Taking Our Homeschool on the Road

 Packing Light - LOL - Remember, there's a whole school in there!

Yesterday's post on orphanage behaviors was heavy. Today, I'm feeling the need to share something a little lighter.

One of our big reasons for homeschooling all four kids this year is having the freedom and flexibility to travel as a  family. Mike and I work with an international ministry, and our work involves travel both at home and abroad.

Of course, cost is an issue and many times, the reality is that Mike does the traveling while the kids and I stay home. But when a church in New York invited Mike and me to speak at a conference - and volunteered to fly the whole family up -- we jumped at the chance to take our homeschool on the road.

Our study of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad means a lot more since we've visited her home in Auburn, NY. We heard Harriet's story told by an expert, and we actually walked where Harriet walked.

Later that day, we visited an Underground Railroad stop in Skaneateles, New York. It's a private residence today, just like it was back then. It's amazing how normal people, in normal houses, played a huge part in changing history. A question to ponder:  If we'd lived in the time of slavery, would we have broken the law and allowed runaway slaves to hide in our house?

The church that flew us to New York also invited us to attend an Army football game at historic West Point.  

We added one day of vacation. . . ahem, school field trip, that is. . . to the end of our stay and took a train to New York City. Metropolitan Museum of Art anyone?  

The kids and I were in New York for ten days. Many days were filled with conference responsibilities for me and Mike while the kids worked on math and reading and such in a side room. But taking our homeschool on the road opened up learning opportunities we'd have never experienced at home. They made new friends. It was fun. Would we do it again? Absolutely!