Classical Conversations 2014 Parent Practicum

Are you new to homeschooling and feeling overwhelmed? We want to help you succeed in your home education mission. Join us this summer as experienced homeschoolers present three-day training sessions for parents. Rather than taking a well-deserved break from school and all things educational, these experienced homeschoolers begin to travel across their regions and around the country to present three-day training sessions to reinforce the classical, Christian model.

Are you new to classical education? Our morning sessions will unpack the classical, Christian model and allow you to practice skills for learning alongside your children at home. Afternoon sessions will go in depth with particular subjects. In both sessions, parents will have opportunities to discuss new ideas and to practice their new-found skills.

Are you discouraged with your home school? Or, do you feel you could encourage others? In addition to providing a place to practice the teaching tools, our FREE one-day and three-day Parent Practicums equip our families across the nation each year with the encouragement and camaraderie they need to teach their children well. Each practicum is a place to connect, to question, to celebrate both failure and success, and to gain confidence in our ability to use the classical model to learn and to teach our children any subject.

In 2013, Classical Conversations hosted hundreds of FREE training events for over 15,000 adults who wanted to learn more about teaching grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric skills to their students.

Join us for 2014! These events are free for parents, but registration is required. For dates and locations of Parent Practicums in your area, go to www.ClassicalConversations.com and click on the Event Calendar.

The Edge: speech and debate club

The Edge, a speech and debate club in Upper Marlboro, is hosting an informational meeting on June 2 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Come listen to a few speeches, talk to the coaches, and find out how your homeschooled children ages 8-18 can learn public speaking skills. The meeting will be held at First Baptist Church of Upper Marlboro (7415 SW Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro, MD). For more information call 410-474-3108. Please RSVP to TheEdgeSpeechandDebate@gmail.com by May 31.

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center - May Events

Please make sure to register for programs requiring registration at 301-497-5887.  Thanks so much!

Below you will find May reminders and upcoming June happenings.

May Reminders:

1. Great news!  The registration deadline for the May 10th Photography workshop with award winning artist Sol Levine has been extended!  See details at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/FTP/2014_05_workshop.pdf.

2. There are a lot of activities occurring at Patuxent during the month of May as the Friends of Patuxent "Adopt a Whooper committee" hosts Magnificent Whooping Crane Month at the National Wildlife Visitor Center.

 See our website for more details.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/FTP/2014_05_whooper_month.pdf

3.  Please remember to stop by the Visitor Center to see the Hollingsworth Art Gallery's featured May Artist the North Carolina Artists' Society and Alice Webb will be featured in June. For more information about the Hollingsworth Art Gallery artists visit http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/vcgallery.html.

June happenings!

1. Daily Wildlife Conservation Tram tours will begin on June 23rd, 2014.

 Tours are weather permitting and space is limited.  Please see our website for tour times and ticket info to plan your visit at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/tram.html

2. Please be advised that the National Wildlife Visitor Center will be closed until 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014.

3.  June Programs below or online at

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/ntedu.html

To Register for a program:

All programs are FREE, however, donations to The Friends of Patuxent are greatly appreciated!  Note: These public programs are designed for individuals/families.  Programs DO require advance reservations and may be subject to changes or cancellation due to weather or low participation.

Please call 301-497-5887 to make your reservation.

Please notify the refuge of any special needs so that you may be accommodated.

Patuxent.fws.gov <http://patuxent.fws.gov/>

Programs Held at the National Wildlife Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Road between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 197.

Whooping Crane Observatory Tour

Sunday, June 8th, 1:00-2:30 pm, Ages 14+ Enjoy a guided tour to the Whooping Crane Observatory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to observe a pair of graceful and endangered adult whooping cranes. Find out more about the Whooping Crane population recovery program. Arrive early, as tour will leave on time. Space is very limited.

Registration is required.

Bird Walks

Wednesday Bird Walk: June 11th, 8:00-10:30 am, Ages 16+

Saturday Bird Walk:  June 28th, 8:00-10:00 am, Ages 8+

Search for birds in several refuge habitats on this guided hike.  Field

guides and binoculars recommended.   Registration is required.

Nature Tots: Devoted Dads

Thursday, June 12th, 10:30-11:30 am & 1:00-2:00 pm, Ages 3-4

Introduce your preschooler to some of nature’s most devoted Dads that help protect and care for their babies.  Registration is required.

Pollinator Power!!

Friday, June 20th, 1:00-2:30 pm, Ages 5-7

What’s the buzz about bees and other pollinators?  Find out why pollinators have the power to produce the many yummy foods that people and wildlife love to eat! Registration is required.

Tiny Tots: Nature and Music

Sunday, June 22nd, 11:30 am-12:15 pm, Ages 18-42 mos.

Monday, June 23rd, 10:30-11:15 am, Ages 18-42 mos.

Come learn about the wildlife at the refuge through songs and rhyming.

 Parental participation is required. Registration is required.

Programs Held at the North Tract

The North Tract is located on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32.

Bird Walk

Saturday, June 21st, 8:15-10:15 am, All Ages

Search for birds in several refuge habitats on this guided hike.  Field guides and binoculars are recommended.  Registration is required.

Night Hike

Saturday, June 21st, 8:00-9:30 pm, Ages 5+

Discover the nighttime world of the refuge as you look and listen for nocturnal animals on this guided walk. Registration is required.

Herp Search

Saturday, June 21st, 1:00-2:30 pm, All Ages

Join a refuge naturalist on this guided search for reptiles & amphibians.

Registration is required.