Paul Smiths VIC Homeschool Day tomorrow 2/13/24 – there is no skiing, and even snowshoeing might be too slippery. The VIC recommends wearing microspikes if you go out on the trails. Nevertheless, a bunch of us are still planning to meet at 10am, and we will play board games indoors in the classroom!

Submissions for the Adirondack Center for Writing’s all-ages Annual Poem Village Festival are open, and this year, in addition to Saranac Lake storefront windows, poems will be hanging throughout Malone and St. Lawrence County! The deadline to submit your poem is March 18, 2024. Visit the ACW website to submit your work. https://adirondackcenterforwriting.org/poemvillage/

Read more about the exciting geographical spread of the poems in 2024: https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2024/01/submission-period-for-poem-village-is-open/

Paul Smiths VIC Ski and Snowshoe tomorrow, Feb 6 10am! It will likely be a bit icy again… though now I know — we have to head to the wider open trails, and not so much the tree-covered trails. (And/or just be on snowshoes). But it will be fun no matter what! If you want to check conditions visit: https://www.paulsmithsvic.org/trailconditions/

Dear Homeschool Families,

Please join us on Thursday, February 1^st at 10:00 a.m. for an exploration of biographies and autobiographies through a read aloud, discussion, and extension activities. Special guests from Northwood School will help students draw portraits and self-portraits to accompany their writing. Please bring a photo of your child(ren) or a picture of a person your child is interested in writing about to help with this drawing station. Don’t worry if they’re just on your phone, as we can quickly print copies.

Please rsvp to librarian@lakeplacidlibrary.org or 518-523-3200 if you know you are attending to help with set-up needs. As always, happy reading!

-Karen and Bambi

Joy Cranker who teaches homeschool art classes each year says: The Saranac Lake Library has about 70 pieces of art from Ukraine children in Kharkiv. The art will be displayed in June 2024. I have seen the art and most of it has a strong theme of holding onto hope. They have asked if the homeschool students would like to do something in response to the art. I would like to plan a time before June for everyone to see it and make something to send to the children. Please let me know if you are interested. Another student somewhere else had made hearts to send. The children range in ages from around 6 years old to high-school. I will be trying to think of something we can make for hope and caring to send that will also be easy to ship. You can message me ideas if you come up with any.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Homeschool Ski and Snowshoe Day at the Paul Smiths VIC should be very nice! There will be horse-drawn sleigh rides! I forgot to ask the cost, but you can learn more and make your reservation at the desk when you arrive. The person who runs the college’s draft horse program is amazing and shares lots of educational information during the ride. We filled a sleigh with homeschoolers last year and sang winter songs and learned about the horses and had a tons of fun. ALSO, one of our families will be bringing a box of books to give away! You are welcome to do the same, just remember to take your leftover books home with you. For more info about our VIC days: https://nch.home.blog/2023/10/31/homeschool-xc-ski-and-snowshoe-days-at-the-paul-smiths-vic-january-march-2024/

For tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan 23rd Homeschool XC Ski and Snowshoe Day at the Paul Smiths VIC, I hear the kids have all decided they should play games in the field FIRST because they’re often a bit too tired and hungry after their long trail ski. So, if you want to join in Moose Juice and Capture the Flag, be on skis by 10:15am-ish! More info: https://nch.home.blog/2023/10/31/homeschool-xc-ski-and-snowshoe-days-at-the-paul-smiths-vic-january-march-2024/

The deadline for the 2024 Wild Words Adirondack Teen Writing Anthology is February 29th, just under 2 months away. Thanks so much for helping us spread the word to teens, families, and other interested organizations!

• You can find all of the information about Wild Words here: https://adirondackcenterforwriting.org/wildwords/ (including new submission guidelines!).
• Any teen (13-19) living in the North Country is welcome to submit writing before the deadline of February 29, 2024. 
• We have provided a toolkit to help you spread the word, including worksheets, posters, and social media graphics, all which can be downloaded.

We are happy to answer any questions or provide additional assistance. Thanks so much for helping us spread the word!

Sincerely,
Erin Dorney
Visiting Writer, ACW

Dear Homeschool Families,Please join our first 2024 homeschool session this Thursday, January 11th at 10:00 at the Lake Placid Food Pantry (basement of St. Agnes Church). We will learn about volunteerism through a read-aloud, hands-on activities, and a tour of the pantry in anticipation of our Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service. There is free parking in the St. Agnes Church parking lot on Hillcrest Ave., with the door of the Food Pantry at the rear of the church on the parking lot side.

Please rsvp to librarian@lakeplacidlibrary.org or 518-523-3200 if you know you are attending to help with set-up needs. As always, happy reading!

-Karen and Bambi