Sunday 7 December 2014

Tinaroo Camp 2014

From Tekira, aged 11

Every year we go to camp at Lake Tinaroo with our homeschool group.
I love camp because I get to see my friends and I can go swimming everyday. 


We have a concert and you get to make up a short skit,
sing a song or tell jokes for it. 


At camp you can also climb trees, ride bikes,
play games at night and go on bush walks. 


I love Tinaroo Camp and I can’t wait to go next year!

Monday 10 November 2014

Into Spring...

Term 3, 2014 was full of fun!

We started off with a long, hot soak at Innot Hot Springs, west of Ravenshoe.  It's a Winter favourite for our group, and worth the extra kilometres travelled!


The Arts were well covered this month with theatre games and music, a trip to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and a knitting & crochet session.


On the Gaming Day the children enjoyed a variety of board games including the most exciting - Dungeons and Dragons.  They have been enjoying ongoing scenarios for most of this year.

Unfortunately, weather conditions meant that our Wongabel State Forest walk and paddock campout were both cancelled.  Our trip to Granite Gorge was glorious though - a beautiful warm day in the sun with lots of ATHENS members' extended family along for a walk, picnic and swim.


The best days of all perhaps were when we just met up to play in the park, chat, swap clothes and resources and be together.

Monday 29 September 2014

ATHENS Family Day


Sunday 23rd November 2014

12 - 4.30pm

Halloran's Hill Observation Building, Atherton



ATHENS families, their extended family, friends, those new to home ed or researching their options...

You are invited to join us for a family day. We will organise some printed information, guest speakers, Q&A session and fun for the kids.

Draft Program:
12pm arrive & mingle, browse printed info
12.30-1pm intro and general info about ATHENS
1pm lunch
1.30pm info session #1 - the law, registration and getting started
2.15pm - info session #2 - homeschooling & special needs
3pm - info session #3 - Q&A forum
3.45pm - socialise & pack up, leave by 4.30pm
4.30pm - clean up and leave venue by 5pm

Please bring:
pen & paper
hat, water bottle etc for your kids
lunch - either your own picnic or food to share
$5-$10 donation per family to cover costs

Tea, coffee & water provided. Please bring cake/fruit to share if you can.



Tuesday 2 September 2014

Rainy Day Fun

... from Miranda

Term two began with cold, wind and rain for the Tablelands.  We continued with our skill sharing theme and began with the soup making session, enjoying sipping soup on a cool Atherton day.  The sun did come out for our juggle ball making session, which was a very busy day and it was nice to be able to spend some time outdoors in the park afterwards.  But then the cool weather continued and we had to make new arrangements for venues with all the rain.


We enjoyed dreamcatcher making, painting, drawing and had two fun theatre/dance/circus sessions.  In spite of the wind and rain, around 20 families traveled from across the Tablelands, Cairns and Townsville to join in the Beach Camp at Mission Beach.  Even with the inclement weather, we enjoyed activities such as beach walks, sand and found objects sculpture, theatre skills/games, mother’s day card making and of course our usual Saturday night concert, which was a great success.


The skill sharing theme culminated in an ATHENS family afternoon tea, where we enjoyed a shared meal, catching up with friends, a small display of art works made by the children during terms one and two, and a short concert, where we performed the song, dance and skits that had been developed during second term.  To finish off the term we had the planning and swap day, which has become a popular regular event – the kids seem to think it is like Christmas come early!  It is a great opportunity for everyone to share/recycle goods and resources within the group.



In term 3 we have a mixture of outings, which were collectively suggested and developed from the ATHENS group.  Some exciting highlights will include seeing the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, learning to knit and crochet, a books and writing session and also some bushwalking/exploring and playing in the park.  There are no camps this term, but we have included a Spring sleepover with bonfire and fun and games for all ATHENS families to join in.  


Beach Camp 2014

Thursday 17 April 2014

Skill Sharing Update

from Miranda...

Our first term of skill sharing was a great success, with members of ATHENS volunteering their time and knowledge in areas such as painting, poetry, cooking, felting and tie dying.  We will continue the theme of skill sharing in term two, with lots more exciting sessions planned, such as art and crafts, cooking and theatre and circus skills.  Our skill sharing sessions will culminate in a ATHENS family event, with a shared afternoon tea, display and performance.

Our 2014 Beach Camp is also happening in term two, at Mission Beach this year.  We have had Beach Camps at Rollingstone and Wonga Beach in the past.  See the Camps page for more info.
 
 

Tie Dye for last day of Term 1 was a huge hit!

Last Year

There were some fun times at ATHENS in 2013.  Here are some great photos from Miranda...


The boys in particular LOVED visiting Nutrigold Worm Farm.


Scary stuff happening in Winfield Park, Malanda.


Our long-running camp at Tinaroo - family time!


H.E.M.S. in May



Sunday 25th May
10am-2pm
Atherton
(email for address and directions)





HEMS = Home Ed Mums Support.

At HEMS we discuss upcoming ATHENS meetings - specifics or direction/ideas, as well as homeschooling in general, registration process, resources, parenting solutions...  It's also a time to just relax and enjoy each other's company with little distraction.

At a HEMS event we can do anything you like - some felting, some food, some lotions & potions making, some pampering, chatter, clothing swap... Anything you'd like to suggest, do or share.

We will be meeting in Atherton on 25th May.

Babes in arms are welcome (and other breastfed bubs), but we encourage you to make other arrangements for your other children.

PLEASE BRING:
*approx $10 for venue hire and materials for activities (in coins would be ideal if possible)
*food to share for lunch (or all-day grazing)
*drinks, teas etc if you like
*a bar of soap to felt on if you like




If you wish to bring an activity/craft to share, and there is cost involved for materials, please let me know by email asap so I can include all costs in the next email invitation.  You can also RSVP by email to help with planning.

Wednesday 22 January 2014

New Year - New Skills



This term we will be sharing skills within our group.  Some of the inspiring sessions we have planned include:

Mandala Sponge Painting

Songwriting and Poetry

Cooking

DIY and Craft

Felting

Tie Dye




With some swimming and ten pin bowling sessions just for fun.



See you all soon!