Buy a 3, 6, or 10 Class Bundle and Save! Perfect for families to share. One student per class. Up to 3,6, or 10 students per bundle based on original bundle size.
My mom was a nature lover, outdoorswoman, and Edventurer extraordinaire. My childhood was chock full of hiking, canoeing, camping, white water rafting, horseback riding and backpacking. If there was a park nearby, we hiked the trails. Holidays were spent tromping through wet, muddy leaves on nature trails; and if weather was involved, all the better. Rain, sleet or snow, we were out in it.
Local and State Parks were easily accessible, and we covered a multi-state area, but National Parks were definitely on Mom’s radar, and we visited as many as she could cram into summer travels and vacations. Once grandkids were involved, she ramped up the adventurers and took as many as were old enough on summer trips to National Parks. Dad drove, she navigated, and ever the Edventurer, she had them creating National Park notebooks, memorizing quotes and speeches and earning Ranger Badges as they went. Summer vacation was for learning and discovery, after all!
The love of discovery and adventure runs deep and never gets old! This past fall we spent a gorgeous week in the Black Hills at Custer State Park with family who had not been there before. It was so fun to show them around, share our favorite places and discover new haunts together. And, of course, the backdrop was awe-inspiring; quaking aspen, and breathtaking views, Harney Peak, buffalo, elk and mountain sheep, Needles Highway, and some amazing rock shops! We did, of course, make it to Mt. Rushmore, because when you are that close, it has to be done. Once home, we watched, North by Northwest, just for the fun of it.
Last spring we headed to the coast again, and were able to make it back to one of our favorite beaches along the National Seashore. Even though we’re landlocked, we’re shell collectors, and love adding to our growing collection and the memories of the beach, sand and roaring surf get us through the long winter where we live.
Why Parks?
The State and National Park systems were created to preserve the amazing natural beauty and resources of this great country! I am so grateful, as some of my experiences in parks have literally changed my life. (go HERE to hear about my month long backpacking trip in the Wilderness of the High Uintas).
Why should you add Parks to your Homeschool Itinerary
Parks show God’s majesty and splendor and allow us as a county to protect species, people and places of significance
Parks allow us to be humble, understanding ourselves as small in comparison to God’s creation. We can fully take in the fact that He is the Master artist, and what an artist He is, and yet He still sees, knows and loves us!
Parks are great places to learn about ecosystems, biomes, plant and animal life of all kinds. Park rangers and docents are knowledgeable and love sharing what they know and Park Bookstores can further equip you for some fun studies!
Natural and Environmental Science, Biology and Chemistry are all up close and personal at National Parks.
Parks allow us to experience Green Therapy- getting away from our normal days and busyness to get outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation
Parks allow us to interact and rub shoulders with people from all over the world! If you want to find an integrated international community in the U.S., visit a National Park on a busy summer day!
Parks allow us to experience the unknown and face new challenges and opportunities.
Parks allow us to learn about geography and the amazing diversity within our own local and national community.
Parks give us a great reason to travel and to learn and discover new people and places.
Local Parks
Discover what parks are closest to you and why they were created. I live near a smallish city, but honestly, it has the best park system of anywhere we’ve lived, except Southern California- home of world class parks. Why? A visionary, decades ago, had the insight to map out parks across the city and our city had the wherewithal to invest in his plan. We now have a bustling city full of parks that provide all season fun and outdoor adventure.
National Parks
The National Park system, of course, benefited greatly from Teddy Rosevelt, who doubled its holdings across the country and created five additional National Parks, including Devil’s Tower in WY. We were able to visit there a few years ago. It’s oddly breathtaking and worth the trip! What a wonderful and unique world in which we live!
Learning about the National Parks is such a great way to discover the beauty and greatness of our world! It’s all part of the history of this great nation, preserved by visionaries for our enjoyment!
American History
American Historyis a full-year high school-level course. Students will study United States History using videos and films as the primary “texts.” Films will include award-winning full-length feature films, dramas, comedies, documentaries, and educational shorts, such as YouTube videos. We will examine a wide range of topics, including politics, economics, war, religion, culture, sports, and technology
In True North Homeschool Academy's Career Exploration Class, we talk about many things related to adult life and careers. We had the good fortune to have Shannan Swindler visit as a guest speaker. Shannan is a homeschooling, blogging, expat living in Scotland, who also teaches Life Skills and World Geography online. She came to share about how travel has enriched her life and the life of her family. With the emerging global, gig economy and the ability to work remotely, people have more options than ever before to travel while they are working. So how can you use homeschool travel as career prep?
The benefits of travel in relation to building one’s career are great and something to consider as you plan your student's course load, opportunities, and eventual career! I’ve gathered a short list of ways that travel enriches one’s life and, ultimately, career. If travel is not an integral part of your educational plan and path, isn’t it time to consider integrating into your overall strategy?
What are the benefits of homeschool travel?
1. Travel can open unexpected doors as you meet new people. Jobs are often learned about through contacts, and the more you have, the more options available to you.
2. Travel allows you to bond with people in extraordinary ways and form lifelong friendships. I have remained friends with my tarp mates from a month-long backpacking trip as well as my travel buddies to Greece, during a college trip.
3. Travel allows you to learn a new language – if only just a smattering. But getting up to speed on some necessary verbs and then practicing abroad or living as an ex-pat for a time is a great way to hone skills.
4. Travel increases your cultural competency, global awareness, and helps you gain a new perspective. The very nature of travel removes you from the known and comfortable and demands that you look around and experience life in new ways.
*In August of 2016, my family went on a trip to Alaska with my mom’s dad and her brother and his family. It was so much fun and so pretty there! One of my favorite things we did was take a train from Seward to Anchorage. On the train, they also served the BEST roast and mashed potatoes that I have ever had, so we certainly got “dinner with a view.” ~Amme (True North Homeschool Academy Student)
5. Travel allows you to develop Soft Skills- communication, leadership, flexibility and adaptability, time and distraction management, creativity, and teamwork. Travel demands soft skills as people get tired – physically from the trip, but emotionally as well, from the barrage of new experiences, places, and even languages.
6. Travel allows you to fail and demands that you fail forward. No trip is complete without a missed connection, showing up at the wrong time or place or lost luggage or wallet. Snafus are just part of an excellent travel adventure, and “failing” is to be expected. Learning to fail forward with good humor is an excellent skill to learn early and well!
7. Travel allows you to develop courage as you see, smell, feel, and hear the world in new and different ways. As you fail forward, courage rises to meet new challenges!
8. Travel allows you to learn management skills -if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Not packing necessities may mean that you go without. Having to show up on someone else’s time when you are experiencing jet lag or not stewarding the time allotted may mean you miss out on the not to be missed sight-seeing trip.
9. Travel allows you to become a better storyteller- your life becomes enriched with all of the experiences and memories that you gather and gain. We are people of the Word, and followers of the Master Storyteller. We should take the time to learn how to tell compelling stories, as well.
*This past January, we took a family trip to Washington D.C. and the surrounding area. Although our trip was during the Government shutdown (obviously we didn’t plan it that way – our trip was already scheduled, and tickets were booked when the Government shut down), we still had a fantastic time! All of the Smithsonian museums were closed, as was the White House, and several other historic sites. However, we were still able to visit several amazing places – my favorite being George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. ~Amme
10. Travel allows you to gain confidence as you replace the fear of the unknown with a healthy curiosity. Traveling to new places means we don’t know what to expect, and we’ll need to pack along a healthy dose of courage to get through to the next thing.
11. Travel allows you to gain independence and interdependence as you craft your solutions and learn to rely on others, perhaps some of whom you just recently met- as part of those solutions.
12. Travel allows you to become a better problem-solver as you tap into and develop your creative genius. Travel demands on the spot problem solving and innovative solutions.
13. Travel rests your brain and fosters creativity. It provides a break from the regular routine, gives you new input, and rejuvenates and reenergizes you!
14. Travel allows for family bonding, and you support each other, problem-solve together, and create beautiful stories and memories together.
*Every summer, we drive up from San Diego to central Oregon and attend a family camp for 800+ people that is hosted by some of our friends. We often stop along the way to visit national parks such as Yosemite, Lassen, the Sequoias, and Crater lake. They are all unique and beautiful in their own way. We make many memories in the car on the long drives. ~Amme
15. Travel allows that you learn from geography – how places define and determine how people live where they’re at, what things look like, smell, taste, and feel like. Geography is of utmost importance in the Bible, so much so that people call Israel “The Fifth Gospel.”
16. Homeschool travel allows you to gain a deeper perspective on your home, and also reminds you of the beauty in the seemingly mundane aspects of life. It helps you appreciate the beauty and joy of home. There’s a reason why the adage, “There’s no place like home” is understood.
Travel builds practical skills, as well as Soft Skills. And, if you’ve listened to our podcast, you know, “we are hired for our hard skills and fired for our soft skills.” Travel builds your kiddos soft skills muscles, which are going to be more critical than ever before in the emerging world of tech and industry that our kids will be living and working in.
Career Exploration is a must have class for your focuses on vocational and career exploration. Students will understand their strengths, challenges and more as they prepare to launch as adults in a complex, digital, and fast-changing world!
Students will identify the intersection of passions, interests, and the necessity of work as well as explore the difference between work and career and how both fit into their personal pathway and so much more!
This class will appeal to students with a sense of adventure and wanderlust. This compelling world geography class for middle & high schoolers will take them on journeys to exciting places to explore and learn. Set your course for adventure!
Using virtual field trips, students will be transported to museums, exhibits, zoos, and historical landmarks all over the world to discover Geography in a unique and robust way! Each week there will be an opportunity to explore and learn about a variety of topics from some of the most famous museums & exhibits in the world. Students will complete various projects, such as virtual scavenger hunts, “guided” tours, and independent exploration and summary reports.
Where have you traveled recently? What’s been the biggest benefit of homeschool travel that you can see?
You have heard that before. The idea of camping and the possibility of quiet family time brings back memories. The wonderful fragrance of the spruce that adorns the roads as you arrive to the campsite. Car doors fling open as your children jump out to survey the best place for their tent. We have overcome “boredom” you think. The back hatch of your car swings open and out comes the camping games, fishing poles, tents, campfire wood, and the other supplies for your camping activities. Let the happy memories begin!
Before You Head Out
For my homeschool family, budget is always a priority but first we have to figure out what is it we are looking for in a campsite. To make sure I pack all the equipment we need for the camping activities the family enjoys, we have very brief conversations that go something like this:
Me: Would it be fun to find a campground where you can swim?
Boys: I don’t know.
Me: Fish?
Boys: Yeah
Me: What about hiking trails?
Boys: Sure
Me: Maybe we can stop at some historic landmarks.
Boys: Do we have too?
Me: Let’s play it by ear.
I now have some family camping ideas to make it better for my teenagers to go on. We have hiking and fishing plus we have to please mom too and that means we hit up at least one historic landmark with the promise of a good meal later.
Location, Location, Location
The first website I went to was Go Camping America. Using the Campground search tool you can locate camping sites using the criteria that you gathered earlier by talking with your family and by entering the distance from your home.
I also looked at KOA but after searching a little bit I wasn’t finding the location that would make my husband happy. I finally ended up at my states Park and Recreation website which delivered the state parks different locations. You will also get some ideas for camping activities while browsing around.
NOW the FUN Begins!
Hiking
Wait a second, I know your thinking that this is a no brainer, hiking that is but we are going to take it up a notch.
The Movie Hike
If the phone is attached their hand then let’s make a movie. Don’t you think this would be the perfect time for the family home movie? Some encouraging ideas, because kids usually don’t want to have themselves in the family home movie, suggest they film you.
The Photo Hike
Similar to the Movie Hike your tweens and teens can become the family’s photo journalist documenting the family hike. When you get back to your city dwelling together the family can create a photo book right from their cell phone. This is also an opportunity to share time with the kids.
The Scavenger Hike
Finding a list of items on your hike. You can organize it by age or interest- have the kids scout for fauna or flora, collect litter or discover by shape, color or size. Take a bag to collect items, or use your phone to snap a pic.
Around the Bonfire
Camping Stories and Riddles
Telling stories around the campfire is a time-honored tradition and one that you might want to prepare ahead of time for. In other words, make sure everyone knows that part of their camping prep work is to have some good fireside stories and riddles to share!
Here’s a story that’s whimsical, imaginative and fun to tell, The Hairy Toe! And if your family can handle creepy, they might like The Missing Bride.
If you want to keep the family laughing share a few riddles. You could create rules to make it more challenging, like only being allowed to ask questions that can be answered with a “yes” or “no”. Here’s a fun riddle to get you started: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? Did you figure it out? You can visit iMom dot com for the answer and more riddles.
Everyone loves a good bonfire. The warmth of the tower of fire and crackling of the embers. Start by teaching your kids a life skill and learn to build a fire. And just as important, fire safety!
Once you've got a good blaze burning, it's time to create some music, a little guitar and singing sounds like a good time to me. Campfire songs can be super simple and rounds are a great time to teach your kids the basics of music!
Don't forget about the simple fun of charades! There are so many fun ways to play charades and the skies the limit! Take turns deciding what your theme will be! Charades was mentioned earlier and is worth mentioning again. This game brings everyone together and doesn’t take up space in the backseat of your car.
Now, we are a foodie family and what’s a fire without those amazing s’mores. The kids also like to watch the marshmallows burn to a crisp in the flames but I wouldn’t suggest that. You will have to try Campfire Cones! An amazing treat that will make everyone happy and who doesn’t love that.
Campfires Cones!
What you need:
sugar ice cream cones
Mini marshmallows
Chocolate chips
Optional goodies to add are pretzel sticks, fruit, nuts anything you can think of, yummy!
Wrap them in foil and toss them in. Okay, you will probably want a put them on a grill or at least have some tongs handy to pull them from the fire. It doesn’t take long for them to melt which means you will want to watch them.
Camping Games
We actually bring games. You probably aren’t surprised when I tell you that our homeschool family brings a game of Chess.
On a past camping trip with friends they brought a game called Mancala. The object o the game is to collect all the stones called mancala. This is a strategy game and becomes rather addictive once you start playing. The directions on how to play can be found at The Spruce Crafts.
Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss is a game that can you feel challenged. You can play the game in the day or the night and it is one of the least expensive games I have ever put together. All you need you can get at the Dollar Tree or other discount store.
Can you see it? Laying in a hammock under a giant evergreen. Enjoying the weather and reading a good book. Throw some nature inspired reading in your bag, but don't forget a good homeschooling book or two!
The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir’s Great Adventures by Lee Stetson
You are here, on the internet, and now it’s time for you to pack up your car and head out with your family to have fun camping. With these camping games and ideas, you will have a memorable time to look back on. Enjoy!
This class is perfect for Middle Schoolers who can't get enough of the outdoors!
Join us this year for an exciting, unique look at the world of plants! Students can expect to have a basic understanding of plant life, learn the purpose of plants, and appreciate their beauty. Content will include plant anatomy, appreciating herbs & medicinal plants, foraging, gardening & more!
Hi, I’m Kristina. I’m a veteran homeschool mom of 3 amusing boys and proclaimed bibliophile. I have towed my sons to book stores where they wandered through the aisles collecting books to read with smiles on their faces. On my blog, Book Bound Boys link www.bookboundboys.com, my hope is to help you create a love for literature in your home.
Looking for good clean summer fun and learning, critical thinking skills, creativity, collaboration? Board games have it all! Not only do we love playing board games on holidays, but they are one of our favorite vacation and long summer afternoon activities!
If you’re like most families you have a pile of board games sitting in a closet somewhere, waiting to be dusted off and played ‘round the table. Put it on your schedule once a month- or week- to pull out an old favorite- or try a new- board game!
We’ve gathered 50 of the best board games by genres; each one with a specific focus. And while we love board games where it’s every man – or woman- for themselves, we also love cooperative games, where everyone playing works to achieve a common goal.
Resurgence of Board Game Playing in the last 10 Years
It’s probably no surprise that the Board Games sales increased by 20% in 2020, jumping in on the decade-long resurgence of board game playing, with many people playing board games more than once a week. What you might not know is that the Indie Board Game Industry has taken off, with many new designers getting their games in front of enthusiasts with social media and crowd-funding resources. In fact, there are more board games available than ever before and it’s a multi-billion dollar business! And from an educational point of view, I approve. There are so many great lessons to be learned from board games, including critical thinking, strategy, cooperation, negotiating, and economic analysis, internal decision making, tree-style thinking, and situational awareness. Board games might seem like mindless fun; often they are chock full of learning opportunities!
With the plethora of games on the market, it can be tough to sort through which ones are worth the money. So, with the help of one of our good friends and Board Gaming Aficionado, we’ve compiled a great list. But, before we get to it, let’s chat for a minute about the genres of board games, of which there are many.
Genres of Board Games
Abstract Strategy Games (AS)
This often refers to games of perfect information with alternating turns and no randomness.
Cooperative Games (C)
These are board games where the players cooperate together to achieve a common goal. So, for game players that love cooperation rather than competition, this is for you!
Deck Construction Games (DC)
Each player possesses their own deck of cards which they continually cycle through, reshuffling the discard pile to form their deck when needed. The cards often represent a type of currency and players can purchase new cards for their deck, increasing its effectiveness. Also many deck building games also give players the ability to discard less useful cards.
Dexterity Games (D)
Players achieve their goals by using manual dexterity or eye-hand coordination, using hands or other body parts to accomplish a challenging action.
Dungeon Crawler Games (DC)
This is a type of fantasy role-playing game in which the hero navigates a labyrinth environment (i.e. a dungeon). The hero must avoiding traps, battling monsters and creatures, solving puzzles and collecting or looting any treasure they can find.
Party Games (PG)
These are games that are played at social gatherings to facilitate interaction and provide entertainment and recreation.
Resource Management Games (RM)
These include most strategy games and involve spending limited resources to completing a task or earning points.
Strategy Board Games (SG)
Players make uncoerced, autonomous decisions that have a high significance in determining the outcome. Strategy games require decision tree style thinking and very high situational awareness.
War Games (WG)
This type of game realistically simulates warfare
Worker Placement Games (WP)
Players control a pool of workers, in the form of meeples. Each round, players assign their meeples to various places, or locations on the board, most often with a limited number of spaces per meeple.
What is a meeple you ask? A meeple is a playing piece, used to represent a player in a board game.
Genres can be a really useful tool as we incorporate them into our educational plan or family time. We can choose games based on fun, or to learn or enhance specific skills!!
So, without further ado, check out our Mega list of fun and challenging board games!
Settlers of Catan (RM)
Lords of Waterdeep (RM) + (WP)
Agricola (RM) + (WP)
Eclipse (RM)
Terraforming Mars (RM)
Wingspan (RM)
Puerto Rico (RM)
Dice Wars (RM)
Ticket to Ride (RM)
Rails and Trails (RM)
Small World (RM)
Pioneers (RM)
Tzolkin; the Mayan Calendar (WP)
Stone Age (WP)
Rise of Tribes (WP)
Lords of Waterdoom (WP)
Imperial Assault(DC)
Hero Quest (DC)
Pandemic (C)
Knights of Arrethtrae (C)
Lord of the Rings Journey’s in Middle Earth (w/app) (C)
Flick ‘Em Up (D)
Star Trek Conflict (D)
Jenga (D)
Caroms (D) vintage
Pirate Ships (D)
Twister (D)
Dominion (DC)
Thunder Stone (DC)
Legendary Marvel (DC)
Axis & Allies (WG)
Risk (WG)
Risk Legacy (WG)
Star Trek Ascendancy (WG)
Eclipse (WG)
Hellenica: Story of Greece (WG)
Blokus (AS)
Sagrada (AS)
Stratego (AS)
Azul (AS)
Chess (AS)
Checkers (AS)
Chinese Checkers (AS)
Code Names (PG)
Apples to Apples (PG)
Decrypto (PG)
Scattergories (PG)
The Game of Things (PG)
Pictionary (PG)
Exploding Kittens (PG)
For all the scoop on board games, check out BoardGameGeek.com – the webpage for board gaming.
For kids who want to get a jump start on winning, or creating thier own board games, Informal and Formal Logic is a great place to start!
Informal Logic
This class will equip them with the tools they need to argue well! In this year-long course, students will study and learn 28 logical fallacies in the first semester, equipping them to discern between well-thought-out and reasoned arguments and those that aren't.
Formal Logic is the science and art of reasoning well. As a sub-discipline, Formal Logic focuses on the structural validity of arguments. In formal logic, the process of deductive reasoning is employed by studying the movement from a statement or series of statements to a conclusion.
Father's Day is a special occasion that allows us to express our gratitude and appreciation for the significant role fathers play in our lives. It's a day to celebrate the love, guidance, and support that fathers provide to their families. In this blog post, we will delve into the history of Father's Day, tracing its origins and highlighting its significance. Additionally, we will explore the statistical importance of fathers in the family structure, shedding light on the profound impact they have on the development and well-being of their children.
The History of Father's Day
The origin of Father's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century when a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, envisioned a day to honor fathers. Inspired by Mother's Day, which had gained popularity, Sonora wanted to establish a similar celebration to pay tribute to fathers. She sought to recognize the love and sacrifices her own father had made while raising her and her siblings after their mother's passing.
Sonora's efforts gained momentum, and in 1910, the state of Washington officially recognized Father's Day. Over the years, the idea spread to other states, and in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation declaring Father's Day a national holiday, to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year.
The Importance of Fathers in the Family
Fathers play a vital role in the family structure, contributing to the emotional, social, and cognitive development of their children. Research consistently highlights the positive impact involved and engaged fathers have on their children's well-being.
Emotional Development: Fathers provide emotional support, serving as a source of stability and security for their children. Their involvement in nurturing activities fosters a sense of trust, confidence, and self-esteem in their offspring. Studies have shown that children with involved fathers tend to have stronger emotional intelligence and develop healthier relationships as they grow.
Social Development: Fathers play a crucial role in shaping their children's social skills and behavior. Through their presence and active involvement, fathers teach their children important values, such as empathy, kindness, and respect. They serve as role models, imparting crucial life lessons and guiding their children towards responsible decision-making and positive social interactions.
Cognitive Development: Fatherly engagement has a significant impact on a child's cognitive development. Fathers often engage in stimulating activities that promote cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Their involvement in educational activities, reading together, and encouraging exploration contributes to enhanced academic performance and intellectual growth in their children.
Health and Well-being: The presence of involved fathers has been linked to better physical and mental health outcomes for children. Research indicates that children with supportive and caring fathers are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse and delinquency. Additionally, fathers' involvement has been associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems in children.
10 Ways to CELEBRATE!
Father's Day is the perfect occasion to celebrate the incredible dads in our lives. To make this day memorable, here are ten fun activities that you can plan to show your appreciation and make your dad feel special. These activities range from adventures to relaxing moments, ensuring there's something for every dad's taste.
Outdoor Adventure Day: Plan an exciting outdoor adventure tailored to your dad's interests. It could be hiking, fishing, cycling, or even a friendly game of golf. Spend quality time together while enjoying the beauty of nature and engaging in some friendly competition.
Backyard BBQ Cookout: Fire up the grill and treat your dad to a mouthwatering BBQ cookout. Let him sit back and relax while you take charge of preparing his favorite grilled dishes. Create a festive atmosphere with decorations, good music, and perhaps a few lawn games for added fun.
Movie Marathon: Set up a cozy movie night at home and create a lineup of your dad's favorite movies. Prepare a selection of snacks and drinks, and spend the evening laughing, reminiscing, and enjoying some quality father-child bonding time.
DIY Workshop: If your dad loves working with his hands, organize a DIY workshop where you can create something together. Whether it's building a birdhouse, refinishing furniture, or tackling a home improvement project, the shared experience of creating something will make the day extra special.
Sports Spectator: Find out if there's a sports game or event happening on Father's Day that your dad would enjoy. Get tickets and take him to the live event, or plan a fun viewing party at home with his favorite snacks and beverages. Cheer for his favorite team together and enjoy the excitement of the game.
Picnic in the Park: Pack a delicious picnic lunch and head to a nearby park or scenic spot. Find a comfortable spot to spread out a blanket and enjoy some quality time together amidst nature. Play games, fly kites, or simply relax and engage in heartfelt conversations.
Family Game Night: Gather the whole family for a fun-filled game night. Choose your dad's favorite board games or card games and let the friendly competition begin. Laughter, excitement, and a little friendly teasing are guaranteed to make the evening memorable.
Wash and detail Dad's Car! You can take it to a shop, or DIY it. Either way, it's a gift Dad will appreciate!
Surprise Getaway: Plan a surprise getaway for your dad, whether it's a weekend trip to a nearby destination or a day trip to a place he's always wanted to visit. Take care of all the arrangements and surprise him with the adventure, creating lasting memories together.
Do some yard work! Cut the grass, do the edging, clean out the flower beds while Dad sits porch side and catches up on his favorite news or novel!
This Father's Day, go beyond traditional gifts and celebrate your dad with memorable activities that cater to his interests. Whether it's an outdoor adventure, a relaxing day at home, or an exciting outing, these activities are designed to make your dad feel loved, appreciated, and cherished on his special day!
Give Dad what he really wants for Father’s Day! It’s not just about helping him with the yard work- it’s about letting him know he is appreciated for who he is. Every homeschool dad is unique but we know he’ll love our printable Father’s Day coupons because they come from you!
These printable coupons are a quick last-minute gift that is easy and yet, thoughtful.
Summer jobs and teens go together like sun and sand! Getting a summer job can teach your teens o many wonderful life skills. Life skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and more! Not to mention building their savings account and giving them a sense of independence as they have their own money with which to make choices.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of great summer jobs for your tweens and teens!
Head to Camp!
Summer camp is such a magical place for kids and teens! If your teen loves the outdoors, and helping kids they should consider working at a camp. Depending on their age, they can be a Jr or Sr Camp Counselor, cook, janitor, help with Admin and even work on the maintenance crew. Church, Scout, and Family Camps are a great place to start!
Chick-fil-A
Who doesn’t love God’s chicken? All kidding aside, their food is good, the store is always clean, and the employees are always so kind and courteous. More to the point, their leadership is incredible, and your kids can learn a lot about customer service and serving with a humble heart by working at Chick-fil a. And if Chick-fil-A isn’t hiring, other fast food joints usually are.
Lifeguard
If your teen loves all things outdoors and is a competent swimmer, have them consider lifeguarding. They get to hang out around pools, keep the world of water recreation safe and make some money while doing it. Some things to keep in mind with this job is that it is very serious business and your teen needs to understand that they might be saving someone's life that summer. Also, there will be CPR and lifeguarding classes and certifications they will need to get at the beginning of the season as well.
Give Your Kids the Gift of Freedom!
Learning Entrepreneurial skills will be useful throughout your teen's life, particularly in the global, gig economy in which they'll be working! Our 1 semester class gives your kids practical, applicable, marketable tools to equip them for success! Shark Tank challenges make True North Homeschool Academy's Entrepreneurship class a engaging win for everyone!
Water Safety Instructor
If your teen is already a lifeguard, have them go a step further and obtain their WSI -Water Safety Instructor Certification. This will allow them to teach swimming and it’s a great way to work at camps, as well as pools, year-round.
Movie Theater Attendant
If your teen enjoys a good movie and the smell of popcorn in the air, then working at your local movie theater is a great option. From popping corn to taking tickets, there are a myriad of jobs, but all are geared towards helping movie-goers have a fantastic experience.
Snow Cone Stand Attendant
Nothing says summer quite like snow cones, right?! Right around April, our snow cone trailers start popping, and you know summer is almost here. The soft ice, the sugary syrup on the snow cone, and in the air of the summer breeze; it's a winning combination! If your teen likes people, is super nice, and enjoys delighting others with sugary goodness in a cup – the snow cone stand attendee is for them!
Theme Park Attendant
Snow cones and theme parks. Yep. Summer has also arrived when the theme parks open. With theme parks being so large, there are usually quite a few different jobs they can choose from. From ticket taker to funnel cake maker and everything in between, including singing and dancing! This job will more than likely call for late hours, but if they really enjoy the environment at theme parks, it's a win.
Landscaper
Landscapers are generally super busy during the summer months and can use extra help. This job is demanding and requires physical strength and mental stamina as most landscapers do hardscaping as well.. Kids who work for landscapers work hard, haul heavy stuff and get down and dirty. Besides all that, the pay is generally very good and your kids might develop muscles they didn’t know they had!
Lawn Maintenance
Encourage your kids to open their own mowing business. We have known several homeschooling families who have created incredible micro businesses out of simply mowing lawns, doing simple planting and weed control. Encourage your kids to use their summer free time to create a simple business plan, make and pass out flyers around your neighborhood and do a great job on the homes that hire them. It could lead to steady income long past the summertime and even lead into a snow removal service.
Golf Caddy
Another fun outdoor job to consider is being a golf caddy at your local country club or golfing range. If they know the sport of golf well, they are even better. If they are new to golf, encourage them to learn the rules of the game as they wait for their interview.
Referee/Umpire
Does your teen enjoy and understand the rules and nuances of sports? Have them consider being a referee/umpire for summer sports! They’ll get paid while they keep in shape and provide wonderful summer experiences for other kids!
Career Exploration (formerly titled Orienteering) focuses on vocational and career exploration. Students will understand their strengths, challenges, and more as they prepare to launch as adults in a complex, digital, and fast-changing world!
Students will leave class with a Personal Pathway based on strengths, interests, passions, and gifting paired with real-world career exploration.
The student will identify spheres of possibility instead of a single job or career.
Students will also create an occupational interest inventory.
More Summer Jobs for Kids
Grocery Baggers/Cashier/ Shopper
I don't know about y’all, but our local grocery store will do the grocery shopping for us. We download the app, pay and then we let them know that we are there, and they will bring it out to our car. Grocery shoppers go around the store with a digital list and a large cart and grocery shop. And of course, there is still the bagger and cashier option as a job as well.
Has your teen always loved to dress up and create events? If so, you might encourage your teen to go be the entertainment at parties as characters from movies and books. They could create their own business or join a company already offering those services. If creating their own, of course, make fliers for your community, but also, I would recommend they tap into their babysitting network as well.
Tutor
Does your teen want to be a teacher or enjoy helping others learn subjects? Then maybe they should consider being a tutor. This, again, maybe one of those entrepreneurship opportunities where they announce on the community board and put a flier up at church sharing what ages and subjects they are helping tutor this summer. They can make their own hours and can meet in places like the local library to do the job or even on Zoom.
Nanny
There is always a high demand for nannies during the summer. In many families, both parents work, and they need your teen's help! Have them search the local community boards and papers for possible nanny opportunities for the summer.
Dog Walker
If your teen enjoys dogs and wants to get their steps in for the summer, being the community dog walker is just the trick. If they would prefer to work for someone else, they might consider talking to the local vet or animal shelter and see if they are hiring part-time workers for the summer.
House Sitter
For older teens, being a house sitter is freedom! You would need to decide if you were comfortable with them staying at the home by themselves while the owners are gone or if you would prefer, they can just visit the house daily to take care of animals and water plants. Either way, they get out of the house each day doing work for money.
Sales
You are never too young to learn to sell; it’s an important skill that will benefit your kids regardless of what vocation they eventually go into. Tweens and teens can sell online or through local boutiques at local Swaps and Craft Fairs. They can sell items of their own making or purchase items to mark up and re-sell.
Summertime is a great time for your kids to dive into the world of paid work. Not only will they earn spending money or money to invest, but they’ll gain valuable life skills!
