Travels with Laurie: Summer A Home Educator's Travel Guide

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Go to Page Index Use your Environment Why should school only be a room full of textbooks and desks? Education happens everywhere, often when we least expect it. The trick is to take advantage of our environment and use it to its fullest. Applying a curriculum to your student’s daily lives will help them understand and appreciate it in a more complete way. Using your immediate environment to inspire and direct your teachings can provoke students to see their world differently. – Laurie Block Spigel, from Education Uncensored Page Index See also: Travels with Laurie: Spring / Fall / Winter Only in New York -- a whole summer's worth of fun and culture with Summer Music Festivals and Summer Outdoor Film & Theater. And don't miss Summer Phys Ed. – lots of outdoor fun on the local beaches etc. (but please note these water safety tips). Also read current and past issues of the HSNYC Newsletter for more ideas. List of Camps Read Laurie's article: Create Your Own Summercamp in NYC Summer Safety Summer Fruit Get Sprinkled! Say Cheese! Historic Hotel Zoo Time Sportin' Life Other pages: Recommended Road & Field Trips, including Indians and Caves, with pre- and post-trip resources Tips for Traveling with Kids – making every trip fun for the whole family Armchair Travel Back to top Summer Safety Swimming is fun and good exercise, but it can also lead to tragedy. Learn about Swimming and Water Safety from the Red Cross. Make a Splash is a national child-focused water safety initiative created by the USA Swimming Foundation, with the goal of teaching every child in America how to swim. Check out some more Summer Safety Tips Back to top Summer Fruit Summer is a great time for picking your own fruit. Read Laurie's article on Summer Fruit, with lists of local pick-your-own farms, recommended books, and more. Back to top Get Sprinkled! NYC parks have more sprinklers than any other city. Check out the List of Spray Showers.

Say Cheese!

Located near Milford, NJ, Bobolink Farm offers farm tours and more – including great home-baked breads and handmade cheeses. They also visit NYC farmers markets.

Read about the history of cheese.

Historic Hotel

Located at 421 E. 61st St. between First and York, the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden offers kid-friendly activities with a historic flair. In July they offer a week-long Neighborhood History Camp for ages 9-12. It runs Monday-Friday in mid-July, 8:30 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. and includes 19th-century craft projects, behind-the-scenes tours field trips, and games. Call (212) 838-6878.

Also check out their summer garden evening concerts: $15 Adults, $7 Children (under 12), free for Museum Members and children under 4. Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., historic music performed on period instruments includes songs from 1820's NY, along with period drinks and light snacks.

Zoo Time

Zoos are fun for the whole family. Central Park is the green heart of Manhattan. There's something here for everyone - from picnics to sports to bird-watching to music to classes and workshops and the Central Park Zoo. Check out their activities list called Youth Programs -- they actively welcome homeschoolers.

The Bronx Zoo has a special program for kids three and under (who get free admission): Toddler Time Tuesdays. Their Educator Resources page has lots of useful information.

• Queens Zoo is a tribute to American animals.
• Prospect Park Zoo offers a load of activities for kids.
• The Staten Island Zoo has plenty for kids - see their Animal Land website.
• The NY Aquarium is celebrating the Year of the Frog.

Sportin' Life

Thinking about summer sports activities? Every Tuesday afternoon there is free soccer and basketball in Rockefeller Park: age 4 at 2:30 - 3:15, ages 5-8 at 3:30 - 4:15, ages 9-12 at 4:30-5:30. Call (212) 267-9700).

Mon-Fri there is free rock-climbing in Central Park (harnesses provided) for ages 8 & up at 10 a.m. - 2:30. Registration is required, call (212) 348-4867, ext. 14.

Free catch-and-release fishing at the Harlem Meer all summer long, Tues - Sun, 10 - 4p.m.. Leave a valid ID at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center to borrow bamboo poles and live bait. Children must be accompanied by an adult and fish (from bass to catfish) must be returned to the Meer post catch! (212-860-1370)

Also check out Summer Phys. Ed.