So you have decided to homeschool in Estacada, Oregon
Congratulations! You have chosen a great place to live, and a great way to train up your children. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your decision to teach your kids in this wonderful little town:
Meet the homeschool community. You can subscribe to an email discussion list with other homeschoolers in Estacada by signing up at yahoogroups.com for the ehomed list. Or send me an email and I'll send you an invitation. This is a great way to find out what field trips are available, and what local resources have worked for others.
Don't be afraid of the locals. Businesses and organizations in Estacada have learned to love home educators and their kids. There are many charitable organizations, churches, and community service groups that thrive on the volunteer help of young and not-so-young alike.
The arts are booming here. The classical Con Brio Society hosts free monthly concerts by local musicians. Watch for signs around town, or ask at the Artsmith Shop on Broadway. The Estacada Junior High Auditorium is the largest in Clackamas County, is newly renovated, and serves the whole community. Every December, local churches come together with the high school concert choir for a Christmas Choir Festival, culminating in a heartfelt rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. A local Fine Arts committee brings poetry readings, musical performances, and art galleries to town on a regular basis, as well as an annual Arts Celebration at the end of July, with musical and visual artists combining for a variety of stimulating activities.
Athletes and their fans have a lot to do, with school sports, Little League, Youth Soccer and Basketball, and local running teams that attend various marathons, including the Hood to Coast and the Portland Marathon. A new library is on the way, and park planning includes ideas for building a local skate park.
Don't be afraid of the public schools. Estacada schools have gone above and beyond the state requirements to allow homeschooled students to participate to the extent they wish in academic classes, sports, field trips, music classes, and other school clubs and activities. In addition, Family Ed (VMSS) is a co-op school supported by the Estacada School District and Estacada Home Educators, which provides classes for first through twelfth grade students.
Show up at the gathering places. For preschoolers, you can find like minds and familiar faces at the library story times. The library also hosts a great summer reading program for grade schoolers, with stories, songs, and crafts at the Timber Park, culminating in a Renaissance Faire at the end of the summer on the library grounds.
Homeschooled teens are more often found at the Philip Foster Farm, where they dress up as pioneers, and demonstrate early Oregon activities such as corn grinding and apple pressing to school children from around the state every fall and spring.
By choosing to homeschool, you've opted for the best education you can give your children, and by living in Estacada, you've given them access to a warm, caring community. WELCOME
