|
|
By Emily W, Jan 2014
My girls and I roughed it last week, camping for the first time ever!
Well, roughing it may be a slight exaggeration-Thank goodness for running water, flushing toilets, showers, refrigeration and fantastic company!
Oh, and the sweltering weather let off for just long enough for us to enjoy a week in the sun without literally melting, what a bonus!
The girls and I spent the week just ten minutes from home at Hilltop Resort on the Murray Valley Highway. New owners Jenni and Roman Domansky have been hard at work breathing new life in to their recently acquired home at Hilltop, a beautiful and renowned local Resort which is seeing renewed interest since the introduction of the wonderful new management in December 2013.
I recently had the privilege of meeting and spending time with Jenni and her family at Hilltop, during the annual NOT Back to School CampFest, which she runs. This event is sponsored by the Home Education Association of Australia and Home Education Network Victoria, it attracts home schooling families from across Victoria and beyond.
Being from Swan Hill myself, I was very excited to spend time with two other local families, as well as meet some great new friends from other places! This was actually the first time I'd ever met home educated children, what an absolute blessing it was to be able to witness these amazing kids first hand! Of all the negative things I've been told that my children will experience if I choose the home school path, these kids did not embody any of it, not one bit! They're 'normal' in every sense of the word, they're socially adept, friendly, welcoming and oh so clever. Watching these children (ages varying from 2 to teenagers) interact with one and other was the most eye-opening, uplifting experience. It was simply beautiful the way they all worked together, sang together, played together.
My favourite, most memorable moment with them was the night before we were to go home, and it was absolutely the icing on the cake for the entire week.
One of the eldest girls had a birthday and all the families came together for a celebration which had the kids super excited, in my experience this can often lead to unhappy campers by the end of the night, this was not the case at all!
All the kids had glow sticks, and while the older ones had a night time pool party the young'uns played nearby on a merry-go-round (spinning park equipment, that's what they're called, right?) Each night they'd been out there, spinning and singing catchy tunes like Alice the Camel, this night was different however, this night they were spinning and singing with glow sticks. They each radiated joy as they spun and sung their little hearts out, no one making a fuss or fighting over anything. I had my head turned for a few minutes whilst chatting and when I turned back I was amazed...
The kids had gotten this wonderful idea. They'd ALL taken off their own glow sticks and joined them together in a circle around the merry-go-round. I watched in amazement at the beauty of what they had created, it may seem insignificant to others but I took real meaning from this event. Watching their joy just intensify as they spun watching their massive joint creation, I felt euphoric. Tears welled in my eyes as I described how overwhelmed I felt by the simple beauty of this gesture. The glow sticks had transformed in to this beautifully coloured blur at the feet of these wise children and I realised that this is what I want for my girls.
M oney can't buy that kind of happiness, and school can't produce these kinds of kids, all so unique but all sharing this amazing, indescribable quality which seems so rare in our 'normal' society.
All in all this camp was the best money I've spent, probably ever in my life! I got to spend time with so many amazing people and families, I can't wait to do it all again in March at the longer, even more jam-packed CampFest!
|
Was this article helpful? Was it worth $1.00 to you?
Your gift of $1 or more helps to keep this site operating
offering encouragement
and reassurance to families
wanting
better outcomes for their children.
Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.
Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.
"You've been an inspiration to me, I love the way
you really listen to people." Vanessa
"Whenever I read your writing I always come away
with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!" Davina
"Your guidance, understanding, support and words of
wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others." Lesley
"Thank you once again for your prompt and friendly service.
I am convinced that your books are going to add
quality and peace of mind to my journey of teaching my kids
at home! Just from studying your website, until almost
2am
in the morning, I 've been encouraged!" Louisa
"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how
valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community.
I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now.
And I'm very grateful." Gythaa
Want to learn how to write your own education plans
to suit your unique children's individual learning needs?
Or you are looking for quality curriculum and teaching tips...
Comprehensive 3 workbook 'how to home ed' course
covering the essential skills you need
successfully home educate your children
|
|
Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!
We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine
3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!
|
Tap into Beverley's
experience
through her books
"Your books, your blogs helped me beyond words... they helped me to find comfort in knowing it is ok to choose exactly what is best for my family." Nisha
"Your books and information are mind blowing and already I am feeling good about this new experience." Diane
"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie
"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
|
 |
|
The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.
The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.
Advertise on this site.
Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State and Territory governments are responsible
for regulating home education and have different
requirements, however home educating families
are able to develop curriculum and learning programs
to suit the individual needs of their children.
Without revenue from advertising
by educational suppliers and Google Ads
we could not continue to provide information
to home educators. Please support us by letting
our advertisers know that you found them on
The Educating Parent. Thanks!
|
About
Thank you for visiting!