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WINTER 2017 HOMESCHOOL IOWA 7
walking and biking trails, and places to see bald eagles along
the river. There are also several homeschool support groups in
the area. including one who sponsors a choir that hosts annual
concerts and plans several other activities each year.
Region 11, Natalie Schneckloth and Kathryn Wilson (re-
), sent along a great list of poten-
tial field trip places, including the Sawmill Museum in Clinton
, the Pine Creek Grist Mill in Mus-
catine ), and the Herbert Hoover
National Historic site inWest Branch (www.hoover.archives.gov).
The Quad Cities area is blessed with a large and very active co-
op. Additionally there are some informal, smaller support groups
in the region. The Quad Cities co-op has both an elementary and
a teen group. They sponsor regular field trips, service projects,
festivals, and teacher training. Membership in the co-op is not
required to take advantage of the teacher training. This co-op
also runs a curriculum lending library.
Region 10, Terri Nowotny and Brenda Kelly (region10@home-
), Region 10 includes Iowa City and Cedar Rapids,
both large cities where a wide variety of museums and historic
sites can be found. Terri especially recommended visiting the
Amana Colonies ) and attending the
annual Indian Pow Wow (www. ). There
are several active homeschool support groups and co-ops in the
region. Terri and Brenda can put you in touch with the group
that most meets your needs.
When we polled the various homeschool Facebook groups
in Southeast Iowa we received several suggestions of places to
check out for their historic, educational and family fun value.
Here’s a list of some of those top places, in no particular order!:
• Geode Hunting in Keokuk
• The Villages of Van Buren
• Nelson Pioneer Farm in Oskaloosa
• Dumont Museum, Sigourney
• Lancaster Schoolhouse in Lancaster
• The Children’s Museum in Coralville
• Museum of Natural History in Iowa City
• Ice skating in Coralridge Mall and roller skating in Wellman
• Carnegie Museum in Fairfield
• Harvestville Farms in Donnelson
• Starrs Cave Nature Center in Burlington
• Old Fort & Historic Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison
• Lake Iowa & the free classes they host from the Iowa DNR
The best part of putting together this regional focus is that
I was able to make a personal connection with another home-
schooler who lives just down the road fromme, and we are plan-
ning a get-together soon. There is nothing as good as sitting
down across the table from another person in real life and hav-
ing a personal connection with good conversation. If you are not
part of a homeschool co-op, support group, or informal group
of homeschooling parents, I encourage you to reach out to your
NICHE Regional Representative and ask for some help connect-
ing with another family or two in your area.
Do you want your region to be our next Regional
Focus? Email me at Jenn
is a happily married, crazy busy work at home, home-
schoolingmomof two, who thrives on coffee andGod’s
amazing grace.
Traipsing through the Amana Colonies I-80 Trucking Museum Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Have Questions?
Need Resources?
Need to find a Support Group?
Reach out to your Regional Rep!
Each regional representative is a seasoned home-
schooling veteran with extensive practical skills and
wisdom that come from years of experience.
Find out more on our website: