Home Base at Camp Sayre

We've joined a new group of homeschoolers this fall and I love it so much, I thought I'd share. As most of you know, the girls and I are part of a co-op that meets Mondays. This is our third year and though it was a bit rocky last winter, we seem to have hit a nice groove again and are enjoying it.  I teach two classes, one for each of their ages and they are really happy with their other classes/activities.  I was not on the lookout for another organized day because we like our "schedule" at home and the girls have other activities too.  But I got an email and was immediately interested.  The group that meets Mondays has been established for years and the kids that were little when it started are entering college now.  The group is set in it's ways and not really malleable, but it mostly fits our needs/wants.  It's also focused on academics, primarily. The email I got was about a new group forming with kids primarily in the 3-10 age range...perfect.  It's called Home Base. It meets at a facility that is utilized primarily by the Boy Scouts.  The moms are lovely and the kids just a joy to be around.  At the open house Maggie made fast friends with a couple of girls and I loved the idea of an unstructured day in the woods.  So here's some of what we do there.

Archery

 



 

This is for two hours and the instructor is great with the kids.

 

 

I love that Sean and I get to learn too. It's really fun!  Even Grandma joined in this week :)

 

 

 

There are more kids than bows so after a few rounds the kids explore the mountain and play while they wait for their next turn.

 

There's also some rope bridges for fun.

There is space outside for cooking and eating as well as a winterized lodge that we can use.

 

Some of the other kids enjoying the fire I built last week. And there is plenty of space and lots of tables and chairs for crafts and board games when it starts to get really cold. 

 

 They do rock climbing on one of the days that we don't attend and survival training on the other.  We're hoping to take advantage of those classes in the next sessions.  There's also a fire pit with bleachers and a stage that the kids can use for skits if they want,

 

or they can just use it for a game of tag or hide and seek :)

 

 

There's a pool we use after lunch and Aloise is already a more confident swimmer.

 

 

And the indoor space includes this rock wall and some classrooms we can utilize for classes if we want to. Right now, though, I'm really loving the freedom we have to just be mostly in the outdoors with some really nice people, enjoying some really fun activities.  All the kids are aware of the boundaries they need to be inside and beyond that, they are free and wild and unencumbered by us adults. As for Sean and I, it's a break from our more organized week and a great way to teach them to

be more confident and outgoing.  Did I mention we have access from 9-5 for only $25 a day, for 5 people? You can't beat it.