Due to the holidays and staffing, the facility is unable to accommodate the homeschool community on 01/03/2020. Morning and afternoon activities are canceled.

On Friday, 01/03/20, Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center is once again hosting homeschool families.

Morning session (10-noon): The original schedule was snow tubing but the facility is lacking snow. Instead, they are offering ice fishing. Tubing will be (hopefully) offered at a later date.

Check in time for the AM activity will be the same as previous weeks from 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM at the Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center. There is a gravel parking area with a gray building on the right with a wooden green “office” sign. There will be signs directing people to the deck entrance for registration.

You MUST RSVP to northcountryhomeschooling@gmail.com if you plan to attend. As an alternative, you can post to the Facebook event on the homeschool page with head counts. POK-O-MACCREADY NEEDS A HEADCOUNT IN ADVANCE.

There is an $8 fee, per student for each morning session, which includes lunch. Lunch is also available for adults (optional $3 donation).

Afternoon session (1pm-3pm): Homeschool Indoor Rock Climbing @ The Crux:

COST: $7 per climber, per climbing session (includes climbing pass and equipment).

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CRUX HAS A MAX CAPACITY OF 25 CLIMBERS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU RSVP TO northcountryhomeschooling@gmail.com WITH YOUR NAME AND NUMBER OF CLIMBERS. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, YOU MAY POST ON THE FACEBOOK EVENT ON THE HOMESCHOOL PAGE WITH THE NUMBER OF CLIMBERS. IT WILL BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, SO THE FIRST 25 KIDDOS SIGNED UP, EACH WEEK, VIA RSVP WILL BE THE ONLY ONES ABLE TO CLIMB. I WILL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED IF THE MAX RSVP IS REACHED.**

If only attending the climbing session, please come to the Outdoor Education Center first to sign in and pay. Sign in table will be open from 12:30-1:00pm.

Waivers, Information and Directions:
Here are a couple things to note so that your arrival and time here can be set up for success: 

• Please complete Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center’s “Health and Parental Permission” form. (Scroll to the middle of the page and click the “Download Release Form” button). If these could be completed for all participating students before their arrival here, that would be awesome – if not we’ll have the forms printed out and families will be able to complete them upon their arrival here. (These only need to be filled out one time.)
• Directions to Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center: 1391 Reber Road Willsboro, NY 12996
  • From 87, The Adirondack Northway, take Exit 33 for Willsboro, Lewis and Keesville: NY 22, US 9
  • Continue on NY 22 for about 5 miles. 
  • Turn Right onto Reber Road, here there will be signs for Pok-O-MacCready Summer Camps, Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center and The Crux Champlain Valley Climbing Center.
  • Continue on Reber Road for one mile passing the sign for Camp PokoMoonshine and Turn Right at the Sign for Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center.
  • There is a gravel parking area here with a gray building on the right-hand side with a wooden green “Office” sign. There will be signs directing everyone towards the large deck entrance for registration.

On Friday, 12/20/19, Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center is once again hosting homeschool families.

Morning session: The original schedule was snowshoeing but the facility is lacking snow. Instead, they are facilitating a guided Nature Walk on the trails surrounding the 1812 Homestead talking about the flora and fauna and visiting a tree house in the forest along the way. This nature walk is suitable for students of all ages, the trails are very mild with little elevation change. 

Check in time for the AM activity will be the same as previous weeks from 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM and we will be providing rides to and from the 1812 Homestead from Pok-O-MacCready’s main building starting at 10AM. Families are welcome to drive in their personal vehicles as well, but please check in at Pok-O-MacCready’s main building before driving to the 1812 Homestead, so that we have a headcount of participants and lunch numbers. 

You MUST RSVP to northcountryhomeschooling@gmail.com if you plan to attend. As an alternative, you can post to the Facebook event on the homeschool page with head counts. POK-O-MACCREADY NEEDS A HEADCOUNT IN ADVANCE.

There is an $8 fee, per student for each morning session, which includes lunch. Lunch is also available for adults (optional $3 donation).

Afternoon session: Homeschool Indoor Rock Climbing @ The Crux:

COST: $7 per climber, per climbing session (includes climbing pass and equipment).

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CRUX HAS A MAX CAPACITY OF 25 CLIMBERS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU RSVP TO northcountryhomeschooling@gmail.com WITH YOUR NAME AND NUMBER OF CLIMBERS. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, YOU MAY POST ON THE FACEBOOK EVENT ON THE HOMESCHOOL PAGE WITH THE NUMBER OF CLIMBERS. IT WILL BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, SO THE FIRST 25 KIDDOS SIGNED UP, EACH WEEK, VIA RSVP WILL BE THE ONLY ONES ABLE TO CLIMB. I WILL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED IF THE MAX RSVP IS REACHED. RSVPs WILL BE SOUGHT FOR EACH DATE AND REMINDERS WILL BE POSTED A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE.

If only attending the climbing session, please come to the Outdoor Education Center first to sign in and pay. Sign in table will be open from 12:30-1:00pm.

Waivers, Information and Directions:
Here are a couple things to note so that your arrival and time here can be set up for success: 

• Please complete Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center’s “Health and Parental Permission” form. (Scroll to the middle of the page and click the “Download Release Form” button). If these could be completed for all participating students before their arrival here, that would be awesome – if not we’ll have the forms printed out and families will be able to complete them upon their arrival here. (These only need to be filled out one time.)
• Directions to Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center: 1391 Reber Road Willsboro, NY 12996
  • From 87, The Adirondack Northway, take Exit 33 for Willsboro, Lewis and Keesville: NY 22, US 9
  • Continue on NY 22 for about 5 miles. 
  • Turn Right onto Reber Road, here there will be signs for Pok-O-MacCready Summer Camps, Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center and The Crux Champlain Valley Climbing Center.
  • Continue on Reber Road for one mile passing the sign for Camp PokoMoonshine and Turn Right at the Sign for Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center.
  • There is a gravel parking area here with a gray building on the right-hand side with a wooden green “Office” sign. There will be signs directing everyone towards the large deck entrance for registration.

Registration open for Winter 2020 Tumbling Classes at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Ages 2-12 years. For more information: https://www.lakeplacidarts.org/classes/tumbling-classes-winter-2020

Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake is presenting a holiday play this December 2019 featuring local children (including a few homeschoolers).  Information about the play and performance dates:  https://www.pendragontheatre.org/mr-toad-s-christmas-carol

Special Note! The December 21st matinee performance at 2:00 is a “pay-what-you-can” performance. To purchase tickets for the Dec 21st matinee, you must call the box office at (518) 891-1854. To purchase tickets for any of the other shows, you may purchase tickets on line through the web site link above or call the box office.

If your family participated in the November Home School Reading Challenge, please email me at smarocco@gmail.com with total number of books read, childrens’ ages, amount of money raised, and library that the donation was given to so that I can tally up the totals. Thanks for participating! –Samantha

Join homeschool students and families from Essex, Clinton and Franklin Counties for enjoyable days skiing at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. This season long program will offer a wonder of possibilities on our Olympic Trails and a dedicated space for home-school enrichment and activities. Registration will take place on the first day, Jan. 8, 2020, at the ticket desk.

Lunch discount for homeschoolers: The concessionaire at Mt Van Hoevenberg lodge is Green Goddess (owners of the natural food store in Lake Placid). They always have great soup, fun sandwiches for adults and kids (vegetarian, meat, gluten free, etc.), gourmet cookies, and more, and if you identify yourself as a homeschooler on Wednesdays, they’ll give a 10% discount.

2020 WINTER SCHEDULE
When: Wednesdays | January 8 – March 4, 2020*
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

*There are no home school days during Presidents’ Week.

Price
-Season-Long Student Program: $50 (includes season pass to MVH)
-Season-Long Parent Program: $100 (includes season pass to MVH)
-Season-Long Rentals: $50 (children get to take the skis home with them for the whole season)
-Drop-in rate: $10/session for kids and parents (kids use of skis included for that program day)

Price includes a lesson and trail pass. Rental equipment is separate. Season-Long programs give kids and parents a season pass, which gives families access for free to other programs at MVH such as Pathfinders and the Citizen Race Series. We have fun games on skis and other activities planned too!

Schedule

• 9:45am – arrive and get skis and passes.
• 10am – Separate into groups based on ability and each group has a wonderful instructor supplied by MVH.
• 11-12:15 – Lunch together in the Main Lodge
• 12:30-1:30 – Ski together as a whole group to do Comedy Improv class at Josie’s Cabin, and then ski back to main lodge/parking area.
• 2pm – end time.

From Dawn-Marie Hall: Just a reminder that Titus Homeschool Skiing forms are due 12/15. I have sent several out but have only received 2 back. If we don’t have about 20 signed up, Titus won’t extend this discounted offer to us. Sign up info: https://nch.home.blog/2019/11/25/2019-homeschool-downhill-skiing-at-titus-deadline-dec-15th/