to this week's
Teaching At Home
Newsletter

August 27, 2007

Looking for a great cover school?  Look no further!!!

Everest Academy

Find great resources at

Teaching At Home

I hope you enjoy your week Teaching At Home, and I hope to see you all soon! 

Deb Spradlin

 
Homeschool Directory

Please contact me directly at everestacademy1@gmail.com if you would like to be included.  Please include your information in this order:  county, your name, area, contact information, children's year of birth, and any other information you would like added.  Please consider adding your information here!  This could be SUCH a great resource for you!

New Resources...

• Huntsville Teen Scene -  We are now a group of about nine families each with one or more teens ages 12 to 17.  We are from all over the northern part of AL/southern TN ---Florence to Fayetteville—but I don’t believe any one of us is more than an hours’ drive from everyone else.  On Friday, September 7, I’ll host “Scarecrow Trail at the Gardens”.  The Huntsville Botanical Gardens will have scarecrows made by local families, church groups, non-profit groups and companies lining the paths of the gardens.  Each scarecrow has a different theme and they are competing for prizes.  We will meet at the Visitor’s Center at 11:00, walk the gardens, then head back to the main gazebo for picnic lunches (bring your own).  Admission is free with membership, $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 – 18.   Our family has done this several years and have had fun with the wildly different and very clever scarecrows.  You are allowed to walk, run, tumble, etc. on the grass (in case you haven’t been to the HBG before.)  This is not your grandmother’s stuffy formal garden kinda place.  For more information, please contact Kristen at http://kristen@lindelowkoon.com

• Shelby County YMCA Swim Team - This team has a homeschool practice time - YMCA Swim Team Thanks for the info Jennifer!

• Master’s Academy of Fine Arts Calera is a Christian, fine arts school available to home-schooled children ages 3-18.  Meeting one day per week for three hours, children are exposed to the arts from a historical perspective.  We offer history, art, music, and drama.  The  Master’s Academy of Fine Arts Calera meets on Tuesday afternoons from 12:00-3:30 at The Church at Shelby Crossings in Calera, AL.  For the upcoming school year, we will meet Sept. 2007 – March 2008, covering the Romantic Period, 1830 -1900 A.D.  Master's Institute is a supplemental academic program that correlates with the arts program.  Our Institute classes are in the fields of science, literature, art, drama, and ballet.  For more information, please visit our web site at calera.mafa.net. Thanks for the info Deb!!

• Master's Academy McCalla - Co-op is a homeschool cooperative whose participants endeavor to provide creative and innovative classes and social activities in an enthusiastic, fun, and supportive Christian environment for children K-12. Parents come together to help and teach classes between 8:30-12 on Fridays. Parents must be there with their children; it will take each parent to run the co-op...If you are interested contact Farrah Warren at 424-8385.  There will be an Orientation on Monday night at 6 p.m. for more information and to sign up for certain classes.
  
• Lightning Strikes Homeschool League Trussville - The Fall Season will begin on 9/13/07 and be every Thursday for 15 weeks, meeting at 11 am.  The winter league will start back up on 1/23/08 and also be at 11 am every Thursday.  Cost is $8:50 per child..(which includes shoe rental, and they will play 3 games).  This is a USBC Sanctioned league, and they will have "coaches" there every week to help the kids. Parents can bowl as well if they want, for $1.50 per game and $1.50 for shoe rental.  Because this will be during "lunch" they also will have food specials... Hot dog, chips and coke, $3, Pizza and Coke $3,  Hamburger chips and coke, $3.50, Corn dog chips and coke, $3.  Also a whole pizza )1 topping) $15.  Thanks Beth!
• Tennis Lessons in Hoover - Jason Gardner is a pro who works with students at Hoover Country Club. For the first time, Jason is offering a wonderful opportunity for a quality  homeschool tennis class during the day for homeschoolers.  Jason will bring in other pros as needed. Ages and levels will vary  which will be accomodated.  Tennis Class days offered:  Mondays 2-3, Wed 1-2 and Thursdays, 12- 1 PM at Hoover CC.   The class will be a two month committment offered in 4 sessions:  Sep and Oct, Nov and Dec, Jan and Feb, March and April - $40 for the 2 months.  Send a check made payable to  Jason Gardner for $40 and send it to Candice Hammick , 6134 Eagle Point Circle,  Bham AL 35242 to register.  Multiple children discount may apply, please inquire. 
  

• Serve the Homeless Volunteer Opportunity for Teens - Agape in Pinson has partnered with a ministry called THE NEST for several years now.  It is a non-profit non denominational ministry that cooks and provides meals for Birmingham's homeless community.  They serve a hot meal every Tuesday and Thursday evenings and possibly Sundays as well downtown between the BJCC and Boutwell under the bridge.  They need help serving food and collecting and handing out blankets and gloves.  For more information, please contact Hal Wycoff  at 205-680-6599.  Thanks Sue!

• Brain Pop - I personally LOVE Brain Pop http://www.brainpop.com/ but have found the subscription price of $175 to be much to expensive for our family. The Homeschool Buyers Co-op is offering a group buy for as little as $44.55 for Brain Pop and $27.00 for Brain Pop Jr.. You will have to join the Homeschool Buyers Co-op in order to participate in the group buy, but it's free to join. This offer expires on September 10th. Here's the link for more info... https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/19942094/  Have a Wonderful Day!!!  Thanks Cheryl!
• Gulf Coast Yahoo Group - The link is:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschoolingonthegulfcoast
• Huntsville American Heritage Girls will have their first meeting on Thursday, Aug 30th at 3:15pm. This will be the first meeting of the year and registration day. Moms please plan on staying for this meeting.  We will be meeting at Calvary Bible Church, 607 Drake Ave, Huntsville.  For those of you who don't know about AHG, it is a Christian girl scouting program for grades K-12. Go to http://www.ahgonline.org/ for more information on the organization.  New members welcome!!!!  Please contact Reba if you have questions or need further information. kd1219@comcast.net
• Acting Curriculum - I am a former home school Mom. My youngest is now off to college.  I live in the Atlanta, GA area. Currently, I teach acting classes to home school students in my area.  I have produced this program into an acting curriculum for home school parents and co-ops.  It is easy to teach and fun to use.  I believe acting is a great way to teach the Word of God and boost a child's self esteem.  Here is my web site www.JoyaPerceptions.com
• Knitting Know How - Beginning Sept. 10th and meeting the second Monday of each month from 4-5pm, The Albert L. Scott Library in Alabaster will be conducting "Knitting-Know How" for ages 7 and up. With or without an adult.  Bring size 9 or 10 needles and worsted weight yarn to make a scarf!  Meets in the mobile unit.  Sign up by calling 664-6822.   Many thanks to Deborah Nichols for this resource!
  
  

Dates to Remember...

Aug. 31 - Spring Valley Beach Homeschool Day in Blountsville from 10:00am - 6:00pm.  Cost is $10.00 per person (ages 2 and under are free) to get in.  You will pay at the door.  You can bring your own food and drinks into the park.  I have rented a pavilion, so look for the Teaching At Home sign.  We went last year and had a blast!  This is a very family friendly place.  www.springvalleybeach.com  

• Sep 1 - Teaching At Home & Everest Academy enrollment due
  
• Sep 1 - JMG payment due
• Sep 1 - Dauphin Island payment due. 
  

Sign Up!!!...

• Children's Theater - Hi Gang!  It's time again to sign up for Children's Theatre.  They have a great season this year!!!  Check here for full information: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/teachingathome/355709/
•  Alys Stephens Center Free Performances - This series allows the Alys Stephens Center to share the arts with area students and aspiring young artists. These one-hour performances by internationally acclaimed artists let students experience the thrill of a live performance in a world-class performing arts venue.  During these interactive presentations, artists will engage students with anecdotes about their educational and artistic training and life as a professional, touring artist. They will also offer insight into the music they will perform, as well as strategies for perfecting musical techniques. Resource materials are available for some performances.  Please look here for full details:  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/teachingathome/356110/


• Sep 26 - Oakville Indian Mounds featuring the largest 2,000 year old Woodland Indian Mound in Alabama; an early settlers cemetery with false crypts; a Copena Indian Burial Mound; Black Warriors’ Path; and an 8,000 square foot Cherokee Council House containing a 12-foot statue of Sequoyah and thousands of artifacts dating as far back as 10,000 B.C.  Butch Walker, an expert in the area of Celtic/Native American history in the Southeast, will be speaking.  Arrival time is 10:00.  Cost is $2.00 per person.  Please make reservation with Angela Broyles at Angela.Broyles@gmail.com or 256-762-7153.  

• FREE FIELD TRIP  September 29  - Hick's Village Meet at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Birmingham, Alabama at  9:00AM.  Join us as we tour the Hicks "primitive village", 6-7 log & wooden buildings (including a general store, carriage house, schoolhouse-church & smoke house), all full of old implements, tools, antiques & household items. Amazing display!   Gordon & Cecilia Hicks host this event on their 300-acre tract on Spring Creek. We are also going to see fall color. Bring a sack lunch, plenty of water and comfortable shoes/boots for walking.  This trip is with Fresh Air Family.  Please register here:  Hick's Village in Colbert County
• Oct 1 through 3 - Camp McDowell  The Huntsville Christian Homeschoolers are going to Camp McDowell. You don't have to be a member to join us! Our target age is 4th grade-7th grade. Our classes and evening programs will include: canoeing, pond, compass skills, team adventure, woods walk, Native Americans and Earth, Night Hike, Alabama neighbors. We will learn team skills, communication skills, about animals, reptiles, birds of prey, the water cycle, and lots more!  We will have a parent meeting on Monday, September 10, 2007 at 6:30 PM. If you are even slightly interested, please come!  You may attend this camp with your child(ren). You will have to pay the same price...$116.20. This includes 2 nights lodging, meals and snacks, and all the wonderful classes and experiences!  Please contact Jennifer Cullars for more information at:  256-527-1198
  jvcullars@hotmail.com
• Oct 26 -Dismals Canyon  http://www.dismalscanyon.com/index.html Time: 12:30 noon  The tour will take about 3 hours.It is about one and half miles long.  Please eat before the tour and bring a snack along with your water.   Fees: 1st-6th Graders $4.75 each, 7th-12th graders $7.00 each, and parents are $7.50 each.  Please contact Angela Broyles to make reservations at  256-762-7153 or Angela.Broyles@gmail.com  
• Nov. 26 - 30 - Disney World Trip Teaching At Home will be going to Disney World in Orlando again this year.  We went last year and had a blast.  You can check out the information from last year here:  Disney Trip 2006 .  The trip will include a 5-day hopper pass to all four parks plus two visits to either Typhoon Lagoon or Disney Quest.  We visited Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Quest last year and had an absolute blast.  These tickets will also include one Y.E.S. Program for the students.  These are absolutely wonderful programs, and my kids are still talking about the one they attended last year.  The rest of the time is your's to spend as a family.  Disney Information
• Dec. 13 - Alabama Ballet Presents The Nutcracker at the Samford Wright Center at 10:00am.  While visions of sugarplums have not yet danced in your heads, the Alabama Ballet is already working towards our holiday season production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.  Alabama Ballet is currently one of six companies in the world licensed to perform Balanchine's performance.  Cost is $7 per adult.  Children free.  I know it is early for this; however, the quicker we send in our reservations, the better seating we will get. Deadline for sign up, cancellation, and payment is Oct. 15. 
  

• Aug 29 - The Imprisonment of Geronimo at the Birmingham Public Library at noon.  Please join us to hear Jackie Matte talk about Geronimo the leader of the last American Indian fighting force to surrender to the U.S. Government. Geronimo and his followers, Chiricahuas, were shipped to Fort Marion and later to Fort Pickens, Florida. After a year they group was relocated to the Mt. Vernon barracks in Alabama where were held until 1894 when they were taken to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
• Aug 30 - Newfangled Meets Old School:  Stories of Cupids, Computers, Food Fads, and Old-Fashioned Home Cooking at Springville Road Public Library from 6:30 - 7:30p.m.  Award-winning story performer Dolores Hydock presents a pair of hilarious stories that ponder whether "new" always means "improved." Find out what happens when a 1960s-era computer tries to make romantic dreams come true, and how an organic diet gets fried in a 60-year-old skillet. Not recommended for children under 12.
• Sep 1 - Butterbean Festival in Pinson from 9:00 - 4:00.  Outside event featuring live music; Tail Waggin' dog pageant; Regional Elvis impersonator competition; BBQ cookoff; Butterbean/Cornbread recipe competition; 5K and 1 mile race; century bicycle run; softball tournament; bowling tournament; golf tournament; lots of arts and craft vendors and three stages of entertainment.
  www.butterbeanfestival.com
• Sep 3 - Coondog Graveyard Labor Day Celebration in Tuscumbia www.coondogcemetery.com. Free admission. Coondog Cemetery, off U.S. Hwy. 72W & AL. Hwy. 247—Graves are freshly decorated for the event. View over 185 graves. Enjoy buck dancing, liar's contest, speech-making, and entertainment. Barbecue available. 1-4 p.m. Come on people!  Some of us NEED to go to this!
• Sep 3 - Burning Man Birmingham Arts Festival brings artists and dancers together to create and celebrate art. Participation is the only rule. The art will do the rest.  Oak Mountain State Park Free with Paid Park Admission
• Sep 4 - Homeschoolers Book Club at Trussville Library at 11:00a.m.  Organizational meeting for homeschooled children and their parents.  Children between the ages of 6 and 10 are invited to attend and learn about a new library program just for them.
• Sep 5 - Music of the Mines, Mills and Railroads of the Birmingham District  at Birmingham Public Library at noon.  Migrants pouring into Birmingham's industrial district, whether from the cotton fields or the Appalachian hills, brought with them their own unique styles of music. Sloss Furnaces curator Karen Utz will present personal recollections of musicians and an array of recordings ranging from soulful ballads to union songs to old time fiddling.
• Sep 5 -Moonlight & Magnolias at Emmet O'Neal Library from 12:30 - 1:30p.m.  Members of the cast and crew of BFT's "Moonlight and Magnolias" appear at the O'Neal Library to discuss the play and its fascinating subject, the frantic writing sessions and production issues that constantly disrupted the making of "Gone with the Wind." This debut entry of an ongoing Page to Stage series by BFT at the library will feature the show's director and a screening of behind-the-scenes footage from the epic's troubled set. GWTW fans and movie fans, in general, will not want to miss this brown bag lunch show about the making of a legendary Hollywood picture.
• Sep 5 - How to Build a Scarecrow Seminar at the Aldridge Gardens at noon.  Learn the easy way to build your own scarecrow from expert Dawn Bowman. Dawn has won several awards for her scarecrow designs during the Gardens' "Scarecrows in the Gardens" and she will pass along her tips to you. Whether you want to enter "Scarecrows in the Gardens" or simply learn how to build a scarecrow for your own home or business, you won't want to miss this seminar.  Deadline for entering "Scarecrows in the Gardens" is Monday, September 24.
• Sep 6 - "Standing by the Fire: Living in John's Symbolic World." at Reid Chapel, Samford University 800 Lakeshore Drive Birmingham, AL 35229 at 10:00 a.m.  This year's lecturer is Dr. Richard B. Hays, professor of New Testament, Duke Divinity School, Durham, N.C. His topic will be "Standing by the Fire: Living in John's Symbolic World."
• Sep 6 - Copyright & Trademark Law at The Arts Council 700 Monroe St. Suite 2 Located inside the Von Braun Center Huntsville, AL 35801 from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.  Alabama Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (ALAArts) along with The Arts Council are hosting a free workshop entitled Copyright and Trademark Basics. Arts and Entertainment Attorney and founder of Alabama Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, Mr. Marcus Hunt will present information on the everyday issues that relate to those in the arts and arts organization in the areas of Copyright and Trademark Law. This workshop will benefit songwriters, musicians, writers, poets, visual artists, craftsmen, producers, actors, dancers and performers, as well as, those involved in arts organizations.
• Sep 6, 20, Oct 4 & 18 - Culture Kids at Gardendale Library from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.  Culture Kids is a super cool club for children in grades 4 and up.  Each month explore a new culture through music, dance, crafts, and food. 
  
• Sep 6 - The Tale of the Iron Man at Leeds Library at 2:00 p.m.  The Seasoned Readers, a special wing of The Seasoned Performers presents The Tale of the Iron Man by Lee Eric Shackleford. Through dramatic readings this senior adult troupe will share the ups and downs of Vulcan's first 100 years.
• Sep 7 - Prehistory Cultures of Little River Canyon at DeSoto State Park from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.  JSU's Dr. Harry Holstein will fascitnate you with stories of the Ice Age to DeSoto's 16th Century Spanish expedition.  JSU’s Dr. Harry Holstein will fascinate you with stories of from the Ice Age to DeSoto's 16th century Spanish expedition.
• Sep 7 - Ballet & the Beasts www.montgomeryballet.com at the Montgomery Zoo--Enjoy an evening of entertainment under the stars as the Montgomery Ballet and the Montgomery Zoo present this annual production, featuring new repertoire of The Montgomery Ballet Professional Company. Gates open, 6:30 p.m.; performance, 7:30 p.m.

• Sep 8 - Spanish Exploration of Northeast Alabama at DeSoto State Park from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. JSU's Dr. Harry Holstein will take you through their amazing adventures of the first European explorers search for the ancient town of "Coosa".
  

• Sep 7 & 8 - ArtWalk Twelve city blocks from 2nd Avenue North to 2nd Avenue South between 22nd and 25th Streets will be transformed into a vibrant arts district with more than 100 visual artists within the first floor retail and loft space… Plus musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors and a great old-fashioned trolley to ride around the neighborhood.
• Sep 8 - Learning By the Lake Series:  Butterflies  Join United States Forest Service biologists and JSU Field School experts for an interesting hour of educational fun at Coleman Lake Recreational Area in the Talladega National Forest at 7:00 p.m   Take advantage of the beautiful location and camp for the weekend! Family friendly.
  

• Sep 9 - Grandparent's Day Celebration at McWane Center from 2:00 - 5:00p.m.  Enjoy an afternoon of fun and learning with your grandparents.  McWane Science Center members are invited to bring their grandparents for FREE adventure hall admission.  Present your valid McWane Science Center membership card for admission to the Grandparent's Day Reception.  Refreshments and activities will be provided for the entire family.  Please RSVP to (205) 714-8218. 
  
• Sep 10 - Birmingham Pledge Annual Teen Summit  at the Civil Rights Institute from 8:00 - 2:45p.m.  Annual conference for metro-area high school youth, on issues related to justice, cultural understanding, prejudice reduction, diversity and inclusion, and building a community that provides dignity and respect for all its members.  High-school aged youth are invited to come in small groups (3-6 students and an adult chaperone)  to participate in an active program that includes two plenary sessions and four breakout small group sessions. Since lunch is provided, pre-registration is important. Space is limited to approx. 120 teen participants. Call the Birmingham Pledge Foundation 254-3022 for further details.
• Sep 11 - Flowers and Botanicals of Ancient Pompeii at Birmingham Museum of Art . Verna Gates, ethnobotanist, storyteller, and photographer will discuss and give illustrated examples of the plants and flowers that thrived in Pompeii before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Great for a garden club outing!  Noon - Meet in the lobby.  
• Sep 10, 24, Oct 8 & 22 - Character Club at Gardendale Library from 3:30 - 4:30p.m.  Character Club is a new fun interactive program for kids K-3rd grade.  Ms. Janet uses character development through games, scrapbooking, stories, movies, and more.
  
• Sep 11 & 12 - Sloss Fright Furnace is currently seeking ghouls for our newly defined and produced terrifying journey through the netherworld. We are looking for those individuals 16 years of age and up who like to perform and do not mind staying up late. Auditions for the new trail will be held at Sloss Furnaces on Tuesday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. This is an open call for actors, therefore no appointment is necessary. Actors are invited to audition in costume and make-up if they would like their characters to be considered for inclusion in the production. New actors may use stock costumes and props provided by the event to audition. There will be mandatory tours of Sloss Furnaces conducted by Mr. Ron Bates, a historian on staff at the site, as well as ongoing workshops and a soft opening during the week leading up to the event. All hired actors are required to attend these important functions. http://www.frightfurnace.com
• Sep 12 - Learn to Dance Like the Stars at the Birmingham Public Library from 12:00 - 1:00p.m.  Come join us in this fun interactive brown bag program featuring the Birmingham Ballroom Dance Association. We are bringing them back for a repeat performance. You will learn some of the basic dances used in ballroom dancing. You don't have to bring a partner to join in the fun, just come in and put your best foot forward.
• Sep 12 - Mark Seymour will entertain today. He is a musician, magician, and all around entertainer. Join us today to find out what kind of magic he will make!  Emmet O'Neal Library 12:30 - 1:30 
• Sep 12 - Oh! Henry:  The Surprising Short Stories of William Sydney Porter  at Cullman Public Library from 1:00 - 2:00p.m.  Award-winning story performer Dolores Hydock presents a program on the surprising life and work of William Syndey Porter, better known as "O. Henry." The program tells of Porter's unusual professional and personal life, and includes several of his classic "surprise ending" stories.
• Sep 13 - Dog Day Birthday Bash at Zydeco from 6:00 - 9:00p.m.  Three Friends have joined their birthday's together to throw one big party for animal rescue groups. There is food by Little Savannah, the lovely Samaraya belly dancing and the talented Paul Hutchinson flamenco/classical guitar. The party is Free but please bring donations for the rescue groups. Some suggestions are: Ca$h, Wal-Mart gift cards, dog food, cat foot, litter, bedding, food bowls, leashes and pet carriers.
• Sep 14 through 19 - Used Book Sale at Leeds Library 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. 
  
• Sep 14 & 15 -  Family Weekend DeSoto State Park JSU Field Schools and De Soto State Park will offer fun activities Friday night, all day Saturday and Saturday night for families who want to learn about nature together.  Join JSU Field Schools Renee Morrison and Dr. Fran Romano for fun "live animal" Campfire Talk on Friday and Saturday nights. Can Snakes Crawl Backwards?  Did you know that snakes cannot crawl backwards?  Saturday JSU’s Dr. Frank Romano will introduce you to a popular group of animals known as Tardigrades or water bears!  www.desotostatepark.com
• Sep 15 - Pretty Crafty and Clever at Emmet O'Neal Library Grades 7 - 12 from 2:00 - 4:00  Scrapbooking!  Registration required at 445-1101
  
• Sept 15 - Gulf Shores 20th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup 251-929-0900. www.alabamacoastalcleanup.com. Mobile, Baldwin & Escambia counties—Volunteers convene to "get the trash out of the splash" by cleaning up Alabama's beaches and waterways. This event provides participants with a first-hand experience that improves the ecosystem. 8 a.m.-noon.
• Sep 15 - Backpacking 101 Workshop 205-913-9911. http://hikealabama.org Gardendale Civic Ctr. 857 Main St.—This workshop will teach you the basics of backpacking from equipment needed to cooking to hiking with children and everything in between. 9 a.m.-noon.
• Sep 16 - National College Fair Wondering what college is right for you? Learn about admission, and explore your college options at the Birmingham National College Fair! This free event will take place from 1pm- 4pm, 2007 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Meet one-on-one with college admission representatives from around the country. Discuss admission requirements, financial aid opportunities and more.  At the fair' s counseling center, students and parents can meet with experts to assess their individual needs. For more information about the Birmingham National College Fair, visit www.nacacnet.org.

• Sep 18 -NASA Discovery Program Workshop for educators to be held in Huntsville at the Educator Training Facility at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.  for  4 - 12 science educators including homeschooling parents. 
  NASA’s Discovery Program of space exploration missions, such as Stardust and Deep Impact, is conducting a Professional Development session for science educators. Come learn about these exciting solar system investigations and receive free classroom-ready materials, including curriculum, posters, bookmarks and decals, to engage your students. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.    For more information and to register, contact Shari Asplund, Discovery Program Education and Public Outreach Manager at  

  shari.e.asplund@jpl.nasa.gov  NO COST TO ATTEND – LIGHT DINNER PROVIDED
• Sept 20 - ArchiTreats: Food For Thought 334-353-4712. www.archives.state.al.us. Alabama Department of Archives & History--Bring a sack lunch and participate in the Lecture Series. This month's topic is "Was There a Religious History of the American Civil War?" presented by George C. Rable. 12:05-1 p.m
• Sep 21 - Invisible Wonders of Little River Canyon  JSU microbiologist Dr. Benjie Blair will explain how the creatures you can't see affect you every day.  Time:    7:00 pm – 8:00 pm at DeSoto State Park's Campfire Circle.  
  
• Sep 22 - Family Fun Day at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens from 10:00 - 4:00 Celebrate the colors of the season at the regions most diverse and beautiful outdoor attraction, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Children's activities include Origami, scavenger hunts, popcorn growing, leaf printing and more! Other activities will include a variety of arts & crafts on display in The Hill Garden, music, and snacks; along with hands-on activities that compliment our Discovery Field Trips for area students that includes a Tropical Rainforest tour; harvesting cotton, peanuts and sweet potatoes in the Dr. George Washington Carver garden; learning about the unique ways Native Americans survived off of the Earths natural resources; exploring the Alabama Woodlands to learn how plants need animals and animals need plants: the interdependency message; and the Japanese Garden will be filled with numerous cultural activities sponsored by the Japan America Society.
• Sep 22 - Parasite of Little River Canyon Dr. Benjie Blair of JSU returns to talk about more creepy crawlies that would like to make a home...inside of you!  7:00 - 8:00 p.m. at DeSoto State Park's Campfire Circle.  
• Sep 23 - How To Fish at the Aldridge Gardens from 2:00 - 4:00 Kids 4-12 can learn about knot tieing, casting, choosing bait and general fishing tips. Class size will be limited to 30 children and each must be accompanied by a parent. Reservations at (205) 682-8019 are required by September 19.
• Sep 23 - Fall Container Gardening with Linda Askey at The University of Alabama Arboretum in Tuscaloosa from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.   The demonstration will take place at the Arboretum, and admission is free. Askey will discuss and demonstrate such topics as container and plant selection, soil preparation, watering techniques, and proper feeding.
• Sep 24 - Guest Lecture Recital at Samford Brock Recital Hall at 7:30pm  ST Kimbrough is the author and performer of "Sweet Singer," a one-person musical drama depicting the life and work of Charles Wesley.
• Sep 24 - American Girls Club at Trussville Library from 6:30 - 7:30pm.  Meet Kaya, a fictional young Nex Perce girl who in 1764 dreamed of becoming a courageous leader for her people.  Reservations required at 655-2022. 
  
• Sep 25 - Girls Night Out at Gus Mayer in Brookwood Mall from 5:00 - 8:00 Join us for martini's and appetizers. Drawings every 15 minutes. Complimentary make-overs and skin care consultations. This would be great to teach Tween and Teens about skin care and makeup application. 
  
• Sep 26 - Tailgating:  Keeping it Fun and Safe at Birmingham Public Library from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  During football season, where there's smoke, there's usually tailgating. Join us for a presentation by Ms. Angela Treadaway, Regional Extension Agent from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. She will share food safety, preparation, and preservation tips for Game Day cooking.
• Sep 24 through 26 - Diane Ferlatte is at the forefront of the multicultural renaissance of the oral tradition as she augments inventive stagecraft with the actor´s skill at expression, gesture, and intense emotion, to create multiple characters for each story. Embracing her role as a traditional preserver of folk history, culture, and values, she weaves tales from many cultures, while naturally many of her stories have African, Southern, and African-American roots. In her performances, the multi-talented Ferlatte sings, signs (American Sign Language), uses percussive instruments, and is frequently accompanied by Erik Pearson on banjo and guitar. With a repertoire of hundreds of stories and songs, she tells folk-tales, fables, legends, historical, contemporary, and personal stories for all ages.  Sep 24 at Bham Public Library 10:30am, Sep 25 North Avondale Library 1:00pm & Springville Library at 6:30 pm, and Sep 26 Emmett O'Neal Library from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 
  
• Sep 26 - Samurai Animanga Club at Homewood Library for grades 6 - 12 from 3:30 - 4:30pm.  Anime episodes, snacks and discussion of this month's theme. 
  
• Sep 27 - Ms. Arawana Hayashi, a master teacher of dance, meditative movement and mindfulness meditation, will speak about the relationship of the creative arts and accessing our intrinsic spiritual wisdom. Ms. Hayashi is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage, and has a long history of involvement in western and asian dance genres.  UAB Honors House at 7:00 p.m. 
  
• Sep 27 - Firemen and Their Tools at Springville Library at 4:00pm.  Celebrate Fire Safety Month with firemen and their equipment for a fun and educational afternoon! 
  
• Sep 27 - National Public Lands Day at Conecuh National Forest in Andalusia at 9:30AM at The Conecuh District Shooting Range.  Join the US Forest Service and help clean and beautify the Conecuh National Forest. Be sure to bring your gloves and hardhats. Enjoy a day of free food and activities!   Contact Ben Battle at 1-334-222-2555 before September 19th if you can attend.
• Sep 28 - My Favorite Poem is a community poetry reading that invites diverse members of the community to come together for an evening to share unique, personal treasures: the poems they love. Modeled after Robert Pinsky’s Favorite Poem Project, MY FAVORITE POEM gives each reader five minutes to share a favorite famous poem and tell how it is important in their lives. The event is at once unifying and electrifying as people from many different walks of life gather to celebrate the power of literature to affect all our lives.  If you are interested, please contact Irene Latham at http://irenelatham@bellsouth.net by August 15 and include your name, address, phone number, occupation, favorite poem including author and complete text and why this poem is important to to you.
• Sep. 29 - Museum Day is a nationwide event where participating museums and cultural institutions across the country offer free admission to Smithsonian readers and Smithsonian.com visitors, allowing for one day only, the free-admission policy of Smithsonian's Washington, D.C.-based facilities to be emulated across the country.  Participants must present the Museum Day to receive FREE GENERAL ADMISSION. The Museum Day Admission Card is valid for you plus one guest and is limited to one per household. You can click on this link to find  participating venues across the U.S.  Thanks very much to Berta for this information!
  
• Sep 29 - Getting Started Researching & Writing Your Family History at Coldwater Books in Tuscumbia at 10:30 - Family history research is similar to becoming a detective. You will learn more than you could ever dream about research skills while digging into history on a level you never thought possible. You will soon be addicted to finding the next missing link or piece of information. We are going to look at how to research family histories using the steps below to local history and preserving it through the written word for the future generations. Bring a notepad, pencil, and an open mind; we are going to have fun! For more Information, please contact Coldwater Books 256-381-2525 or Angela Broyles 256-762-7153
• Sep 30 - Discovery and Adventure: Meet the Authors Dr. Doug Phillips, Ecologist-Educator, Discovering Alabama, APT Roger Reid, Co-Writer/Producer, Discovering Alabama, APT Birmingham Botanical Gardens Ireland Room Birmingham, Alabama from 2:30PM - 4:00PM  with light refreshments FREE Event - Registrations required Members of BBG and the general public are in for a special treat at BBG! Season after season you have enjoyed Dr. Doug Phillips and his faithful dog Turkey on Emmy nominated Discovering Alabama on Alabama Public Television. They have hiked through Alabama woodlands, exploring our state's highest peak to our southern gulf coast. Dr. Doug and Roger Reid, co-writer and producer of Discovering Alabama, will be making two presentations for your afternoon pleasure: Adventure Just Outside and Discovering Alabama Forests. This is our chance to get up close and personal with two amazing authors. Following their presentations, each will be signing their recently published books. Bring your copy for a book signing or purchase your books at BBG during the event.  You may also check out Discovering Alabama DVDs and videos from our BBG Library.  See their website at www.discoveringalabama.org.
• Oct 20 - Meet Maud Lindsay & Her Many Beautiful Children Books at Coldwater Books in Tuscumbia, AL. Miss Maud seems to be best known for her work at the First Free Kindergarten. But there is so much more to learn about her! Who was this Miss Maud Lindsay? Born to the Winston family and daughter of Alabama's only foreign-born governor, she also had uncles who were Alabama and Mississippi Governors. Miss Maud could have chosen a life of self but instead gave her life to serve children. We can still see Miss Maud’s impeccable character and precious imitation on the pages of her many children's books. Come meet the legacy of Miss Maud Lindsay. You will love her and the lovely children's story's we will have available for your family’s enjoyment.  For Information, please contact Coldwater Books 256-381-2525 or Angela Broyles 256-762-7153
• Oct. 31 - Southern Ghosts at Homewood Library from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  Join Alabama author Karen Zwiefel for spooky Southern ghost stories for 6th grade and up. 
  
• Oct. 16 - Alabama Ballet at Homewood Library at 4:30 p.m.  Alabama Ballet presents highlights from their production of Where the Wild Things Are. 
  

Not Free but Worth Every Penny...

• Sep 14 thru 16 - Reenactment of the Battle of Buckhorn Tavern in Huntsville at the Sharon Johnson Park.  This is a reenactment of an actual event that took place on October 12, 1863. It happened on the New Market Road, near dark, on a stormy, rainy evening. The fight was brief and, though fiercely contested, there were few if any casualties on either side. Both Union and Confederate officers later claimed victory in written reports of the incident. Civil War re-enactors from Alabama and Tennessee will be encamped at the park for a living history weekend. The gates open to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Friday is school days for all local schools. The camps are open for public walk-thru all day until 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 15th, and until time for battle on Sunday. Saturday be sure to check out the Western Theater Cavalry Championships. This will be a competition that challenges both horse and rider through a cross county course full of obstacles. There will be a Mounted single class, Mounted 4 man team and a dismounted 4 man team. This event will be one that you will not want to miss. The entire weekend presents a great opportunity to step back in time and see what it was like to be a soldier or civilian in the field during that tragic time in our history. Clothing, equipment, and weapons are as accurate as possible. Abe Lincoln and Jeff Davis impressionists will be on hand to defend the Union and Confederate positions in the War Between the States.  Battles take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Cavalry Championship starts 9:00 A.M. both days.  The admission is $5.00 per adult and $2.00 per child under the age of 16.
  

• Sep 15 - Morgan Creek Winery 6^th Annual Grape Stomp from 10:00 to 4:00.  Cost $5.00   Featuring “Lucy” Look Alike Contest at 2:00 p.m. Prizes for all Contestants and Winner.   Wine Tasting and Tours, Harvesting Demonstrations, Sample Muscadines on the Vine.  Visit our winery year round Mon-Sat 10:00 to 6:00 Contact info:  Morgan Creek Winery   205 672-2053   www.morgancreekwinery.com  or email us at info@morgancreekwinery.com
  

• September 19–21 - Biltmore Home School Festival is Opening Our Eyes to a World of Art.  We’ll explore the world of art—from the fine art collections of Biltmore House to traditional Southern Appalachian arts and crafts. What is art? Why is it important? What types of art exist? We’ll address these questions and more.  For more information contact Group Sales at groupsales@biltmore.com or 866-851-4661.  Cost: $19.00 per person 5 years old and up.  Dining Options: Picnic, Box Lunches, 3 Restaurants.  Accommodations:  Packages starting as low as $165 for family of 4 includes room, tickets, breakfast - 14 locations offered.  Payment: Due at time of reservation.  Thanks for the info Julie!!!
• Sep 22 - Primitive Skills Workshop at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Learn basic primitive techniques of shelter building, identification of wild edible plants and other woodland survival skills. Reservations required.  Cost is $12.  
• Sep. 24 - Homeschool Day at Tennessee Aquarium - Students and their families will be offered discounted tickets to the Aquarium, the IMAX Theatre, and gift shops. Free educational and animal programs will be offered along with crafts for the smaller children. Scavenger hunts, live animal encounters and interactive programs enhance your learning experience while you tour the buildings.  Home school students may purchase tickets at a discounted education rate of $5.75 to the Aquarium and $4.50 for the IMAX. Adult Aquarium tickets are $17.95 and adult IMAX tickets are $7.25. Combo tickets (Aquarium and IMAX movie) are $9.00 per student and $22.95 per adult.  Tickets for a guided behind-the-scenes tour will be available for $5.00 on this special day and must be purchased at the ticket office.  http://www.tnaqua.org/KidsTeachers/Homeschool.asp
• Sept. 22, 2007 through Jan. 6, 2008 - It's BIG...Really BIG...and it's coming to Anniston Museum!  A  T. REX named Sue, appearing exclusively at Anniston Museum of Natural History.  Never before in Alabama.  This tour was created by The Field Museum of Chicago and made possible through the generosity of McDonald's Corp.  For tour info or reservations, call Jennifer Smith @ 256-237-6766, or e-mail tourcoordinator@annistonmuseum.org
• Oct 3 thru 6 - Moundville Native American Festival $7/student and $9/adult but if there is a group of 10 or more it's $7/person and needs to be paid in a lump sum.  We've been going since Zac was 8 months and we always get something out of it.  They have all sorts of things for the children to do including Native American sports, Native American crafts, participating in Native American ceremonies.... Here's the web link:  http://moundville.ua.edu/festival.html  Thanks again Deb!
• Oct 21 & 22 - The Kentuck Art Festival is $10/day or $15 for the weekend.  Children under 12 are free and there is TONS for them to do.   They have a children's section where they can do all kinds of activities--most are free and some have a small charge (carving sandstone is like $3-$5 and tie-dying a shirt is maybe $10 but they can tie dye a handkerchief for free). There are storytellers, musicians, and all kinds of interesting things.  Here's the weblink:  http://www.kentuck.org/festival.html  Many thanks to Deb Carden for this info!