Southwest Wisconsin Homeschool Community Communiqué November 6, 2012
1. Tundra swans on the Mississippi
2. Platteville Junior Drama Troupe Presenting “My Father’s Dragon”
3. Free Online Seminar : “Winterize Your Kids: Optimizing Health with Herbs, Diet & Common Sense.”
4. Classes, Field Trips, Groups, Clubs
Today’s a big day.
It’s the first snow of the season, and our dog, Sparta keeps wanting to go back out and frolic in the new, very wet snow. He’s so excited to eat his first snow!
You didn’t think I was going to talk about the Elections, did you? More smarter people have done plenty of that already. You almost can’t avoid all those ads, and everyone is a pundit these days. I’m happy about one thing, though: tomorrow, Clint Eastwood will stop calling and leaving messages for me about Election Day.
That’s all for now. The kids and Sparta are calling me. Until next time, be warm. ~ Cat ~
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1. Tundra swans on the Mississippi 
The highly vocal and beautiful white tundra swans have arrived on their annual stopover along the Mississippi River. After spending the summer raising young on their breeding grounds in Alaska and northern Canada, they make a rest-stop in the Coulee Region before making their way to the Mid-Atlantic coast. More than 10,000 tundra swans are expected to move along the river. The large white birds look much like pelicans, which have also arrived in the area. (Read More.) Brownsville, MN is one of the places you can easily see them. Have any of you seen them before?
Waterfowl Observation Day at the Brownsville overlook is November 10th, 2012 from 10 to 2pm. The event is hosted by the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and members of Mississippi River Wild. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions, assist with bird identification, and serve hot drinks and food. The overlook is located about 3 miles south of Brownsville along Minnesota Highway 26. The staff will also be available at the overlook every Saturday and Sunday from November 3-25 from 10 to 4 pm. For more information, contact the La Crosse District Office at 608-779-2399.
(Thanks, Colleen for the tip!)
2. Platteville Junior Drama Troupe Production: “My Father’s Dragon” Nov. 9-10, 2012
This is the first production of the Junior Drama Troupe under the direction of Alison Ott. The cast of homeschooled students will debut the production at the Platteville City Hall on Friday, November 9th, at 7 pm. There’s also a matinee performance on Saturday, November 10th, at 2 pm.
3. Free Online Seminar : “Winterize Your Kids: Optimizing Health with Herbs, Diet & Common Sense” Nov. 8, 2012 
Aviva Romm, M.D., author of amazing natural health books on children and women’s health, is offering a free webinar THIS Thursday, November 8. It should run about 90 minutes as a live online event.
If you have kids this is a must. Being a medical doctor who was first an herbalist and midwife, Aviva not only has the expertise, but also an amazing perspective on how natural and conventional medicine can work together.
- How do you keep you kids healthy this winter with herbs and a healthy diet?
- What is the difference between a common cold vs. a flu or a serious infection?
- What are the warning signs that your child needs to see a doctor?
- Should you get a flu vaccine?
It’s earthy, yet very common sense stuff. This is all free. Just go here to signup. Even if you can’t make it, go and sign up because John at LearningHerbs is planning on hosting a replay on Sat., Nov 10.
4. Classes, Field Trips, Groups, Clubs
Group Learning in Richland Center Friday, November 9th, 1 pm. The line-up includes: The art of Alberto Giacometti, experiments relating to nutrition and the magnetic properties of iron, and indoor P.E. activities. Email
Field trip at Living Waters Bible Camp **You must sign up in advance with the Hillsboro Area Homeschool group if you plan to come!** Tuesday, November 13. It should be a very fun and educational time! There will be two activities: 1. A 90 minute guided tour of their own “Creation Museum” 2. A 90 minute activity called “Creator’s Creatures” that involves meeting, holding, and caring for LWBC’s unique animals like a monkey, boa constrictor, skunk, ferret, peacock, etc. All the activities at LWBC are unique in that LWBC really points back strongly to Christ and God as the Creator, so this won’t be a secular “science-type” field trip. Email
Homeschool Open Gym Get-togethers in Westby/Viroqua The former Highway 14 Antique Store (near County Y between Westby and Viroqua) has been given a new life, having gone through a transformation over the past three months. The building was purchased by David and Kathy Clark and is being remodeled into a gymnasium and multi-use meeting hall facility. The gym building is a cooperative effort between Tri-County Athletics and Cornerstone Christian Academy (CCA). The building will be available for use by the general community. Let’s bring balls and other activities and get together twice a month during an afternoon. Cost would be very minimal; just enough to cover having the heat and lights on J. What day works best for you? Let me know if you’re interested and we’ll put something together.
Social Dance Class (swing & waltz primarily) This is a continuation of what was done last year, but it is totally OK if you are new and have never taken a dance class or attended last year’s classes. $5 per person – Prepaid in advance. December 1st, 2012, 5:30 – 7:30 Gays Mills old Community Center. We need to make sure that we have equal numbers of boys and girls so everyone can get the most out of the class. Email Crista
Buehler Nature Preserve Outing, Thursday, Nov. 15th, 2012 Between Martinmas and Thanksgiving November offers a lot of opportunities to show kindness and sharing of ones bounty in the natural preparation for Winter. Let’s help foster that conscience of stewardship by becoming benefactors to the wildlife. We will fill small natural vessels, ie. acorn caps, milk weed pods, hollow stumps, with bird seed. Let the children take them out into little grassy and wooded areas to leave for the wild animals of the area. Lets meet at 1 pm at: Buehler Preserve – West Stagecoach Trail Road Galena, Illinois 61036 http://www.jdcf.org/buehler_preserve.aspx> Your family can bring extra bird seed and what ever else you feel you would like to contribute, raisins, cereal, acorn caps and milkweed pods. It can become a sort of stone soup! Buehler Preserve looks like a nice wide open area for a great activity such as this and some free play. Email Gloria
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Southwest Wisconsin Community of Homeschools 
I love the highway 14 gym development! Perfect timing now that winter is nigh. How about open gym on Monday and Thursday evenings?
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We’ll have to see what’s available.Some afternoons are open during the week. Tri-County Basketball teams use the GYM for practices and games most weekdays after 3pm.
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