My Comments On A New York Times Article: "Family Vacation Styles"

Seeing how I am writing a blog on family vacations, I figured I'd see what is out there.

I found this New York Times' article Family Vacation Styles: Lavish or Modest, Educational or Adventurous; On a Dig or Through a Telescope, You Just Might Learn Something By SUZANNE MacNEILLE.

Suzanne talks about different vacations that are educational, without calling them such for the children's sake, how different tours incorporate education with fun activities.

What really hit me was the 'Lavish or Modest' in the title. I couldn't find anything listed as modest.

China is a top destination this year...The price, with air fare, starts at $4,490; $4,090 for children under 12.

A view of a much more familiar culture is offered on a seven-day family tour .... $2,299 ($2,199 for ages 12 and younger)

On a series of family-oriented expeditions to a dig site in the Montana badlands .... Prices for the five-day trip, including hotel accommodations, start at $995; $465 for 15 and under. Campers are charged $120 a day; $60 for 15 and under.

Then I thought "Oh, here's one that's not so bad a price .... oh - read it and see how many nights this is for!

If your child is a stargazer and has the wherewithal to stay awake until sunrise, Kitt Peak National Observatory, in Arizona, 56 miles southwest of Tucson, offers a rare opportunity to spend an entire night looking through powerful telescopes at galaxies, planetary emission nebulae and star clusters. At dawn, you can collapse in a dorm room. A family of four pays $575 for the program, including room and board.

There is nothing modest in her article!

Any comments on how much you spend / how many days / what do you do / how many people?

Links For DNR - Free Educational Materials

In response to this comment:

Jul. 2, 2005 - This is a great idea! Posted by CMHomeschooler (64.118.107.190) Thanks for suggesting this. I love free things, too! I'll have to check to see what is available in my state. Otherwise, maybe I'll have to move to IL! LOL! Phyllis in CA

I looked up California's Free Educational Material - that sure took time! Also, there were many other little tidbits to dig around for.

I also found WALLEYE HUNTER's DNR Home Pages for the United States and Canada.

Go digging and see what you can find! If you find your state's link(s) and you find it full of treasures to share - please post it in the comments and I'll put them all on one post.

More Nature Freebies: Posters, Activity Books, Maps, Guides and MORE!!!

Years ago I called the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and ordered some free posters "send me all you have!"

But I forgot all about that...until an email from a someone - can't remember who - gave IL DNR's site for online ordering.

You should see the stuff I ordered!!! I was like a kid at Christmas when my huge package came. Our hallway and two daughter's rooms are PLASTERED with posters. Oh, yes, and a few are right outside of the bathroom door - if you don't close it you can learn a few things sitting there! In fact - you ever have those facts that just don't sink in? Ours get posted on the shower door right across from the 'throne'!

IL DNR's Education internet site has an online order form, instructions for things like bird houses, contests and grants, lists of educational programs.

Educational Material Available is the starting page for their catalog - "there is no charge any of the materials."

Some of the treasures:

A to Z Teacher Poster: 24" x 36". Two-sided color poster featuring 26 common products obtained from trees along with an activity from Project Learning Tree and more information about tree products. Companion student coloring poster may be found in the Activity Sheets section of this list. Targeted Grades: K-8. Limited. Two per order.

Common Birds: 24" x 36." Two-sided color poster featuring 25 birds commonly seen in Illinois along with information about their life history, adaptations and more. Targeted Grades: All. Limited. Two per order.

Illinois' State Symbols: Activity book contains coloring pages and facts about the state symbols. Targeted Grades: K-6. Permission to photocopy these pages is granted for use with students in the classroom.

Slime, Scales and Mudpuppy Tails: This activity book contains information about Illinois amphibians and reptiles with illustrations to color. Targeted Grades: K-8. Permission to photocopy these pages is granted for use with students in the classroom.

Fishing Safety: This brochure provides safety tips about using tackle, dressing safely and boating safely while fishing.

How to Prune Trees: This brochure is produced by the USDA Forest Service. It contains information about the following topics: reasons for pruning; pruning approaches; pruning cuts; when to prune; pruning tools; treating wounds; and pruning guidelines.

Furbearers of Illinois: This DVD contains information about the characteristics and conservation of 14 native Illinois mammals species.

Illinois Wild Mammals Trunks Resource trunk available for loan only with a wide variety of materials to help students learn about mammals. Contains lessons, posters, CD-ROMs, field guides, skulls, fur samples, scat and track replicas and more. Targeted Grades: 4-8. For the nearest lending location in your area, call the IDNR Division of Education 217-524-4126; teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us.

Keep some Answers in Genesis Creation nature books on hand along with freebies from your state's DNR and there's your science program for .... years!

Do You And Your Kids Like 'Freebies'?

Do you and your kids like 'freebies'? We do!

One year we went up to Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin. In the Nature Center we found that there is a Wisconsin's Jr. Ranger/Wisconsin Explorer Program. Many, if not all states have them. Our kids really enjoyed working to get their patch - they did most of the work themselves.

With a Junior Ranger (grades K-3) or Wisconsin Explorer (grades 4 and up) activity booklet to guide them, families set off on trails to learn about the environment. Children can listen for crickets, take a bat walk, do a soil experiment, draw themselves as a ranger, look for a den tree, imagine themselves as a deer, or play log tag. When at least half of the activities in the booklet are completed, the child receives a colorful patch and a certificate.

The patch and certificate can be awarded at any participating state park, or you may complete the activities at home, and mail the checkoff sheet to a park.

The program is designed so that a child may do a different activity ooklet each year, from kindergarten through sixth grade. Patches for 2004 have a butterfly for Junior Rangers and a bat for Wisconsin Explorers.

These activities help children develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural world and a sense of stewardship toward Wisconsin's natural resources.