The Raw Learning Family Picnic and Concert was a hit! Folks chatted, ate, and frolicked while Spirit Heart Collective played. The off and on rain enhanced the day by providing a misty atmosphere which the young people particularly enjoyed. What a wonderful way to welcome our fourth year as the Raw Learning Community.


Fall field trips are ready to sign up and register for!

To register:
Go to www.rawlearning.org
Sign in or Create an account.
Click "2012 Fall Field Trips (20)" at the top of the page.
Click on the links of the trips that you would like to take.
 
Upon completion, be sure to receive a confirmation email or you did not register and are not signed up.

The last day for registration and payment is Friday, August 31st. Any payments delivered or postmarked September 1st-4th, need to include a $10 late fee.


Sign ups are now available for Raw Learning classes and enrollment.
 
To register:
Go to www.rawlearning.org
Sign in or Create an account.
Click "2012 Fall Registration (25)" at the top of the page.
Select the classes, enrollment, and volunteering that you would like to sign up for.

Medieval History begins on August 28th. Please make sure you check each class for sign up and payment deadlines.
 
Click on the calendar tab to see a compact list, with out descriptions, of the classes available.


Please let Gleamer know if you think you will be coming to Raw Learning as a homeschooler or if you will be enrolling your child so that you can be included in the discussions and decision making processes for the Fall Trimester. Opportunities range from just joining as homeschoolers on field trips to full time enrollment and everything in between, even classes ala carte like an enrichment center. What ever attendance works for your family, works for Raw Learning!


Facilitator, homeschooler, and parent orientation and information meeting
Thursday, August 30 from 3:30-5:30
If you are planning on attending Raw Learning, it is extremely important that you attend this meeting. Please let Gleamer know immediately if you are unable.

The Raw Learning Community is dedicated to making sure that Raw Learning is an affordable option for everyone who would like to join to take part in the resources, classes, field trips, and opportunities for learning in a group setting.


The last FREE information and play session at Raw Learning this summer will be held on Tuesday from 9:30-11:30.

All ages welcomed.

Please arrive by 10:15 on Tuesday.

Location Raw Learning is located in the rear of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, facing N. Coalter St (the address is 2807 N. Augusta St., which is where the front of the church is). At the rear of the church there is a playground. Come into the playground and through the gray door that is in the far right corner. Please call Gleamer at 540.292.3002 if you would like further directions or can't find us.
 

Raw Learning Community Concert and Potluck Picnic
This Saturday, August 25th--4-7pm
Gypsy Hill Park, just below the playground and garden center
--At the main entrance, near the rain garden
Spirit Heart Collective will perform.
Get to know the new and old Raw Learning teachers, facilitators, and community members.
Craft activity available.
Grab a dish to share, bring your family and a chair, and have some fun!

Classes  for all ages and for 9->teens as well as field trips are  ready for registration.
Click on the classes tab and the field trips tab to plan your fall with Raw Learning.

We look forward to seeing you at the play and information session this afternoon and on Saturday!

Gleamer attended the Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) Conference in Portland, Oregon last week. It was inspiring and encouraging for her to see folks from across the United States and around the world come together to further the Education Revolution. Representatives from Free Schools, Democratic Schools, Montessori, Waldorf, Unschoolers, Homeschoolers, Sudbury Schools, Public Alternatives, and others attended from over a dozen countries and more than 30 states. Each is passionate about authentic learner-centered education.


Raw Learning begins Fall Trimester in 3 weeks!!!

Tentative classes for all ages to run 11 weeks beginning on Sept 5th:
Cooking with Gleamer Sullivan
Makers! (Engineering) with Joe Sullivan-Mondays 8:30-10:00
Spirit Heart Collective Music Program-Mondays 2:30-3:15
Comparative Religion with Stephanie Ward
Religious Recipes for Kids with Gleamer Sullivan
Math through Literature with Stephanie Ward
Cooking with Riesling Sullivan
Minecraft with Silas Bright-Monday or Fridays
Board Games Club with Silas Bright-Monday or Fridays
Journalism with Rob Longley (city editor for Daily News Record)-Friday mornings

Tentative classes for ages 9 and up to run 5 weeks beginning Sept 5th:
Herbal Medicine with Anne Hunter
Medieval History with Sir Blackwolf
Mythbusters type Science class (still working on the teacher)
Magic Tricks with Brian Bence (local magician and homeschooling dad)
Voice/Songwriting with Spirit Heart Collective
Spirit Heart Music Program-Mondays 3:45-4:30


WANTED

Teacher for a Field Trip follow up class. Use the week's field trip as your theme and provide resources and opportunities for the students to go deeper into the subject.

Facilitator to work with older students to find internships and apprenticeships. This would involve helping them develop their resume, find businesses to partner with in the community, and explore ways to develop and experience their life dream.

Event Planner to organize parties, open houses, and Raw Learning get togethers. Plan games, theme, and fun!

Would you like to share your passion?
Reduce or eliminate your child(ren)'s tuition or homeschooling fees by teaching a class or by volunteering for a few hours once a week, just like a co-op. Please let Gleamer know what you are interested in.


The Raw Learning Community is dedicated to making sure that Raw Learning is an affordable option for everyone who would like to join to take part in the resources, classes, field trips, and opportunities for learning in a group setting.


Please let Gleamer know if you think you will be coming to Raw Learning as a homeschooler or if you will be enrolling your child so that you can be included in the discussions and decision making processes for the Fall Trimester. Opportunities range from just joining as homeschoolers on field trips to full time enrollment and everything in between, even classes ala carte like an enrichment center. What ever attendance works for your family, works for Raw Learning!


Fall Field Trip Voting
Polls are now open to vote for field trips.
9 out of 11 weeks are set. There is one more local and one long distance field trip to be chosen. Please vote for all of the trips that you and your family would enjoy. Descriptions are found here. The 2 with the most votes will win!
Voting ends after Monday, August 13 so vote today!


FREE information and play sessions at Raw Learning this summer every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 continue through out the summer.

Come and enjoy playing and learning with friends during the summer! Please come to as many sessions as you can to learn about the Raw Learning Community and to keep in touch through the summer months.

All ages welcomed.

Please arrive by 10:15 on Tuesday and by 4:15 on Thursday.

Location Raw Learning is located in the rear of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, facing N. Coalter St (the address is 2807 N. Augusta St., which is where the front of the church is). At the rear of the church there is a playground. Come into the playground and through the gray door that is in the far right corner. Please call Gleamer at 540.292.3002 if you would like further directions or can't find us.
 

Voting is now closed. The winners are Natural Bridge of Virginia and Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.

ATTENTION:

Please CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT or LOG IN

, if you would like to vote.

It is best to Request New Password or Your Username

NOW if you have forgotten yours.

You only need to remember your EMAIL.

Click here

to see descriptions of each field trip.

Results will be posted with sign up instructions later this week.

If you do not have an account or if you do not remember your password you will not be able to sign up for field trips later this week.

Natural Bridge of Virginia: Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge Caverns
Walk Cedar Creek Trail to Natural Bridge
Native American Village
Toy and Wax Museum
Length: 5 hours
Cost: Ages 0-4 Free, ages 5- adult $12

The Bug Box: Fredericksburg
Insect zoo
Bug show and educational program
Length: 1 hour
Cost: $2-$5/person
AND
Montpelier: Montpelier Station
Guided tour of the mansion, exploration of the grounds
Age appropriate, hands-on and interdisciplinary programs
Length: ½ day
Cost: $10 for students, $16 for adults

Someplace Special Gem Mine: Shady Spring, WV
Entertaining search for gold and other precious rocks
Length: 1 hour
Cost: $5/bucket/person
AND
Exhibition Coal Mine: Beckley, WV
Beckley Exhibition Coal and the Youth Museum
Also explore the Coal Company House, Superintendent's Home, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, and the Helen Coal Camp School
Length: 2 hours
Cost: Free for ages 0-3, $8.50 ages 4-17, $14.00 adults
AND
Campground: Beckley, WV
Tent camping
Grassy area, picnic tables, fire pit, draw water
Length: Overnight
Cost: $14/night

Seneca Rocks: WV
Discovery Center
Exhibits
Movies
Length: All day
Cost: Free
AND
Seneca Shadows: WV
Camping
Fishing, Canoing, and Swimming
Length: Overnight
Cost: About $15-$20/family)

Maymont: Richmond
Students explore the diverse
experiences of those who lived upstairs
and the employees who worked
downstairs in Maymont Mansion.
Length: All Day
Cost: $6 for children and adults

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre: Lynchburg
Tube, ski or snowboard with out snow!
Length: 4 hours
Cost: $5/hour, tubing rental $5, ski or snowboard equipment rental $12

Skyline Caverns: Front Royal
Guided tour of the caverns with rare Anthodites
Mirror maze
Train to ride
Length: All day
Cost: Free for ages 2 and under, 3-adult $4 for cavern tour, $2 for train rides, $3 for maze

Assateague Island: Maryland side
Camping, exploring, crabbing
Visit the Wildlife Refuge
Length: Overnight
Cost: $5/tent to camp, $3-$4/person to enter Refuge

5 ½ Weeks until Raw Learning begins Fall session on September, 4th!

It's time to get planning. :)


Tentative classes for all ages:
Cooking with Gleamer Sullivan
Makers! (Engineering) with Joe Sullivan
Music with Lou Bodin

Tentative classes for ages 9 and up:
Herbal Medicine with Anne Hunter
Medieval History with Sir Blackwolf
Mythbusters type Science class (teacher needed)

If your young learner is interested in an additional class and/or you would like to teach a class, please contact Gleamer immediately.


Fall Field Trip Ideas:
Hands on glass blowing workshop
Todd Lake: Mt Solon
The Paramount; A Perfect Balance-Kevin Reese, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Velveteen Rabbit: Charlottesville
Boxerwood: Lexington
Back Home on the Farm: Harrisonburg
Waynesboro Heritage Museum
Camera Heritage Museum in Staunton
The Bug Box: Fredericksburg AND Montpelier: Montpelier Station 
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum: Winchester 
Exhibition Coal Mine: Beckley, WV AND Someplace Special Gem Mining: Beckley, WV
Seneca Rocks in WV
Maymont historical park in Richmond
Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre: Lynchburg
Skyline Caverns: Front Royal 
Assateague Island: Maryland side
Marine Science Consortium: Wallops Island, VA
King's Dominion
Colonial Williamsburg: Williamsburg
Cranberry bog: WV

Please contact Gleamer immediately with additional ideas, especially if the destination is within an hour of Staunton.


FREE information and play sessions at Raw Learning this summer every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 continue through out the summer.

Come and enjoy playing and learning with friends during the summer! Please come to as many sessions as you can to learn about the Raw Learning Community and to keep in touch through the summer months.

All ages welcomed.

Please arrive by 10:15 on Tuesday and by 4:15 on Thursday.

Location Raw Learning is located in the rear of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, facing N. Coalter St (the address is 2807 N. Augusta St., which is where the front of the church is). At the rear of the church there is a playground. Come into the playground and through the gray door that is in the far right corner. Please call Gleamer at 540.292.3002 if you would like further directions or can't find us.

This week Raw Learning's older students will meet to discuss their needs and how they would like to have our Community help them meet those needs.
If you have a student who is 9 or older and who enjoys learning with others, please attend the meeting tomorrow (Monday the 9th) at 2:00 at Raw Learning.

Your family's input will determine how Raw Learning lays out its fall opportunities and resources for older students.

FREE learning and play continues on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons for all ages. Scroll down for more information.

I read an article this week titled Ten Ways to Help Your Children Grow Into Adults Who Cope.
Coping so often gets in the way of embracing self determined challenges. Please read it to help your young learner.

Summer Time At Raw Learning
Thursday, June 21st is the first FREE information and play session at Raw Learning this summer every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 through out the summer.
Come and enjoy playing and learning with friends during the summer! Please come to as many sessions as you can to learn about the Raw Learning Community and to keep in touch through the summer months. Please arrive by 10:15.
Location Raw Learning is located in the rear of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, facing N. Coalter St (the address is 2807 N. Augusta St., which is where the front of the church is). At the rear of the church there is a playground. Come into the playground and through the gray door that is in the far right corner. Please call Gleamer at 540.292.3002 if you would like further directions or can't find us.
 

Peaceful Parenting and Self Care

Are you seeking more joyful and harmonious relationships with your children?

If you are, come check out our discussion group that usually meets the 4th Friday of every month. This month we will meet on the 5th Friday. We meet to support one another as we explore and practice non-coercive parenting and consensual living. This is a parenting practice that values the wants and needs of everyone equally - regardless of age - and avoids power struggles through the creation of mutually agreeable solutions.
 

• Wear shorts and shirts or bathing suit made of synthetic fiber of some sort. Best to stay away from cotton.
• Wear grubby shoes that you don't mind getting wet and muddy in the river. Absolutely no crocks and no flip-flops!
• Pack your lunches in gallon size zip-lock bags that are labeled with your names.
• Bring towels.