Teaching At Home

Resource Group

April 23, 2007

Hi Gang!

We had a really fun time today.  We went to Earth Day in the Gardens.  We saw some of you there, and I am sure there were others of you who were there but we missed you.  The celebration was really big this year.  We got to make a water cycle bracelet, color an endangered creatures of Alabama fan, pound natural dyes into a cloth, and make some sort of decoration out of packing peanuts.  Dalton and Dae were each filmed by Channel 6 News, and we actually saw Dae on the 5:00pm news.  We have begged for her autograph every since, but she is just being a snob about it and won't give it to us. 

On the nature side of life this week, we found a hatched chrysalis and a green snake.  I have not seen a green snake since I was a little girl.  This one was in my native plant garden up on the tip of a hydrangea limb.  My husband saw it from the bathroom window.  We went down to check it out and sure enough it was about a 2 foot long green snake.  It was very beautiful and very determined to get away. 

The American Girl Club had its first meeting this week.  We had seven little girls show up with an additional three who could not make it.  They dressed up as their favorite character in history including Felicity, Kit, and Kirsten.  They were all beautiful.  They had a very nice tea party outside with LOTS of food.  If you are interested in your little American Girl participating, please contact me for more details. 

I was witness to the miracle of the human brain this week.  Dalton has had a break through with his Algebra.  He has whizzed through the last three chapters over the past month and this week completed an entire chapter without my assistance.  If you will remember, it took him the entire year to finish the first three chapters and has finished the next three chapters over the past month.  He has also finished up the last of his two years of German.  I don't know if he will choose to continue studying German or move on to Spanish.  It will be entirely his choice.  I suggested to Dae on Friday that we might look into her learning to type this summer.  She was very hesitant, and I told her that I had a computer program with games and that it would only take about 15 minutes a day.  She then stated that she would like to go ahead and start and about 15 minutes later she decided she wanted to start "now".   Not being one to hold a child back from learning, I went ahead and loaded the game.  She played about an hour until we had to leave to go somewhere.  When we got home, she played about another hour, and then later that night played yet another hour when I MADE her get off to go to bed.  The next morning she got straight out of bed and started typing.  Boy did she every change her tune!!! 

I look forward to seeing many of you later this week at the Hansel & Gretel performance.  I will be sending out a separate e-mail about that.

Please remember that all the new information or changed information is in PURPLE!  

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

Deb Spradlin

New Resources….

• April 27 - Adamsville Park on Spring Street from noon until ???  I am looking for help in putting together a "Park Day Box".  I would like to have first-aid supplies, bubbles, balls, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, etc...  If you have anything to donate for this, please let me know.  Thanks!!!
• May 4 - American Heritage Christian Academy Used Curriculum and Book Sale at the Pell City Civic Center 10:00 am - 3:00 PM.  Table space is available for sellers with prices as follows:  8 foot table $12, 6 foot table $10, and 4 foot table $6.  For more information, please contact Misty Smith at mistysmith@hughes.net .  If you would like to participate, you may send name, table size, and payment to American Heritage Christian Acadmy, P.O. Box 30 Cropwell, AL 35054.
• May 10 - End of the Year Book Swap, Picnic, & Swim Party  Please go here for all of the information:  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tahbookswap/ .  Make sure to post your lists if you want to set up trades ahead of time!!!

• April 24 - Ruffner Mountain Nature Journaling Field Trip at 1:30 p.m.  Cost is $4.50 per student and will include a 45 minute field trip on nature journaling with watercolors.  This would probably be appropriate (but not limited to) for older elementary aged students. Space is limited so sign up early!!!  In order  to reserve our  spot, I must make a deposit prior to the field trip. Please sign up with Debsgarten@bellsouth.net and mail payment to Debbie Scott 4207 Plantation Pl. Helena, Al 35080 as soon as possible.
• May 15 - FBI Field Trip in Birmingham at 10:00 a.m.  We will be touring the Birmingham FBI office which will take approximately 1.5 hours.  This is a VERY limited field trip of a maximum of 25 parents and children total.  I will need a list of who will be attending plus the following information on all adults THIS week if you would like to attend:  Name, Social Security number, address, and birth day.  All adults will need to show a picture I.D. The day of the field trip.  I will not be able to take any adult sign ups after April 15. This trip is full!!!
• May 17 - Amerex Corp Tour in Trussville located on Hwy 11 just north of Trussville at 7595 Gadsden Highway (Hwy 11/Truss. Main St.) The new OATHE group has planned a fieldtrip to the Amerex Corp. In Trussville on Thursday, May 17th, and would like to open the fieldtrip to all homeschoolers. Arrival time is 8:45am for a 9am-10am tour.  Amerex Corporation has grown to become the world's largest and most innovative manufacturer of hand portable and wheeled extinguishers for commercial and industrial applications: http://www.amerex-fire.com/aboutus.html  The tour will include the manufacturing facilities (how it's made) and--per my request--a demonstration of a fire extinguisher.  There is no age limit, as long as parents are supervising any young children. If you would like to sign up for this free fieldtrip, please email Bri at self-educated@earthlink.net with the names & total number in your group (including adults). FYI: we already have a couple of teen (17-18) OATHE members signed up. This is a limited number fieldtrip, so I will take sign-up on a "first come, first serve" basis until Apr 23rd. 

•  Jan.  – May 26, 2007 Ruffner Mountain's: Storytime on the Mountain   Every Saturday at 9:30 a.m.  meet at Ruffner Mountain for a nature themed story and an activity, see the animals or take a short hike. Suitable for young children.  Every Saturday at 3:00 PM join one of our animal caretakers for a short program and an up close visit with one of Ruffner Mountain's Reptiles or Raptors.
• Jan. 31 - May 23 - R.O.C.K. Fire Station Storytime and Crafts 9:30 a.m.  Held at the Liberty Park Fire Station.  Your children will enjoy stories, songs, craft and a snack.  I could not figure out a system to these dates, so I just listed them all through the end of May:  January 31, February 14, February 28, March 14, March 28, April 11, April 22 (Imagination Celebration), April 25, May 9, and May 23.   http://www.rockinlibertypark.org/storytimes.html .  
• April 2 - 30 - Zen Rock Garden Volunteer at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.  Wanted: Volunteers who are interested in meditation to help caretake and do raking meditation at the Zen Rock Garden At the Japanese Gardens Japanese Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, AL 35223 205-599-6932
• April 23 - Auntie Litter's 16th Annual Earth Day Parade and Celebration at Kelly Ingram Park in downtown Birmingham at the corner of 16th St. N and 6th Ave. N from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Live musical entertainment, environmental exhibits, costume contests, science shows, refreshments, and the nation's largest Earth Day parade for children.  
• April 24 - Mega Family Fun at Avondale Library at 6:30 p.m.  Hear a tale of Mega Heroes told be a Mega Hero from the Bham Children's Theatre.  Come dressed as your favorite Mega Hero for a night of family fun.  Dinner at 6 p.m.  24-hour reservation required at 226-4000.
• April 25 & May 9 - What is a Stem Cell? At McWane Center at 7:00 PM. What’s the medical potential? Why study stem cells? What’s the controversy all about? McWane Science Center will host a non-partisan panel discussion titled Stem Cells: Genuine Promise, Real Dilemmas on Wednesday nights April 11, April 25, and May 9 at 7 PM in our IMAX® Dome Theater. The discussions will provide the public with an introduction to one of today’s most controversial topics. The panel will cover four topics in each scheduled discussion including the promise of stem cells, the technology of stem cells, the ethical dilemmas of stem cells, and the political issues surrounding stem cells. Experts from various departments at UAB will present an introduction into each of these topics. Tim Ritchie, McWane Science Center President/CEO will moderate the discussion. Seminars are free and open to the public.
• April 26 - Peace Corps Party You are cordially invited to a fun event. Please join us for a most enjoyable party, reception and recruitment function--all in one evening. Discover exciting service opportunities in countries like Samoa, El Salvador, Ghana and Thailand. The function is sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Returned Peace Corps Volunteers at the Formaggio's Italian Bistro, (formerly the Late Night Café), 1713 10th Avenue South in Birmingham on Thursday, April 26, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• April 26 - Mega Heroes from Bham Children's Theatre.  At Springville Road Library at 4 p.m.  Every child who attends will receive a free ticket to the real production. 
• April 27 - Friday Fun Club at Homewood Library for grades 3rd - 5th 3:30 p.m.  For children in 3rd - 5th grades; crafts, snacks, videos, and stories.  Registration is required at 332-6600 and begins the first of each month. 
• April 27 - Samford University's Samford Opera Works will present "Opera Scenes," directed by G. William Bugg at the Bolding Studio, Swearingen Hall at Samford University at 7:30 p.m. 
• April 27 - Cuentacuentos en espanol at Hoover Library at 4:30 p.m.  Enjoy stories, songs, and snacks with the Spanish Club from Samford University.  Contact:  444-7833.
• April 27 - 29 ONB Magic City Art Connection in Linn Park from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., a highly anticipated juried, contemporary art festival, is a catalyst in the Birmingham community for arts education, enjoyment, connoisseurship & commerce. Ranked 12th in the country in 2001 by Sunshine Artists Magazine, MCAC features 215 juried artists from North America in all mediums: clay, computer generated art, drawing/pastel, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metalworks, 2D & 3D mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood. MCAC also features over 40 interactive art workshops for both kids & adults; a ticketed food & wine event featuring cuisine tastings from Birmingham’s best restaurants & chefs and wine to sample from local distributors; great music and performances on various stages, and a cafe eatery. There is something for the whole family to enjoy on a gorgeous spring weekend.
• April 28 -  Displace Me Sponsored by Invisible Children, IncParticipants will be spending the night "urban camping" in cardboard boxes to raise awarness and support for the displaced peoples of Gulu, Uganda. Leave home to bring them home  This year, Displace Me is the nationwide event giving Americans the chance to respond. Displace Me begins on April 28th around noon and will end the morning of the 29th. This overnight gathering will send a bold statement to the US government that Americans care about ending the suffering of millions living in Uganda's displaced camps. We are demanding our government's support of the peace talks, which will allow the Acholi people to go back to their land and the abducted children to be returned home. http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceme
• April 28 - Arts Council Fair on the Square Living Museum in Jacksonville from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Celebrate spring in historic downtown Jacksonville at the annual Fair on the Square! This juried show features weavers, basketmakers, woodworkers, quilters, painters, potters, photographers, toymakers and more, all of whom demonstrate their crafts as they offer them for sale. In addition to crafts, the event highlights local talent throughout the day on the square's stage, and local merchants offer sidewalk sales.
• April 28 - Leeds Creek Bank Festival from 10:00 - 5:00pm behind Leeds City Hall.  Set in downtown Leeds, enjoy the beauty of this quaint town with live entertainment, The Mr. & Ms. Creek Bark Dog Pageant, Local Artisans, not to mention food and beverages!
• April 28 - Embellishments, Birmingham's only civic handbell ensemble, will present a free Spring Concert in the Steiner Auditorium at the Birmingham Museum of Art at 3pm. Selections will include Pavane by Faure, Little Fugue by J.S. Bach, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Pine Apple Rag, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. The group, directed by Phyllis Kirk, has 15 auditioned members who play six-plus octaves of Schulmerich Bells and seven octaves of Malmark Chimes. 
• April 28 - Seminar on Pondless Waterfalls from 11:00 - 2:00pm at Pike Family Nursery 10 Greenhill Pkwy Hoover, AL.  Do you desire to have the beauty and tranquility of water in your yard but don't want the maintenance of a pond or have small children so you do not want a body of water? The Pondless waterfall is for you! Hear a Pike expert talk about the joys of water gardening and the beauty of having a waterfall without having a pond!
• May 1 - Echizen Togei Daiko Japanese Drummers  LeBaron Recital Hall on University of Montevallo campus (Highland Street) starting at 7:00 p.m.  Echizen Togei Daiko will present a concert of ancient Japanese drumming methods which have been practiced in Japan since about 1600. A representative program of the group was officially designated as an intangible cultural asset of Miyazaki village. An energetic and colorful performance.
• May 2 - An Evening with Ambassador Dennis Ross at Birmingham Southern College Munger Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.  For more than twelve years, Ambassador Dennis Ross has played a leading role in shaping U.S. Involvement in the Middle East peace. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was the United States point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. Ambassador Ross is a frequent contributor to the Financial Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News and World Report, as well as a foreign affairs analyst for the Fox News Channel
• May 3 - Jyou-Tian Folk Drum & Arts Group 8pm at the Alys Stephens Center.  On tour from its native Taiwan, this internationally known arts troop presents a colorful and dynamic show consisting of group drumming, artistic dance performances, with elaborate costumes representing the traditional and historical heritage of Taiwan and its people. The program reflects traditional Taiwanese style of drumming performed during preparation for war battles, temple festival, story telling and to ward off evil spirits.
• May 5 - Noble Street Festival in downtown Anniston from 11:00am - 9:00pm.   Dine outdoors on Noble Street at the Red Diamond Restaurant Tour and enjoy the Sunny King Criterium pro and amatuer bicycle races just a few steps away. Think NASCAR, as hundreds of cyclists zoom around a short .6 mile short course multiple times taking corners at speeds near 30mph. The restaurant tour features 15 favorite local restaurants serving from tents along Noble Street. The McWane KidZone features a climbing wall, hands-on art, a 3-Ring Science Show presented by the McWane Science Center, a "just for fun" bike races for kids (ages tricycle to 6th grade), and more! The Pedaling Art Show will feature the works of regional artists displayed under white tents along Noble Street. The Mellow Mushroom Mad Dash is a running race consisting of one lap around the .6 mile bike race course. Don't miss this event---selected a Top 10 Event in Alabama in 2006 by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel
• May 5 -  Conecuh National Forest Adventure with Fresh Air Family.  Mystery and nature collide in a Fresh Air Family adventure in the Conecuh National Forest Saturday, May 5th at 10:00am at Open Pond (free camping on Friday & Saturday nights) in Andalusia.  Jason Caldwell is convinced he will never exit the wild Conecuh National Forest alive in the new novel Longleaf written by Discovering Alabama producer Roger Reid. (He does.) Along the path to adventure, he discovers gopher tortoises, singing frogs, and red-cockaded woodpeckers, the same creatures that will be discovered by the Fresh Air Family on Saturday, May 5, a free event. Reid and Discovering Alabama host Doug Phillips will be on hand to guide families through an adventure discovering the Conecuh National Forest, the largest remaining stand of longleaf pine, once the world’s largest ecosystem. Sessions include: the history of the Conecuh, simple or basic tree identification, fire and the longleaf, edible and poisonous plants and wildlife. At 2 p.m., a scavenger hunt for items from the book will start. But watch out for the bad guys!  Set in the real-life Conecuh National Forest, Longleaf is a captivating adventure for middle schoolers—and an excellent, accurate introduction to the plants and animals of the Conecuh region. Longleaf is both an important learning tool and a guaranteed gripping read for adventure lovers of all ages. Roger Reid is a writer, director, and producer of the award-winning Discovering Alabama series from the Alabama Museum of Natural History in cooperation with Alabama Public Television. Longleaf is available for sale through local bookstores, chain/online retailers, or from NewSouth Books, toll free 866-639-7688, or at htttp://www.newsouthbooks.com and http://www.longleafbook.com. To register for the free program, email director@freshairfamily.org or call Natalie at 205-401-0245
• May 5 - Canoe Trip on Locust Fork, Section I near Snead, Alabama.  You are invited to participate in a fun Southeastern Outings canoe trip on the Locust Fork River in Blount County near Snead, Royal and Cleveland. We'll enjoy ourselves paddling on Section 1 of the river. This stretch, which several of us have canoed previously, is fairly easy and without classified rapids. Along the river we'll see lots of wildflowers and stop to investigate islands and beaches.  Meet 9:00 a.m. At the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride. Reservations Required: Please call Havis Johnson, 841-3627, if you plan to come on this canoe trip. Please advise your name, telephone number, skill level, whether you are bringing a canoe and whether you need a paddling partner. You may leave a message on Havis' answering machine if you wish. Please come to paddle this beautiful section of flowing river with us May 5!
• May 5 & 6 - 3rd Annual NBC 13 Health and Wellness Festival in the North Hall of the BJCC from 10am to 5pm.. This FREE public event will offer over 100 different types of Health Screenings and Testing while providing fun for the entire family! NBC13 helped over 22,000 people in 2006 to live a healthier and more active lifestyle and the 3rd annual NBC13 Health & Wellness Festival promises to bring even more preventative testing, screenings, and fun to Alabama! There's something for everyone at the NBC13 Health & Wellness Festival. Meet your Favorite NBC13 Anchors and Reporters! Star in your Very Own Weather Forecast! Enter to win great prizes!  Free Tests and Screenings: Body fat, Hearing, Vision, Diabetes, Bone Density, Blood Pressure, Prostate, Cancer, Glaucoma, STD, HIV, and more. Free Activities: Red Cross Mobile Blood Drive, Rock Climbing Wall, VirtuGolf, Indoor Basketball Court, Volleyball clinic hosted by the Birmingham Volleyball Club, Cheerleading Clinics hosted by ACE Cheerleaders, Inflatable moon bounces, Dance Pavilion, Demonstration
  Stage, "Ask the Doctor" and Health Seminars, and much more!  
• May 5 - Growing Hydrangeas at Petals from the Past in Clanton at 10:30 am.  Eddie Aldridge from 'Aldridge Gardens' will tell you what you ned to know to grow great hydrangeas. He has worked with hydrangeas extensively and introduced 'Snowflake' and 'Harmony' into the gardening world.
• May 6 - Buddha Day Celebration at Avondale Park Gazebo behind Avondale Library from 1:30 - 4:00pm.  Children's program to learn about Buddha's life, and have some fun. Program emphasizes generosity and kindness, two fundamentals of Buddhist and all other spiritual traditions. Meet outdoors at gazebo in park, bring potluck if you'd like to share some refreshments. Crafts, stories and a chance for parents to meet others who may be interested in Buddhism, meditation, or learning about other contemplative traditions. http://shambhala-bham.org
• May 9 - Trash or Treasure at the Birmingham Public Library from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  We are pleased to present Birmingham Public Library's version of the Antiques Roadshow. Birmingham's own Bill Carner will be guest appraiser. Mr. Carner is a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers specializing in Antiques and Residential Contents.  If you have an item you would like to know more about and its approximate value, bring it down and let Bill take a look. No coins or stamps please.
• May 11- Czech Republic Art Show and Neighborhood Festivalis from 5:00 - 8:00pm.  This is the opening of the Spring Fling celebrated by the Forest Park Merchants. Also, in conjunction with The Birmingham International Center's Spotlight on the Czech Republic we are featuring Czech artist for our Spring Show. We are collaborating with the Mala Sarka Gallery in Prague who represents the best known artists from that country. The show will be up until June 30, 2007.Maralyn Wilson Gallery 3908 Clairmont Ave Birmingham, AL 35222 (205)591-1150
• May 12 & 26 - Lowe's Workshops 2nd and 4th Sat.  May 12- Herb planting box & May 26- GMC truck.  Please call your local Lowe's for details.  Thanks Stephanie!
• May 12 & 13 - Native American Festival (Bridgeport) - May 12-13, Bridgeport Native American Festival 256-495-2672. www.nps.gov/ruca. Free admission. Russell Cave National Monument--Bring your lawn chair or blanket for storytelling and dancing. Also, food and living history demonstrations, including pottery making, Cherokee encampment, flute music, archery, flint knapping, woodcarving, etc. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• May 12 - Hands-On Printmaking at the Birmingham Museum of Art from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  Join Toby Richards in a hands-on printmaking activity for all ages. Watch Richards demonstrate printmaking techniques using sandpaper, crayons and irons in the style of Willie Cole. Then create your own print to take home.
• May 12 - Learning By The Lake Series: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Anniston) Learning By The Lake Series: Red-cockaded Woodpeckers 256-782-5697. http://epic.jsu.edu. Free Admission. Talladega National Forest--Join U.S. Forest Service biologists and JSU Field School experts for an interesting hour of educational fun at Coleman Lake Recreational Area. Take advantage of the beautiful location and camp for the weekend. 6 p.m.
• May 12 - Art21 Screening and Discussion at Birmingham Museum of Art from 2:00 - 4:00pm.  View the Emmy-award winning PBS series, art 21: Art in the Twenty-First Century. This groundbreaking series provides an in-depth look at some of today's contemporary artists and features never before seen profiles of more than 37 different artists in their public and private lives. After the screening, curator Ron Platt, librarian Tatum Preston, and education curator Kristen Greenwood will lead a discussion about the relevance of contemporary art to our everyday lives. Refreshments provided.
• May 12 - George Washington Carver Festival in Tuskegee from 9:00am - 6:00pm.  The Carver Festival, co-sponsored by the Tuskegee Area Chamber of Commercce, is a multi-faceted event celebrating the life and works of Dr. George Washington Carver. Held annually in downtown Tuskegee on the City Square and North Main Street the Saturday prior to Mother's Day. Event Features wholesome family fun, arts crafts, vendors, rides, farm exhibits, talent displays, entertainment, and door prizes.
• May 12 - Walls of Jericho Hike with Fresh Air Family near Scottsboro at 10:00 a.m.  The cathedral-like canyon was first explored by Davy Crockett.  Today, the Paint Rock River is home to 100 species of fish, five globally imperilled mussels and 12 globally rare mussels.  Two of the mussel species are found nowhere else in the world, and one fish species is confined to the Paint Rock River and one stream in Kentucky.  Three globally imperiled fish live here.  The area is an important habitat for migratory songbirds such as the Cerulean Warbler and for non-migratory birds such as Ruffled Grouse.  Hike will be lead by Land Stewardship Officer, Nick Sharp, and the hike theme will be the natural history of the Walls of Jericho.  To register for the free program, email director@freshairfamily.org or call Natalie at 205-401-0245
• May 12 - 11th Annual Herb Day at Old Alabama Town in Montgomery from 9:00am - 2:00pm.  The 11th Annual Herb Day will feature speakers educated in the field of herbs and a cooking demonstration. In addition, their will be vendors selling plants, pottery, small trees, iron works, and other herbal products. There will be tours of the herbal gardens and children programs. This will occur rain or shine.
• May 12 - Free Mother's Day Symphony The Summit presents The Alabama Symphony in a free family concert honoring Mother's on the Saturday before Mother's Day, May 12 at 7:30pm. The annual concert will end with a fireworks finale. Come early, bring a picnic an enjoy! There are no admission charges and all ages are welcome. RAIN DATE: 6/10/2007
• May 16 - Dental Health for Today's Lifestyle at Birmingham Public Library starting at noon.  Dr. Evelyn F. Teague will give an informal talk on dentistry and its relationship to a healthy Dentistry has come a long way since the days of old! Lifestyle. She will also focus on new technology and cosmetic options that are now available to patients. Dr. Teague's office, Park Place Dentistry, is located in the business district of downtown Birmingham.
• May 17 - Gallery Grooves at Birmingham Museum of Art 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.  Listen to the energy-rousing beats of the Red Bull DJ while creating your best Willie Cole inspired installation. Cole produces mind boggling mandalas out of high-heeled shoes. Think you can take an everyday item and create a work of art? You'll only have one hour to complete your masterpiece. Prizes will be awarded. Refreshments provided.
• May 17 - 20 Lawrence County Multicultural Indian Event, 20th Annual (Moulton) - May 17-20, Moulton Lawrence County Multicultural Indian Event, 20th Annual 256-905-2494 or 2499. www.lawrencealabama.com. Free. 1219 Co. Rd. 187, Danville—Native dancing/ drums, bluegrass, gospel, country music, living history encampment, wagon rides, food and craft vendors. Thurs. & Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (students); Sat., noon-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m.
• May 19 - Celebration in the Park Our annual Memorial Day "Celebration In The Park" is jam packed with fun. For the kids, and the kid at heart, we will have face painting, games, clowns, ballon art, and much more. We also, have our antique tractor and car show. We have a variety of live entertainment for everyone to enjoy. We also have food and craft vendors. And as always ADMISSION IS FREE!!!! The Celebration will be held at Glencoe City Park. Take Hwy 431 into Glencoe, and turn onto North College, and take first right (Railroad Ave.), and take second left (Lay St.) and you will end at the park.  10:00am - 4:00pm. 
• May 19 - DoDah Day A music festival that in its infancy was enjoyed by 200 fun-loving Birmingham citizens, now sees more than 40,000 people from all over the United States converge on Birmingham’s Historic Highland Parks for a day of fun, food and music with their pets.  Raising more than $536,000 since 1992 for Jefferson County animal shelters, Do Dah Day is one of the city’s most cherished springtime events.  http://www.dodahday.org  Caldwell and Rhodes Parks  Parade begins at 11:01am
• May 19 - Dayhike in Sipsey Wilderness Come with Southeastern Outings people to a new, highly scenic location, Upper Quillan Creek Forest Area, where only the leader has hiked before. We'll walk along a creek and old road to a nice waterfall. The path out will be along an old road. We'll stop for lunch at the site of an old mill and spend some time looking for extant mill components, several of which are readily apparent and easy to find. On this hike we'll see several small waterfalls on side creeks and tributaries to Quillan Creek. We'll also visit at least two other pretty waterfalls on Quillan Creek itself along the way. This should be a real fun hike. Rated moderately strenuous since much of the hike is off trail, there are lots of ups and downs, and several rock-hopping creek crossings are required. Please bring river shoes (old sneakers work fine) and a hand towel and plastic bag with twist tie or Ziploc in which to put your wet river shoes after wading. Also wear clothing you don't mind getting wet. Also please bring lunch and water for the day. Total hiking distance about 4 miles. We expect to finish about 4:00 p.m. Optional dinner after. Showers available before dinner. If you'd like to shower and/or clean up for dinner, please bring your shower things and change of clothes. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 9 and over able to walk 4 miles off trail without complaining welcome.  Meet 8:00 a.m. At Kmart Green Springs or 9:30 a.m. At Jacks Double Springs.  Info: Raymond Odom, 529-4780
• May 20 - Cahaba Lily Walk Please come with us to see the largest display of blooming Cahaba lilies in the world, acres and acres of them spread out over the water in the river. These lilies are a sight to behold! In places, it often looks like it has snowed on the river in May.  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and over welcome. Optional dinner after in Montevallo.  The hike is six miles round trip. Rated easy. Be sure to bring wading shoes (old sneakers work fine), a plastic bag and twist tie. We have to cross one large creek. If the water is up, you'll want to wade the side creek in your river shoes, and you'll also want to put on your river shoes so you can walk out into the shallow parts of the river to stroll through and touch the lilies which grow only in the water. Meet 1:00 p.m. At the Days Inn in Hoover.  Info: Dan Frederick, 631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net
• May 23 - Peking to Paris Race at the Birmingham Public Library at noon.  In 1907 the grandfather of endurance races was born. 100 drivers drove, or wrestled, their cars over the mountains, deserts and swamps of Asia and Europe. 60 days later, a winner emerged in Paris. In 1997 the race was held again with vintage automobiles. Come hear a survivor of this 1997 race, Vic Zannis, talk
  About the race and his 1950 Ford Club Coupe.
• May 26 - Cahaba Lilies Canoe Trip with Fresh Air Family in West Blockton at 9:00 a.m.  Canoe out to see the rare and beautiful Cahaba Lilies.  These pure white beauties only grow in the middle of the river and few grow outside of our area.  We can paddle right up to the plants for a close-up look at one of nature's wonders. To register for the free program, email director@freshairfamily.org or call Natalie at 205-401-0245

• Free Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone is an online language library that offers a powerful method for fast and effective language learning online.  This award-winning program uses recorded voices of native speakers and thousands of real life photographs to recreate the natural process of language learning.  There are 29 complete two-year language courses offered here for free!!! http://www.jclc.org/ 
• APTPLUS and Discovery Education– As you may know, Alabama Public Television is pleased to offer the K-12 educational content of Unitedstreaming free of charge to every teacher in Alabama through APT’s free educational, multimedia website, APTPLUS.  The Unitedstreaming content is owned by Discovery Education, and Alabama Public Television is leasing the content from Discovery.  Contact Libby Davis at ldavis@aptv.org to sign up.  Please include the name of your school district and cover group with which you are affiliated as well as your preferred e-mail address for enrollment purposes.  This is an awesome resource with over 4,000 educational programs for classroom use.  The subscription for this is $1,500 per year, but for Alabama teachers it is FREE!!!!   The website for APT is http://www.aptv.org/Learning/APTPlus/ , and there are lots of free resources here as well.
• www.wonderzone.com is a cool site for games, activities, brand new adventures and a cool design, good Christian site, you can sign up for devotionals.  Thanks Stephanie!!!
• A Field, A Forest, and A Stream - Introduce your students to the scientific process by getting them outside to conduct their own investigation.  Students collect and record scientific data from three ecosystems and then make observations about differences and similarities.  This great hands-on activity can also be adapted for younger audiences.  Check out Field, Forest and Stream:  http://online.nwf.org/site/R?i=M9lyRC2AaZYplojQYMIl6w.
  Thanks Melissa!
• Jamestown - This year marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Colony. In commemoration of this anniversary, The History Channel has created an original interactive website for educators and students to explore the history and development of Jamestown. This site features colorful artwork, animated maps and drawings, primary source documents, and insights from historical experts. Visit the site and experience this unique perspective on the history of Jamestown.  Jamestown.invioni.com/real_index.HTML