The 22nd Annual Indiana Association of Home Educators (IAHE) Convention will be held March 23-24, 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit the IAHE website to find out complete details and to register for this event.

Also at the above link you will find details about the Essay contest, Art contest, and State Spelling Bee that will be held in conjunction with the convention.

If you are a new homeschool family or interested in homeschooling in Indiana, you may want to sign up for the IAHE Informer, which is a free bi-monthly subscription. It is a pretty informative publication and helpful for homeschool families.

Blessings to you!

The Indiana Foundation for Home Schooling (IFHS) Scholars Symposium will be held in Indianapolis, IN on November 15th. Dr. Jay Wile of Apologia Educational Ministries will be the speaker. You can pick up the flyer at this link:

IFHS Scholars Symposium flyer

Opportunities for Homeschools

To accommodate our Homeschool educators we are adding two special Homeschool Tuesday Forensic Mystery School Workshops:

October 24
9:30 a.m. – Crime Scene Investigators: The Science Behind the Mystery (Grades 3-6)
11 a.m. – Crime Scene Clues: The Case of the Absent Art – Who did it? (Grades 7-12)

November 21
9:30 a.m. – Crime Scene Investigators: The Science Behind the Mystery (Grades 3-6)
11 a.m. – Crime Scene Clues: The Case of the Absent Art – Who did it? (Grades 7-12)

Homeschool Tuesdays are reserved for individual homeschool families that can not meet the minimum number of 15 student participants required. Homeschool families and co-ops meeting the minimum are encouraged to sign up on alternative dates. Follow these links for more on homeschool opportunities and a complete list of Homeschool Tuesdays.

Visit indianamuseum.org for more details about CSI: Crime Scene Insects. Call 317.232.1637 to plan your field trip today.

Storytelling Arts of Indiana and the Indiana Historical Society will be hosting an event this fall in downtown Indianapolis:

 
The Ruth Lilly Hoosier Storytelling Festival

October 11 – 14, 2006
Military Park & the Indiana History Center
Corner of Ohio and West Streets
Indianapolis, Indiana  

Details about this festival can be found at:

Storytelling Arts of Indiana

Each month the Indiana Historical Society sends out a handy newsletter via email for educators detailing what is offered at the IHS.

Here is a link to the online version of this month's newsletter:

Indiana Historical Society - September 2006

On September 30, 2006, for one day only, museums across the country will join the Smithsonian Institution in its long-standing tradition of offering free admission to visitors.

How Does The General Public Participate?

Download the Museum Day Card

For the first time, Museum Day is open to the general public as well as Smithsonian magazine’s subscribers. Please scroll to the top or bottom of this page and click on the link to print your Museum Day card. This card is good for two people at any of the hundreds of participating museums!

Are There Any Restrictions?

• General admission only
• Not valid for special exhibits, IMAX screenings or for use with any other offer.
• One time use on September 30, 2006.
• Some participating museums may already have a free admission policy year round and are participating in the "spirit" of the day.

Questions?

For answers to any questions, please contact us at museumday@si.edu.

Participating venues in Indiana

Conner Prairie
Fishers

Gary Historical & Cultural Society
Gary

General Lew Wallace Study & Museum
Crawfordsville

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Inc
North Judson

Imagination Station
Lafayette

Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Indianapolis

Indianapolis Art Center
Indianapolis

Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Michigan City

Lake County Historical Museum
Crown Point

Lakeland Art Gallery
Warsaw

Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
Madison

Life on the Ohio River History Museum
Vevay

Morris-Butler House Museum
Indianapolis

Northern Indiana Center for History
South Bend

President Benjamin Harrison Home
Indianapolis

South Bend Regional Museum
South Bend

Switzerland County Historical Museum
Vevay

The Lincoln Museum
Fort Wayne

Friday, August 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Registration code: HS0818C1

Join us for a fun event that will give you the opportunity to experience learning at

Minnetrista.You are invited to participate in any and all of the self-guided activities offered during the course of the day.

This program includes tours of Minnetrista Cultural Center, the Nature Area, the G.A. Ball house, and Discovery Cabin. Meeting Place: Minnetrista Cultural Center

Price: $4 per child, FREE Adults

Registration deadline: Friday, August 11

Download a program guide at:
http://www.minnetrista.net/upload/assets/pdf/guide%208x5.pdf  

Presidential Field Day

http://www.minnetrista.net/
Grades 5-8
Friday, September 15, 2006
9:00-2:00
Registration deadline: Friday, September 8, 2006
Cost is $4 per student.

Come spend the day with Benjamin Harrison and other presidents in
connection with Constitution Day.

*Students will meet President Benjamin Harrison to learn about our
government in the 1890's.
*Students will walk the Trail of Presidents to meet people from the
past and learn about presidential history.
*Students will make a quill and write on parchment paper.
*Students will visit our Organizational Fair and talk with
representatives from the Democratic and Republican parties as well
as other government organizations.
*Students will meet Harriet Tubman and hear what life was like for
those on the Underground Railroad.
*Students will observe a presidential debate.

Great info from Crayola.com:

TEACHER APPRECIATIONS EVENTS OCCURING ACROSS THE NATION

Each new school year brings promises of colorful learning,
and Crayola® is always proud to be a part of teachers' and
families' back-to-school traditions.

Many of our retail partners are sharing in the excitement by
hosting Teacher Appreciation events. We welcome you to take part
in the following events, coming to retailers near you.
Participants will receive free gifts—as well as some much-deserved
recognition. (Free gifts are available while supplies last.)

Enjoy these events and have a wonderful new school year!

OFFICE DEPOT®
Office Depot® is hosting the 13th Annual Teacher Appreciation
Breakfast. Stop in for free breakfast, a free tote bag
(while supplies last) and 10%* off everything all day. Visit
www.school.com and click on "Star Teacher Program" to find the
breakfast near you. Not a Star Teacher yet? Visit your local
Office Depot® store to sign up today!
Note:*10% instant discount is not valid for purchases from
www.techdepot.com, purchases of Gift Cards, computers, wireless,
satellite, Internet or shipping and mailing services. Quantities
limited. While supplies last.

MICHAELS®
Michaels thanks teachers for inspiring creative young minds every
day. Come to Michaels August 20th through 26th and receive a
teachers-only 10% discount off of everything in the store, including
sale items! (School ID may be required.) Also, enter online for a
chance to win a $1,000 Michaels gift card, a classroom full of cool
Crayola products, or other great prizes! Enter at Michaels.com between
August 19th and 26th. For more information about the Michaels teacher
appreciation event, visit www.michaels.com

WAL*MART®
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will be hosting Teacher Appreciation Events
throughout the country from July 21 to July 31, 2006 at more than
3,000 locations. The Wal*Mart Teacher Appreciation program, now in its
9th year, is designed to help kick off the school year by showing
appreciation to America's teachers.

Each teacher who attends the event will receive a gift package
containing samples from Crayola and other manufacturers of
school-related supplies (while supplies last). For more information,
contact your local store or visit www.wal-mart.com

STAPLES®
Teachers are invited to celebrate the new school year at Teacher
Appreciation Day events in Staples stores nationwide. The first 200
teachers at each event will receive a free canvas goody bag, teacher
planner, and valuable coupons. Find the event near you at
www.staples.com/teacherday (Teachers may be asked to
present school ID.)

OFFICEMAX®
OfficeMax is hosting Teacher Appreciation Events in the last week
of July and mid-August, depending on when school starts in your area.
Teachers can call their local OfficeMax store or 1-877-OFFICEMAX, to
find local dates and locations. Visit OfficeMax.com to find a
store near you.

THANK YOU
Throughout the school year you can rely on Crayola.com for fresh
lesson plan ideas and teaching tips. A new feature added this
back-to-school season is The Art of Childhood, which focuses on
the importance of creativity for children.

To learn about The Other IQ (Imagination Quotient) and how to
supercharge children's creativity visit The Art of Childhood.

Thank you for all you do!

Colorfully yours,
The Crayola.com Team
http://www.crayola.com

This summer the Indiana Historical Society will have a series of free Summer on the Canal concerts in Indianapolis.

Arts Alive families and members will be part of the Cast of Characters
for the second annual Fishers Renfaire. You can check out the faire
and information on how to be involved at:
http://www.fishersrenfaire.com/

For more information on how to participate in the Faire either as a teen dancer, or madrigal singer, or roving actor on the grounds, contact artsaliveinfo@yahoo.com or
765-552-9991 or 765-734-1783.