Newsletter #400
The Use of Our Summer Time.  Specific suggestions for our time for God, work, learning, planning, leisure, others, and sleep.

Newsletter #370
End-of-School-Year Activities.  Includes an Evaluation Checklist.

Newsletter #393
10 Ways To Get the Most from Homeschool Events.  Includes list of 2014 State Conventions, dates, and links to more information.

 •  Travel Unit Study Guide. This simple, generic guide can be adapted to any trip – expand it, condense it, or use just a few portions of it. Includes language arts, math, geography, history, art, science, music, life skills, physical education, and Christian education.

 •  Enjoying Nature: Newsletter #254 has tips on enjoying and learning from nature, including "Seeing God in Nature" (Bible, spiritual life, worship) and "Study Nature" (science, Internet research, reading).

 •  Field Trips. This extensive guide is a good check list for a support group field trip – or your family day trip. Includes site selection, logistics planning, preparing students before the trip, conducting the trip, activities during and after the trip, and evaluating the trip.

 •  Field Trips of the U.S. & Canada provided by Homeschool Buyers Co-op. Click on the map to find museums, zoos, aquariums, planetariums, historic houses, nature centers, cultural centers, and other educational facilities in your state or province. Some listings have reviews from homeschoolers who have visited the site.

 •  Answers in Genesis. 10 Creation Vacations, and listings of Biblical history, natural history, astronomy, biology, geology sites of interest by region of the country.

 •  12 Ways to keep your family safe on road trips.

 •  Travel Games for the road.

The Wonders of Geology two-page brochures explain some of the most popular (and misconstrued) vacation attractions in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Download PDF files for individual brochures for only 49 cents each.

"Explore God's Creation as a Family Vacation" online article by Dave and Mary Jo Nutting with information on:

Bible-based teaching aids from Answers in Genesis.
 •  Zoo Guide
 •  Museum Guide
 •  Aquarium Guide

America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans & Families, (Christian worldview).

A Spiritual Heritage Tour of the United States Capitol: Book, CD, DVD, mp3 from Wallbuilders.

KY/OH:  Creation Museum (Answers in Genesis), Petersburg, Ken. (seven miles from the Cincinnati Airport)

CA:  Creation and Earth History Museum, Santee

FL:  A Key Encounter, Key West

FL:  Creation Adventures Museum, Arcadia

GA:  The Gallery of Creation: A Museum of Natural History, Social Circle

OH:  Akron Fossils & Science Center, Akron

TN:  Wyatt Archaeological Museum, Cornersville

TX:  Museum of Earth History, Dallas

WA:  7 Wonders Museum of Mount St. Helens, Silverlake

Canada:  Big Valley Creation Science Museum, Big Valley, Alberta

England:  Genesis Expo, Portsmouth

See a list of Bible Libraries, Museums and Special Collections.

TX:  Dunham Bible Museum (plus online tour), Houston

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My husband and I were discussing plans for visiting Canyonlands National Park.

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For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)  For the wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23)

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He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

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For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph. 2:8, 9)

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Family day trips are a great alternative to an expensive vacation or one that is too long away from home or work.

A staycation allows you to stay home, sleep in your own bed – or camp in your backyard – while exploring and enjoying activities within driving distance during the day. Be a tourist in your own town, country, or state. See ideas at bjupress.

Day trips can do much to build family relationships and memories.

And of course, as home educators we can always find an interesting and enriching educational angle for each trip.

Plan and schedule your day trips now, or this winter you may wonder why you didn't get to enjoy God's diverse and wonderful creation the beach, park, mountains, etc., this summer!

May the Lord richly bless your family for His glory.

Day trips usually should be a distance that would enable you to spend at least twice as much time at your destination as round-trip traveling time (e.g., the maximum might be 2 hours each way in the car and 8 hours at your destination and/or stops along the way).

You might draw a circle using a 100-mile radius from your home and explore that area.

Here are a few ideas that are especially suited for family day trips during the summer.  Some are free, some will take gas money, and some may require an admission fee.

 •  Natural, scenic attractions such as the beach, mountains, rivers,water falls, lakes, hiking trails, and parks.

 •  Museums, planetariums, aquariums, and zoos.

 •  Historic sites, districts, buildings, and museums, as well as antique shops.

 •  Events such as ethnic festivals, state and county fairs.

Find suggestions and information for day trips from the following sources.

 •  Call your chamber of commerce or visitors' center for a list, information, and brochures on local and state attractions.

 •  Find a nearby conservation area; garden; arboretum; county, state, or national forest or park; or the beach.
Audubon Centers and Sanctuaries
National Forests
National Park Service (Free days: August 25, September 28, November 9-11)

Also check out the Junior Ranger Program for more than 200 national parks with information, learning activities, and free e-books, some with curriculum.

 •  For State Parks in your state, search "state park" in Google.

 •  Visit these websites:
Fodor's Free Online Travel Guides
Online Highways Travel Guide
Virtual Tourist Travel Guides
National Register of Historic Places

 •   Ask other families what day trips they have enjoyed and getting information from them.

 •  Study your state's history this summer and visit noted places.  State History from a Christian Perspective

Sometimes a family needs to spend time alone together, away from the bustle of a busy life. At other times, taking someone with you can be a ministry to them and make your trip more meaningful.

 •  Is there an older person in your family or church that cannot get out much and would appreciate a short drive in the country?

 •  Would another family like to ride with or caravan with you on a trip?

 •  Read ahead about your destination.  Check your library, online, or other sources. Even a few paragraphs can pique interest and motivate learning.

 •  Get complete information on your destination, including seasonal hours, admission, and directions.

 •  Do an hour-by-hour timeline of your trip, figuring driving time, rest stops, etc.

Be sure you allow enough time, instead of cramming too much into too little time, which is counterproductive to an enjoyable experience.  If you allow extra time for travel, you will be able to stop and explore interesting things along the way.

 •  Pack everything you will need the night before, get a good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast, and an early start.

 •  Add interest and education: take your binoculars, magnifying glass, camera and field guides.

Golden Guides are illustrated and economical, pocket-sized field guides written for primary and secondary students: Birds, Wildflowers, Trees, Rocks, Gems and Minerals, Insects, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mammals, Pond Life, and even Weeds.

 •  Also take along some tracts, like the fun ones from Living Waters, to hand out to those you meet in your travels.

If your family visits a national park, geological feature, or zoo, you will encounter evolutionary explanations.

Be prepared with a creation-science view of God's awesome works which show that real science confirms the biblical account of creation and a global Flood (see resources in left column).

Even if you are not visiting these places this year, your family will enjoy studying about God's creation – and perhaps plan a future trip!

 •  You can begin your trip with a short devotional time in the car as you start down the road. Start with prayer for your family to have a safe trip, be a witness and testimony (take along some tracts), have a good family time together, learn more about nature or history, and praise the Lord for His wonderful creation.

 •  Have someone read some Scripture or listen to the Bible on tape.

 •  Listen to and/or sing hymns or choruses.

 •  Allow some time for family visiting.

 •  As you travel, you may want to listen to music or a book on tape, such as those from Sing 'n Learn or your local library

 •  Experience as much of the site as possible.

 •  Pick up any handouts or educational materials available.  Sometimes it is worthwhile to buy a book on the subject if someone is especially interested. This could encourage reading or other educational goals.

Wherever you go, be sure you know and observe posted rules, common courtesy, and safety.  Stay on the paths, no loud running around other people, no picking plants or removing wildlife, avoid poisonous plants, snakes, ticks, etc.

 •  Be sure you know what you may or may not remove from a nature area.

 •  See safety pointers at U.S. Forest Service.

Follow-up activities are a valuable educational part of any trip.

 •  You can do a report of your trip by using one of the 100+ ideas for book reports or unit studies from our Newsletter #26.  These include activities in art, penmanship, written and oral reports, speech, drama, writing, and poetry.

 •  Follow up any interest with more reading or research at the library or online.

 •  Keep an account of your trips to add to your children's school records.

 •  Make a scrap book with photos and information.

 •  Plan a return trip next year if your family enjoyed it this year. Often children will enjoy repeated trips more because they are comfortable with the surroundings, feel at home, and know what to expect. Some summer events may become family traditions.

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