another scrapbooking class on Wednesday, January 20th at 10AM. She is excited to share Valentine’s stencils, stickers and pages.
Patty DePoy will be sharing her cross stitching talent and supplies on Wednesday, February 24th and Wednesday, March 3rd.
We still have spots to fill on Wednesday mornings, beginning January 27th and ending March 17th. 
Please let Gleamer know of volunteer interest.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.

Property to Rent or Purchase
We are still looking for something on the North side of Staunton.  All leads welcome!
 

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 12th –Rightmire Children’s Museum Daytrip: Lynchburg
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
8:30-Leave Raw Learning (Please call (540.292.3002) or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to the Rightmire Children’s Museum.) The address is 27 Ninth Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504. Here is a Mapquest Map to The Museum from Raw Learning.
10:00 AM-Arrive Rightmire Children’s Museum.  There is ample parking in the immediate surrounding area.
About 12:00 PM - Lunch. To eat lunch at the museum we will need to pay $25 to use their room. Attendees, please let me know if you would all agree to split this up with Gleamer.  If not, we can each eat at the restaurant of our choice. There are many within walking distance of The Museum. If the restaurant option is chosen, Gleamer would like to walk to Lynchburg Community Market. It is located at 1219 Main Street, 5 ½ blocks from The Museum.
3:00 PM-Leave the Rightmire Children’s Museum.
4:30 PM-Arrive Raw Learning.

Dates for Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The dates to choose for CPR classes are January 30th or February 13th. Please let Gleamer know which you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers would benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost would be $10 for the training.

Sign up for Fun and Games – Focus on Strategy (taught by Joe)
Fridays 6:30-8:30
Since the class was such a hit last week, we’ll be hosting it again this week. Special pricing is a flat rate of $5/student.  Sign up is per class, not for the entire trimester. Parents can stay or drop off (with basic emergency information provided).  In addition to Joe, another parent volunteer will need to stay each week. The frequency of this class will be dependent on interest and volunteer availability.
**This class is intended for the more advanced child or teen. The enrollee is expected to have some basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.

Trimester of Art
Jennifer Collins taught a fun scrapbooking class with tons of stencils and supplies provided. All kinds of memories were shared as the students put together their pages. Jennifer will have another scrapbooking class on Wednesday, January 20th at 10AM.
We still have spots to fill on Wednesday mornings, beginning January 13th and ending March 17th. 
Please let Gleamer know of volunteer interest.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.

Property to Rent or Purchase
We are still looking for something on the North side of Staunton.  All leads welcome!

An email will be sent to all volunteers, parents and field trip attendees by 6AM letting them know if Raw Learning will NOT be having regular activities, including field trips and classes.  The post here will reflect if we will NOT be having regular activities, including field trips and classes.

If there is NO email or post, we will be carrying on with our activities for the day! 

I understand that we come from all sorts of places in the Valley, from Luray to Afton.  If your family can’t make it because your area is not safe to travel in, please email or call to let me know. 

If you are volunteering and will be unable to come, please contact me as soon as you know that you will not be coming, preferable the night before.