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Show BORROWED TIMES - MAY 1994 - 5 Local Happenings in Home Education Last fall during a period of frustration in homeschooling my sixyear-old, I discovered a nationwide, non-profit homeschool support group, the Home Education League of Parents (HELP). Last fall I began the Four Comets Educational Alliance, the eleventh HELP chapter to be formed in the country. So far our group is small. We have HELP publishes a monthly newsletter and a calendar of events specific to our chapter for $25 per year. Our chapter is able to retain some of this cost to help us meet future finan— cial needs. We send the balance to the parent organization in California; this covers publishing and mailing costs. Under the bylaws of HELP, chapters can raise money through such activities as yard sales or book fairs, then spend it to fund their needs and desires. One chapter parent recently ran a yard sale, and I am in the process of organizing a seven participating families and would love to have more join us. Since last fall we have done a wide variety of fun and educational activities: we organized month long workshops in book fair through a catalog called the Chinaberry Book Service. This will be for parents and children. Since HELP is a non-profit educational organization storytelling and clay modeling (both we also have the opportunity to apply leaders were Moab residents and professionals in their fields), Jil Kulander did a two-session Brain Gym workshop, another parent did a poetry workshop. We have done various community service projects: for Arches National Park we learned how to collect native plant seed for revegetation projects, we brought Christmas greetings to the residents of the Shilo Residential Home with cookies and caroling, in a few weeks we will do a project with the BLM. We try for one or two activities per month, plus a parent organizational meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Now that it is nice weather we A Lot to Report CV SWAP MEET You would hardly have recognized the Community Lot on Friday, May 6. It looked more like an exotic bazaar than the mustard-covered and gravelpiled piece of land we’re just beginning to get acquainted with. The day had promised to be hot, but bits of shade and zephyrs kept visitors and for educational grants. I hope in the proprietors comfortable. future this may bring fun and experi- Some would say the purpose of the ences to all kids in this area and not just meet was to get rid of (and get) homeschoolers. There are many wonderful innovative educational opportunities other than following the traditional paths to a well-rounded education. Recently I saw a quote which sums up the potential of the Home Education League of Parents: “Go where there is no path and leave a trail.” This organization has chapters throughout the US. and each chapter is leaving its own neat trail as we all learn and have fun together along the way. STUFF, but my personal opinion is that most important were the meetings of friends and neighbors, with their swapping of reports on life in general and cheat grass in particular. From shortly before noon when people started to display their treasures until 7:30 or so when the last boxes were loaded for temporary storage, there was never a dull moment. Considering the vastness and variety of goods available (for cash or for free) I’d say we all did right well. What’s'left will be distrib- If anyone is interested in the Four will be meeting at the Rotary Park across from the Red Rock Elementary School in Moab from 1 to 3 pm. Anyone interested in home education Comets Educational Alliance as a participating family, individual or potential workshop leader, please or alternatives to the public school 800582-9061. No one will be excluded from membership for any reason. —Ann Cummings systems are welcome. I have helpful educational information for children of all ages. . .BWM contact me at 259-6968 or HELP at 1- uted where it will do some good. Many are hoping there will be another meet in a few months which'could include a farmer’s market. Sounds good to me. ELECTRIC POWER TO LOT The Committee is gathering bids for the trenching so that the drip system can be installed to water our first tree plantings, expected just as soon as the power is in. Sixty deciduous trees 6' or larger will be scattered along the old 68535 @556 7” W CCl/ci \/ J irrigation ditch traversing the lot and now functioning as a catchment, the perfect place for trees. At the property line toward Porcupine Rim the tree row will curve in both directions along that boundary. Closer to planting time the committee and Ken Drogin will decide exactly which types of trees will be best. Your ideas are welcome. Our next meeting will be held on the lot at 6 pm, Tuesday, May 24. We are hoping that some of our valley teenagers will be present. Lots to do. —Cris Coffey, CV Community Lot Chair |