My Field trip

16 years ago

I took the kids on a field trip (we homeschool) last week and boy was it great!

We first went to the Butterfly Rainforest in Gainsville. Wow!!!!!!! It was beautiful. Even if you don't like buterflies, the plants/landscaping was amazing, tons of tropicals and flowers. Pictures do not do it justice! As you exit the butterfly rainforest it leads you into the Florida museum of Natural History. It was very nice. We will definately be going back.

We then went to Paynes Prarrie where we saw tons of gators. We also saw a bluebird, not blue jay. That may not be exciting for some of you, but I have not seen a bluebird in 20 years. We didn't spend to long at Paynes prarrie because it was sooo hot.

Our final destination for the day was a house that belongs to an older couple that grows sugar cane. She took us on a tour of her lovely garden. Tons of flowers!!! We are going to go back to her home the 1st weekend in December when she harvests the sugarcane and make it in to syrup.

All in all it was a wonderful day. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

I didn't post many of the pictures. So if you want to see more let me know and I will add more pictures to the album.

Ariel

Here is a link that might be useful: Field Trip

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Comments (14)

laura1
16 years ago
All very nice pics but i'm especially interested in the butterfly rainforest. Where is that?
Nice field trip, lucky kids!
I was wondering where you were, Ariel. I had not seen any posts from you. Just busy?
mboston_gw
16 years ago
Not to answer for Ariel but the Rainforest is on the campus of the University of Florida (Go Gators!, UF alumni '77). My son and I went in March and it was very nice, especially to see the native butterflies included as well as the tropical ones. Well worth the trip.
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I don't know if I sold out of not, but I let DS go to the Rainforest Cafe yesterday. I went with, to see for myself. If I couldn't have gone, I would not have let him go. Four classes of 4th graders went - 80 nine-year olds! Oh my! It would have been better with just one class, it was hard to hear the "docent." But she was good, the tour was informative. Just very short, I think they did well, but could have done better. Talked about the elephants and the gorillas (they have animated animals), poaching and other threats, conservation... but didn't talk at all about the many aquariums. Then the kids descended on the gift shop - and materialism is what is came down to at the end. :o( And the restaurant was opening for regular lunch business as we were wrapping up. DS was mad at me because I wouldn't give him money to buy some junk. But he was over it by the time he got home, hehe. On the up side, I enjoyed the day with my son. With him being the oldest, and two of the four still at home with me all day, I don't get to do his school stuff much. It takes a lot of effort and coordination for me to get to the school. I had a very generous friend watch the little ones for 5 hours! She's so good to me. I really appreciated the chance to see him with his friends and to eat lunch with him. And, when they fed the kids lunch, they served the adults the same thing at no charge. So I went expecting to have to pay big $$ for my meal, and it ended up free (even if it was pizza, chicken nuggets and fries). I give the day a solid 'B.' However, on the movie for the K-er, he's not going. I sent the note to the teacher Monday saying "it is our opinion that a class trip to a popular movie is an inappropriate use of school time and resources. We would prefer to have field trips that are educational and interactive." Signed both DH and my names. I will keep DS home in the morning, and take him in when they return for the activities. I will also stay and help out. (Thankful that I have a couple friends to swap kids for these kinds of things.) I want to send a similar note to the principal as well. Just so they know at least some parents are watching. And that is the scoop. Oh, and I think I'll take all the kids to Rainforest for lunch while they are on winter break. It really was cute.
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ariel73
Original Author
16 years ago
mboston is right, it is on the UF campus.

Things have been a bit crazy around here. I was watching a friends baby, fixing up our other house to sell, and teaching my kids.

Here is a link that might be useful: Butterfly rainforest
cindeea
16 years ago
Ariel, what a wonderful day! Your photos are works of art.
maureen155
16 years ago
Beautiful pictures, Ariel.

I've been meaning to go there for some time now. I go near there every time I take my Mom up to Shands. After seeing your pictures, I think I'll just pick a day and drive up. Thanks.

Maureen
AmberSky
16 years ago
Ariel, someohe I didn't know that you homeschool. So do I.

I want to do exactly that field trip, it looks wonderful. We love Payne's Prarrie, but I didn't know about the other two. Can you tell me where you saw the lady with the sugar cane? That is a wonderful memory of my youth, and I'd love to take Bug to see cane being turned into sorgum.
ariel73
Original Author
16 years ago
Amber,
I just started homeschooling this year. One of my boys has some learning disabilities and to make along story short, they would not give my son the help he needed and we can afford the $725 a month for private school. So we decided to pull them. It has been one of the best decision I have made. My son is doing so much better and is actually learning.

I will try and find the info on the sugar cane lady. She was a joy to meet. I look forward to going back in December.
ariel73
Original Author
16 years ago
Sorry,
It should say CAN NOT afford.
sooth
16 years ago
Ariel and Ambersky... Hats off to Moms and/or Dads homeschooling their children! :o) ---Don't know if you know how much you are respected and admired for what you do, but, you have all my heartfelt respect and admiration; and I just love reading about parents/guardians having wonderful fun teaching kids such good nature and gardening lessons. You're both giving hope and are very inspiring... even to folks like me who are childless at the moment. (((Thanks))) for sharing your good work!
AmberSky
16 years ago
Ariel, we started homeschooling for the same reasons, and when I started, it was daunting. However, once we hit our groove, like you, it turned into the best decision we ever made. We love it! Our children love it. The quality of education is much higher. It's all good.

Thank you, Sooth. You would be surprised at how much fun homeschooling is.
sugarcane52
16 years ago
Ariel 73,
This is off-topic, but was mentioned in your post.... One of my children has some learning disability. He qualified for a McKay scholarship and has been going to a private (Christian)school for a year where he has made straight A's. This scholarship is NOT income-based, only disability based.(Not knocking home schooling, either. But I'm a single parent and that would be too much for me.)McKay scholarship pays for extra tudoring and school uniforms and bus transportation.
Sugarcane52
countrynest
16 years ago
Ariel,
Thanks for the pictures. I got some ideas for my garden. Any pictures on the sugarcane?
My wife and I homeschool our 15 year old and my daughter and her husband also homeschool their two older boys. We do not like the liberal, new age curriculum plus the violence in public school.

Felix
lakeron
16 years ago
Ariel, Amber, & Felix:
Am very interested in the homeschooling movement. Could we take this to Conversations. Will start with Homeschool Questions post.
ron
ariel73
Original Author
16 years ago
I did look into the Mckay scholarship, but only qualified for $300 dollars. They said he didn't qualify for a fulltime scholarship because he didn't have a behavior problem. Go figure.
I will answer more question on the conversation page

My Field trip

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