Many times throughout the year the school I home school through school learning days. This consists sometimes of educational learning in groups, field trips to neat places that through funding is way more affordable than normal, or camp days. Camp days consist of going to one of the camps around the area and partaking in the different activities offered. Normally we didn't go because it was always on the days that I worked but I no longer work outside the home so we can go and have fun.
My kids are very social but my daughter is extremely shy and she is not crazy about trying new things but sometimes I have to push her so she doesn't miss out on life. My son on the other hand loves new things, places and challenges. So me being a mom finds the happy medium and makes sure everyone is happy.
This time we went to a camp. The kids were put in four different groups and each group moved to the four different activities every hour with lunch in between. The four activities were playground, archery, rock wall, and ropes course.
We started in the playground and we got a few kids to participate and we played grounders and tag. Most of the kids were too cool to play but the ones who did had lots of fun.
We then went to archery. Since the group was so small even the adults got to try their hand at archery. It had been so many years since I held a bow but with my kids positive words and a whole lot of trying I finally got a bullseye.
After Archery we went and had lunch. While we were waiting for our turn for food my daughter leans over and whispers in my ear. Mom I feel sorry for that boy over there he is all alone. We invited him over to our table and had a lively conversation with him and met a new friend. I was especially proud of both of my kids for different reasons my son sat and made him very comfortable and talked up a storm with him and my daughter saw a need in a person and was totally on board coming out of her box and making him feel welcome. It makes me feel good when I see the values I try to instill in my kids lived out in front of my eyes.
After lunch we went to the rock wall. The wall was extremely large and looked very intimidating to me but not my kids. My son went first. I silently thought to myself there is no way he is able to do this but he really surprised me. He literally ran up the wall like a monkey. My daughter was way less brave but she told me she was determined to do her best and she did. She made it way higher than she thought she would be able to. Instead of giving up she did her best.
To finish up the group activities they went to the rope course. It really wasn't much of one but they had fun anyways. Again their determination surprised me. I didn't want to try it because I did not feel like picking myself up off the dirt. My daughter was especially proud of herself because she did finally found something she was better at physically than her brother. But my daughter being who she was did not rub it in his face. If only my so could be a little more humble.
After the rope course the groups came together and played a game and then went swimming. In the pool they had a a great game of cat and mouse with the ball which my son initiated. So anyone who says homeschooling causes socially messed up kids have not met mine.
