Ideas for a NL/US sampler day for my teen

[Eostre]

I haven't been in here for a while but my teen is starting to show some interest in HS for next year. I'd like to have a "sampler" day for him to give him a taste of the possibilities. I am still going through all the info and would appreciate some suggestions to help sell the idea to him.

He loves cooking, sport and animals. I don't have any trouble incorporating some science and maths into cooking and sport but not sure how to work animals into the day?!?! Am I on the right track here?

Also I am stumped by the fact that he is concerned that if he HS's he will miss out on "graduating" from school - I told him it doesn't really matter. Any suggestions on a better answer?:shrug

TIA

[anaturallearner]

Pets make animals easy. Inside the house we have green tree frogs, crickets (which the frogs eat) and fish, occasionally we bring frogs eggs from our frog pond into the house and let them hatch into tadpoles in an aquarium. Outside we have poultry and guinea pigs. GPS are great fun to breed if you have a nearby pet store you can sell the offspring too. We didn't get into ant farms, but that was because our house often feels like one giant ant farm!

An annual pass to the zoo or wildlife park combined with regular visits is another way to learn a lot about animals. Homeschoolers who've done this have told me that they get to know the keepers and end up doing all kinds of wonderful things the public generally doesn't get a chance to.

Volunteering is another avenue to explore. A young friend spent two half days a week at a wildlife animal shelter, while her sister helped out at a local stable (years later she is still working with horses). RSPCA animal shelters are worth checking out too.

One place people don't generally think about in respect to learning about animals is the museum. The Adelaide Museum has an excellent Friends group. We joined the Junior Friends and one session included taxidermy which included gutting and stuffing an owl that had been hit by a car.

[Ceres]

I was going to say volunteering or looking for an opportunity for him to spend time with a mentor too. How about the RSPCA or some kind of animal shelter?

[Janet]

How about a few weeks rather than a day?

[Ayla]

Yeah I don't think a day will be enough. Is he up for reading about other teen experiences? I bumped up a blog post recently that was written by a teenaged boy.

[Ayla]

Here: http://www.joyouslearning.info/forums/showthread.php?t=1161

And I forgot I was meant to get those books to you! Lmk if you want to pop around for them this weekend xx

[Eostre]

RSPCA, what a great idea - I'm sure he would love that and the museum, haven't been for a couple of years. GP's freak me out though - I've had an aversion to them since I was a child :o

Hmmm, good food for thought here. He told me he wants to finish year 8, perhaps towards the end of Term 4 week could do a longer stint. Will show him the blog entry as well even though he hates reading! He considers it a punishment!

The books are fine L, we are busy this weekend getting ready for Sydney on Monday. I'm back Wednesday evening so I may get them later next week if that is ok. Might even make the next JB meet, not sure.

:ty :ty :ty

[Janet]

Do you have the Teenage Liberation Handbook for him yet?

[Ayla]

That's the book I was meant to loan her. Next week is fine for pickup. Will you bring him along to the birth space talk on unschooling?

[Eostre]

That's the book I was meant to loan her. Next week is fine for pickup. Will you bring him along to the birth space talk on unschooling?

Unfortunately he doesn't get back from Sydney until that afternoon. I think he might have felt a bit conspicuous as well so the blog will have to do!