One of the Biggest Perks of Homeschooling

Today (Friday) was the final day of the 5 days of the Back to School Blog Hop. If you've been following my posts this week, then you might have wondered where my 5th post was. As it is, it's nearly 10:30pm as I am writing this but hey, it's still Friday, right?

But, it's going to make a great point about one of the biggest advantages of homeschooling, something that you just can't do if you're kids are in public schools.

Monday, we decided we were going to use the last few days of my oldest daughter's summer break to go do something together as a family. She had been in Texas since our Disney World Trip last month and we went and picked her up at the Los Angeles Airport on Tuesday.   On Wednesday morning, we packed up the car and headed out for a 3.5 Hr drive to the Sequoia National Forest for a few days of camping.

Wednesday, Thursday and Today were spent hiking at an elevation of 5,200 feet while observing the huge Sequoia and Jeffery Pines, learning about the Sequoia trees and watching wildlife in its natural habitat.  We got up close to deer, chipmunks, stellar jays, hawks, and even a few black bears. We brought a telescope and watched the Perseid Meteor shower since we had a completely dark sky.  We hiked to a few creeks and watched fish, looked at waterfalls, discovered how slippery algae makes rocks and discussed how being at a higher altitude makes for lower temperatures then at lower altitudes.  We then headed over to General Grant Grove to learn about one of the largest and oldest trees in our country.


Many times we were able to tie lessons that we have had on various subjects to the different observations and discoveries that we were able to make while having a great time as a family.

And that is why homeschooling is such a wonderful thing.

You see, when you're in control of your children's education, you know exactly what they have been learning and are easily able to tie those things into everyday experiences.  You're also to pack up and go at a moments notice to head out to do those types of fun activities whenever the opportunity arises without being tied down to an attendance record being kept by the public school system.

In the course of three days, we were able to tie in lessons to astronomy, botany, biology, mathematics, history and even English/Reading (by having the kids read the various warning signs that we came across).  Hiking and swimming easily tied into Physical Education requirements.  Setting up our camping area and learning the reason why all foods had to be stored in the bear boxes were tied into survival skills.  We were having fun while the kids were learning in a real life environment that could not touch those learned in a classroom/textbook situation.

Homeschooling means the freedom.  The world is literally your classroom, all you have to do is get out there and explore. Learning is possible from the smallest excursion.  Whether it's a day trip to the closest park or tide pools, a camping trip to a National forest or a week long trip to Boston or Washington DC. You'll be amazed by the educational value that surrounds you no matter where you go.


This week we were able to make memories as a family but we did much more than that.  The kids were able to learn first hand in a full immersion experience rather than just reading about it in a book.

And that, my friend, is one of the biggest perks of homeschooling.

I hope you've enjoyed the various posts of all the contributors participating in the Back to Homeschool Blog Hop.  I hope you found inspiration, advice and information to help you have a wonderful school year.   Here's some more great participants to end our blog hop - go check them out and have a Great Year!! :)

Callie @ Mama's Coffee Shop

Erin @ For Him and My Family

Lori @ At Home: where life happens

Margaret @ Creative Madness Mama

Nicole @ Some Call It Natural

Crystal @ Crystal Starr

Bonnie @ Write Bonnie Rose

Shawna @ Tenacity Divine

Carol @ Home Sweet Life

Kelli @ Adventure Homeschool 

Jacquelin @ A Stable Beginning 

                                          Leah Courtney @ As We Walk Along the Road