HEART of Texas

Homeschool with HEART!
December 2014 HEART OF TEXAS   
Home Educators Alliance for Resources and Training of Texas, Inc.

DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE
Home School News and Events
 
Dear Home School Families and Friends,
We are excited to share information that we feel may be of interest to home schoolers in North Texas.  Please feel free to pass along this newsletter to your friends or other homeschooling families in your network.

If you use content from this newsletter for placement within your own newsletter, website, or other communications, please acknowledge the HEART of Texas newsletter as your source via a link to our website: www.heartoftex.org.

If you know of an event or activity that would benefit other home schoolers, please drop us a line at editor@heartoftex.org so we can share it in our next bi-weekly e-newsletter. Advertising space is available for those wishing to advertise their businesses, classes, workshops, job listings, or other opportunities.  Special rates and other benefits are given for businesses which partner with us.

Additionally, if you or anyone in your homeschool group would like to submit articles, volunteer to serve on our newsletter staff, or suggest future article topics, please contact us at editor@heartoftex.org.

We would love to hear from you!  


www.HEARTofTex.org
You can also "Like" HEART of Texas on Facebook!


Our deadlines are as follows:  
the 1st of the month, for the mid-month issue;
the 15th of the month for the issue that goes out at the beginning of the following month.
Please send all submissions to editor@heartoftex.org for consideration in the newsletter.

Thanks so much!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Home Educators Alliance for Resources and Training of Texas, Inc., (HEART of Texas) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to serving the home schooling support groups, leaders and families in our regional service area. Our mission is to provide leadership, training, resources and support within the home school community through communications, networking activities, and events directed at home school support groups, leaders, and families in the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding North Texas region.

This information is provided as a service to our fellow home schoolers. HEART of Texas does not necessarily endorse, warrant, or represent any of the activities, events, or organizations listed, or their content, views, opinions, or recommendations. Please use your own judgment when considering taking part in or attending any of these events or activities or visiting any of the websites or links provided.  HEART of Texas assumes no responsibility for the content of any ads, promises made, or the quality/reliability of the products or services offered.

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MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS
Click Here to View Month at a Glance



HEART of Texas Special Event:  
JANUARY 27, 2015
HEART OF TEXAS REGIONAL COLLEGE NIGHT
GRAPEVINE CONVENTION CENTER IN GRAPEVINE, TX


Key Note Speaker:  Rev. Raphael Cruz

Sponsored in Part By:
* Dallas Baptist University
* University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
* The College at Southwestern
* Texas Tech University
Click here to learn how to become a sponsor

Time:  
7pm - 9pm
           Speaking sessions begin at 6pm
           Exhibit hall opens at 7pm
Location:  
Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 S. Main  St, Grapevine, TX 76051

Can homeschoolers go to college?  How can I best prepare my child?  How do we select a college?  What does a transcript look like?  What financial helps are available?  What's FAFSA and TAFSA?  What the difference between PSAT, SAT, and ACT?  Should my child take CLEP tests?  What about dual credit, and does it all transfer?  How can I find out about scholarships?  Get the answers to these and other important questions about college at the HEART of Texas Regional College Night -- a special evening specifically designed for college-bound students.  This is also a great opportunity to meet with representatives from dozens of colleges (private, public, and service academies) and begin researching potential schools.

Who should attend and why?  Families with students entering high school, but particularly those who are in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.  It is best to begin your search early in the high school years, and begin to narow down your slections as you get nearer to graduation.  Additionally, there are several important deadlines that occur between your junior and senior year and you will want to be prepared ahead of time so there are no surprises.

Volunteers Needed!  Volunteers can earn free admission for themselves or someone else.
For More Information or to Volunteer:  click here to send an email

Schedule and Speakers: We are finalizing our schedule -- Details coming soon!

To See the Growing List of Colleges Who Have Already Confirmed:  Click Here

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION:
Register on or before December 31, 2014:
$10 per family (payments must be postmarked on or before Dec 31, 2014)
FREE - HEART of Texas member-supporters with a Family I.D. card (valid on day of event).
To become a member or to renew your membership, please visit: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership/membership/membership.php

Register on or before January 23, 2015:
$15 per family (payments must be postmarked on or before Jan 23)
$10 per family – HEART of Texas Members with a Family I.D. card (valid on day of event)


At the Door:  $15/person; $30 family maximum

To Register:  Click Here
Payments may be made via our Online Store (you will be transferred there after completing the form).

OR mail your check (payable to HEART of Texas) to:
HEART of Texas, P.O. Box 211882, Bedford, TX 76095-1882
Print out the online form and include it with your payment.

We confirm all registrations by email. If you do not receive an email confirmation within a few days of mailing your check or registering online, please contact us at info@heartoftex.org to make sure we have received it.  Please include your phone number and name in your email so we can call you.


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DEC 14
HEART OF TEXAS DISCOUNT DAY
TEXAS BALLET THEATER: THE NUTCRACKER
7PM PERFORMANCE at BASS HALL IN FT. WORTH

DECEMBER 12 - 27 -- The Nutcracker (Bass Hall in Fort Worth)
HEART of Texas Discount Day (30% Discount):  DECEMBER 14 at 7:00 pm (this show only)

Texas Ballet Theater, a long-time partner with HEART of Texas, is offering special ticket pricing on select performances of The Nutcracker.  You do not have to be a member of HEART of Texas to enjoy this benefit, but you will need to mention HEART of Texas when you place your order.  Please note that the discount for
these performances are valid only for the following show:  Dec 14 at 7pm at the Bass Hall.

To Order Tickets:  Call 877-828-9200, Option 1
You must mention HEART of Texas Home School Discount Program to receive the discount.  This discount is open to all homeschoolers.  We are thankful to the Texas Ballet Theater for offering these discounts for us.

Details:  Texas Ballet Theater ushers in the holiday season with its traditional performance of The Nutcracker. Clara receives a mysterious Nutcracker from her godfather and it becomes the center of an astonishing dream. Come join Clara on her magical journey as she travels with a Nutcracker turned Prince to The Land of Sweets where she is treated to a celebration of sweets from around the world who dance just for her. Filled with enchantment and wonder, The Nutcracker is a delightful addition to any holiday celebration. Flying carpets, snow, and our talented dancers make this show unforgettable.

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DECEMBER 17

FREE ORGAN RECITAL BY MARY PRESTON
MORTON H MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER IN DALLAS

Time: 12pm-12:30pm (followed by a one hour tour of the Center)
Cost: FREE

Location:  Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora, Dallas, 75201
Details: Recital given by Mary Preston, resident organist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, on the Lay Family Concert Organ. This 30 minute presentation will be followed by a one-hour tour of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

Reservations not required, but requested for groups of 15 or more.
For More Information or for a Group Reservation: 
214-670-3331

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DECEMBER 17
HORSEMANSHIP DAY CAMP
AT CAMP TONKAWA


This class is for all of you who wish they had a horse. You will get a general overview of the responsibilities of having a pet of this size. Wear your old blue jeans and boots, if you happen to have them. You will get a chance to do some basic riding. Make sure to bring suncreen and drinking water for sunny days.  Bring your own lunch or snack.. Bring plenty of drinking water. Camel packs are great if you have one.  We now have some Helmets in various sizes, or bring your own.  Class space is limited so register early. (Additional dates can be set up if there is enough interest.)

For More Information:   Click Here

For Other Camp Tonkawa Camps:  Click Here

Discount:  Camp Tonkawa is offering HEART of Texas members a  10% discount for HEART of Texas members with a valid family ID card.  Offer not valid in conjunction with semester discount rates for Nature Awareness Camps.
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  Click Here



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DECEMBER 17-20
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
BREITLING YOUTH THEATER IN GARLAND

Cost: $9/Advance tickets(add $1 at door); $7/Students & Seniors 60+; Children 3 and under are free.
Group Rates:  
12 or more receive a $1 discount
To Order Tickets:  Click Here
Performance Location:  The Plaza Theater, 521 West State Street, Garland, TX 75040


Discount:  Breitling Youth Theater is offering $10 off their annual family registration fee of $20 to HEART of Texas members with a valid family ID card. 
To learn More About This Partner:  Click Here
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


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THROUGH DECEMBER 19
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRS WAREHOUSE SALE
IN ARLINGTON

Sale Hours:  Weekdays, Dec 4-19: 9am-7pm
Saturdays, Dec 6, 13, 20: 9am-5pm
Closed Sundays

Location:  3420 South Watson Road, Arlington, TX  76014

From I-20: Exit 360N, take 1st exit Mayfield Rd. Make U-Turn under highway.  Turn right at 2nd road.
From IH-30: Exit 360S to Mayfield Rd. Stay on service road through ligh. Continue south passing Fina/Pizza Hut and take 2nd road on right.

Register Online to receive your Fast Pass and discount coupon:  Click Here

Warehouse Sales are exclusively for school employees, school district personnel,
homeschool directors & teachers, and Book Fair chairpeople and volunteers. 

Thousands of items $2 or less.
Preferred payment methods: credit cards, checks, purchase orders, and Scholastic Dollars. Note: Items purchased with Scholastic Dollars do not qualify for further discount pricing and will sell at the full cover price.

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DECEMBER 15-16
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRS HOLIDAY WAREHOUSE BOOK SALE
IN GARLAND

Sale Hours:  Dec 15: 10am-7pm
                   Dec 16: 10am-5pm

Location:  Curtis Culwell Center, 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd, Garland, TX 75040

Register Online to receive your Fast Pass and discount coupon:  Click Here

Warehouse Sales are exclusively for school employees, school district personnel,
homeschool directors & teachers, and Book Fair chairpeople and volunteers. 

Preferred payment methods: credit cards, checks, purchase orders, and Scholastic Dollars. Note: Items purchased with Scholastic Dollars do not qualify for further discount pricing and will sell at the full cover price.

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THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2015
GOD WITH US: A COLLECTION OF WORKS BY FAITH ARTISTS
SUNNYVALE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SUNNYVALE, TX

Sundays from 8:30am-1pm and 5pm-6:30pm

Location:   Sunnyvale First Baptist Church, 3018 N. Belt Line Rd., Sunnyvale, TX 75182

Artist Reception:  November 23 from 12:30-2:30pm

Details: This collection of works by Faith Artists will be displayed throughout the hallways around the Worship Center at Sunnyvale FBC.  The Artist Reception will be on November 23 from 1:00pm-3:00pm located in the West Welcome Center.

For More Information:  Click Here


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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:
BOOKING FOR FALL 2014 AND BEYOND!
RIVER ROAD CHATEAU WEDDING VENUE

Elegant Country. . . outside and in!

Weddings are special days, but we feel they should be elegant, unique, and affordable… amid nature and antiques, a true mix of casual and traditional!
Our country-French, just under 5,000 square foot Chateau, is situated on 76 acres of farmland peppered with trees, fields, creeks and bridges .

We are located in Anna, TX, just north of McKinney, TX. 

We would be honored to show you the simple, romantic possibilities River Road Chateau has to offer. We treat you as family with all newly weds taking home a jar of homemade jam, grown and canned from the orchard trees of the place you were married!

Come and experience an amazing wedding! 

"Hospitality has always been an important part of our home from classes, hayrides, campouts, church picnics, to fireworks shows. Though we may open a wedding venue up for business, we do not ever want you to forget, you are first a guest in our home." – Jessica Hulcy, Owner

For more Information: RiverRoadRetreat.com or call 972-567-1001

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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:
TACA FOOTBALL RETURNS AFTER A 9-0 SEASON!
ANNOUNCING ELEVEN MAN FOOTBALL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL & JV TEAMS FOR 2014

TACA

"HOMESCHOOL FOOTBALL" for $100.00 with no equipment to buy!
There's "no catch" just Top Quality/11 Man Football. Top quality Coaching!
All gear is leased out with zero Cost to parents. $100 regular fee . Don't spend $700-$800.00 to play Football. Come Check out TACAinfo.com for all the details!!  JV and Middle school - ages 12-17 for the 2014 season. We'll add Varsity next year. No Football experience necessary.

We're a Christ Centered group organized to use athletics as an opportunity to spread the Gospel of Jesus.
• We’re coached by a group of believers such as: former Pro Jason Wallace, Greig Altieri,
Curtis Tucker, and Jim Rooney.
• We're competitive, but if you have the desire to learn the game, we will Coach you from where you're at today!

Practices: Magnet School Field 450 Abrams Road Richardson, TX 75081.
To Register or for more information: Click Here

Games: We have a nine game schedule in place. We should be finished by Halloween.
Equipment:  Spring camp requires only sweats, cleats, and a mouthpiece.
All equipment is leased out at "Zero-net-cost". Just a deposit check is required.
Parents need to provide only a cup, cleats and a mouthpiece.
Cost: Our registration is sponsored, so the registration cost to a parent is only $100.00. Athletes will be required to participate in a fund raiser.
Questions: Please contact Turk Akturk (Director of Athletic Development) 214-675-8740.

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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:
REGISTRATION OPEN
HOME SCHOOL GOLF PROGRAM

LANTANA GOLF CLUB

Experience the Game of Golf!  Lantana Golf Club is offering three separate golf programs for juniors, age 8-17. The Spring, Summer and Fall programs will each offer weekly clinics over a period of 8-10 weeks.

Participants will receive instruction on full swing, short game (chip, pitch, putting) and bunker play.  Participants will also receive a basic introduction to the rules & etiquette of golf and the opportunity for quality time on course.

Our objective is to introduce juniors to the game of golf, improve playing skills and provide the opportunity for personal growth and learning.  We hope to build and strengthen character, develop new friendships, and enjoy the experience and life lessons this great game provides. 

Marc Brooks will provide lead instruction with assistance from other local golf professionals as needed.  Mr. Brooks is a PGA member and currently Director of Instruction at Lantana Golf Club.  He was recently named "Best Golf Instructor Denton County 2012" and a member of the PGA President’s Council for his continuing efforts to promote and grow the game of golf.

Program scheduled to begin week of Sept. 8 and end week of Nov. 3 (no clinics week of Oct. 6)

To Register:  click here to download the registration form.
For more information, contact Marc Brooks, PGA at 940-728-4653 or click here to email

Discount:
 
Marc Brooks is offering HEART of Texas supporting members (with a current HEART of Texas member card) a 10% discount.
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership

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~~What's Inside This Issue ~~
     (Click on the links below)

MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE
Dec -- Registration Open -- HEART of Texas Regional College Night (Jan 27, 2015)
Dec -- Discount Tickets available for Texas Ballet Theater: The Nutcracker (see details)
Dec -- Registration Open (while tickets available)- Youth Concerts Presented by DSO
Dec -- Registration Open (while tickets available) - Youth Concerts Presented by FWSO
Dec-- Exhibits: Amon Carter Museum
Dec -- Camp Tonkawa Camps and Activities
Dec -- Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
Dec-- Buy One, Get One Admission on Wednesdays at Dallas Arboretum
Dec -- Home School Group Discount for Dallas Summer Musicals: A Christmas Story
Dec -- Home School Classes at Fossil Rim
Dec -- Exhibits: Dallas Museum of Art
Dec -- Exhibits:  Kimbell Museum
Dec -- Exhibits: FW Museum of Science & History (MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition)
Dec -- Museum Exhibits at Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas
Dec -- Texas Parks and Wildlife Programs at Select Parks
Dec -- Programs at Purtis Creek State Park -- Athens
Dec  -- Programs at Cedar Hill State Park -- Cedar Hill
Dec -- Programs at Ray Roberts Lake State Park -- Denton
Dec  -- Programs: Eisenhower State Park -- Denison
Dec  -- Programs: Fort Richardson State Park/Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway -- Jacksboro
Dec  -- Programs: Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway -- Mineral Wells
Dec  -- Programs: Tyler State Park -- Tyler
Dec -- Programs: Lake Tawakoni State Park -- Wills Point
Dec  -- Homeschool Classes at the Fort Worth Zoo
Dec -- Homeschool Classes at Perot Museum in Dallas (Next:  Make & Tinker w/Math)
Dec -- Library Used Book Sales Across North Texas
Dec -- Lewisville Library Programs:  Legomania
Dec -- 3D Films at Perot Museum's Hoglund Foundation Theater -- Dallas
Dec -- Films at Omni (FW Museum of Science & History)
Dec  -- Mythbusters : The Explosive Exhibit at FW Museum of Science & History
Dec -- Spring Registration Open for Gate GEMS Girls' Club
Dec -- Dallas Arboretum:  The 12 Days of Christmas (Through Jan 4)
Dec -- Events at Texas Discovery Gardens
Through Jan 4 -- God With Us: Collection of Works by Faith Artists (Sundays) in Sunnyvale

Through Dec 14 -- Plano Children's Theatre Presents: Annie, Jr. (McKinney)
Dec 14 -- HEART of Texas Discount Day: The Nutcracker – Bass Hall – 7pm show only
Dec 12-27 -- Texas Ballet Theater Presents:  The Nutcracker (Bass Hall in Fort Worth)
Dec 15 -- Wolves: Friend or Foe Class & Tour at Fossil Rim
Dec 15-16 -- Scholastic Warehouse Sale in Garland
Dec 17 -- FREE Organ Recital & Tour with Mary Preston-- Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas
Dec 17 - GDYO Concert: Angels and Shepherds 
Dec 17 - Horsemanship Day Camp at Camp Tonkawa
Dec 17-20 -- Miracle on 34th Street at Breitling Youth Theatre in Garland
Dec 18 -- Home School Class at Dallas Musuem of Art: Fantastic Flowers
Dec 19 -- Fun on the Farm Programs at Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano
Dec 19 -- Oliver Nature Park in Mansfield: Home School Nature Walk with a Naturalist
Dec 20 – LLELA: KayakPower's Elm Fork Eco-Tour at LLELA
Dec 20 – LLELA: A Homestead Christmas

Through Dec 20 -- Scholastic Warehouse Book Sale in Arlington
Dec 20 – Kids Drop-In Studio:  Create a Story  -- Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth
Through Dec 20 -- CATS Theater Presents:  Twas the Night Before Christmas
Dec 27 -- Oh La La - Opens at Dallas Children's Theater (through Jan 4, 2015)
Dec 27 -- Rag Doll with Embroidered Apron Class at Log Cabin Village
Jan 8 -- Registration Deadline - Dallas Stars Home School Day on Jan 15 (a HEART of Texas partner)
Through Jan 24 -- 2theXtreme: MathAlive! Exibit at Perot Museum
Sponsor -- Booking for Fall 2014 -- River Road Chateau Wedding Venue
Sponsor -- Beginner Violin Lessons
Sponsor -- TACA Football Eleven Man Middle School & JV Football Team for 2014 Season
Sponsor -- Registration Open: Home School Golf Program at Lantana Golf Club

FEATURED ARTICLES
Support Groups:  How to Get Connected -- Anne Gebhart, HEART of Texas

THSC Letter to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD  


Letter from Kirk & Beverly McCord - Founders of the Arlington Home School Bookfair

No Greater Joy Ministries Offering FREE Magazines to Support Groups and Home School Families!

NEST Family Learning Offering Discount to Our Readers!



CALENDAR OF EVENTS

LIBRARY PROGRAMS
1.   Library Programs at North Texas Libraries -- North Texas
       Other Libraries are Welcome to Include Their Events – contact editor@heartoftex.org

     Bedford Public Library    
     Fort Worth Public Library
     Hurst Public Library
     Lewisville Public Library
     McKinney Public Library System
     Rockwall County Library
     Tyler Public Library 
        Arlington Public Library (Homeschool Thursdays at the Southeast Branch)

READING REWARD PROGRAMS
2.   Book It!  Reading Program -- Enrollment:  May 1 through 2nd Friday in June each year
3.   Braums Book Buddy Reading Program -- Enrollment Open
      Six Flags Read to Succeed -- Enrollment for 2014-2015
   
CONTESTS/COMPETITIVE EVENTS
4.   BEST Robotics
5.   FIRST Lego League: 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS CHALLENGE

6.   Texas State Fish-Art Contests -- Deadline March 31, 2015 (yearly contest)
7.   National Engineers Week
8.   USA Mathematical Talent Search 
9.   Igniting Creative Energy Challenge for K-12 -
10. Texas Beef Leaders of Tomorrow Contest --
    
CIVICS/GOOD CITIZENSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
11.  City of Fort Worth Youth Advisory Board -- Fort Worth
12.  City of North Richland Hills Teen Court -- North Richland Hills
13.  Hurst-Euless-Bedford Teen Court -- Hurst-Euless-Bedford

CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
14.  Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition for Graduating Seniors
15.  National Congressional Art Competition -- Districts 3, 4, 5, 12, 24, 26, 30

HOME SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLASSES
Become a HEART of Texas Partner to list your Enrichment Program or Homeschool Classes

16.  Center for Home Education -- Watauga
17.  Christian Educators Resource Center -- Rowlett
18.  Christian Homeschool Alliance of Texas -- Cedar Hill/SW Dallas area

19.  E.A. Young Academy -- North Richland Hills
20.  Eastfield College -- Mesquite
21.  Enrichment Classes, Inc. -- Grapevine

22.  Home Educators Resource -- Lewisville
23.  Homeschoolers East Co-Op Classes -- East Dallas
24.  JOY Christian Academy
-- Decatur
25.  Matthew Road Academy -- Grand Prairie
26.  Morning Glory Academy -- Hurst
27.  Tarrant County College -- High School Math Classes
28.  
THEO Home School Classes -- Plano
29.  Quo Vadis Educators -- Garland
30.  Vine Academy -- McKinney

HOME SCHOOL CLUBS
Become a HEART of Texas Partner to list your Club

31.  GEMS Girl's Club

BOOK SALES & OUR PARTNERING HOME SCHOOL BOOK STORES
31.  Library Used Book Sales in North Texas
32.  Center for Home Education -- Watauga
33.  Home Educators Resource -- Lewisville
 
NATURE CENTERS, ZOOS, & OUTDOOR PROGRAMS/CAMPS
Become a HEART of Texas Partner to list your program
34.  Camp Tonkawa (Day Camps and Outdoor Education) -- Collinsville
35.  Dallas Arboretum -- Dallas
36.  Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge Programs
37.  Fort Worth Botanic Gardens -- Fort Worth
38.  Fort Worth Zoo Homeschool Classes -- Fort Worth
39.  Fossil Rim
40.  Haven's Horses (Horsemanship & Outdoor Education)-- Keller
41.  Heard Museum Homeschool Classes – McKinney
42.  Heritage Farmstead Museum -- Plano
43.  Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
44.  
Nash Farm -- Grapevine
44.  Oliver Nature Park -- Mansfield
45.  Ride with Pride -- Southlake
46.  Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch -- Pilot Point
47.  Texas Discovery Gardens -- Dallas
48.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Programs -- State Parks in North Texas
        Purtis Creek State Park -- Athens

       
Cedar Hill State Park -- Cedar Hill
        Ray Roberts Lake State Park -- Denton
        Eisenhower State Park -- Denison
        Dinosaur Valley State Park -- Glen Rose
        Fort Richardson SP and HS/Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway -- Jacksboro
        Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway -- Mineral Wells
        Tyler State Park -- Tyler
        Lake Tawakoni State Park -- Wills Point 


PERFORMING ARTS
49.  Artisan Center Theater Performances -- Hurst
50.  Breitling Youth Theater/Acting for Children Performances -- Garland
51.  Cantare Performance Choir -- Southlake
52.  Casa Manana Children’s Playhouse Performances -- Fort Worth
53.  CATS Theater Performances -- Arlington
54.  Cottage Theater Performances -- Watauga
55.  Dallas Children’s Theater Performances -- Dallas
56.  Dallas Summer Musicals -- Dallas
57.  Dallas Symphony Orchestra -- Dallas
58.  Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra -- Fort Worth
59.  Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra -- Dallas
60.  Plano Children’s Theater Performances -- Plano
61.  Texas Ballet Theater Performances -- Special Pricing -- Dallas/Ft. Worth
62.  Texas Ballet Theater Dance School -- Dance Classes -- Fort Worth
63.  Home School Discount Tickets to Dallas Theater Performances
      
ART AND SCIENCE MUSEUMS
64.  Amon Carter Museum Exhibits – Fort Worth
65.  Dallas Museum of Art Exhibits -- Dallas
66.  Kimbell Art Museum Exhibit -- Fort Worth
       Admission to the museum's Permanent Collection is always FREE
67.  Perot Museum -- Dallas
       Homeschool Programs  and Exhibits                                
68.  Museum of Science & History -- Fort Worth
69.  Nasher Sculpture Center -- Dallas

OMNI & 3D FILMS 
70.  Shows at the Fort Worth Omni Theater -- Ft. Worth Museum of Science & History
70.  3D Films at the Perot Musuem in Dallas -- Perot Museum
  

HISTORICAL PROGRAMS
71.  Log Cabin Village -- Fort Worth
72.  Dallas Heritage Village -- Dallas
73.  Old Red Museum -- Dallas

SCIENCE EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
74.  Star Parties at Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
75.  North Texas District Science Fair for Home Schoolers

HOME SCHOOL SPORTS/PE PROGRAMS
Become a HEART of Texas Partner to list your non-profit Sport/PE program
76.  Aledo Christian School's Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, Softball Teams -- Aledo
77.  Berne Academy's Varsity Boys Basketball Team -- Lancaster

78.  Homeschool Swim -- The Colony Aquatic Park -- The Colony
79.  Homeschool Swim & Swim Team -- Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium-- Allen
80.  Christian Martial Arts -- Bedford
81.  Dallas Thunder Homeschool Basketball Organization -- Registration Open
82.  Elite Track Club/Cross Country Program for Home Schoolers  
83.  Home School Athletic Association
84.  Hulcy Home School PE Classes -- Richardson
85.  Home School PE Classes -- Velocity in Southlake
86.  Home School Fencing Classes -- Fencing Institute of Texas -- Farmers Branch
87.  Parker-Tarrant Home School 
88.  Pop-In Playtime -- Pump It Up of Grapevine -- Grapevine
89.  THESA Riders Home School Association
90.  Training For Confidence Martial Arts School -- Colleyville
91.  Best Gymnastics -- Flower Mound
92.  Home School Golf Program -- Lantana Golf Club 

SUPPORT GROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS
Become a HEART of Texas Support Group Partner to list your Support Group here!
93.  Smoothing the Way Meetings in North Texas
94.  
DFW Speech and Debate Club -- Coppell
95.  Denton County Christian Home School Association -- Denton

96.  Irving Home Schoolers -- Irving
97.  PEACH -- Plano

COLLEGE PREP
98.  SAT Test Dates
99.  SAT Prep Classes with Jean Burk -- Across North Texas   

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS
100.  Baylor and Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Scholarship

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer opportunities must indicate a direct homeschool interest to be included in this listing.
101.  Volunteer Opportunities Available for Home School Students in 21 Counties -- American Cancer Society
102.  Learn to Laugh in Another Language: Be a Host Family for a Foreign-Exchange Student -- INTO EdVENTURES
103.  Home School Weekday Volun-Teens Program -- Fort Worth Zoo
104.  Homeschool Volunteers Needed to Deliver Meals; Friendship -- Meals On Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County
105.  Homeschool Volunteers Needed to Deliver Meals -- Johnson & Ellis Counties
106.  Home School Volunteers Needed to Serve Meals -- Dallas -- The Stewpot
107.  Texas Global Education and Cultural Exchange Program 

OTHER EVENTS BY DATE
108. Free Organ Recital -- Dallas
109. Greater Plano Area Cotillion -- 2013-2014 events

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FEATURED ARTICLE

Support Groups: How to Get Connected
-- Anne Gebhart, Regional Director, HEART of Texas

Every day, HEART of Texas receives phone calls and emails from families looking for support groups and other resources for their homeschooling journey.  These requests for support have become more and more frequent as families are choosing, at ever-increasing rates, to educate their children at home.  

HEART of Texas has an extensive database of homeschool groups in North Texas, and part of our mission in serving the North Texas region is to help families find the support they need to help them be successful.  If you are a support group leader, we want to help these families find your group!  If you are a family looking for a support group, contact us so we can help you get connected.

A little about HEART of Texas...we are a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization servicing North Texas homeschool families and leaders. Our mission is to provide leadership, information, training, and support for the families and support group leaders in our regional service area of North Texas, and to be a point of connection between people and resources.  We host regional events such as our annual College Night, Regional Home School Expo, leader training conferences, leader appreciation activities, Nuts & Bolts Conferences, homeschool informational meetings, and other special events.   We partner with businesses and organizations who wish to provide their services to the homeschooling community, and pass along our partner benefits to our member-supporter families.  We represent homeschooling to community leaders and speak at various community events to help others understand what homeschooling is and find ways that we can work together.  We also work hand-in-hand with Texas Home School Coalition, the state advocacy organization for homeschooling in Texas.  

A little about the Gebhart family....we are a homeschool family just like you, currently homeschooling 5 of our 6 children who range in age from 22 years down to age 4.  We have been in the homeschooling trenches for the past 18 years, and Lord willing, we will be homeschooling for many years to come.  
We have served as support group leaders, and understand the unique challenges that leaders in North Texas face.  We love what the Lord has done for our family through homeschooling, and we want to share that vision with others.  

If you'd like to read about our homeschooling journey and why we decided to homeschool, click to read the article published in THSC's Review Magazine:  "Live and Learn: What Homeschooling Has Taught Us."
 We hope it will be an encouragement to you if you considering the idea of homeschooling your own children.

Our heart is to connect people with the resources they need, and to build relationships that will foster those connections.  In short, we love serving people.

We need your help.  

The homeschooling community in North Texas is continuing to grow at an amazing rate, and signs indicate that this is just the beginning.  As people become less and less satisfied with other educational options, homeschooling will become an ever-increasing choice for many families.

If you are a support group leader in North Texas, please help us find you and your group, so we can continue to help families find the support they need.  If you are already in our database, please connect with us to make sure we have the most current information for your group.   Please send us an email or fill out our online form to make sure your group is included.

We are happy to help promote your support group's open meetings in our newsletter.  Please contact our newsletter editor for details.  For obvious reasons, we are only able to promote support groups who are listed in our database, so please be sure you update with us as indicated above.

We are also looking for volunteers.  There are many opportunities available; all that is required is that you have a HEART to serve homeschool families.  Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.  

Thank you for your service to homeschoolers.  It is a privilege to serve you.
 

Anne Gebhart, is the regional director of HEART of Texas, and co-founder with Dave, her husband of 24 years.  They have homeschooled their 6 children for over 18 years.  For more information about HEART of Texas, or to subscribe to their FREE newsletter of activities, events, and field trip ideas, visit heartoftex.org.  

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FEATURED ARTICLE

THSC Letter to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

When it comes to homeschooling, there are two things you absolutely need to know:
1) Your rights; and 2) the Texas Home School Coalition.

About a month ago a HEART of Texas member family sought information about how to withdraw their daughter from the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.  The family followed the withdrawal procedures recommended by THSC and the TEA. While the procedure is a legally straightforward one, the school attempted to force the family to make an in-person visit to the school, creating undue hassle for the family.

Fortunately, the parents not only knew their rights, but they knew to contact THSC to help them through this issue.  THSC President Tim Lambert assisted the family immediately by writing a letter to the school clarifying the law and urging school officials to remove the child from the rolls immediately to avoid legal action against the school and district.

To read a copy of the letter to the school click here.

Join THSC today.  Your membership will go a long way to helping Texas homeschoolers maintain their freedom.
If you are a member of HEART of Texas, you can enjoy a $20 discount on THSC's annual membership.

To learn more about HEART of Texas membership, click here.

To learn more about how to get started homeschooling, click here.


Tim Lambert is the president of the Texas Home School Coalition, the state advocacy organization whose purpose is to help protect home school freedoms.  For more information about THSC, please visit www.thsc.org.

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FEATURED ARTICLE

Letter from Kirk & Beverly McCord, Founders of the Arlington Home School Bookfair

    May 2014 marked the 30th and last Home School Book Fair sponsored by our family ministry, Hearth & Home Ministries. For the last 26 years, the Home School Book Fair has been held at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas, and thus it is often referred to as “the Arlington Book Fair.”

We are delighted that our state organization, the Texas Home School Coalition, will hold a home school convention at the Arlington Convention Center on May 7-9, 2015. As co-founders of THSC in 1986, we have watched THSC grow, under the leadership of Tim and Lyndsay Lambert, from a small political action committee to the premier state home school organization in the country.

THSC has been doing a popular home school convention in the Houston area for 14 years that is characterized by godliness and the pursuit of excellence. Now they will have a ‘sister’ convention in the Dallas—Fort Worth area as well. We are confident that THSC will do as fine a job here as they are doing in the Houston area and look forward to attending their first convention in Arlington next May.”

– Kirk and Beverly McCord, Founders and Directors, Home School Book Fair 1984-2014


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FEATURED ARTICLE

No Greater Joy Ministries Offering FREE Magazines to Support Groups and Home School Families!

Mike & Debi Pearl of No Greater Joy Ministries would love to send your home school group FREE magazines!  They have set aside some extra copies just for your group to pass out at your monthly meeting.  To request copies for families in your group, please email Debi Pearl with the number of magazines you need, and where to mail them.

Or, if your family would like to get your own FREE subscription, visit their site
and sign up for their
magazine.

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FEATURED ARTICLE

NEST Family Learning Offering Special Discount to Our Readers

NEST Family Learning has partnered with HEART of Texas to offer a special discount to readers of our newsletter!

Simply visit this link 
to start shopping and begin enjoying your savings today!  Use coupon code "HEART" when placing your order.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

1.    LIBRARY PROGRAMS AT NORTH TEXAS LIBRARIES

To find out what programs your local libraries have going on, visit the website below.  It includes links to public libraries all over Texas, so you and your kids can get in on the adventure of reading.

http://www.publiclibraries.com/texas.htm


BEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Location:  2424 Forest Ridge Drive
                Bedford, TX  76021
                817-952-2373
Contact:  Carrie Glinderman

TUESDAYS -- Sprouts Story Time
(for the more active child)
Time:  10 a.m.–10:20 a.m.

TUESDAYS -- Story Book Club
(for the child who is ready to be a sitter and listener)
Time: 11 a.m.11:25 a.m.

THURSDAYS -- Peapods Story Time
(for babies 2 years and under and their caregiver.)
Registration is required for this program.
For More Information:  Contact Kids Help Desk at 817-952-2373

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FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY

CENTRAL LIBRARY BRANCH
Location:      500 W. 3rd St
        817-871-7701

DIAMOND HILL/JARVIS
Location:      NE 35th Street
        817-624-7331

EAST BERRY LIBRARY
Location:      4300 E. Berry St.
        817-536-1945

EAST REGIONAL LIBRARY
Location:    6301 Bridge St.
        817-871-6436

MEADOWBROOK LIBRARY
Location:      2800 Stark St.
        817-451-0916

NORTHSIDE LIBRARY
Location:    601 Park Street
        817-626-8241

NORTHWEST BRANCH
Location:  
6228 Crystal Lake Dr
        817-392-5420

RIDGLEA LIBRARY
Location:    3628 Bernie Anderson Drive
        817-737-6619

RIVERSIDE LIBRARY:
Location:    2913 Yucca Avenue
        817-838-6931

SHAMBLEE LIBRARY
Location:      959 East Rosedale St.
        817-871-6621

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL LIBRARY
Location:    4001 Library Ln.
    817-782-9853

SUMMERGLEN LIBRARY
Location:      4205 Basswood Blvd.
        817-232-0478

WEDGWOOD LIBRARY
Location:      3816 Kimberly Ln.
        817-292-3368


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HURST PUBLIC LIBRARY
Location:  901 Precinct Line Road
               Hurst, TX  76053
               817-788-7300
Contact:  Click Here to email

For Kids--Birth through Elementary
 
Chapter Chats
Who: 3rd-6th graders
When: 2nd Tuesdays
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Do you love books? Do you enjoy talking about them with others? Here’s your chance! Share your views with other kids who have read what you have. Interested parents are welcome, too.
 
Puppet People
Who: 4th-8th graders
When: Wednesdays
Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Calling Puppet People—old and new!  Would you like to try your hand—or two—at puppetry? Now’s your chance!  We’ll be working on shows for kids this summer.  Call 817-788-7302 to register.
 
Babygarten
Who: Children birth-18 months and an accompanying caregiver
When: Saturdays
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Babygarten is an educational curriculum involving songs, rhymes and activities that help babies with language acquisition and preliteracy skills.  Space is limited, so please register at 817-788-7302.

Bedtime Stories
Who: For all ages
When: Tuesdays
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Wear your pajamas and slippers and come for some stories and fun that might (or might not!) make you ready for bed!
 
 
Teen Zone --7th through 12th graders
 
Anime Club
Who: For 7th-12th graders
When: 1st Thursdays
Time: 6-8 p.m.
If you enjoy anime—watching it and talking about it—this is the place for you! Come to the Teen Zone with other teens that love anime, just for fun!
 
Teen Night
Who: For 7th-12th graders
When: 2nd Thursdays
Time: 7 p.m.
Can’t wait to share your thoughts on some popular books? Join together in the Teen Zone to voice your opinions!
 
TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS -- Story Time for ages 3-6
Time: 10:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

MONDAYS & THURSDAYS -- Toddler Time for ages 1-3
Time: 10 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

MONDAYS -- Chess Club (elementary ages and up)
Time: 4 p.m.–5 p.m.


To put your collection on exhibit at the Hurst Library:  Contact the Information Specialist to fill out a form with your contact information and a description of your collection.  To be considered, personal collections must meet the Library display criteria.

Live Homework Help (online tutoring)
Hurst Public Library now offers Live Homework Help
Subjects:  math, science, social studies, and English
Time:  3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Cost:  Free - must have a Hurst Library Card
How To Access: V
isit www.hurst.lib.tx.us
From a library computer, or from your home PC or Mac
Spanish-speaking tutors are available to help students in math and science.
All sessions are confidential and
monitored for quality and safety.
For More Information:  C
all Youth Services at 817-788-7302 or www.hurst.lib.tx.us


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LEWISVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Location:  1197 W. Main Street, Lewisville, 75067
               972-219-3577
Contact:  Click Here to email  or call 972-547-7319


Homeschool Tours of Library
Would you like to know more about your local library and its many resources?  The Lewisville Public Library invites Lewisville-area homeschooling families to learn how they can get the most out of their public library!  We are happy to conduct library tours for groups of homeschooling students and their parents; call the Youth Services Desk at 972-219-3577 to make a tour reservation.  If you prefer to do a tour on your own, we also offer a self-guided tour of the Cynthia Bennett Children's Wing.  Just ask for a self-guided tour sheet at the Youth Services Desk.  The tour is a little like a library scavenger hunt, with tasks to complete and questions to answer along the way.  The activity is designed for elementary-aged students with parent guidance.

Library Resource Training
If you have a group that would like a more in-depth library orientation including an overview of electronic resources such as the library catalog, databases, and eBooks, we are able to offer such trainings by request as time, staffing, and library event schedules allow.  Contact the Youth Services Desk at 972-219-3577 and ask to speak to a librarian if you are interested in discussing opportunities.  This type of activity is best-suited to upper elementary, middle, or high school students.

Classes and Events
Lewisville Public Library offers a variety of classes and events throughout the year, and homeschooled children and teens are always invited to join us.  To see a list of upcoming classes and events, visit the library's webpage at library.cityoflewisville.com, and find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LewisvillePublicLibrary) for the latest updates, reminders, and announcements.

FALL 2014 CLASSES & EVENTS

First Friday Fun (for preschool children, ages 3 - 6)

This special "super-sized" storytime is held the first Friday of the month at 11:30 am.
Nov. 7 - "Zany Zoo"
Dec. 5 - "Holiday Hullabaloo"

LEGOMania! (for children of all ages -- kids under age 6 must be accompanied by an adult during the event)
Get creative at this free-form building activity.  LEGOMania! is held the fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00 pm.
Nov. 23
Dec. 28

Family Craft Night (for all ages -- children under age 6 must be accompanied by an adult during the event)
This drop-in craft activity is held the second Monday of the month at 7:00 pm.
Nov. 10
Dec. 8

Star Wars Reads Day (for students in grades K - 5)
Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character, and participate in fun activities!
Oct. 11, 2:00 pm

We look forward to seeing you at the library!


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McKINNEY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM
Location:  101 E. Hunt Street
               McKinney, TX  75069
               972-547-READ
Contact:  Click Here to email  or call 972-547-7319

Program Calender:
Click Here  


Preschool Programs: For children from birth through entering Kindergarten. Tickets will be handed out for all preschool programs beginning at 10am

STORYTIMES
Fun with Baby:
6-17 mos & caregiver
When: Tuesdays
Time: 10:15am

Hold My Hand: 18mos-3 yr & caregiver
When: Tuesdays
Time: 10:15am

On My Own: 3-5 yr olds
When: Tuesdays
Time: 11am

MUSIC & MOVEMENT
18 mos-3 yrs old: child and caregiver
When: Mondays
Time: 10:15am

3 through 5 year olds: Independent child
When: Mondays
Time: 11am

FAMILY STORY TIME
For caregiveres and children of all ages
When: Wednesdays
Time: 6:30pm


SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS
Details: For children in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Animal Kingdoms: Learn about different areas of the world and the animals who live there.
Time: 3:30-4:15pm
When: Jan 15: Super Heroes; Feb 12: Artists

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ROCKWALL COUNTY LIBRARY
Location:  1215 E. Yellowjacket Lane 
               Rockwall, TX  75087
               972-204-7700
Contact:  Click Here to email 
 
Registration required for programs:  Click here to register

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TYLER PUBLIC LIBRARY
(all events are free and open to the public)
Location:  201 S. College Ave
One block southwest of the square in downtown Tyler
Contact: Evelyn James – 903-593-7323 – programs@tylertexas.com

Preschoolers DayCare StoryShare
MONDAYS & TUESDAYS
Time:  10:30 a.m. in the Storyroom
Friends share stories, songs, and books with childcare groups.
Please email or call to register

ReadAloud Crowd
WEDNESDAYS &  THURSDAYS
Time:  10:30 a.m. in the Storyroom
Storyteller Evelyn James and friends share songs, stories, and simple crafts with preschoolers and their families

AfterSchool Rules!
THURSDAYS
Time:  3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. in Taylor Auditorium
A reading incentive program for children in grades K-5
Reading games and activities PLUS! One on one reading time with middle and high school “reading buddies”


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ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS
The Southeast Branch of the Arlington Library is starting a program called: “Homeschool Thursdays”. Being held every other Thursday from 1:30pm to 3:00
and will include science projects, books, crafts, poetry and more.
 
(Events are free)

Event Dates:  November 6
                    November 20
 
For More Information: Contact Here
 

Finding Your Own Voice (Junior High) 6 week session
Date: Tues afternoons Oct 7 through Nov 11
Location: George W Hawkes Central Library
Details:  Led by local, award-winning poet and the DFW National Youth Poetry Slams founder Mike Guinn. Junior High students will build an appreciation for the art of poetry and develop creative performance skills through SLAM (Spoken Language Arts Method) poetry
For More Information and to Register: Click Here
 
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2.  BOOK IT! READING PROGRAM

MAY 1, 2014 -- Enrollment Opens for Home School Students

Who Can Participate:
  Children in grades K-6.

The Book It! Reading Program is sponsored by Pizza Hut and runs from October 1 through March 31 each school year. It is available for children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

The reading program allows the children to earn free personal pan pizzas for meeting their reading goals.

Important Note:  Support groups may not register families for the program.  Each home school family will need to enroll individually to be able to participate, for their children in grades K-6th grade.  They must not be attending another educational facility.

For Detailed Program Information: Click Here

To Enroll Your Homeschool: Click Here  (Enrollment opens in May 1, 2014)

Book It! Hotline:  1-800-426-6548
Hotline hours:  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT (Monday through Friday)


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3.  BRAUMS BOOK BUDDY PROGRAM

The Braum's Book Buddy program gives children the opportunity to read for delicious prizes from Braum's!  This program is open to home school families!

Who Can Participate: Children in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.

Program Runs:  September through end of school year.

Reward:  Each child can earn up to six Braum's treats throughout the year including Single Dip Sundaes, Single Dip Ice Cream Cones and more! The best part...it costs nothing to participate in Braum's Book Buddy reading program. We're happy to offer this program to elementary schools and home schools absolutely free! At Braum's, we want to promote a positive attitude in children for a lifetime love of reading.

How does Book Buddy work?
Teachers distribute Braum's Book Buddy booklets to their students and then monitor book reading by placing a Book Buddy sticker in the student's booklet for each book read. When a student has read six books, the teacher rewards the student with a coupon for a free treat from Braum's!

To Enroll:
Send us a written request for enrollment information on school letterhead to:
Braum's Book Buddy Reading Program
PO Box 25429
OKC, OK 73125

Upon receipt of your written request (and upon meeting criteria) we will add your school to our mailing list and your school will automatically receive information on the program each year. Braum's Book Buddy program is a great way to encourage children to read and earn prizes at the same time!

For More Information:  Click Here  
   
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SIX FLAGS READ TO SUCCEED

Read to Succeed is an exciting program that encourages students in grades K through 6 to read for fun. Students who complete six hours of recreational reading earn free tickets to Six Flags! The program is available to teachers and schools at no cost to participate, and it's a great way to motivate kids to read.
 
To register for Read To Succeed for the 2014-2015 school year, please click the Registration link below.  Even if you participated last year, you will need to register again for the new school year. Click here to register.


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4.  BEST ROBOTICS 
     

BEST is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science- and engineering-based robotics competition.

Get a glimpse of the teaser video for this year's competition:  Click Here

For Rules:  Click Here


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5.  FIRST LEGO LEAGUE:  2014 FLL WORLD CLASS CHALLENGE

Challenge Release: Click here for more information about the 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS Challenge

If you are interested in coaching or being involved next year:
visit the website to learn more.

About the 2014 Challenge:  What is the future of learning? FIRST® LEGO® League teams will find the answers.  In the 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS℠ Challenge, over 230,000 children ages 9 to 16 from over 70 countries will redesign how we gather knowledge and skills in the 21st century. Teams will teach adults about the ways that kids need and want to learn.  Get ready for a whole new class – FLL WORLD CLASSSM!

FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers.  During FLL WORLD CLASS
, teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game.  They will also choose and solve a real-world question in the Project.  Throughout their experience, teams will operate under FLL’s signature set of Core Values.

Core Values of FLL:
The FLL Core Values are among the fundamental elements that distinguish FLL from other programs of its kind. By embracing the Core Values, participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.
    * We are a team.
    * We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.
    * We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
    * What we discover is more important than what we win.
    * We share our experiences with others.
    * We display Gracious Professionalism and "Coopertition" in everything we do.
    * We have fun.

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6.  TEXAS STATE FISH-ART CONTEST

ENTRIES DUE MARCH 31 (ongoing annual contest)

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is the official host for the Texas State-Fish Art Contest sponsored by Wildlife Forever. All Texas entries in the annual contest are to be sent to TFFC for judging. Winning Texas entries will be forwarded to Wildlife Forever to compete for national best of show and art of conservation stamp honors.

About the Contest:  The State-Fish Art Contest is part of a conservation education program designed to spark the imaginations of students while providing valuable lessons about fish and the importance of conserving Texas' aquatic resources. We also offer you the choice to use our free lesson plan.

Who Can Participate:  All Texas students in grades K through 12.  Four winners from each state will be selected, one winner per grade group (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12), for a total of 200 winners nationwide.

Prizes:  All contestants will receive a certificate of participation. Four winners from each state will be selected, one winner per grade group (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12), for a total of 200 winners nationwide. Participants will compete within their own state and grade category regardless of species submitted. Winning designs will be displayed at the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Expo in the summer following the contest deadline. All winning designs will be displayed on the State-Fish Art website.  

The Art of Conservation Stamp Award:  Each year Wildlife Forever will select one design (based on specific criteria) from all the entries for an attractive fish stamp.

How to Enter:  Students must create an illustration of the Texas state fish or one of the other state fishes (see list of official fish) and write a composition on its behavior, habitat and conservation. Texas students are encouraged, but not required, to depict the Texas state fish, the Guadalupe bass. Texas entries are judged only against other Texas entries no matter what fish is depicted.

For Rules, Prizes and Other Details:  Click Here

For More Information:
Click Here



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7.  NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK FUTURE CITY COMPETITION FOR 6-8TH GRADERS

The North Texas Regional Competition is open to all public, private, parochial and home school 7th and 8th grade classes.  Teams must be willing to make the trip to Arlington to present their designs.  The Competition offers students a hands-on way to build their math and science skills and learn about engineering by solving the real-world problems in designing cities of the future.

Program Timeline: Click Here

Through the program, students will:
    * Work as a team under the guidance of a teacher and a technical professional,
    * Use a popular award-winning computer game, SimCity, to design a logical model of a future city,
    * Realize their design with a physical scale model built with recycled materials,
    * Research and write an essay on an assigned engineering topic,
    * Communicate their design to a panel of judges in a public presentation, and
    * See firsthand how engineers turn ideas into reality.

Nominal Cost: $25 per school for registration, and we provide the software.
Registration is by school. Schools may have more than one team competing.
Schools are limited to spending no more than $100 per team on the model and presentation, combined.

Upon receipt of registration and fee, you will receive:
    • One copy of SimCity (for either Windows or Mac operating systems)
    • The Teacher-Mentor Handbook - more than 150 pages of basic rules and information on the competition, lists of resources, ideas on how to incorporate the program into the curriculum, and hints for teachers
    • A tutorial CD
    • Specific rules and schedules for the North Texas regional competition
    • Posters

Teams:  3 students, 1 teacher-sponsor, 1 engineer-mentor.
The program employs a team-based approach. All members of the team have an important role that is necessary for the completion of the project.

Benefit:  The winning team gets a trip to Washington, DC to compete in the national finals.

Details:  TBA

To Register:  Click Here
To Download Brochure:  Click Here

For More Information:  Click Here to send email or visit http://www.dfwfuturecity.org


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8.  USA MATHEMATICAL TALENT SEARCH

The USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS) is a FREE mathematics competition open to all United States middle and high school students.

The USAMTS allows students a full month to work out their solutions. Carefully written justifications are required for each problem. The problems range in difficulty from being within the reach of most high school students to challenging the best students in the nation. Students may use any materials - books, calculators, computers - but all the work must be their own. The USAMTS is run on the honor system - it is an individual competition, whose competitive role is very secondary. (Although we do give prizes.)

The USAMTS consists of three rounds, with each round featuring five problems. Each round of problems is published at least four weeks before solutions are due.

Student solutions to the USAMTS problems are graded by mathematicians and comments are returned to the students. Our goal is to help all students: develop problem solving skills, improve their technical writing abilities, and mature mathematically.  We wish to foster not only insight, ingenuity and creativity, but also the virtue of perseverance, which is equally essential in scientific endeavors.

The USAMTS is one of the ways to enter the process of selecting the USA Mathematical Olympiad team, which participates in the International Mathematical Olympiad. The USAMTS score necessary to qualify for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) is set by the American Mathematics Competitions (which run the AIME) and varies from year to year. Students who score well on the USAMTS after the first three rounds are invited to take the AIME, the second step in the process of selecting the USA Mathematical Olympiad Team.  With permission, USAMTS participant's names and addresses are provided to colleges, universities, and employers for recruitment purposes.

To view Solutions for each round of the USAMTS
:  Click Here

Rules governing the USAMTS:  Click Here

Rules for submitting solutions: Click Here
Submissions that do not follow these guidelines may be rejected.

To Register:  Click Here
(If you have already registered in a past year, you do not need to register again.)

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9. IGNITING CREATIVE ENERGY CONTEST FOR K-12

About the Challenge:  Igniting Creative Energy (ICE) is a national student contest promoting creativity and environmental stewardship. ICE is unique in the realm of student contests due to a commitment to allowing rather than restricting. Entries in the contest range from poetry, videos, essays, 3D models, games to anything else a student may be able to imagine and create.

Rules of Eligibility: (subject to change)
• No purchase necessary. This is a competition of skill.
•Entries must be postmarked
• The Challenge is open to all students in grades K-12 in the U.S. and Canada. Void in Quebec.
• Entries must be submitted individually with the exception of group projects.
• Group projects may be submitted, however each individual in the group must submit his/her own entry form and written explanation and will be judged independently. All prizes will be awarded to individuals.
• Entries must relate to the theme "Igniting Creative Energy".
• Entries must be the student's original work.
• Entries must be complete, legible and include required signatures.
• Students may enter multiple projects in any creative form within the following limits:
• Documentation or written entries (500 words or 3 page limit).
• Audio or Music (3 minute limit).
• Media or electronic (10 minute limit). Videos in VHS or DVD format only.
• All entries must include a written explanation (not to exceed one page) describing how the entry relates to the theme. (see judging criteria below)
• Entries must be accompanied by the official Igniting Creative Energy entry form (click here).
• Entry forms must include signatures of the student and parent or legal guardian.
• Employees of Johnson Controls, Inc. and the National Energy Foundation and their immediate families, household members and dependents may participate, but are not eligible for prizes.
• The Challenge is open to all students K-12, however only students enrolled in accredited public and private schools are eligible for the grand prize.
• State winners will be selected from each state that has a minimum of 25 entries
 

Can home school students enter?  Yes. All students K-12 are invited to enter. However, home school students are not eligible for the grand prize.

Awards and Other Details:  TBA


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10. TEXAS BEEF LEADERS OF TOMORROW CONTEST

DECEMBER 1, 2014 – Contest Registration Deadline 

Who Can Participate:
Any student, aged 17-20 (not over 20 by Sept 1 of the contest year), who is enthusiastic about the beef industry is eligible to compete. The four individuals with the highest combined scores are selected to join the team.
To be eligible to compete, contestants must complete the following:
1) One Media Interview: local, state, or national print, radio or television media
2) One Consumer Promotion: such as in-store demonstrations and health fairs
3) One Youth Presentation: made to elementary age youth. If it is not possible to make the presentation in the classroom, after school programs or youth organizations such as 4-H, YMCA or scouts groups may be used.

Awards:
The top four winners of the TBLT contest will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship. In addition, the winners receive industry and media training, travel opportunities across Texas, invaluable experience and exposure in the beef industry. The high point winner will represent Texas in the National Beef Ambassador Competition which affords more opportunities for prizes and scholarships. Expenses to the National Beef Ambassador Competition will be funded by the Texas Beef Checkoff.

Contestants compete in four categories:
1) Media Interview – The contestant will participate in a mock media interview. The interviewer will have pre-determined questions to ask each contestant with the option to ask follow-up questions in order to extrapolate additional knowledge or clarify a point. A panel of judges will observe the interaction for: knowledge, articulation, poise and the contestant’s ability to “Tell the Beef Production Story” and present the industry in a positive light. Scoring will be done by the judges only. The contestants should be well versed in all areas of beef production and the beef industry relating to consumers. Questions will be taken from the website www.explorebeef.org; however, special attention should be paid to all current industry issues.

2) Consumer Promotion – A mock consumer promotion event will be set up for the contestants. Each contestant will be provided with a “sample” to serve as well as beef industry production and nutrition literature and recipes. Scripted “Consumers” will approach the table to take the sample. They will ask questions to test the contestant’s knowledge, capacity to perform in the field and ability to present beef in a positive light. A panel of judges will observe and score each contestant on their ability to educate the consumer and provide the consumers with the appropriate information to answer their questions.

3) Youth Presentation – On competition day contestants will submit a report to represent the presentation made to youth. The report must contain the following items:
1. A lesson plan
2. An overall written report detailing your presentation and the response of your students.
3. A Teachers Evaluation form (provided)
4. Four pictures of you presenting to students
5. Examples of any items used in presentations may be included in two additional photos.
This report will be evaluated at the competition by two judges. Contestants will not be present at the evaluation nor will they be required to make a youth presentation at the competition. Reports and all materials contained in them become the property of the Texas CattleWomen.

4) Issues Response – Contestants will be provided with a recently published news article regarding the beef industry. Each contestant will compose a brief (150 words or less) response to the article. The judges will score the contestants on their ability to respond to an industry article by thoughtfully answering questions, identifying misinformation and listing positive consumer information.
  
For Contest Information, Rules & Forms:  Click Here

For More Information:  
Click Here to Email               
 
Contest hosted by Texas CattleWomen and sponsored by the Beef Checkoff


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11.  CITY OF FORT WORTH YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD

In recent years, there has been a growing trend to involve youth in local government.  The Fort Worth City Council believes that the voices of young people are important.  To facilitate that, the Council has approved a new Youth Advisory Board for the City of Fort Worth.  The Youth Advisory Board will advise the City Council on issues regarding the youth in the City of Fort Worth.  A brief summary of the Youth Advisory Board follows.

Who May Apply:  High school age students who are between the ages of 14-18 and who reside in Fort Worth may submit an application for consideration for appointment to the advisory board.
 
 Purpose:                
The Youth Advisory Board shall:
• act in an advisory capacity to the Fort Worth City Council;
• study youth issues important to the community;
• encourage youth to become actively involved in matters pertaining to the community; and,
• act as a source of information and education on issues important to youth.
 
Members:             
The Youth Advisory Board shall be composed of 27 members who will meet bi-monthly.  
 
Activities:           
To be determined by the Youth Advisory Board, following the direction of City Council.
 
For More Information:  Click Here to Email
Community Relations Department, School and Youth Outreach
1000 Throckmorton, Fort Worth, TX 76102
817.392.8444       817.392.7529 (fax)

For an application:  http://www.heartoftex.org/downloads/downloads.html
    

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12.  CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS TEEN COURT

Teen Court benefits both youth and community by providing an alternative method of adjudicating juvenile offenders and allowing teen volunteers to learn about the judicial system, while documenting Community Service hours.
 
Who Can Volunteer:  Full time students ages 13-18 who are in PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR HOME SCHOOLS.  

Volunteers may serve as jurors for our Teen Court sessions, or once trained, can act as a defense attorney or prosecutor in our Teen Court trials.
 
Teen Defendants are held responsible for their behavior while giving them the opportunity to participate in and become knowledgeable about the judicial system. Juvenile Offenders "pay" for their offense(s) by performing community service and participating in Teen Court. Volunteer teen attorneys present offender's cases to a jury of their peers.

Upon successful completion of the program, offender's cases are dismissed and do not appear on their permanent records.

Teen Court alleviates the strain on the regular court system, besides giving juvenile offenders a second chance. The program also provides youths in the area a chance to participate in the judicial process.

Location:  North Richland Hills Teen Court
        6720 N.E. Loop 820
        North Richland Hills, Tx 76180
        817-427-6705


To Volunteer:  Click Here to email

For More Information: Click Here

You may also come to Teen Court on any night Teen Court is in session to observe, prior to signing up to be a volunteer.
    

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13.  HURST-EULESS-BEDFORD TEEN COURT

The Hurst-Euless-Bedford Teen Court is a program that allows juveniles with Class C misdemeanor offenses an alternative to the criminal justice system. Offenders' cases are presented to a jury of their peers by volunteer teen attorneys. Teen jury members assign community services sentences, and upon completion of the program the offenders' case(s) are dismissed and removed from their record.

HEB Teen Court is currently open for both ADULT AND TEEN VOLUNTEERS! Adult volunteers can serve as Jury or Master Jury Monitors. Teens can serve as clerks, bailiffs, and attorneys. Teen Court is held on various Monday evenings, usually twice a month. If you have a few hours you can spare on a Monday evening, come volunteer with HEB Teen Court.

There are many great benefits for teen volunteers such as earning community service hours for school (National Honor Society, CAS, International Baccalaureate), your college resume, and for scholarship opportunities. For more information contact Mindy Eichorst in Teen Court at the number or email below.

Location:  HEB Teen Court
        2000 Forest Ridge Drive
        Bedford, TX 76021
        817-952-2468


To Volunteer:  Click Here to email

For More Information: Click Here

You may also come to Teen Court on any night Teen Court is in session to observe, prior to signing up to be a volunteer.
    

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14.  CERTIFICATES OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION

District 24
Congressman Kenny Marchant, U.S. House of Representative, would like to give each graduating senior, who resides in the 24th District of Texas, a certificate of Special Congressional Recognition.
 
The certificates will be printed with the name of the senior and will be signed by the Congressman.
 
The completed certificates will then be mailed directly to the senior’s home address.
 
If interested, please call 972-556-0162 or Click Here to send an email with the name of the graduating high school senior, the date of graduation and the senior’s home address to.
  
Address:
Congressman Kenny Marchant
9901 E. Valley Ranch Parkway, Ste. 3035
Irving, Texas  75063

To find out if your Congressman has a similar program, please contact your representative:

To Locate Your Representatives:
www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
 

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15.  ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ART COMPETITION

"An Artistic Discovery" is the annual nationwide Congressional High School Art Competition initiated by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Each Congressional District may host its own competition, and since the competition was first launched in 1982, hundreds of thousands of students have participated in over 5000 locally conducted contests.


24th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2014 ART COMPETITION
The winning student from each district will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year! Additionally, the winner will be provided airfare and lodging for two to visit Washington, DC where he or she will be recognized among the other winners from across the country.
Every contestant will have his or her artwork digitally displayed on the Congressional website and receive a special certificate of recognition. A group of 5 finalist will be invited to a special ceremony where the winner will be announced.  The 4 runner-ups will receive a special consolation prize of showcasing their artwork in North Texas gallery.

Who Can Participate:  All high school students living in the 24th Congressional District, including homeschoolers.

DEADLINE:  2015 Date TBA
For More Information or to Enter: TBA



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16.  CENTER FOR HOME EDUCATION - WATAUGA

Center for Home Education provides, located in Watauga, provides the best in curriculum, classes and classical theatre.

Enrichment Classes

See our website for details about these and other classes, and call 817-281-2293 or visit the store to register.

Location:
5733 Watauga Road
Watauga TX 76148
817-281-2293
(Between 377 and Rufe Snow in Northeast Fort Worth, Texas)

Website:  http://centerforhomeeducation.com/

 
Discount:  Center for Home Education is offering HEART of Texas members a 10% discount off all new and used curriculum and tickets to our student theatre performances, with a current Heart of Texas family membership card.  
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership

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17.  CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS RESOURCE CENTER IN ROWLETT

Christian Educators Resource Center has a full line-up of electives for the elementary student through the high school student!

Discount:  CERC is offering HEART of Texas members a 15% discount on any in-stock items.  You must present your current HEART of Texas Family I.D. card to qualify for the discount.  
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership

Location:  Christian Educators Resource Center
        4501 Rowlett Rd., Suite 105
        Rowlett, TX 75088

Contact:    972-475-4138
        http://www.cerconline.org


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18.  CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL ALLIANCE OF TEXAS

Enrichment Days is a fun, exciting, and educational learning group that meets six times each semester at a local church.

Classes vary each semester based on the interests of the individual teachers.  You can view a sample class schedule on our website at www.c-h-a-t.org .  The classes offered that semester will not necessarily be offered again, but this will acquaint you with the kinds of classes available. 
 
You must be a member family in the Christian Homeschool Alliance of Texas to participate.  Membership is $30 per year.  New member families can join mid-year for $15.



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19.  E.A. YOUNG ACADEMY -- North Richland Hills

E.A. Young Academy is offering summer programs and enrichment classes to home school students.

Location:
8521 Davis Blvd
N. Richland Hills, TX  76182
For More Information:  Click Here

Discount:  E.A. Young Academy is offering HEART of Texas members (with a valid ID Card) a
$45 discount off each Ignit Summer program Intensive.  Members will also receive discounts off
enrichment classes as they are developed.  
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership


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20.  EASTFIELD COLLEGE

For Class Registration or Other Information:  972-860-7113


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21.  ENRICHMENT CLASSES, INC, IN GRAPEVINE

We offer classes from preschool through high school with a nursery available.  In addition, we offer monthly activities for families to connect outside of classes. 

For More Information:  940-455-7000 or Click Here


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23.  HOME EDUCATORS RESOURCE ENRICHMENT CLASSES

The Home Educators Resource sells a large array of new and used books and curriculum, plus they offer classes and other resources to homeschool families.

For Class Descriptions, Fees and Other Information: Click Here

Classes Offered:
Art

Science
English
Foreign Language
Girls Gymnastics
Guitar Lessons
History
Math
Physical Education
Robotics
World View

Location:

1288 W. Main Street Suite 203
Lewisville, TX 75067
972-956-8320

Website:  http://homeeducatorsresource.com/    

Discount:  Home Educators Resource is offering 10% off new and used books to HEART of Texas family members. Plus, members will still earn punches on their HER Buyer's Card.
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership
    

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23.  HOMESCHOOLERS EAST CO-OP CLASSES -- EAST DALLAS
    
Classes Offered:
Mock Trial I (Grades 1-3)
Mock Trial II (Grades 4-6)
Model United Nations (Grades 9-12)
Youth and Government I (Grades 6-8)
Youth and Government II (Grades 9-12)
Ballroom Dancing (Grades 4-6)
Readers’ Theater I (Grades 1-3)
Readers’ Theater II (Grades 4-6)

Contact For More Information:  Click Here to send an email

Location:  The Summit Church
        4101 East Park Blvd.
        Plano, TX  75074


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24.  JOY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IN DECATUR
    
For more information on the JOY Christian Academy and the home school enrichment courses we offer, please go to www.joyca.org.


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25.  MATTHEW ROAD ACADEMY

An affordable Christian university model school, we offer academic and elective courses from Kinder to Highschool. Pick and choose courses from Art to English Composition to Algebra and more! Limited spots available in each course.

Please check out our website for more information: http://matthewroad.org/#/schools/matthew-road-academy

Or call Candice McClellin, 469-261-3779, MR Academy Registrar

Matthew Road Academy opens registration March 1st for the 2013-2014 school year.

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26.  MORNING GLORY ACADEMY

Morning Glory Academy (MGA) is a classical Christian school located in the Keller area.  MGA uses a college-style schedule of classes, offering classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students study at home according to their family's schedule the other days of the week.  


Contact: 
Grammar School Director Susan Riddle, 817-706-9888 (k-5th).  
              Upper School Director Leslie Kent, 817-905-3861  (6th-12th).

To Register:  Click Here to email
For more information:
http://www.themga.org/
Location: Morning Glory Academy -- The Mount Church: 860 Keller-Smithfield Rd. Keller, TX  76248

MGA:  Your Home . . . Our School . . . Perfect Fit.


Discount:
  HEART of Texas Members receive a discount on tuition at MGA!

See http://www.heartoftex.org/partners/ for more details.

To learn more about HEART of Texas membership:
http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership    



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27.  TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL MATH CLASSES
FOR HOME SCHOOLERS

DECEMBER 12 -- Registration Deadline for TCC Homeschool math classes

SE Campus 2100 SE Pkwy Arlington TX (Off 20 and New York)
MW Classes
Algebra II MW 1-230
Geometry MW 230-4

Friday
College Algebra 9-12
Trig 12-3

Cost: 
$173 including software.

For more info contact:
Maurine Amend
mdamend@tx.rr.com
maurine.amend@tccd.edu
972-660-8414
cell:  972-743-9179

Cost:
$173 for class and software.

For more info contact:
Maurine Amend
mdamend@tx.rr.com
maurine.amend@tccd.edu
972-660-8414

First come first serve


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28.  THEO IN PLANO OFFERING CLASSES FOR HOMESCHOOLERS

Located in Plano, THEO’s 20 Christian, talented teachers—most homeschool momsoffer a myriad of classes for 6-12th grade home educated students.  Testing is also available.

Discount:  THEO is offering HEART of Texas family members with valid ID cards 20% off their regular application fee.
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership

For Complete List of Available Classes or More Information:  www.THEOsonline.org

Location:  1301 Custer Road, Suite 703
                Plano, TX 75075
                214-282-6936

For Questions:   Click Here to email


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29.  QUO VADIS EDUCATORS

"Serving the Home-School Community"
Classes held in Garland, TX

To Learn More:  click here to email or 972.271.0673.
For More Information:  
www.quovad2000.org

Discount:
  HEART of Texas Members (with a valid, current HEART of Texas Family ID card) receive
$5/month off tuition all year (up to 9 months per student per school year) AND Children's Theater Workshop Half-Price Tuition ($45 value, limit one discount per workshop) See http://www.heartoftex.org/partners/ for more details.

To learn more about  HEART of Texas membership:
 www.heartoftex.org


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30.  VINE ACADEMY -- McKINNEY

The Vine Academy seeks to assist home school parents by providing classes for middle and high schol students.  Classes meet once a week, with the student completing homework during the week.  All classes taught from a Christian perspective.  

For More Information:  
Click Here

Discount:  HEART of Texas Members (with a valid, current HEART of Texas Family ID card) receive $5/month off tuition all year.  See http://www.heartoftex.org/partners/ for more details.

To learn more about  HEART of Texas membership:
 www.heartoftex.org



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31.  GEMS GIRLS CLUB

If you missed the November 5 meeting, don't despair.  Registration for the Spring is open.

Details: GEMS club welcomes interested girls of the ages 6-13 to come and experience GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior)! We are a mentoring ministry just for girls led by moms with a heart for guiding and training in godliness.

We meet twice a month during the school year at an Allen church, on Wednesdays from 1:30- 3:00. Our club meetings include worship time all together in a large group and then small group time with age-appropriate groups. Our club meetings are fun and dynamic and include various types of activities to learn about Jesus and serving others. GEMS members can have membership in any local Christian home school organization to attend. 

To RSVP: Email Here
To find out more about GEMS: Click Here

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31.  LIBRARY USED BOOK SALES IN NORTH TEXAS

Looking for inexpensive literature books and other resources to add to your home school library?  Library used book sales are excellent opportunities to purchase books at bargain prices. Here are a few sales that we know about in the North Texas area.
To advertise your library book sale in our newsletter, please contact us by email.


DALLAS -- DECEMBER 3-6
Time:
Wed: Noon-7:45pm;  Thu-Sat: 10am-5:45pm
Location: Skillman Southwestern Library
                5707 Skillman Street
                214-670-6078
Books: 3,500 books; 50 cents -$2;  Sat half price and at 2pm $8/bag.

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WICHITA FALLS -- DECEMBER 6; JAN 3; FEB 7; MAR 7; APR 4; MAY 2
Time: Mon: Noon-6pm;  Thu: 10am-2pm; Sat: Noon-5pm
Location: Wichita Falls Public Library
                  600 11th St
                940-767-0868 x248
Books: 3,000 books; .50-$2;  Half-price sale on most books 1st Sat of each month

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GRAND PRAIRIE -- JANUARY ??
Time: Sat: 9am-5pm
Location: Grand Prairie Library
                901 Conover Drive
                972-262-8015
Books: 3,000 books; all items have been in two previous sales and are priced at 25 cents.

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WICHITA FALLS -- MARCH 26-28, 2015
Time:   Fri & Sat: 9am-8pm
            Preview Thurs: 5pm-8pm ($5 admission fee)
Location: Midwestern State University
                Sikes Lake Center
                3410 Taft Blvd
                (Behind Redwine Student Wellness Center on Midwestern Parkway)
                940-766-1954
Books: 100,000 books
; 50 cent paperbacks; $1 hardcovers; credit cards accepted

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32.  CENTER FOR HOME EDUCATION

Center for Home Education in Action, located in Watauga, provides the best in curriculum, classes and classical theatre.

Location:
5733 Watauga Road
Watauga TX 76148
817-281-2293
(Between 377 and Rufe Snow in Northeast Fort Worth, Texas)

Website:  http://www.centerforhomeeducation.com/   

Discount:  Center for Home Education is offering HEART of Texas members a 10% discount off all new and used curriculum and tickets to our student theatre performances, with a valid Heart of Texas family membership card.   
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership


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33.  HOME EDUCATORS RESOURCE

The Home Educators Resource sells a large array of new and used books and curriculum, plus they offer classes and other resources to homeschool families.

Visit them at their Location:
401 E. Church St
Lewisville, TX 75057
972-956-8320

Website:  http://homeeducatorsresource.com/    

Discount:  Home Educators Resource is offering 10% off new and used books to HEART of Texas family members. Plus, members will still earn punches on their HER Buyer's Card.
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership


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34.
 CAMPS AT CAMP TONKAWA

Camp Tonkawa is an Outdoor Learning Center, where we teach nature through hands on experiences.  Located outside of Collinsville, TX, on a 35 acre tract of land certified as a wildlife refuge.


DECEMBER
3 -- Herbology Day Camp
This class series was set up for adults interested in building a special relationship with plants.  We will investigate Culinary, Essential oils, and Medicinal values of different plants each session. It will include Wild Edibles, Poisonous plants  and Gardening tips.  Each class you will go home with recipes, something we made, and lots of information that you can put to use in your own home.
See website link above for cost and other details.

6 -- Horsemanship Day Camp
This class is for all of you who wish they had a horse. You will get a general overview of the responsibilities of having a pet of this size. Wear your old blue jeans and boots, if you happen to have them. You will get a chance to do some basic riding. Make sure to bring suncreen and drinking water for sunny days.
See website link above for cost and other details.


13-14 -- Primitive Survival Class 1
At any time, anywhere, things can go wrong and you might find yourself in a survival situation. To stay alive, you must find or build a shelter, obtain safe drinking water, start a fire, and gather food. Survival 1 class will teach you how to build a simple shelter using natural materials, start a fire without matches, and find safe drinking water.
See website link above for cost, supply list, and other details.

JANUARY 2015
2-4 -- Winter Camp
Winter in Texas rarely brings us a wonderland of snow but this season does present itself quite differently than our blazing hot summers. How does this alter survival in the woods for us as humans and what about all the wildlife? What do the birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and trees all do to cope with this season? Being a naturalist doesn't stop just because it gets cold outside. It is hard to predict the temperatures that this week-end will present to us, so pack your hat and gloves to come experience the woods in winter, plus make new friends with others who enjoy the out doors..
10-11 -- Primitive Living Skills - Through the Seasons Series - Winter Survival
So you’ve taken Primitive Survival Skills, learned and practiced the Survival Sacred Order and loved it. Haven’t had enough? Wanting to take it to the next level? Then this is the camp for you!  In this series of camps, we will cover extended skills, which go beyond mere survival to living comfortably with nature and the Earth. These are advanced courses dealing with intense work/study, covering seasonal topics and projects.  These skills would also be useful if you just wanted to live more closely to the earth on a day to day basis, appreciating the earth and all it's bountiful gifts it has to offer. One just has to learn to "see" and then have the knowledge to use in a caretaker manner what nature provides for us all.
Prerequisite: Must have taken our Primitive Survival one or Tom Brown's Standard Class.
17 -- Horsemanship Day Camp
This class is for all of you who wish they had a horse. You will get a general overview of the responsibilities of having a pet of this size. Wear your old blue jeans and boots, if you happen to have them. You will get a chance to do some basic riding. Make sure to bring suncreen and drinking water for sunny days.
20 -- Primitive Survival Day Camp (1)

FEBRUARY 2015
7 -- Horsemanship Day Camp
This class is for all of you who wish they had a horse. You will get a general overview of the responsibilities of having a pet of this size. Wear your old blue jeans and boots, if you happen to have them. You will get a chance to do some basic riding. Make sure to bring suncreen and drinking water for sunny days.
17 -- Primitive Survival Day Camp (2)
Empower yourself and your family with the skills to Survive.  It should not be a struggle if you know your skills and have the right mind set.  We make it fun, teaching you with hands on learning, the skills that will keep you alive.  This day camp series will cover information that we learned and have been trained to teach, from the Tom Brown Primitive Survival School.
21 -- Bow Drill Workshop
This class is about teaching you how to find the wood and then construct your own Fire By Friction Kit that will be yours to take home but more importantly you will gain the knowledge to do it yourself. Then we will teach you how to use your constructed kit, to produce an ember that will light your fire.  You will need to have a sharpened knife that is a comfortable size for you to work with.  We do sell some for $25.   For those of you who have attended our Primitive Survival Skills Camp 1, who already have a Bow Drill made but need more help and more instructions on your technique, we are offering you a reduced rate, $25 if you bring your own Kits.

MARCH 2015
7-8 -- Finding Your Way in the Wild
 Have you ever wanted to get off a trail in the woods and just wander but was afraid of getting lost? Could you do it if you had a compass? How would you like to learn many techniques that will allow you to wander free from the fear of being lost?   This class will teach how to navigate in the wild (off the beaten trail), using a compass along with other useful techniques. We will teach you basic orienteering skills, which will be put to use later in the day when the class goes through an orienteering course.
11 -- Horsemanship Day Camp
This class is for all of you who wish they had a horse. You will get a general overview of the responsibilities of having a pet of this size. Wear your old blue jeans and boots, if you happen to have them. You will get a chance to do some basic riding. Make sure to bring suncreen and drinking water for sunny days.
14-15 -- Basic Camping Skills
For those of you who want to camp but don't feel quite confident enough to go out on your own, this class will put you at ease in the outdoors for a camping adventure. With supervised guidance, you will easily learn how to use the equipment needed for basic camping, safe fire starting skills and cooking. We'll make sure you not only learn outdoor skills but have fun!!

14-15 -- Primitive Survival Skills Class 1
At any time, anywhere, things can go wrong and you might find yourself in a survival situation. You can survive 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. To stay alive, you must find or build a shelter, obtain safe drinking water, start a fire and gather food. This class will teach you how to build a simple shelter using natural materials, start a fire without matches, and find safe drinking water. (Gathering food will be taught in the Primitive Survival Skills Class 2.) It is also nice to know how to signal for help and aide rescuers in finding you.  This class is open to all who are responsible enough to handle sharp tools on their own.
18 -- Nature Awareness Day Camp - Spring Has Sprung
Once a month, come for a Fun Day of Outdoor Learning about the plants and animals in your own backyard in the North Texas area.  Let your children become comfortable and knowledgeable in their own environment.
21-22 -- Backpacking Camp
21-22 -- Primitive Living Skills - Through the Seasons Series - Spring
So you’ve taken Primitive Survival Skills, learned and practiced the Survival Sacred Order and loved it. Haven’t had enough? Wanting to take it to the next level? Then this is the camp for you!  In this series of camps, we will cover extended skills, which go beyond mere survival to living comfortably with nature and the Earth. These are advanced courses dealing with intense work/study, covering seasonal topics and projects.  These skills would also be useful if you just wanted to live more closely to the earth on a day to day basis, appreciating the earth and all it's bountiful gifts it has to offer. One just has to learn to "see" and then have the knowledge to use in a caretaker manner what nature provides for us all.
24 -- Primitive Survival Day Camp (3)
Empower yourself and your family with the skills to Survive.  It should not be a struggle if you know your skills and have the right mind set.  We make it fun, teaching you with hands on learning, the skills that will keep you alive.   This day camp series will cover information that we learned and have been trained to teach, from the Tom Brown Primitive Survival School.

For More Information: 940-440-8382 or Click Here to email

Discount:  Camp Tonkawa is offering HEART of Texas members a  10% discount for HEART of Texas members with a valid family ID card.  Offer not valid in conjunction with semester discount rates for Nature Awareness Camps.
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership

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35.  DALLAS ARBORETUM EVENTS

No matter the time of year, the Arboretum is always in bloom. Both spring and fall feature wild bursts of color. Summer does nothing to diminish the bloom of the Arboretum plantings, which thrive on the warmth of Dallas' summer months. And, because of Dallas' temperate winter temperature, the arboretum is even in blooming the middle of winter.

Buy One Get One WEDNESDAYS
Buy One, Get One Free Admission.
Tickets must be purchased at Ticket Booth. Does not include parking.
For General Garden Admission Only.

Autumn at the Arboretum
-- Through Nov 26
Over 50,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash come together to form the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village. A multitude of special events are also available throughout the festival including a hay bale maze, scavenger hunts and the Tom Thumb pumpkin patch. Autumn is the perfect time of year for a picnic in the gardens with friends, a fun family photo, or a leisurely walk among 150,000 blooming fall flowers such as chrysanthemums and impatiens. The fall foliage, cool weather and deep colors make Autumn at the Arboretum a must-see.

The 12 Days of Christmas -- Nov 16, 2014 – Jan 4, 2015
Celebrate the holidays like never before.  This centerpiece exhibit features an elaborate collection of life-size Victorian gazebos filled with the charming costumed characters made famous by the beloved Christmas carol. Each gazebo will be encased in glass and extravagantly decorated on all sides to provide a dramatic, three-dimensional experience, and will feature working mechanical parts that will assist in bringing the characters to an even more life-like state.

During the day, visitors can enjoy the lavishly decorated DeGolyer Estate, filled top to bottom with a collection of Byers’ Choice Ltd. Christmas Caroler figurines donated for display by John and Kim Semyan. Visitors can also stroll the gardens to view seasonal plantings and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities.

The garden will remain open for extended evening hours for The 12 Days at Night, where we will showcase the beautifully illuminated gazebos for magical nighttime viewing. Visitors will be even further immersed in the Victorian-era holiday theme as they enjoy live carolers and holiday themed treats.


SPECIAL DISCOUNTS:
Tickets must be purchased at Ticket Booth.  Doesn't include Parking.
DECEMBER 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 -- Military & First Responder Mondays
Active and retired military members and First Responders with identification receive free admission during The 12 Days of Christmas (daytime) and The 12 Days at Night. Prepurchased tickets for The 12 Days at Night are required for non-military guests. Parking included for The 12 Days at Night.

DECEMBER 7 -- Pearl Harbor Day
Active and retired military members receive free admission during the day and evening. Prepurchased tickets for The 12 Days at Night are required for non-military guests.Offer available on site at the ticket booth.


Hours:  Open Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission:
 
$15 for adults
$12 for seniors (65+)
$10 for children (ages 3-12)
Free for children under 3 years
Senior Citizen Thursday Discount:  Seniors get in for just $5 with photo ID and can receive 20% discount at gift shop.
   
Onsite parking:                                                                
$10 per vehicle                                                     
Offsite parking is available at selected locations during peak visitation. Shuttle busses transport guests directly to the Arboretum ticket booth.

Discount tickets are available for groups of 20 or more.
Advance registration is needed.
For Group Sales Information: Click Here

Located:
8525 Garland Road
Dallas, TX  75219
214-515-6500

http://www.dallasarboretum.org    


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36.  FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER AND REFUGE PROGRAMS

Location:  9601 Fossil Ridge Road
                Fort Worth, TX 76135
Located on the northwest side of Fort Worth, four miles west of I-820 on Jacksboro Hwy (TX Hwy 199), just inside the city limits of Fort Worth.

Admission: $5 ages 13+; $2 ages 3-12; under 3 free; $3 Seniors (65+)
$1 discount per person with military ID
-Active/Retired
For More Information:    817-392-7410  

Refuge Hours:  8am-5pm daily
Hardwicke Interpretive Center:
9am-4:30pm daily

Monthly Programs
SATURDAYS, Naturalist-Led Hikes
10am-Noon

Cost: FREE (with paid admission).
Join a naturalist for a leisurely hike on the trails of the FWNC&R. Hikes feature current natural history events such as blooming wildflowers, commonly seen insects, birds, other animals and current projects on the Refuge. Bring water and dress for the weather.  MAXIMUM 15 participants. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

WEDNESDAYS, Story-Time
9:30am-10am
Cost: FREE (with paid admission).
Listen to a story, touch some biofacts, and meet an animal!  Story time is aimed at ages 5 and under, and is a time for parents to bring their kids to the Nature Center to learn a bit about the flora and fauna found in this area. 
There is no maximum number of participants for this program. 

THURSDAY & SATURDAYS, Natural Guard Volunteer
9am-Noon
Cost:
Free
Individuals can help keep the Nature Center beautiful by volunteering for the Natural Guard. Volunteers assist Refuge staff in trail maintenance, brush clearing, bridge building and much more. Please call 817-392-7410 for information on projects and meeting places.


December Programs
DEC 6 -- Arachnophilia
2 - 3pm 
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
This program is about spiders and their kin (“arachnids”) and their interesting forms and life histories. Some spiders build webs with amazing geometric patterns. Scorpions glow blue-green when we shine a black light on them. And out in west Texas, the bizarre vinegaroon looks a little like a scorpion but instead of stinging it squirts a stream of vinegar toward anything
that threatens them. Come see slides and hear stories of these amazing animals. 
 
DEC 7 -- River Journey Hike
1 - 3pm
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
Join a Naturalist on a hike of the River Bottom Trail as we learn about the flora and fauna found in this unusual habitat.  We’ll meet at the Hardwicke Interpretive Center for a brief power point presentation, and then venture out onto the trails to hope to see a portion of what was discussed. 

DEC 13 -- Winter Birding Walk
8 - 11am
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
Join FWNC&R Director Suzanne Tuttle for an easy three mile walk along the West Fork of the Trinity River
and through the old-growth post oak forest on the Cross Timbers Trail as we check for the arrival of the migratory birds that spend their winter with us.  We should find various species of ducks and sparrows, as well as flickers, sapsuckers, juncos, and towhees.  Our year-round resident birds should be easily found as well.  If you don’t have binoculars, we’ll be happy to lend you a pair. 
Group size limited to 10.  Pre-registration required.  Meet at the Big River parking lot.

DEC 13 -- Wildlife Treats
1 - 3pm 
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
During the month of December, it is usually a month we decorate and celebrate the holiday season.  This
December, you will have the opportunity to join a Naturalist at the Nature Center and create your own wildlife treats to place on
trees or near a feeder.  Share your yuletide spirit with your backyard birds and other wildlife.  Feel free to come and go throughout the afternoon and make your own ornament. 

DEC 14 -- Fall Colors Hike
1:30 - 3pm
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
Come join us for a short hike and view the beautiful colors of the fall on the trails of the FWNC&R.  We will learn why leaves change to different colors in the fall.  Why do some leaves go directly to brown?  Why do Live Oaks keep their
green leaves all year long?  Bring water and dress for the weather.  Insect repellent highly recommended. 

DEC 21 -- Nature Creeping Hike

1:30 - 3pm 
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
Join a Naturalist for an up close and personal examination of some of the smaller, often overlooked
wonders found on the Refuge.  Slow down and increase your powers of observation.  A short presentation precedes the hike. 
Bring water and dress for the weather.  Insect repellent highly recommended. 

DEC 28 -- Naturaleza in Español
1 - 2:30pm 
Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
Tome la oportunidad de caminar por los senderos y explorar la variedad de fauna y flora que vive a su alrededor.  En esta recorrida la Naturalista bilingüe del parque hablara de la fauna que es más activa durante el invierno. 

DEC 29 -- Winter Wonderland Hike
1 - 3pm

Cost:  FREE (with paid admission)
Have you ever wondered where wildlife goes during the winter months?  Come learn about how plants and animals survive during the sometimes harsh conditions.  Who knows, maybe we’ll even get some snow!  Meet at the Hardwicke Interpretive Center. 


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37.  FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDENS PROGRAMS

YEAR ROUND -- Green Thumb Club
Little Diggers -- Age 4 by class date
Green Thumb Club Juniors -- Grades K-2
Green Thumb Club -- Grades 3-5
Details: Green Thumb Club provides children the opportunity to learn more about the natural world around them. We use the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as a living laboratory for students to explore topics such as native plant studies, pollination, tree structure, climate change, and more.
NOVEMBER 25 -- Artful Autumn Fall Break -- 10am-Noon
DECEMBER 18 -- Santa's Workshop Winter Break --
4pm-6pm
Registration required: 817-392-5534
For more information: Click here

Family Drop-In Program
Come-and-go craft time for all ages, and all supplies are furnished. We meet throughout the Garden. Find out some Garden history from our Garden educator and tour the area with your family! Bring a picnic for afterwards.
6pm-7pm
December Programs TBA

Family Discovery Program
Program is for children ages 4 and up.
Free to the public.
Two children per caregiver please.  
No registration required.
11am-Noon
December Programs TBA

For More Info:  Click Here

For more information about the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens: call 817-871-7686


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38. FORT WORTH ZOO HOME SCHOOL CLASSES


2014 Classes

Time:  9:30am-11:30am
Cost: $25/student
Ages 6-12; $50/student Ages 13-15 
Includes snack, Interactive Lab (For Ages 13-15), live animal presentation,
and admission to the Zoo on class day.
Class Schedule:  See listing below for monthly class themes
To Register or For More Information:  Click Here
Location:  Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76110

Ages 6-8
All living things need energy to live and grow. Where does the energy come from? Follow the food chain to find out. See how important each and every animal is to its ecosystem as we uncover the complexities of the food web. We will explore a wide variety of topics, while focusing on the importance of a food chain in an ecosystem. Food chains, life cycles, the water cycle, conservation, and other fascinating topics will also be studied during this semester. Each student will learn grade-appropriate information based upon Texas Department of Education standards for Science, Math, and English and Language Arts.
Nov 4 & 18 -- Food chains: Asian Falls and bird exhibits near Raptor Canyon
Dec 2 & 16 -- Food chains: Great Barrier Reef and Penguins


Ages 9-12

All organisms participate in relationships with organisms of different species in their ecosystems. Some relationships benefit the organisms and are essential for both species to survive. Others are detrimental to one organism, but critical for the other organism and still essential to the interdependence of species within the ecosystem. We will learn about the different forms of symbiosis with grade-appropriate information based upon Texas Department of Education standards for Science, Math, and English and Language Arts.
Nov 4 & 18 -- Man’s symbiotic relationship with nature and wildlife
Dec 2 & 16 -- Ecological relationships as they pertain to biomes


Ages 13-15

Biomes are communities of animals and plants that live together in a particular type of natural environment such as a hot, dry desert or the dark cold deep sea. We will be learning about different levels of communication within the level of biomes. Systems work similarly at all levels, by touching on solar systems and galaxies we will be able to compare the biggest level of biome with the smallest level. The lessons are planned with grade-appropriate information based upon Texas Department of Education standards for Science, Math, and English and Language Arts.
Nov 18 -- Biospheres and biomes
Dec 16 -- Solar systems and galaxies


TEXAS NATURE TRADERS
Details: Located in Texas Wild! near the wishing well, the Zoo’s newest building is the home base for many Texas-based education programs, primarily the Zoo’s latest offering, Texas Nature Traders. This formalized program encourages kids (age 3 and older) to explore the outdoors and bring to the building fossils, rocks, bones, plants and other artifacts in exchange for points. Traders can redeem points (or save them for future use) for items in the Nature Trader inventory. Texas Nature Traders operates seven days a week, opening at 11 a.m. and closing one hour before the Zoo closes. Stop by to look around, ask questions and become a nature trader!


SAFARI SAM
Details: Sam is a fictional character that the Zoo has created to teach wildlife biology and conservation lessons to students, mostly 3rd through 5th grade. Sam posts a “brain teaser” every Monday, the brain teaser answer on Tuesday, a “spotlight” blog on Wednesday (usually telling a specific animal’s conservation story), teacher resource on Thursday and occasionally an applicable video on Friday. Safari Sam is busy! 

Safari Sam's “Nature Finders Contest”
Get kids outside on a nature journaling activity!
For more information: click here 
Visit Safari Sam's Blog at:  Click Here

Discount:  The Fort Worth Zoo is offering HEART of Texas members (with a valid ID card) a free Ft. Worth drawstring backpack when they register for Zoo Home School Classes
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership


Home School Day at Fort Worth Zoo:  March 26, 2015
Registration Opens February 13, 2015

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39.  FOSSIL RIM HOME SCHOOL CLASSES AND EVENTS


HOME SCHOOL CLASSES/EVENTS


DEC 2 -- Wolves: Friend or Foe?
Time:  10am-4pm
Cost:  $28/participant
The relationship between man and wolf  has been a rocky one!  We have made pendulum swings from trying our best to wipe them of the face of the earth… to trying to save them at all costs.   Discover the habits and history of this exceptional animal, and observe some of our resident  wolves – potentially three species!   For homeschoolers age 7 and up. 
To Register:  245.897.2960.

DEC 15 -- Wolves: Friend or Foe?

Time:  10am-4pm
Cost:  $28/participant
The relationship between man and wolf  has been a rocky one!  We have made pendulum swings from trying our best to wipe them of the face of the earth… to trying to save them at all costs.   Discover the habits and history of this exceptional animal, and observe some of our resident  wolves – potentially three species!   For homeschoolers age 7 and up. 
To Register:  245.897.2960.




For more information about homeschool events, click here


In addition to their scheduled homeschool events, Fossil Rim offers their faculty, teachers, and curriculum for privately-scheduled events. For more information, please click here or call 254-897-2960 and ask for the Homeschool coordinator. 


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40. HAVEN'S HORSES HORSEMANSHIP & OUTDOOR EDUCATION CLASSES AT CHRIST'S HAVEN

Christ's Haven is offering homeschoolers Christian Horsemanship and Outdoor Education programs at their facility in Keller, Texas.  The classes will be held during the day, while their foster children are at school.

Monday–Fridays at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Mondays at 4 p.m.


Christian Horsemanship
Ages 4-18

Cost:  
$25/child
Class Length:  1 hour, 15 min.
Details:  Spiritual Values are incorporated into each Horsemanship Lesson through group devotions and activities.  It's more than a basic riding lesson!  Christian Horsemanship unites children and inspires them to grow in the areas of Horsemanship Skills (grooming, saddling, feeding, groundwork, riding and horse anatomy); Spiritual and Personal Growth, and Communication Skills.

Outdoor Adventure
Ages 7-14
Cost:  
$20/class
Course Length:  
1 hour, 15 min.
Details:  
Teaches children about God's creation in an outdoor spiritual setting.  Activities include:  day hikes, fishing, flying kites, and much more!  Outdoor Adventure classes focus on: Science in the Outdoors, Servant Leadership, Self Expression, Self Reflection and Silent Retreats.

Group rates available. Please call for details.

Location:  
4150 Keller-Haslet Road
                Keller, TX  76248
For More Information:  817-925-1982 or click here to email



Discount:  Haven's Horses is offering HEART of Texas members (with a valid Family ID card) 50% off their first ride! You must show your card to be eligible for this discount!
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://heartoftex.org/resources/membership  


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41.  THE HEARD MUSEUM–HOMESCHOOL CLASSES
 
These Homeschool Classes will introduce your student to the Natural Sciences. Students will experience learning through classroom activities, outdoor field investigations, laboratory science, small group activities and take-home study packets.  Each course curriculum is developed by the Heard Museum's education staff who strive to recognize and meet the needs of home school families.  All curricula are based on current scientific theory.

Please note: You will need to submit a medical record form including immunization history to be able to participate in their programs.
Click here for information

For more information: Click Here to send an email
                                  972-562-5566 x237
                                                       
Location:  One Nature Place
                McKinney, TX  75069
               
www.heardmuseum.org


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42.  HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM -- PLANO
 
The Museum Grounds are Open Year-Round (Except Mondays and Holidays)
Tuesday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Preschool Programs:
Fun on the Farm:
Ages 18 months – 5yrs

Time: 10:30am-Noon
Cost: $11 for 1 Adult/1 Child Combo;  $6 additional child;  $3 additional adult
Registration Required
To Register and for More Information:  972-881-0140.


DEC 12 -- Fun on  the Farm:  Gingerbread Man
Help us catch the gingerbread man while exploring the farm.  Children learn through a story and a unique activity, enjoy a fun craft project and have a wagon ride. Fee includes one parent and one child.  Ages 2-5.
Registration Deadline is Dec 10:  Register Here

DEC 19 -- Fun on the Farm: Snowman in Texas
It may not be a white winter but learn all about snow and snowmen while in Texas. Children learn through a story and a unique activity, enjoy a fun craft project and have a wagon ride. Fee includes one parent and one child.  Ages 2-5.
Registration Deadline is Dec 17:  
Register Here


Docent-Led Tours
Time:  1:30 p.m. Tues-Sun. (one tour daily)
Tour begins on the front porch.  Includes Farrell-Wilson house, outbuildings, and grounds.
Admission:  $5 Adults; $3.50 Children 5 & up, Students, and Seniors (65+);
Children 4 and under are free; Museum members free
Docent will collect admission fees before the tour begins.

Self-Guided Grounds Tours

Time:  9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tues–Sun
Tour the grounds only.  No access to the Farrell-Wilson house or outbuildings.
Grounds guide available.
Admission:  $2 per person
Children 4 and under are free; Museum members free.

Group Tours

Time:  
Each program lasts about 1 1/2 hours
Available by appointment only.
Cost:  $5/child; $3/adult chaperones
Depending on the size of the group, up to two teachers can attend free of charge
Tour Themes:  

Farmer Duck (PreK- 3) --
Based on the book, "Farmer Duck" by Martin Waddell and Helen Oxenbury. We begin the tour reading aloud to the group. We discuss chores; comparing turn-of-the century chores with modern chores. Feeding chickens, washing dishes in washtubs, and even milking Buttermilk, our incredible milking cow. Each activity teaches a very important lesson.

Tag-Along Tom (Grades 1-4) -- Loosely based on Mark Twain’s, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Visitors tour the Heritage Farmstead Museum with Tom’s playful character in mind. Children experience the HFM as if it were the farm young Tom grew up on with his Aunt Polly. Children learn of all the chores that were expected of them. Visitors will beat rugs, enter the storm cellar, “whitewash” a garden fence, plant seeds, take a walk to the creek and so much more. They will find jump ropes, beanbags, skipping rocks and a pirate ship along the way.

Blackland Prairie Tour  (Grades 2-5) -- The tour is led by volunteer docents and includes the historic Farrell Wilson House as well as the complete 4 acre site. Visitors experience and interpret life on the Blackland Prairie with a series of “hands-on” activities which could include beating rugs, feeding chickens, milking our Incredible Milking Cow, washing clothes, and visiting a turn of the century school house to scrutinize replica artifacts.

Sarah Plain and Tall (Grades 3-5) -- The tour captures the theme of Patricia MacLachlan’s wonderful story about a widowed Midwestern farmer with two children who places a newspaper ad for a wife. A woman from Maine named Sarah answers the ad. The widower and his children are worried she will miss her home too much and leave them. In the end Sarah convinces them that while she would always miss her old home, she would miss them more. Visitors experience the HFM as if it were the farm where Caleb and Anna are living somewhere on the Kansas Prairie. Children try charcoal or pencil drawing, see and discuss different modes of transportation, visit the ram barn and learn about farm animals upclose; take a walk down to Pitman Creek; play turn of the century games and visit the replica turn-of-the century school house.


For More Information:  Call 972-881-0140

FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH -- Scout Tours

REQUIRE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS -- Call the Farmstead office to reserve a date.

Tours are booked on a first come first served basis
Cost:  Pricing has been revised.  Contact the Farmstead office for more information.
    (No siblings under 4 years old)
Tours must be PREPAID.
Scouts will receive a patch from the Farmstead.

For Registration and Other Information:   972-881-0140 or Click Here                                                   
           
Location:      Heritage Farmstead Museum
                    1900 West 15th Street
                    Plano, TX

Discount:  Heritage Farmstead Museum is offering HEART of Texas members a $1 off the adult regular admission price (up to 4 people) and .50 cents off child's regular admission, good for either the 1:30 p.m. Historic Farrell-Wilson house tour or for the following special events: Harvest Festival, Lantern Light, Spring Festival.   
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://heartoftex.org/resources/membership

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43.  LEWISVILLE LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AREA

December Events
DEC 6 – Night Hike – 5pm-7pm. – Night Hike. Registration required. Details coming soon.
DEC 13 – Bird Walk – 7:30am-10am – No registration required. Click here to email for details.
DEC 13 – Nature Walk – 10am-11:30am – No registration required. Details here.
DEC 13 – Stars on the Prairie – 5:30pm-7:30pm.  Registration required.
DEC 20 – KayakPower's Elm Fork Eco-Tour at LLELA – 9am.   Registration required.
DEC 20 – A Homestead Christmas at LLELA -
Noon - 3pm.  No registration required.


HOMESCHOOL NATURAL SCIENCE CLASSES:  To Be Announced
Classes are for students K-8th grade.

Time: 10am-1pm
Cost:
$12 per class, or enroll your child in four classes for $40
Details: Students in each class will participate in hands-on outdoor activities related to the day's theme. Parents may choose to attend with their students, or may drop the student off after submitting a medical release form.
Younger siblings are welcome, but must be supervised by a parent during class time.
Each student should bring a water bottle and sack lunch and wear closed-toe shoes with long pants.
Registration Required: 972-219-3930 or click here to email


Discount:
  HEART of Texas members (with valid ID card) receive $1 per child discount on home school science classes.
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here

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44.  NASH FARM -- GRAPEVINE TX

Nash Farm, circa 1859, is the oldest operating farmstead in Tarrant County. Through interpretive programs, events and exhibits, Nash Farm educates the community about the heritage and importance of the Grapevine Prairie and Grapevine’s pivotal role in the development of North Texas.

UPCOMING EVENTS


JANUARY 16, 2015 -- Frugal Farm Wife
Time:
 9am-4pm
Admission:  $3/person
Details:  Visit Nash Farm and experience stepping into a 19th century home while witnessing the domestic duties of a farm family. Guests have the opportunity to see costumed interpreters performing seasonal chores using tools and techniques of the period, such as sewing, spinning, weaving, dying, cooking, washing, ironing laundry, cleaning, gardening, harvesting, preserving, making candles or other household examples.
This open-house setting allows guests to discuss the activities with the interpreters and involvement may be encouraged when possible. Following your visit to the farmhouse, you may visit the farm grounds to complete your experience.
Registration is required, but walk-in registration is also encouraged. Participants of all ages may attend.

JANUARY 17, 2015 -- Butchering & Curing
Time:  
10am-2pm
Admission: $15/person
Details:   Food preservation was a must for settlers and residents of late 19th century Texas. Learn the basics of butchering and curing hogs. See how the smokehouse was used in preserving pork.  
Registration required.  All participants must be 16 years or older and must register for both days if they plan to attend both days.

FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE FARM: Life Skills Demonstrations by Nash Farmhands
DEC 5: Victorian Christmas -- Make a Victorian Christmas ornament to decorate your own tree.
Time:  10am-12pm
Cost: Tickets $3 per person
Details: Step back in time and join us. Daily life in late 19th century Texas required knowledge of a number of skills, methods and even recipes that will be demonstrated by Nash Farmhands. Each month features a different theme, so be sure to check the website for more information regarding the demonstrations and activities of that month. Help us preserve and protect our great heritage with First Fridays at the Farm. Demonstrations are on the first Friday of the month.
To Purchase Tickets Online:  Click Here
FEB 6: Foodways

Farmhouse on the Grape Vine Prairie
NOV 22:  Holidays and Birthdays – Celebrate the traditions of life on the prairie including homemade gifts. Activities will include making dipped candles and tin lanterns. The corresponding book passages are “Farmer Boy: Christmas” and “Little House on the Prairie: Mr. Edwards Meets Santa Claus.”
Time: 10am-Noon
Admission:  $3/person
JAN 10 (2015):
FEB 7:  Celebrations
Join Nash Farm as they celebrate Laura Ingalls Wilders birthday and experience activities associated with celebrations during this time period. Interactive activities will include table setting, rag doll making and paper decorations.  The reading will come from Little House in the Big Woods chapters on "Dance at Grandpa's" and "Sundays," as well as On the Banks of Plum Creek, chapters on "Town Party" and "Country Party." This monthly series is designed for 3rd-7th grade students, but all ages are welcome.

Location:  626 Ball Street, Grapevine, TX 76051
Contact: 817-410-3185
For more information: click here

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OLIVER NATURE PARK-- MANSFIELD TX

Located at the intersection of two ecoregions: the eastern Cross Timbers and the northern Blackland Prairies. The 80 acres of the park contains several different ecosystems such forests, prairies, and riparian areas.  Each section is unique in plant and animal life. Each animal and plant is adapted to a certain area of the park.  Look for other examples of these kinds of adaptations along approximately 1 mile of trails.

HOMESCHOOL NATURE WALK WITH A NATURALIST
Cost: $5 per child
Time:  10-11am
DECEMBER 19
JANUARY 5

For More Information and to Register: Click Here (Click on "Nature Education Programs")

Location:
1650 Matlock Road, Mansfield, Texas


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45.  RIDE WITH PRIDE

Ride With Pride, Inc. Horsemanship School in Southlake specializes in teaching students ages 3 and older how to care for and ride a horse safely.  Ride With Pride, Inc. has been in operation since 1980.  They offer Western & English lessons, and their instructors are certified with the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). 

For Enrollment Information:  Click here to send an email or 817-481-2893

Discount:  Ride with Pride is offering HEART of Texas members (with a current HEART of Texas Family ID card) a 10% discount on tuition.  
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


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46.  SHARKAROSA WILDLIFE RANCH

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch sits on 126 breathtaking acres near Lake Ray Roberts in Denton County, Texas.  Our mission is to provide the North Texas community with the opportunity to experience rare and endangered exotic wildlife in a unique and personal setting. What better way to learn about conservation than by seeing it up close and hands on?

Open to the Public Days are every Saturday March through November. All other events require an advanced reservation.   We offer educational park offers field trips, private tours, open to the public Saturdays and rental for events large and small!  Group camping, bucket train rides & dining area help make Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch your next wild adventure!


WILD HOMESCHOOL DAY
Date: September 24 2014
Time:
10am-5pm
Cost: $5 per attendee
Pre-registration Required!: Click Here or call: 940-686-4600

Open to the Public Days
Saturdays and Sundays -- March 8- Dec 1
Time:
  10 a.m. (last tour begins at 4)
Admission:  $10/ages 13+; $8/ages 3-12 and Seniors 65+; children 2 and under are free
INCLUDES:–Meet & Greet with our Education Animals (kangaroos, monkeys, lemurs & more) *Animals available for meet and greet vary with the season and off-site events schedule*
–Safari Wagon ride through exotic pastures to see camels, zebra, buffalo & more
–Kids Bucket Train rides thru 22 acres of “wild” trails!
–Use of pavilion for lunch (you may purchase lunch at our concession stand or bring your own)

Directions:
Click Here
Please do not use MapQuest it WILL get you lost!

Please visit the Field Trip page under the "Visitors Guide" section of our web site for details on booking a field trip for your home school group.

For More Information:  Click Here
940-686-4600 (main)
940-686-3715 (fax)


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47.  TEXAS DISCOVERY GARDENS

Texas Discovery Gardens is a year-round urban oasis located at historic Fair Park. The gardens showcase beautiful native and adapted plants that are grown using sustainable methods that help to protect the environment.  The first certified organic public garden in the state, Texas Discovery Gardens offers educational programs and exhibits that teach children and adults how to provide vital habitat for butterflies and other native Texas wildlife, add beauty, conserve water and restore the natural environment in urban areas.



DEC 4 -- Stories & More: A Pill Bug's Life by John Himmelman
Time:  11 am
Details:  Join our butterflies for story time! We’ll make crafts, read a book, meet special friends and enjoy themed snacks! The programs end with our daily noon butterfly release and are geared for the under-five/stroller crowd. Let's read!
Cost: Adults pay regular admission. Advance: $8/Child 3-11, $6/Member; $3/ Child 1-2,$2/Member. At door: add $2/child.

DEC 4 -- Butterfly Wonderland Shopping Event
Time: 6pm-8pm
Details:
Make holiday shopping fun and relaxing as we open up our Gift Shop in the evening. Stroll through our butterfly house, enjoy live music, and warm up with festive drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Members receive 10 percent off all Gift Shop items!

DEC 6 -- Christmas Gifts from Your Garden
Time
: 10am-Noon
Details: Christmas Gifts from Your Garden
Learn how to make cute gifts from commonly-found objects in your garden. We will search through our gardens for supplies, and then make up gifts for you to take home. You will also leave with several more ideas to try at home.
Admission:  $25.  Register in advance.

DEC 6 -- Butterfly House Discovery Tour
Time
: 11am
Details: Join entomologist John Watts for a family friendly guided tour of the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium. Enjoy a behind the scenes look at these winged wonders. The tour is followed by our daily noon butterfly release!
Admission:  Tour is oncluded w/General admission ($8/adults, $6 for ages 60+, $4 for ages 3-11).


Regular Admission & Hours:
$8/adults; $6 seniors (60+); $4 children 3-12yrs; free children under 3yrs.
Each Tuesday:  Gardens are open for free (butterfly house admission is regular admission price)
Hours:  Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Last ticket to Butterfly House sold at 4:45 p.m.
For More info:  214-428-7476 ext. 341 or Click Here
Location:
3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fair Park.
Fair Park is
two miles east of downtown Dallas just south of Interstate 30.

Children's Outdoor Education Programs:
Cost:  $5/person;  $60 minimum fee per program
Availability:  Tuesday–Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
To Make Reservations:  214-428-7476
Gardening for Children:–introduction to gardening and seeds.  Students even plant thier own seeds to take back to the classroom. (Grades Pre-K–2)
Butterflies, Bugs & Botany:–Insects and their amazing lives help students inderstand the concepts of adaptation, habitats, and pollination.  (Grades 1-8)
Terrarium Worlds:–Your class will build a terrarium (a home for a plant) and see the water cycle, the carbon-oxygen cycle, and the nitrogen cycle in action.  (Grades 1-8)
Life in the Compost Bin:–Recycling and decomposition come alive as students see that an ecosystem is powered by a complex web of creatures and energy. (Grades 1-8)
Math in Nature:–Math is seen as a real world tool as students visit diverse garden habitats to record data, such as temperatures, time, and mesurements.  (Grades 2-8)
Careers in the Garden:–Explore the various careers that are necessasry to keep the garden beautiful and running, including landscape design and greenhouse management.  (Grades 2-8)



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48.  TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES

ATHENS, TX -- Purtis Creek State Park

Location: Purtis Creek State Park, 14225 FM 316, Eustace, TX 75124
903-425-2332

Things to do:
Camping, picnicking, boating, hiking

Upcoming Events:
JAN 1- First Day Hike
Start your year off getting outdoors with our annual first day hike.

For details about these and other Upcoming Events: click here

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CEDAR HILL, TX -- Cedar Hill State Park

Location: Cedar Hill State Park, 1570 West FM 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104
972-291-3900

Things to Do:
Camping, Mountain Biking, Birdwatching, Picnicking, Fishing, Swimming beach, Playgrounds, Boating

Upcoming Events:
Dec 13 - Caroling through Penn Farm
Take a lantern-lit tour of Penn Farm.  As we explore this historic farm, you will hear stories of the Penn family and their pioneering spirit.
Jan 1 - Day 1 Trail Run
Join us for a great kickoff to the New Year witih a competitive 5K or 20K race.
Jan 1 - First Day Hike - Duck Pond Trail Nature Walk
Take leisurely walk and learn about the plants and animals at Cedar Hill State Park

For Details about these and other Events: 
click here


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DENTON, TX -- Ray Roberts Lake State Park/Isle du Bios Unit

Location:  Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Isle Du Bois Unit:
100 PW 4137, Pilot Point, TX 76258
940-686-2148

Johnson Branch Unit
100 PW 4153, Valley View, TX 76272
940-637-2294

Things to Do: picnicking, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, rollerblading, swimming on a beach area (unsupervised), boating and fishing. Johnson Branch also offers backpacking

Upcoming Events:
Dec 13 - Trout Derby! (Johnson Branch Unit)
Dec 13 - The Best of Texas Winters (Isle Du Bois Unit)
Dec 13 - Intro to Bird Watching (Johnson Branch Unit)
Dec 20 - Hike with a Master Naturalist  (Isle Du Bois Unit)
Dec 20 - Dreaming of a Wild Christmas (Johnson Branch)
Dec 20 - Campfire Caroling (Isle Du Bois)
Dec 20 - Holiday Lights Drive-Thru (Johnson Branch)
Dec 27 - Flying Feathered Friends (Johnson Branch)
Dec 27 - Vanishing Prairie Guided Hike (Johnson Branch)
Dec 27 - Dutch Oven Dessert (Johnson Branch)

January 2015
Jan 1 - First Day Hike (Johnson Branch)
Jan 1 - First Day Paddle (Johnson Branch)
Jan 1 - First Day Hike (Isle Du Bois)


For Details about these and other Events:
click here


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DENISON, TX -- Eisenhower State Park

Location:  Eisenhower State Park, 50 Park Road 20, Denison, TX 75020
903-465-1956

Upcoming Events: No events at this time

For Information about Events: click here


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JACKSBORO, TX -- FORT RICHARDSON STATE PARK

Location: Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site/Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway, 228 State Park Road 61, Jacksboro, TX 76458
940-567-3506

Upcoming Events:
December 13 - Ghosts of Christmas Past
Enjoy old-time refreshments and observe “ghosts” of cavalry soldiers and their families as they celebrate Christmas at an 1870’s U.S. military post. The public may also stroll through the historic buildings by candlelight.

December 20 - Family Fishing Day
Bring the whole family to the quarry pond which will be stocked with trout.


For Details about these and Other Events: click here


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MINERAL WELLS, TX -- Lake Mineral Wells State Park 

Location:  Lake Mineral Wells State Park, 100 Park Road 71, Mineral Wells, TX 76067
940-328-1171

Upcoming Events:
December 13 - Kid’s Wilderness Survival
A great program for your child’s outdoor safety and parents learn as much as the kids.
December 20 - Cross Timbers Bird Walk
Join our guided birding walk in the park. How many species can we find?
December 20 -  Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
December 27 - Bird Walk on the Trailway
Join our guided birding walk on the State Trailway. How many species can we find?
December 27 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.


January 2015
January 1 - First Day Hikes!
Start your New Year in the great outdoors! Choose one of three hikes at Lake Mineral Wells State Park!
January 3 - Cross Timbers Bird Walk
Join our guided birding walk in the park. How many species can we find?
January 3 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
January 10 - Bird Walk on the Trailway
Join our guided birding walk on the State Trailway. How many species can we find?
January 10 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
January 17 - Bird Walk on the Trailway
Join our guided birding walk on the State Trailway. How many species can we find?
January 17 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
January 24 - Kid’s Wilderness Survival
A great program for your child’s outdoor safety and parents learn as much as the kids.
January 31 - Bird Walk on the Trailway
Join our guided birding walk on the State Trailway. How many species can we find?
January 31 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.

February 2015
February 7 - Cross Timbers Bird Walk
Join our guided birding walk in the park. How many species can we find?
February 7 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
February 14 - Bird Walk on the Trailway
Join our guided birding walk on the State Trailway. How many species can we find?
February 14 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
February 21 - Cross Timbers Bird Walk
Join our guided birding walk in the park. How many species can we find?
February 21 - Penitentiary Hollow Wild Walk
Explore beautiful sandstone formations in remote areas only accessible on this guided hike.
February 28 - Kid’s Wilderness Survival
A great program for your child’s outdoor safety and parents learn as much as the kids

For Details about these and Other Events:
click here


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GLEN ROSE -- Dinosaur Valley State Park

Location:  The park is located four miles west of Glen Rose. Take U.S. Highway 67 to FM 205 for four miles to Park Road 59; then go one mile to the headquarters. Use the honor box located at headquarters to pay fees after office hours.
254-897-4588 

Upcoming Events:

DECEMBER
December 14 - Coffee with a Park Ranger
December 20 - Geocaching 101
December 21 - Coffee with a Park Ranger
December 28 - Coffee with a Park Ranger

JANUARY 2015
January 1 - First Day Hikes 2015
December 13 –  Christmas in the Valley-Decorate Your Campsite For Christmas


For Details about these and Other Events: click here

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TYLER, TX -- Tyler State Park

Location:  Tyler State Park, 789 Park Road 16, Tyler, TX 75706
903-597-5338

Upcoming Events:

DECEMBER
December 6 - Dutch Oven Cooking: History in a Black Pot
December 13 - Pineywoods Christmas Celebration!

JANUARY 2015
January 1 - First Day "New Year's Resolution" Hike


For Details about these and Other Events: click here

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WILLS POINT, TX -- Lake Tawakoni State Park

Location:  Lake Tawakoni State Park, 10822 FM 2475, Wills Point, TX 75169

Upcoming Events:
December 13 - Twinkle Tour
Enjoy a tour through the park to observe the holiday camping spirit.

January 2015
January 1 - First Day Hike & Trail Cleanup
Happy New Year! Join us and start the New Year with a refreshing hiking experience.

For Details about these and Other Events:
 click here


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Free TPWD Coloring and Activity Books to Download: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/learning/color/

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49.  PERFORMANCES AT ARTISAN THEATER IN HURST

Artisan Center Theater holds quality, "in the round" performances that are family-friendly, entertaining, and affordable!  The theater's full-length stage productions include musicals, comedies, and family dramas which are entertaining, as well as family-friendly. Past performances have included such classics as Godspell, Cheaper By the Dozen, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Sound of Music.

Artie's Playhouse, their Interactive Children's Theater, offers original, fun-for-all-ages productions featuring familiar characters and themes, but with fresh twists that keep it entertaining and exciting for parents as well as children. Each story has its own character focus, which is reinforced throughout the play.
 The "Artie's Playhouse" productions are about 30-45 minutes long, and include lots of audience participation to hold the interest of even the youngest child in the family.

Location:  420 E. Pipeline Road in Hurst, Texas (in the Bellaire Shopping Center)
To Reserve Tickets: 817-284-1200
For More Information:  Click Here

Artie’s Children’s Playhouse Productions:
Cost: $5/Children;  $7/Adults
Showtimes: Shows are Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10 am; Fridays at 5pm.


THROUGH DECEMBER 20  -- Twas the Night Before Christmas
Details: Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse…”
Everyone knows this Christmas Holiday Classic by heart! But did you know the mouse’s name was Izzy, shut out of his snug home on Christmas Eve? Be part of Izzy’s great adventure to the North Pole where he meets Santa’s Elves, Rosie the Reindeer and comes face to face with the Abominable Snowman! Izzy and Rosie save the day, helping Santa and his Reindeer deliver the goodies just in time for Christmas morning! Packed with laughs and audience participation, this fun show ends with a lump in your throat and everyone reciting Clement Moore’s famous poem
For more information: Click here


JANUARY 16-FEBRUARY 7 -- Annie, Jr.
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
For More Information: Click Here



Artisan Main Stage Productions:
Showtimes:
Mon & Tues: 7:30 p.m.;  Thurs/Fri: 7:30;  Sat: 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Tickets:
Mon, Tues, Thurs: $12/Adults; $12/Students & Seniors (60+); $7/Ages 12 and under
            Fri & Sat: $16.00/Adults; $14/Students & Seniors (60+); $9/Ages 12 and under.


THROUGH DECEMBER 20 -- Sanders Family Christmas (Smoke on the Mountain, Part II)
Details: Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to Connie Ray and Alan Bailey’s wildly successful bluegrass gospel musical Smoke on the Mountain. It’s December 24, 1941, and America is going to war. So is Dennis Sanders of the Sanders Family Singers. Join Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe and the rest of the Sanders Family as they send Dennis off with hilarious and touching stories and twenty-five Southern Gospel Christmas favorites.
For more information: Click here

JANAURY 2 - 31 -- All Shook Up (An American Jukebox Musical with Elvis Presley Music)
Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley. It’s 1955, and into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar-playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy that’ll have you jumpin’ out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”


Birthday Parties at Artisan!
For more information about how to schedule a birthday party, call
817-284-1200.

2014 ACTING, DANCE, AND VOICE CLASSES FOR HOMESCHOOLERS:
For more information:
Click here

To Register for classes or for more information:  817-929-0852 or click here to email

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50.  BREITLING YOUTH THEATER

Performances:
DECEMBER 17 - 20 -- Miracle on 34th Street
Cost:
$9/Advance tickets(add $1 at door); $7/Students & Seniors 60+; Children 3 and under are free.
Group Rates:  
12 or more receive a $1 discount
To Order Tickets:  Click Here
Performance Location:  The Plaza Theater, 521 West State Street, Garland, TX 75040

Auditions & Classes:
– Ages 4-19/No experience necessary
– Have fun, learn, gain confidence
– $50 plus costume fee
– Or work on the tech crew!

Discount:  Breitling Youth Theater is offering $10 off their annual family registration fee of $20 to HEART of Texas members with a valid family ID card. 
To learn More About This Partner:  Click Here
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here

Breitling Youth Theater is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing theater opportunities to children ages 2-19 in the North Texas area.  Whether your child is attending one of our Acting Workshops, or particpating in one of our productions, they will have fun, learn, and create lasting friendships!
 
Location:  303 Main St, Garland, TX  75040


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51.  CANTARE PERFORMANCE CHOIR IN SOUTHLAKE

Contare is an auditioned choir available for exception 3rd-12th grade singers in the NE Tarrant County are. Previous experience is not necessary; however, an audition is required.
 Auditions are by appointment only.

Location:  The choir rehearses at the White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, TX.
Rehearsals are Thursdays from 5:45pm to 7pm, with additional rehearsals leading up to performances.
For More Information:  Click Here
To request an audition:  Click Here

Discount:  Cantare Performance Choir is offering HEART of Texas members (with calid ID card) a $15 discount off annual tuition.  
To learn More About This Partner:  Click Here
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


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52.  THEATER PERFORMANCES AT CASA MANANA CHILDREN’S PLAYHOUSE

For over 40 years, Casa Manana's Children's Playhouse has introduced children of all ages to the magic of live theatre.  This tradition continues as Casa Manana's Children's Playhouse proudly presents:



THROUGH DEC 23 -- Here Comes Santa Claus

It’s time for the holidays, but Simon isn’t feeling so cheerful. It’s another Christmas watching his friends receive toys and presents, while the space under his tree remains empty. With the help of elves and a little bit of magic and cheer, will Simon find the true spirit of Christmas? Here Comes Santa Claus continues the time-honored tradition of spending the holiday season with Casa. This musical is suitable for all audiences.

Dec 11 -- Sandy Patti Yuletide Joy
In a special add-on performance, Sandi Patty will take the stage on December 11, 2014, in her holiday concert Sandi Patty Yuletide Joy. As one of the most highly acclaimed performers of our time, Sandi Patty is simply known as The Voice. Yuletide Joy is sure to dazzle Sandi Patty's longtime fans---and earn her many more! This festive offering includes "O Holy Night”, "Jingle Bells" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." This show is suitable for all audiences.


2015:
FEB 6-FEB 22 -- Charlotte's Web

Join all your favorite barnyard characters in this adaptation of the classic children’s book by E.B. White. On the Zuckerman farm, a prancing, playful pig named Wilbur is the runt of the litter and could be the main course for Christmas dinner. Determined to save her friend, a spider named Charlotte spins a web that just might convince the farmer that Wilbur is very special. The whole family will love this tale of friendship and loyalty! This play is suitable for all audiences.

MAR 20-APR 5
-- Disney's Cinderella
Poor Cinderella is endlessly mistreated by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters and denied a chance to go to the royal ball. With a little help from her mice friends, and a lot of help from her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella’s dreams come true. She goes to the ball, meets the Prince, and falls in love! Cinderella will charm its way into your heart, and remind you that dreams really can come true. This musical is suitable for all audiences.

APR 17-MAY 10 -- The Wizard of Oz
Click your heels and come home to Casa! Follow the yellow brick road with Dorothy, her dog Toto and her friends Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, as they set out to find the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You’ll be humming your favorite timeless classics, including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Follow the Yellow Brick Road." This musical is suitable for all audiences.


Order Season Tickets!
Order a 5-Show Season Ticket package to secure GREAT SEATS for these fantastic, family fun productions at Casa Manana Theatre. 
For More Information:  Call 817-332-2272  

Location:  3101 West Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Box Office: 817-332-2272
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm;  Saturday 12pm-5pm;  Sunday and Monday Closed
Open one hour prior to every show

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53.  PERFORMANCES AT CATS THEATER IN ARLINGTON


CATS PRESENTS:
DECEMBER 5-20 -- Twas the Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. But wait! A mouse is stirring - because Santa missed his house last year. Before you can say "Merry Christmas!” we're off on the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won't take no for an answer. Don't miss this joyful tribute to the holiday season! Perfect for the whole family to ring in the holidays with CATS!
Time:  
Fridays at 7:30;  Saturdays at 2:30 & 7:30.
Tickets:
$8-$10
Auditions:  October 21

FEB 20 - MAR 1, 2015 -- Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona
“Be careful what you wish for,” is the lesson in this entertaining musical adaptation of Tomie dePaola’s picture book about Strega Nona, or “Grandma Witch.” From the opening song, this delightful musical wonderfully captures the spirit of the small Italian town where Strega Nona works to cure the townspeople’s ailments.  Things get interesting when she posts a sign for help and hires the bumbling Big Anthony– to the chagrin of another applicant, the baker’s daughter, Bambolona. Big Anthony is desperate to use Strega Nona’s magic for himself and, in the process, gets in heaps of trouble.  Based upon three of the author's books for children, "Strega Nona," "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring" and "Strega Nona's Magic Lessons," this delightful musical is a treat for all ages!
Time:  
Fridays at 7:30;  Saturdays at 2:30 & 7:30; Sundays at 2:30
Tickets: 
$10-$12
Auditions:  December 9


MAY 8-17 -- Goldilocks
In this comic spin on the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks is once again confronted by the Three Bears...and Joe, the Bears' species exchange student. From Goldilocks' house to the Bears' home and back again, a slew of fairy tale characters cross Goldilocks' path to give advice and tell their tales. This fresh adaptation teaches young audiences the meaning of responsibility through its clever, upbeat dialogue and audience participation.
Time:  Fridays at 7:30;  Saturdays at 2:30 & 7:30; Sundays at 2:30
Tickets: 
$8-$10
Auditions:  
March 3, 2015


HOMESCHOOL CLASSES

Intermediate Acting: Ages 10-11
Time:
Wednesday: 1:00pm-1:55pm
Details:  
A creative imagination experience!  Every child will engage in imagination, vocalization, and movement activities that will prepare them for the stage. They will learn how to act out favorite stories, learn improvisation techniques, and use their bodies and voices to become different characters! Basic stage and blocking direction and an understanding of theatre terminology will help the young actors explore their creative process.
 
Advanced Acting: Age 12+
Time:
Wednesday: 12:00pm-12:55pm
Details: Think like an Actor! The actors learn how to implement an analysis through improvisation-based exercises and scene work. The focus is on how to simplify acting and find the parallels between behavior in real life and behavior on the stage. As the year progresses, students will have identified a specific and repeatable set of skills, which can be used to approach any scene work they perform.
 

For More Information:
Click Here

Location:  1100 West Randol Mill Road
                Arlington, TX  76012


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54.  THE COTTAGE THEATER – CENTER FOR HOME EDUCATION

Center for Home Education’s Cottage Theater Presents:

Upcoming Performances:
DECEMBER 5-6 -- Steel Magnolias
Friday December 5th, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 6th, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.

Admission:  Ticket prices will be $10 for adults, $8 for students. Small children who sit in laps are no charge. No baby carriers or strollers, etc.
To purchase tickets:
Call 817-281-2293;  Sorry, no refunds


Discount:  Center for Home Education is offering HEART of Texas members a 20% dicount off all show tickets for HEART of Texas members (with valid ID Card).  
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here

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55.  DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER PERFORMANCES

2014 - 2015 Season:
(Please note that not all productions may be suitable for all audiences.)  

THRUGH DEC 21 -- Miracle on 34th Street
Based on the beloved film and novel, this is a nostalgic holiday treat for the whole family! A single mother and her young daughter, Susan, have given up on Christmas... until they meet a mysterious gentleman at Macy's claiming to be Santa Claus. This jolly Kris Kringle brings them hope and unleashes waves of goodwill throughout New York City. Could he be the real Santa Claus?

THROUGH DEC 21 -- Frosty & Friends
Join Frosty, Santa, and their friends for an all-new revue that blends a variety of musical and puppetry styles. In the magical world of Kathy Burks' celebrated troupe, ornaments spring to life and dance along to carols, kittens frolic under the Christmas tree, and angels dance in the snow. Celebrate the spirit of the season!

DEC 27 - JAN 4, 2015 -- Oh La La
Back by popular demand! Ring in the New Year with an unforgettable circus extravaganza featuring an international cast of acrobats, aerialists, hand balancers, jugglers, clowns, and more. Produced by the award-winning Lone Star Circus, this sensational and joyous circus spectacular is a holiday tradition enjoyed by the whole family.
Regular Single Ticket price: Section A: $46/$25; Section B: $38/$20;  Subscribers: Section A: $36/$20; Section B:$28/$16

JAN 23, 2015 - FEBRUARY 22, 2015 -- Skippyjon Jones
Be among the first audiences to enjoy this brand new musical adaptation of Judy Schachner's beloved book! Skippyjon Jones is a rambunctious Siamese kitten with big ears and an even bigger imagination. When his loving but exasperated mother puts Skippyjon in time-out, he starts to daydream. His imagination takes him far, far away to Mexico, where he pretends that he is a swashbuckling Chihuahua named Skippito Friskito. This silly, sweet tale celebrates the power of imagination. As Skippyjon would say... mucho fun!

Box Office Hours
9am to 5 p.m., Monday–Friday
Ticket Sales are subject to availability.
Reservations are recommended and require prepayment with either
Cash, Check, Mastercard,Visa, or Amex.
Coupons and discount offers must be arranged in advance with the box office and may be suspended at any time.

Student Matinees: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Time: 10 a.m.
Cost:  $7.50/person for groups of 10 or more $7.50 per person (1 FREE chaperone per 20 student tickets)
Deposit required with reservation
Balance due SIX WEEKS before performance.
All plays, locations, dates and times are subject to change.
To Make Reservation:  Call 214-219-2049 or click here to email

Locations:  (refer to individual production to determine location)
               
 Rosewood Center for Family Arts
                 5938 Skillman Street
 
                 El Centro College Theater
                 801 N. Main St.
               


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56.  DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

2014-2015 Season:
(Please note that not all productions may be suitable for all audiences.)  

HEART of Texas is proud to partner with Dallas Summer Musicals! Your homeschool group (group of 10 or more) can get discount rates to great family-friendly performances for the upcoming season.  
Be sure to mention HEART of Texas when you order.  Check out the Group Discount Form on our Downloads page for details.

DEC 2, 7, 12: A CHRISTMAS STORY
Direct from Broadway, A Christmas Story, The Musical, nominated for three 2013 Tony Awards(r) including Best Musical, comes to hilarious life onstage! Based on the classic 1983 movie, the story takes place in 1940's Indiana, where a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a triple dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. The Associated Press calls A Christmas Story, The Musical "a joyous Christmas miracle," while The New York Times writes "I was dazzled. You'd have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face."
Special Discounts for Groups with 10 or More:  Click Here for pricing and show times  
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Performance Schedule and Pricing.

MARCH 24, 27 and APRIL 2, 3: THE KING AND I
East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna's assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another, in a truly unique love story. Along with the dazzling score, the incomparable Jerome Robbins ballet, 'The Small House of Uncle Thomas,' is one of the all-time marvels of the musical stage.
"THE KING AND I is the essence of musical theater, an occasion when drama, music, dance and decor combine to take the audience on an unforgettable journey."- Houston Chronicle
Special Discounts for Groups with 10 or More:  Click Here for pricing and show times
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Performance Schedule and Pricing.

APRIL 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16: THE ILLUSIONISTS
"It's deliciously, self-knowingly over the top and brain-bendingly spectacular - genuinely satisfying family entertainment that should not be missed."     The Daily Telegraph
Direct from Broadway, the world's best selling magic show is coming to .....
This mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of seven of the most incredible Illusionists on earth.  The Illusionists has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage.  This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.
Special Discounts for Groups with 10 or More:  Click Here for pricing and show times
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Performance Schedule and Pricing.

JUNE 10, 14: CINDERELLA
SEE STUDY GUIDE (click here)
Special Discounts for Groups with 10 or More:  Click Here for pricing and show times
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Performance Schedule and Pricing.

Location: The Music Hall at Fair Park
909 1st Ave
Dallas, TX 75210   
          


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57.  DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES

Youth Concerts:
FEBRUARY 4, 5, or 18 -- Peter & the Wolf (PreK-2nd Grades)
Times:  10am or 11:30am
Featuring the beloved musical classic, this engaging program for younger concert-goers features members of the Dallas Black Dance Theater helping the DSO to bring the tale of brave Peter and his animal friends to life.  Everyone loves a good story, and musical storytelling not only improves comprehension, but also provides a gateway to curiosity about the instruments of the orchestra.

APRIL 1, 2, or 28 -- Destination: America (3-6th Grades)
Times:  10am or 11:30am
The history of America is a mosaic in the making, with diverse cultures and influences forming an impressive whole, and creating something very special in the process.  This lively program traces how composers celebrate the unique spirit of America, each from their own fascinating perspective.

Admission:  $6.50/person (payment must be received with all reservations).  Only reservations confirmed in advance can be seated.  No walk-ins.
Parking:  $6 per car in the Arts District Parking Garage
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before concert time.  Concerts last approximately 45 minutes.
Special Students at the Symphony Program: Free seats are available to mentally and physically challenged students.  To participate, complete the appropriate information on the reservation form.

To Order Tickets Online or by Phone:
 Click Here or call 214-871-4006.  
To Pay by Check or Money Order:  Please fill out this PDF form and mail it with the check or money order attached.
Please note that reservations will not be held without payment. The DSO will not process your request unless the reservation form is fully complete.
Read Youth Concert Logistics and FAQ’s before making a request.


Concert Location:  Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora Street, Dallas, TX  75201
                            (intersection of Pearl & Flora Street in the heart of the Downtown Dallas Arts District)
For Directions:  Click Here

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View Month at a Glance

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58.  FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YOUNG PERSON'S CONCERTS

Designed to engage the interest of children of all ages, these concerts are open to school groups, home school groups and individuals.
You must have a reservation.  No walk-ins.

Events:

JAN 21 or 22, 2015 -- Fort Worth: Cowboys & Culture -- 10:15am or 12:15pm
Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce Street, 76102
Join the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Kids Who Care in a celebration of our great city as you take a musical and visual tour of the city's landmarks, from Sundance Square to the Stockyards.  You'll hear selections from Carnival of the Animals, Pictures at an Exhibition, and finally, Aaron Copland's Rodeo. This program features images from Fort Worth photographer Brian Luenser and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art! Young Person's Concerts are approximately 45 minutes long and are appropriate for students ages 7 through 12.
To Order Tickets:
 Click Here

FEB 20 -- KinderConcerts: My Many Colored Days -- 9:45 or 11:15
Arborlawn United Methodist Church, 5001 Briarhaven Road, 76109
“Some days are yellow. Some days are blue. On different days I’m different too.” Accompanied by Kids Who Care, the Fort Worth Symphony explores the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss’ My Many Colored Days and demonstrates how feelings are expressed through music and colors. Kinderconcerts are approximately 35 minutes and are appropriate for children ages 3 through 6.
To Order Tickets:
Click Here

Orders for Fewer than 20 Seats:  
Must be paid in advance.
Orders for 20 or More:  May be reserved without advance payment.
Approximately one month before the concert, you will receive a notice confirming the number of seats you have ordered and the total amount due (if applicable). If the final number of seats needed for the concert is different from that listed on the notice, please call with a corrected number immediately upon receiving the confirmation. Full payment is due two weeks before the concert date for groups of 20 or more.
Absolutely NO refunds for changes in reservation numbers after this date.
Special Note for Groups of 20 or More:   When you reserve a seat, that seat is held for you and not sold to another individual until you release it. Therefore, we ask you to verify the actual number of seats needed before making concert reservations. We understand that you may need to adjust the number of reserved seats before the payment due date, and those emergencies may cause cancellations. However, the privilege of reserving seats without advance payment may be revoked if your organization cancels more than 20% of its total reserved seats or fails to attend a concert for which it has reserved seats. 
Children Under Age 3:  Because of the nature of the event, we request that children under age three not be brought to these concerts, particularly to the concerts at Bass Performance Hall. You must purchase a seat for each person to be admitted to a concert, regardless of age.

For Questions:  Click Here to send an e-mail message or call 817-665-6500.

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59.  GREATER DALLAS YOUTH ORCHESTRA

   
DECEMBER 17 --
GDYO - "Angels and Shepherds" CONCERT
7:30pm
Location:  Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX  75201
(at the intersection of Pearl & Flora St. in the heart of Downtown Dallas Arts District)
Details: GDYO’s holiday concert is a time-honored tradition for many music lovers in the community. Featuring the Youth Chorus and Women’s Youth Chorus of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, the concert repertoire will include holiday favorites and orchestral classics. Pieces to be performed include: Ola Gjeilo, Gloria; Rutter, The Shepherds Pipe Carol; Rutter, Angels Carol; and many more!
Tickets: $10 - $40;   For GDYO concerts - Students tickets are $8 (student ID required).
(Dress Circle/1st Balcony) - $10, Orchestra Floor - $20, Orchestra Terrace/surrounds floor) - $25, Loge - $40)
To Order Online:  Click Here  
 (Tickets can also be purchased at the door, at no additional charge)
To purchase Loge Tickets ($40):  214-528-7747
   
JANUARY 27, 2015 --
Wind Symphony with the Dallas Winds - CONCERT
8:00pm
Location:  City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora
The GDYO Wind Symphony side-by-side with the Dallas Winds
For Information:  Click Here
   
FEBRUARY 8, 2015 --
Philharmonic & Wind Symphony - CONCERT
2:30pm
Location:  City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora
Ticket Information:  
Click Here
   
FEBRUARY 22, 2015 --
GDYO Jazz Institute - Concert
Details to be announced:  Click Here

FEBRUARY 22, 2015 --
Sinfonietta, DSE, YPO - CONCERT
2:30pm
Location:  City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora
For Ticket Information:  
Click Here
   
MARCH 1, 2015  --
GDYO - "Young Virtuosos and Ancient Airs" CONCERT

7:30pm
Location:  Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX  75201
(at the intersection of Pearl & Flora St. in the heart of Downtown Dallas Arts District)

Details: Each year, the GDYO program offers concerto competitions for four of the ensembles, including the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. These competitions cultivate solo performance, encourage personal excellence, and acknowledge the high degree of talent and hard work exhibited by individual musicians in the program. Dallas area professional musicians will judge the orchestra members at their competition in September. The winner of the competition will be featured on this concert, along with Barber’s Overture to the School for Scandal, Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances Set III, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9.
Tickets: $10 - $40;   For GDYO concerts - Students tickets are $8 (student ID required).
(Dress Circle/1st Balcony) - $10, Orchestra Floor - $20, Orchestra Terrace/surrounds floor) - $25, Loge - $40)
To Order Online:  Click Here  
 (Tickets can also be purchased at the door, at no additional charge)
To purchase Loge Tickets ($40):  214-528-7747
   
MAY 3, 2015 -- GDYO Jazz Institute - Concert

Details to be announced:  Click Here

MAY 10, 2015 --
Sinfonietta, DSE, YPO - CONCERT

2:30pm
Location:  City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora
Ticket Information:  Click Here

   
MAY 17, 2015 --
Philharmonic & Wind Symphony - CONCERT

2:30pm
Location:
Moron H. Meyerson
For Ticket Information:  Click Here

   
MAY 17, 2015 --
GDYO - "Cossacks, Gypsies, and a Scoundrel" CONCERT

7:30pm
Location:  Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX  75201
(at the intersection of Pearl & Flora St. in the heart of Downtown Dallas Arts District)

Details:  Join us for the final concert of the 2014 – 2015 season!
The Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras will present the season finale on May 17 preceded by the Spring Gala.  Pieces to be performed on the concert include Tchaikovsky’s Cossack Dance from Mazeppa (with the student conducting competition winner), Ravel’s Tzigane with violin soloist Maria Schleuning, Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel, and Dvorak’s    Symphony No. 9.
Tickets: $10 - $40;   For GDYO concerts - Students tickets are $8 (student ID required).
(Dress Circle/1st Balcony) - $10, Orchestra Floor - $20, Orchestra Terrace/surrounds floor) - $25, Loge - $40)
To Order Online:  Click Here  
 (Tickets can also be purchased at the door, at no additional charge)
To purchase Loge Tickets ($40):  214-528-7747


GDYO Subscription Tickets: $32-$130

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60.  PLANO CHILDREN’S THEATER PERFORMANCES


Location:  Plano Children’s Theater, 1301 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75075
NOTE:  Some productions may not be appropriate for children.  Each family is encouraged to exercise discretion when considering to allow your children/family to view these productions.

Now Showing:


DEC 5-14 -- Annie, Jr. (McKinney)
Performs at Heard Craig Hall in McKinney
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
Tickets:  $8 in Advance and $10 at the door.  Front Row Seats are $18.

To Learn More:  www.planochildrenstheatre.com



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61.  TEXAS BALLET THEATER PERFORMANCES

The Texas Ballet Theater is once again partnering with HEART of Texas to offer our newsletter readers (that's you!) and other homeschoolers special ticket pricing during select performances. The dates and times of these select performances are listed below.  You can purchase tickets as a group or as a family -- all homeschoolers can enjoy these great discounts.  You do not have to be a member of HEART of Texas or any other home school support group, but you must mention HEART of Texas when you call.

Performances:
DECEMBER 12 - 27 -- The Nutcracker (Bass Hall in Fort Worth)
HEART of Texas Discount Day (30% Discount):  DECEMBER 14 at 7:00 pm
Details: 
Texas Ballet Theater ushers in the holiday season with its traditional performance of The Nutcracker. Clara receives a mysterious Nutcracker from her godfather and it becomes the center of an astonishing dream. Come join Clara on her magical journey as she travels with a Nutcracker turned Prince to The Land of Sweets where she is treated to a celebration of sweets from around the world who dance just for her. Filled with enchantment and wonder, The Nutcracker is a delightful addition to any holiday celebration. Flying carpets, snow, and our talented dancers make this show unforgettable.

FEBRUARY 6 - 8 (2015) -- The Merry Widow (Bass Hall in Fort Worth)
HEART of Texas Discount Day (20% Discount):  FEBRUARY 7 at 2:00 pm
Details:
For the second time in the 2014-2015 season, Texas Ballet Theater will be joined by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for The Merry Widow. When a wealthy widow attends a ball where she is to be courted by a suitor, she becomes mixed up in a whirlwind of romantic confusion. Adapted from the operetta of the same name, this is a production that you will not want to miss.

To Purchase Tickets By Phone: 
Call 877-828-9200, opt 1
You must mention HEART of Texas Home School Discount Program to get the discount.
Any homeschooler may take advantage of this program
 

Tickets are sold on a first-come, first served basis, so please reserve your tickets as soon as possible to ensure the best section seating available during our select performances.  All tickets, even group tickets, must be paid for up front.  Please be aware that all sales are final. 

Please Note:  Some performances may not be appropriate for all audiences.  Please use your own judgment when considering allowing your children/family to view these productions.

           


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62.  TEXAS BALLET THEATER DANCE SCHOOL -- DANCE CLASSES -- FORT WORTH

$50 Discount for HEART of Texas newsletter readers!
The Texas Ballet Theater School is offering our readers a $50 discount on registration if you mention HEART of Texas.

They currently offer classes during the day for 3 & 4 year olds, but if you have a group of at least 6 students who are close in age/ballet experience, they will try to put together a class for your students!

For more information:  Click here to email Ashley Friedman or 877-828-9200, ext 108


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63.  HOME SCHOOL DISCOUNT TICKETS TO DALLAS THEATER PERFORMANCES

Save 20% on regular priced tickets.
Location:  Music Hall at Fair Park

Offer valid on Tues, Wed, Thurs, & Sun evening performances in price level 2-4
To Order Tickets: Click here to email

Offer open to homeschoolers, friends and family.  Unlike some of the other theater offers, DSM gives a different link each time so contact Susan at the email above for the link to the current offers. 

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64.  AMON CARTER EXHIBITS

The Carter houses one of the nation’s preeminent collections of American art, from works by the early nineteenth-century artist-explorers through those of the mid-twentieth-century modernists and up to the work of contemporary photographers. The museum also holds one of the most comprehensive collections of work by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.

Museum Exhibits:
Through January 11 2015 -- Benito Huerta: Axis Mundi v.2
Local artist Benito Huerta strives to expand the boundaries of art by creating works that are symbolic, interactive, and relevant to viewers. Having completed many public art commissions, such as designs for Terminal D at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and the Mexican-American Cultural Center in Austin, and serving as professor and director/curator for the Gallery at University of Texas at Arlington since 1997, Huerta understands what it means to make artworks that are physically and psychologically integral to the community.

Through January 11, 2015 -- Fresh Perspectives: Beniot Huerta and the Collection
Amon Carter assistant curator Maggie Adler and local contemporary artist Benito Huerta have joined forces in an exhibition of Huerta’s drawings, watercolors, and prints in combination with a selection of works on paper from the museum. Fresh Perspectives: Benito Huerta and the Collection brings a new voice to the interpretation of our collection and introduces audiences to the contradictions and convergences between our historic works on paper and the work of a contemporary artist.

Through January 18, 2015 -- Modern Masters of the Woodcut
Drawn entirely from the museum’s collection, the prints reveal how the American woodcut has evolved over the past century. While many of the prints retain their connections to traditional methods of woodblock printing, they all reveal a pliant medium capable of bold new forms of artistic expression. The exhibition includes prints by a number of major figures in the field, including Gustave Baumann, Paul Landacre, and Clare Leighton. Also included in the exhibition are several illustrated books featuring woodcuts or wood engravings from museum’s research library.

Through January 18, 2015 -- Navigating the West: George Caleb Bingham and the River
Navigating the West, a dynamic exhibition featuring sixteen iconic river paintings and fifty drawings, reveals for the first time how George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879) created his art and artistic persona at a time when American painting, like the country, was dramatically shifting. Then and now our nation’s waterways—how they are used, controlled, and the lives of the people closest to them—remain a current and important issue.

Through January 25, 2015 -- Meet Me at the Trinity: Photographs by Terry Evans
In conjunction with the exhibition Navigating the West: George Caleb Bingham and the River opening in October, the Amon Carter Museum has commissioned Chicago-based artist Terry Evans to photograph the Trinity River as it runs through Fort Worth. Evans is one of the nation’s acclaimed landscape photographers, and her works offer Amon Carter visitors an opportunity to think about our local river in the context of Bingham’s nineteenth-century work.

Through May 17, 2015 -- Lone Star Portraits
Ever since Leonardo da Vinci created his celebrated Mona Lisa, artists have tried to paint portraits as distinctive as this Renaissance masterpiece. See how Texas artists established their own portrait tradition in this installation that pairs artists’ self-portraits with those of their close friends, relatives, and colleagues.


Guided Tours for Students:  
Click Here

Museum Hours:      
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday:  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday:  Noon – 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays and major holidays

Admission:
 Admission to permanent collection is FREE.
Tickets for special exhibitions can be purchased
at the information desk.
All galleries in the Amon Carter Museum offer barrier-free access.


Location:  Amon Carter Art Museum
        3501 Camp Bowie Boulevard
        Fort Worth, TX 76107
        817-738-1933


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65.  DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBITS 

Location:  Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 North Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201
Hours: Monday:  Closed
            Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

            Thursday: 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
            Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
            Closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
            Late night Fridays (3rd Friday of the month, excluding December) museum open until Midnight.


General Admission:  General admission is FREE every day
Special Exhibit Admission:  $8/person;  Ages 11 and under:  FREE


CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:
Through Dec 7-- From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith
rom the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith features 26 pieces including silver and gold jewelry created by African American artist, Art Smith, as well as select pieces by his contemporaries. Inspired by surrealism, biomorphism, and primitivism, Smith was one of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-twentieth century. His work is dynamic in both size and form. The exhibition, organized by the Brooklyn Museum of Art, is enriched by archival materials from the artist’s estate, including sketches, tools, and model photos. Smith was an active supporter of black and gay civil rights, an avid jazz enthusiast, and a supporter of early black modern dance groups.
Requires $8 Special Exhibition Ticket

Through Feb 8, 2015 -- Bouquets: French Still-Life Painting from Chardin to Matisse
French Still-Life Painting from Chardin to Matisse showcases approximately 60 floral still lifes from painters such as Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Courbet, Henri Fantin-Latour, Édouard Manet, and Paul Cézanne and is the first major American exhibition to consider the French floral still life across the 19th century.
Requires $8 Special Exhibition Ticket

November 15, 2014 - October 18, 2015 -- Modern Opulence in Vienna: The Wittgenstein Vitrine
The Wittgenstein Vitrine reveals these results by exploring the conservation effort and charting the context and history of this masterwork’s design and fabrication, iconography, and provenance. The exhibition also presents new perspectives on designer Carl Otto Czeschka, his work for the Wiener Werkstätte, and the important patronage of the Wittgenstein family.
Admission is included in your general admission.

November 21 - April 19, 2015 -- Small Worlds: Edouard Vuillard and the Intimate Art of the Nabis
Small Worlds: Edouard Vuillard and the Intimate Art of the Nabis explores works in the DMA's collection created by Nabi artists, including Edouard Vuillard, Paul Bonnard, Maurice Denis, and Félix Vallotton. In the years following the final impressionist exhibition in 1886, a variety of avant-garde groups were formed in Paris by young artists eager to propose a new kind of modernist painting. One of these was begun around 1888 by a handful of students at a private art school known as the Académie Julian. Calling themselves the Nabis, a Hebrew word meaning “prophets,” these young artists forged a new relationship to many of the same subjects that had fascinated the impressionists a generation before: the modern city, its streets and public spaces, and the status of the private self in relation to this public sphere.
Admission is included in your general admission.

February 8, 2015 - July 19, 2015 -- Between Action and the Unknown: The Art of Kazuo Shiraga and Sadamasa Motonaga
The Art of Kazuo Shiraga and Sadamasa Motonaga will examine the full arcs of the artists’ careers, from their early works to their 18-year engagement with the Gutai Art Association—the leading avant-garde group of postwar Japanese artists—to their later masterworks created in the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s.
Admission is included in your general admission.

February 22, 2015 - June 21, 2015 -- Concentrations 58: Chosil Kil
In her first U.S. museum solo show, London-based artist Chosil Kil continues her exploration of the liminal space between interior and exterior; material and immaterial; object and performance.
Admission is included in your
general admission.

March 15, 2015 - July 5, 2015 -- Michaël Borremans: As sweet as it gets
Michaël Borremans: As sweet as it gets is the first exhibition to bring together the Belgian artist’s paintings, drawings, and films from over the last fourteen years in a single survey.
Requires $8 Special Exhibition Ticket

May 15, 2015 - Nov 15, 2015 -- Inca: Conquests of the Andes/Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes
Inca: Conquests of the Andes explores the dynamic nature of state expansion and imperial conquest on Andean visual arts. The Inca Empire developed through the 15th and early 16th centuries, encompassing the central Andes of South America. Before and after the Inca Empire, political expansions by local states or foreign empires continually transformed the Andean coast and highlands. The visual arts of these periods reflect the dynamism of such cultural convergence.  The exhibition presents over 70 works exclusively drawn from the DMA’s collection, many of which are on view for the first time. The Inca and their imperial impact are framed by pre-Inca cultures, such as the Wari (Huari), and the successive early Spanish colonial period. The exhibition reflects the traditional media of Andean visual arts, from ceramic and wood to gold, silver, feather, and textile objects. They convey the richness and dynamism of over 1,000 years of Andean cultural history.
Requires $8 Special Exhibition Ticket

November 15, 2015 - March 20, 2016 -- Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots
Blind Spots will illuminate this underexplored but pivotal part of the artist’s practice. The exhibition will explore the Pollock’s practice via a selection of paintings made between 1947 and 1949; these works will serve to contextualize the radical departure represented by the Black Pourings, a series of black enamel and oil paintings that Pollock created between 1951 and 1953.

Oct 11, 2015 - January 17, 2016 -- International Pop
International Pop, organized by the Walker Art Center, chronicles the global emergence of Pop in the 1960s and early 1970s. While previous exhibitions and prevailing scholarship have primarily focused on the dominance of Pop activity in New York and London during this time, this exhibition examines work from artists across the globe who were confronting many of the same radical developments, laying the foundation of the emergence of an art form that embraced figuration, media strategies, and mechanical processes with a new spirit of urgency and/or exuberance. This groundbreaking exhibition follows the trajectories of Pop and its critical points of contact with global developments in art such as Nouveau Réalisme (France), Concretism and Neo-Concretism (Brazil), The Art of Things (Argentina), Anti-Art (Japan), Capitalist Realism (Germany), Happenings, and Neo-Dada.
International Pop will require an $8.00 special exhibition ticket.


FREE First Tuesdays of each month
Time: 1-2pm
Cost:  
General admission to the Museum is free on the first Tuesday of every month.
Location:  
Center for Creative Connections (C3)
Ages:  Programming is designed for children ages five and under, but all are welcome.
Details: Enjoy thematic art-making activities, story times, performances, and gallery activities.
DEC 2: Jolly Holiday

HOMESCHOOL CLASS
Fourth Thursday of every month, with some exceptions.
Time:
11am-12:30pm
Details:
The Dallas Museum of Art’s homeschool classes offer an interactive Museum experience for families with children ages 6 and above. Parents and children learn about works of art together in the galleries, participate in hands-on activities as a family, and create a work of art together in the Art Studio. During the program, parents learn techniques and skills for creating their own educational experiences in the gallery.
Cost:
$8/child (ages 6 and up). Adults do not require a ticket.
To Register:
To register for the class, click here to go to the ticketing website, select Family Programs from the sidebar on the left, and follow the instructions to add the number of tickets you need for the class (one ticket per child). Participating adults do not require a ticket. If you have any difficulties with the new system, call 214-922-1270 or 214-922-1822. When classes are filled, call 214-922-1818 or e-mail familyexperiences@DallasMuseumofArt.org to be placed on a waiting list.
NOVEMBER 20 -- African Masks

Discover different types of hats worn in African societies and then use unique materials to design your own wearable artwork in the studio. 
DECEMBER 18 -- Fantastic Flowers
Explore the exhibition Bouquets: French Still-Life Painting from Chardin to Matisse and try your hand at floral-inspired art!
For more information: click here


Family Activities:
Tuesday–Friday, 2:00­–3:00 p.m.
Cost: Family activities are free with paid admission. No registration is necessary.
Please call 214-922-1822 for more information.
Experience the Museum's premier collection through a cinematic lens with Summer Spotlight drop in activities for families. Meet in the Center for Creative Connections.


For more information about family experiences:  214-922-1822 or click here to e-mail


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66.  KIMBELL ART MUSEUM EXHIBITS

The Kimbell Art Museum’s holdings include artworks ranging in period from antiquity to the 20th century. The collection includes masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Caravaggio, El Greco, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso, as well as antiquities, Asian, African, and pre-Columbian art.

Location:  Kimball Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2792
Phone: 817-332-8451   Metro: 817-654-1034   Fax: 817-877-1264
Museum Hours:  Mondays – Closed
                            Tuesdays–Thursdays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
                            Fridays, noon–8 p.m.
                            Saturdays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
                            Sundays, noon–5 p.m.
                            Closed New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, & Christmas Day
Admission:  Admission to the Museum’s permanent collection is always free.  There is a charge for special exhibitions.
Half-Off Admission:  Tuesdays from 10am to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. (Not applicable for Member audio tours).
Group Sales:  Discounted tickets for groups of 20 or more are available with a reservation for a specific date and time, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. For reservations, call 817-332-8451, ext. 229. Reservations for groups should be made at least two weeks in advance.


CURRENT & UPCOMING EXHIBITS
Through Jan 18, 2015 -- Navigating the West: George Caleb Bingham and the River
Features sixteen iconic river paintings and fifty drawings; reveals for the first time how George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) created his art and artistic persona at a time when American painting, like the country, was dramatically shifting.  Then and now, our nations's waterways --- how they are used, controlled, and the lives of the people closest to them -- remain a current and important issue.  Look for a monitor in the exhibition that highlights the artist's creative process and enjoy an interactive area that lets you channel your inner Bingham by tracing his figures onto canvas. All ages are invited to participate.

Through JAN 25 -- Faces of Impressionism: Portraits from the Musée d’Orsay

On view in the Renzo Piano Pavilion
Faces of Impressionism explores the character and development of the portrait in French painting and sculpture from the late 1850s until the first years of the 20th century. The major figures of Impressionist portraiture­­—Caillebotte, Cézanne, Degas, Monet and Renoir—will be represented in depth. ]

MARCH 1, 2015 - MAY 24, 2015 -- The Collection of Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass
On view in the Renzo Piano Pavilion
A selection of paintings and sculptures amassed by two pillars of Texas philanthropy and business. From this collection of Impressionist to post–World War II art, 37 works of painting and sculpture will be on view, including an impressive pair of paintings by Van Gogh—Street in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, 1888, and Enclosed Field with Plowman, 1889—and a major still life by Picasso, Fruit Dish, Bottle, and Guitar, 1923. Important paintings by Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Vuillard, Bonnard, Matisse, Miró, Léger, Chagall and Rothko and sculptures by Rodin, Maillol and Segal will also be on view.

June 28, 2015 - September 20, 2015 -- Botticelli to Braque: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland
On view in the Renzo Piano Pavilion
The 55 paintings in the exhibition span a period of more than 400 years (1490–1932) and include some of the greatest holdings of the Scottish National Gallery, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art—the three institutions that comprise the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh. Ten paintings in the exhibition, all from the Scottish National Gallery, will first be presented at the Frick Collection in New York City as Masterpieces from the Scottish National Gallery, on view there from November 5, 2014, through February 1, 2015.


KIMBELL KIDS DROP IN STUDIO
Time:
1pm-1:45pm
This free program introduces children (ages 12 and younger) and their adult companions to fun and inspiring ways to enjoy art together. Each session features a brief gallery activity and a related studio art project.
Registration: No advance registration for this drop-in program; space is limited to 20 children, plus adults.
Sign up at the entrance to the education studios in the Renzo Piano Pavilion, beginning one hour before the program.

For More Information: Contact Here or call: 817.332.8452
Themes:    NOV 8, 22; DEC 6, 13, 20 – Create a Story
                JAN 3, 10, 24, 31 – Connect the Dots Portaits
                FEB 7, 14; MAR 7, 14 – Sculpture Explorers


Children's Workshops

Time:  10am-Noon on select Saturdays
Connect with artworks, new friends, and creative activities during Saturday workshops for children (ages 6–14) and their adult partners. Limit three children per adult; no charge for parents. Individual session fees are $15; series of 3 sessions for $37.
To Register:  817-332-8451, ext. 351.
Themes:  
NOV 15 – Impressionists in the Mirror
                JAN 17 – Color Me Happy


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67.  PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE IN DALLAS

Location:  2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, 75201 (located at the corner of Woodall Rodgers and Field Street
Phone: 214-428-5555  
Museum Hours:  Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm
(Moody Family Children's Museum (Lower Level) Mon: Noon-5pm, Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm)
                        Sunday: noon-5pm
                        First Thursday Late Night: 5-9pm
Extended hours first Thursday of each month. Also enjoy a late-night film and special interactive programming!
Last exhibits entry at 3:30pm regular hours, or an hour and a half before closing for extended hours.

School Group/Field Trip Traffic Calendar:
                            Monday-Friday: 9am-2:30pm, September-June 5
                            Tuesday-Friday: 9am-2:30pm, limited groups June-August 28 


Museum Information:
The Museum of Nature & Science consists of several buildings all located in Fair Park, Dallas. The Nature Building is located at 3535 Grand Avenue, the Science Building is located at 1318 South Second Avenue and the Planetarium Building is located at 1620 First Avenue.


EXHIBITS

Through January 4, 2015: 2theXtreme: MathAlive!
The exhibition is located on the Lower Level of the Perot Museum, in the Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones Exhibition Hall.
2theXtreme: MathAlive! is designed to inspire, spark the imagination and reveal not only the math at work, but the infinite possibilities of math. The exhibition brings to life all the mathematics behind what kids love most - video games, sports, fashion, music, space, robotics and more. Innovative technologies and hands-on activities create interactive and immersive experiences that will spark a passion for math and show you the formula for fun.
Admission to 2theXtreme: MathAlive! is timed entry, at 30 minute intervals, and requires the purchase of general exhibit hall admission. Museum members receive entry to 2theXtreme: MathAlive! at no extra charge, but must still reserve a timed ticket to the traveling exhibition.
To Purchase Tickets: Click Here

HOME SCHOOL EVENTS

Times:  
Mondays: 9am-Noon or Thurs: 2pm-5pm
For Ages:
4-5 years; 6-7 years; 8-10 years; and 11-13 years

To Register:  Click Here
For Additional Information:  Click Here to send an email
Details:
Beyond our upcoming Homeschool days, we offer additional time in the Museum and recommend that you stay and take advantage of visiting all five levels. Five floors house 11 permanent exhibit halls containing state-of-the-art video and 3D computer animation with thrilling, life-like simulations where visitors can exercise their brains through hands-on activities, interactive kiosks and educational games. The extraordinary building and outdoor space serves as a living science lesson, offering provocative illustrations of engineering, technology and conservation. 
Themes:   JAN 8, 22 – Being Human (Thursdays)
                    JAN 12, 26 – Being Human (Mondays)
                    FEB 12, 26 – Robots & Engineering (Thursdays)
                    MAR 2, 23 – Science Sleuths (Mondays)

                    MAR 5, 26 – Science Sleuths (Thursdays)
                    APR 9, 23 – Oceans (Thursdays)
                    APR 13, 27 – Oceans (Mondays)
Overall themes are the same for all grade levels each month, however activities and curriculum will be age specific.

PARENT/CHILD PROGRAM
Time:
Mondays 9am-10:30am (For children ages 4-5)
Classes begin an hour before the Museum opens to the public, to allow children access to the galleries without distractions or interruptions.
Parents participate alongside the children.
Classes are 1.5 hours to allow time for supplemental hands-on experiences such as art projects and experiments that reinforce the concepts learned while visiting each of the four galleries: The Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall, The Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, The Rees-Jones Foundation Dynamic Earth Hall, The Rose Hall of Birds
For more Informtion: 214.756.5728
To Register: Click Here

FEATURED 3D FILMS AT THE HOGLUND FOUNDATION THEATER AT PEROT MUSEUM:
THROUGH NOVEMBER 20 -- Pandas: The Journey Home 3D
Audiences will fall in love with this iconic, delightful creature and better understand the desperate plight of pandas in the wild. The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to the Wolong Panda Conservation Centre, to bring to light the extraordinary efforts of the Chinese to secure the pandas’ future in the wild. Made at a critical time in the history of the species, the film shows how, after finally achieving success at captive breeding, the Chinese scientists involved with this effort must now face the ultimate challenge of successfully re-introducing pandas into their natural habitat. Meet all of the pandas at the Centre as they get ready for their new lives in various parts of the world; learn about their fascinating habits as you chuckle at their hijinks. Turns out pandas are as much fun as they are cute, and they love getting the best of their keepers!
Tickets: Click Here

THROUGH MARCH 22, 2015 -- Robots 3D (40 min)
What does it take to make a “humanoid” robot — a robot who can do anything we can do but without the benefit of a human brain? This is the challenge for scientists now as they create robots who are becoming eerily like the people who are making them. Fascinating and fun, Robots 3D shows the latest developments — the successes and the failures — from robotic labs around the world and proves it’s not easy being (or creating a) humanoid!
To View Trailer:
Click Here

THROUGH MAY 21 2015 -- Galapagos:  Nature's Wonderland 3D (20 min)
In the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, there is a paradise unlike any other: the Galapagos. Amongst these remote volcanic islands, life has played out over millions of years in relative isolation. The result is a wonderland of nature, with a remarkable collection of plants and charismatic animals that have all adapted to this unique environment. Meet giant half-ton tortoises and marine iguanas that spit sea-salt. Dance with the tropical albatrosses and hunt fishes with the colorful blue-footed boobies. Swim with tiny penguins thousands of miles away from their natural habitats. Narrated by Jeff Corwin, this is a story of discovery, of survival against the odds, and of nature’s ingenuity, all brought to life in stunning 3D.
Tickets: Click Here



OPENS JANUARY 9 THROUGH MAY 21, 2015 -- TORNADO ALLEY 3D (20 min)
Join Storm Chasers star Sean Casey and the researchers of VORTEX 2, the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes, on this heart-pounding science adventure. Armed with a 70mm camera, a fleet of customized vehicles designed to withstand gale force winds, torrential rains and unrelenting hail, and an arsenal of the most advanced weather measurement instruments ever created, the stars of Tornado Alley take audiences on a thrilling quest to experience a tornado’s destructive power at point blank range. Experience the adrenaline and the science of nature’s most dramatic phenomena! This science adventure reveals the beauty and the power of some of our planet’s most extreme—and least understood—weather phenomena.
To View Trailer: Click Here

PLANETARIUM SHOWS
Secrets of the Sun
From the nuclear forces churning at the heart of the sun to the mass ejections of solar material into the surrounding space, we will experience the power of the sun and its impact on the planets and ultimately life on Earth. We will trace the life cycle of the sun itself, going back to its beginnings and moving forward in time to its eventual death.
Universe
Universe allows audiences to experience an historical look at how we have envisioned the universe though the ages. We visit some of the ancient sites where our ancestors erected great structures with special astronomical significance. Finally we look at the Universe through the eyes of today’s science and space explorers to build up a spectacular overview of the heavens.
Texas Night Sky
Enjoy this informal narrated introduction to the wonders of the sky featuring a view as it may appear tonight in your own backyard. Learn which planets, stars, and constellations are currently visible, the unique stories behind their names, and tips on how to locate them in the night sky. The things available to see change as the calendar changes and so do these shows!
Seven Wonders
Turn back the pages of time and witness the ancient wonders of the world as they have not been seen for thousands of years. Travel to Egypt to visit the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Great Pyramids, to Persia to see the original Mausoleum, to Babylon to explore the fabled Hanging Gardens, to Greece to tour the Temples of Zeus and Artemis, and to Rhodes to stand in the shadow of the towering Colossus. We will investigate the theories of how these wonders were created and get a glimpse of some of the universe’s greatest wonders. Narrated by Sean Bean, Boromir from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Wonders of the Universe
Peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back billions of years in time to witness the birth of the universe. On this breathtaking excursion you’ll witness the formation of galaxies and explore some of the most wondrous nebulae and astronomical structures yet discovered. As your travels continue, you’ll fly deep into our own Milky Way galaxy and return home to Earth on a spectacular tour through the solar system.
Hubble Space Telescope Images
The Orion Nebula, a cavern of rolling dust and gas some 1,500 light-years away, is the nearest star-forming region to Earth. This image is the sharpest ever taken of the nebula.  The bright central region is home to the four heftiest stars in the nebula, collectively called the Trapezium. Ultraviolet light from them is carving a cavity in the nebula and disrupting the growth of hundreds of smaller stars. Nearby are stars still young enough to have disks of material encircling them, too small to be seen clearly in this image. The disks are the building blocks of solar systems. Faint red stars near the bottom are myriad brown dwarfs. Sometimes called “failed stars,” brown dwarfs are cool objects too small to be ordinary stars because they cannot sustain nuclear fusion in their cores the way our Sun does. Astronomers used 104 five-color Hubble images to make this composite picture, adding ground-based photos to fill out the edges. The mosaic covers approximately the apparent angular size of the full moon. The observations were taken between 2004 and 2005.

PERMANENT EXHIBITS AT PEROT MUSEUM

Moody Family Children's Museum  
Where Little Children Make Big Discoveries: Park your stroller-and rev up for a day of discovery with your child! Here, kids 5 and younger can climb a replica of Reunion Tower, discover Texas wildlife or simply paint a picture.   
Sports Hall
Give Your Mind and Body a Workout!: Could you outrun a Tyrannosaurus rex, or through a football better than a pro? Get ready, get set-and get active as you explore your body in motion!
Discovering Life Hall
The Power of Adaptation: What is life, and how do different species adapt over time? From single-cell organisms to the largest creatures on the planet, this exhibit hall explores and celebrates the diversity of life on earth.
Being Human Hall
What Does it Mean to be Human?: Study a sliver of real human tissue-or use your brain waves to launch a ping-pong ball. There's more to being human than you may realize!
Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall
How Does it Work? Ask an Engineer: What do bridges, prosthetics and robots have in common? Discover how engineers use math and science to solve everyday problems.
The Rees-Jones Foundation Dynamic Earth Hall
Forecast: 100 Chance of Change: Where else can you experience an earthquake, touch a tornado and broadcast a weather forecast all in the same day? Discover how earth, air, and water interact to provide dynamic results.
Tom Hunt Energy Hall
Empowering the Future of Energy: Take a virtual expedition deep underground to explore a drilling rig from the inside out! From natural gas to solar and wind energy, every source of energy is fueled by science.
Gems and Minerals Hall
Natural Brilliance: Gems and minerals not only serve as as the building blocks of our planet-many of them also happen to shimmer, sparkle and glow! Explore both the practical side and beautiful aspects of these complex structures.
Expanding Universe Hall
Your Space for Discovery: Embark on a journey through our solar system and beyond, and discover how scientists uncover the secrets of the universe.
T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall
Clues and Insights from the Fossil Record: Discover how studying the bodies and behaviors of modern-day animals can give scientists a glimpse of dinosaur life.
Rose Hall of Birds
Let Your Mind Take Flight: Create your own virtual species of bird as you explore the adaptations that help birds thrive in diverse environments.



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68.  FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY

Explore innovative learning studios and a wide variety of interactive exhibits in the new Museum of Science and History.

Location:  1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, 76107 (corner of Montogomery & Gendy)
Admission:  $15 for adults;  $11 for children (2-12);  $13 seniors (60+)
Admission to ExploraZone and all National Cowgirl Museum exhibits is one price and free for all Museum members
For Ticket Information: 817-255-9540
(
Exhibit admission includes half-price admission to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.  
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is open daily Mon – Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
)

EXHIBITS:
THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2015-- MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition Opens
Can you huff, puff and blow a house in? Does toast always tend to land butter-side down? Does running in the rain get you less wet than walking through it? Can you really make a canoe out of duct tape? Spend a day as a MythBuster at MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition to uncover the truth behind the myths for yourself. And while you’re at it, watch live demonstrations and peruse props and gadgets from the show.
For More Information: Click Here

OPENS FEBRUARY 2015 -- What's Up Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones
What’s Up, Doc? explores Jones’s creative genius, as well as the influences he drew on from the fine arts and popular culture, and the legacy of his work on the field of animation.
For More Information:  Click Here

MAY 2015 -- Design Zone

What does it take to create a video game, line up rhythms like DJ’s, or design a roller coaster that produces the biggest thrills?  Whether it is art, music or engineering, it takes math, science and creative problem solving to meet these design challenges.

FEBRUARY 24-28, 2015 -- Engineers Week
See how much fun science, technology, engineering and mathematics can be during Engineres Week 2014.  Build, create, destroy, explore, design and invent alongside engineers from Mouser Electronics, IBM and Lockheed Martin and other area corporations.
Schedule:
   Tuesday – Wednesday, Feb. 18-19 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
                    Thursday, February 20 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Homeschool afternoon from 1pm-4pm)
                    Friday, February 21 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
                    Saturday, February 22-10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are just a few of the STEM-filled experiences planned:
    Motor Mania:  Build simple motors or make your motor driven machine with Mouser Electronics
    Flight Simulator-Try your hand at flying Lockheed March fighter
    Cardboard Constructions-Upcycle, build and create with this versatile material
    Technology Take Apart-Take apart simple electronics to reveal interesting insides.
    Engineer Meet and Greet-Engineers will be in the building from a variety of fields. Ask them your toughest, and most interesting, questions.
    KEVA® Competition - Test your skills in building the tallest, strongest structure
    Flight Challenge - Build flying objects and let them rip
    Digital Trail-Visit the Cattle Raisers Museum to learn how ranchers use technology and engineering to protect their herds
Admission:  All activities included with paid exhibit admission. Activities are offered on a rotating basis. Engineers are onsite at varying times.

APRIL 21-25 -- All Systems Earth
Celebrate Earth Week at the Museum during our “All Systems Earth” festival. Discover how nature recycles to keep our world in balance and learn how we can help inspire positive environmental awareness and green practices.
Schedule:  Tuesday, Wednesday Friday:  10:00-2:00
                   Thursday 10:00-4:00 (Special extended hours for home school students from 1-4pm)
                   Saturday 10:00-4:00**
**The Big Canyon Balloon will be with us on Saturday for you to encounter weathering, erosion and deposition, participate in creating landforms and explore the inside of the canyon to discover a fossil record and examine an oil deposit.
What you will be learning:  Find out about the rock cycle, weathering erosion and deposition, soils, the secret of the rotting log, composting, the atmosphere, butterflies, insects and pollinators and more…

PLANETARIUM SHOWS:
One World, One Sky:  Big Bird's AdventureJoin Big Bird, Elmo and their friend, Hu Hu Zhu as they introduce children to the night sky and very basic astronomy. Recommended for very young audiences (ages 2 to 7), and the very young at heart!
Back to the Moon, for Good! – In case you haven’t heard, the Moon is trending again… and in a big way. Like in the glory days of the 1960s and 1970s, our big white space neighbor is enjoying the attention of lunar explorers. Only this time, they’re going back to the moon for good.
LASER Light Family Style
Our Amazing Solar System – Climb aboard for a fun and informative journey through the planets, from the center of our solar system to its very edge.
Fragile PlanetFly from the oceans of Earth, to the towering peaks of Mars, and out to the unexplored landscapes of the Milky Way galaxy. Could there be life out there and, if there is, could we ever find it?
Two Small Pieces of Glass Follow two students as they learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space.
IBEX  – IBEX stands for the Interstellar Boundary Explorer. This mission has helped us to better understand where our solar system ends, and where the rest of the Milky Way galaxy begins.
Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity – Dare to get up close as a star ends its life with a cataclysmic explosion and collapses into one of the most mysterious and destructive objects of the universe.

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69. NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER

Location:  Dallas Arts District
                2001 Flora Street
                214-242-5100
Hours:  Tuesday-Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
             
Closed Mondays, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
              Cafe Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 3:30 pm (for food services) & 4 pm (for beverage services)
             
 Please note that hours are subject to change depending on private events and/or volume of business.
              Closed Mondays, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Admission:  
Adult: $10; Seniors 65 and over: $7; Military with ID: $7; Student with ID: $5; Children under 12: FREE
Regular admission includes a free audio tour and entrance to special exhibitions.
FREE admission every first Saturday of the month, 10 am – 5 pm.

EXHIBITS:

Through January 18 2015 -- Sightings: Anna-Bella Papp
Details:
Anna-Bella Papp makes exquisitely restrained works in unfired clay.  Occupying tabletops or mounted to walls, the sculpted reliefs are intimate in scale yet suggest objects and spaces many times their scale.  Many of the works recall low-relief architectural models or site plans for minimalist earthworks.
For More Information:
Click Here

Through January 4 2015 -- Provocations: The Architecture and Design of Heatherwick Studio
Details: British designer Thomas Heatherwick has been hailed as a genius, even being called by Paul Goldberger in The New Yorker “the next Leonardo da Vinci” for the uniquely inventive nature of his work.
This exhibition, the first North American museum presentation of the work of Heatherwick and his studio, examines the astonishing range of Heatherwick Studio’s practice by focusing on the design concepts behind early projects such as the handbag designed for Longchamp and the rotation-molded “Spun” chairs, as well as current large architectural projects in the U.K., South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and China.
For More Information: Click Here


Jan 31, 2015 - May 10, 2015 -- Melvin Edwards: 5 Decades
The exhibition program at the Nasher Sculpture Center encompasses and expands upon the strengths of the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection. Recognized as one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world, the Nasher Collection includes masterpieces by many of the most important artists of the past 125 years such as Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse, Constantin Brancusi, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti, Willem de Kooning, David Smith, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra and Jeff Koons.

First Saturdays (FREE Admission)
Themes:  NOV 1 – Memory

                 DEC 6 – Celebration
                 JAN 3 – Experience
                 FEB 7 – Friendship
                MAR 7 – Collecting

HOMESCHOOL WORKSHOPS
DEC 10-12 -- Design all Around (ages 5-12)
Cost:
$5/person deposit.
Did you know that many of the objects you see every day were designed by someone who thought about how they should look and function? The buildings you visit, the clothes you wear, the cards you mail, and even your favorite chair all came from the mind of a designer. Join us as we explore the work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick, and create your own innovative holiday card based on his work.
Advanced registration required.
Download registration form:
 Click here


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70.  SHOWS AT THE FORT WORTH OMNI IMAX THEATER–MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY

NOW SHOWING:
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Tickets:  $7/adults; $6/children 2-12 and Seniors 65+
Details: Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, Dolphin Tale) narrates the IMAX  documentary Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, the incredible true story of nature’s greatest explorers—lemurs. The film reunites Freeman with Drew Fellman, who also wrote and produced the 2011 IMAX 3D documentary Born to Be Wild 3D, and director David Douglas, who served as director of photography on that film.
For More Information: Click Here


Rocky Mountain Express
Tickets:  
$7/adults; $6/children 2-12 and Seniors 65+
Details: All aboard for a steam train journey through breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies, highlighting the adventure of building the nation’s first transcontinental railway. As you retrace the original route aboard the majestic steam engine 2816, you’ll be transported back to the age of steam to re-live this incredible engineering feat. The film weaves together spectacular IMAX aerial cinematography, breathtaking vistas of the west, archival photographs and maps and the potent energy and rhythms of a live steam locomotive to immerse audiences in a an era of remarkable ingenuity and struggle and a region of stunning natural beauty. Ride the rails along deep river canyons and over high mountain passes and discover some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes on earth as well as the heroic human drama and epic engineering that helped shaped the continent.
For More Information:
Click Here

Jerusalem

Tickets:  $7/adults; $6/children 2-12 and Seniors 65+
Details: Jerusalem, sacred to half the people on earth; fought over more than any other place in history; conquered and destroyed, rebuilt and reinvented repeatedly over 5,000 years. Now, for the first-time ever, a new giant screen film adventure immerses audiences in a spectacular cinematic journey—soaring high above the Holy Land and plunging deep into the vibrant Old City—so they can experience as never before the iconic sites cherished by billions. Jerusalem is a breathtaking new film that explores on a grand scale the intersection of science, history and religion in this ancient, enigmatic place.
For More Information: Click Here


Born To Be Wild
Tickets:  $7/adults; $6/children 2-12 and Seniors 65+
Details: Join IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures on a miraculous journey of second chances in Born to be Wild. Follow young orphaned elephants and orangutans on the trip of a lifetime, from birth to their rebirth into the wild.  This family-friendly documentary will transport moviegoers around the world to the far stretches of Kenya and Borneo and will inspire them to take action and save earth’s precious creatures.
For More Information: Click Here


Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun
Tickets:  $7/adults; $6/children 2-12 and Seniors 65+
Details: The ultimate ride film, Thrill Ride takes you on a white-knuckle adventure of giant proportion while tracing the history of rides, past and present.
For More Information: Click Here

Reel Adventures In Science: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Always hoped for a Hogwarts Acceptance Letter … well come to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s REEL Adventures in Science and you’ll be on your way to Hogwarts!
For More Information: Click Here


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71.  PROGRAMS AT LOG CABIN VILLAGE

Location:  2100 Log Cabin Village Lane, Fort Worth, TX  
Phone: 817-392-5881
Admission:  $4.50 ages 4-17 and 60+;  $5 ages 18+
Groups:  $4.00 each for groups of 10+;  Free for ages 3 & under
Hours:  Tue-Fri, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
             Sat & Sun, 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.
             Closed Mondays


December 13 -- HOLIDAYS AT THE HEARTH
1-4 p.m.
Enjoy holiday music, string popcorn and cranberries, spin the dreidel, and more!  You can even have your photo taken with our historic St. Nick ($5 fee for photo and folder). 
Cost:  Regular Village admission plus a $2 craft fee to make a wood-slice ornament.
No reservations required. 

December 24 & 25 -- CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS

December 27 -- RAG DOLL WITH EMBROIDERED APRON CLASS
1-4 p.m.
Join Teresa as she guides you through the process of making your own rag doll with an embroidered apron/cape.  Program is designed to be an adult or adult/child activity.  Limit of 2 children per adult. 
Cost: $15 per person program fee includes general Village admission and class materials. 
Reservations required.  To Register:  Click Here
NO RESERVATIONS WILL BE TAKEN VIA PHONE OR EMAIL.
PAYMENT IS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION. 


December 31 - January 1, 2015 -- CLOSED FOR NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY


For More Information about the programs:  Click Here

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72.  DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE AT OLD CITY PARK

Location:  
Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park, 1515 South Harwood St.
                  (
located near the heart of downtown Dallas, close to the junction of Interstates 30 and 35)
Admission:  $9 Adult;  $7 Senior (65+);  $5 Child (4 to 12 years)
Dallas Heritage Village members are admitted free.

Group Pricing:
 15 - 49 People Adults: $8 per person; Seniors (65+): $6.50 per person
                       
  50 - 99 People Adults:  $7 per person; Seniors (65+): $6 per person
                         
100+ People Adults: $5 per person; Seniors (65+): $5 per person
*Admission prices for special events vary. Detailed information about upcoming events is listed in our Calendar of Events.

Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
           
Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.
           
Monday: Closed to the public
Closed:
January and August
Closed the following holidays:
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

EVENTS
DECEMBER 13 & 14
3pm-9pm
Admission:  
$12/Adults; $10/Seniors; $8/Ages 4-12; FREE under 4
Advanced tickets (Purchase by December 11th):  $10/Adults; $8/Seniors; $6/Ages 4-12; FREE under 4
Details:  Delicious holiday treats
“Timeless Trains” exhibit in Depot
A photo with St. Nicholas in the Depot
Strolling carolers, local dancers, choirs and other entertainers
Historic buildings dressed in traditional holiday decorations from 1840 to 1910
Interpreters in traditional costume throughout the museum bringing history to life
Carriage rides along candlelit paths pulled by an antique tractor or Nip and Tuck
For More Information or to Purchase Tickets:  
Click Here

FAMILY PAST TIMES
3rd Sunday of the Month
Time:  
Noon - 4pm
Admission:  
Children FREE; Adults $9; Seniors $7
Bring the whole family for historic fun and participate in themed activities.


NIP & TUCK
Stories, Music and Hands-On Activities for Preschoolers
Please RSVP:  214-413-3674 or e-mail us. You can even purchase your advance tickets online.
Tickets can be purchased by phone, at the gate or online.
RSVP: 214-413-3674 or by email


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73.  OLD RED MUSEUM OF DALLAS COUNTY HISTORY AND CULTURE

Location:  Old Red Museum, 100 South Houston Street, Dallas, TX  75202
Phone: 214-757-1949
Hours:
The Museum is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
The Museum will be closed on the following days:
December 24th & 25th, 2014.

Admission:
General admission: $8
                 Senior (64+)/Student admission: $6 (students must show current high school or university ID)
                 Children ages 3-16: $5
                 Children under age 3: Free
                 Old Red Members: Free (Must Provide Proof of Membership)
                 Sunday Only – Early Bird Special: $5 for tickets purchased before noon
                 Jury Duty – Visitors can receive a reduced admission of $4 with proof of jury duty
General Admission tickets include admission to both the permanent galleries on the second floor and any special exhibit on the first floor.

Special Exhibits Only:  
Free with Old Red Museum General Admission
Special Exhibit Gallery Only: 
$3.00 adults; $1.00 children 3-16; Free for children under 3 years of age
Groups:  
Groups of 20 people or more, $5 each. This special pricing is ONLY AVAILABLE BY MAKING ADVANCED ARRANGEMENTS. Please call the group sales department at 214-757-1949 or click to email to book a group sale to take advantage of this price.

HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Future Home School Programs to be announced


Chose your Date, Chose your Program:
Your group can schedule the date and choose the program from the many we offer.  The date and program can be scheduled Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm or on limited Saturdays from 9:30am till noon. 
All visits will include:  Four interactive galleries, over forty computer touch screens, the Children’s Education Center, Discovery Carts and Interactive Gallery Guides.
 
Time:  Registration: 9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
          Program Begins: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost:  $6/children;  $3 Adults
Includes program, all day admission to the museum galleries and program supplies.
Please note that we have changed to a cash only admission the day of the program.
To RSVP:  Click here to email the sales dept with the following info:
Names of attending adults, email address, phone, number of adults, number of children, ages of children.  If you are a group leader, please list your group name with each family unit listed separately, as this makes preparation and registration run more smoothly.
Parking:  Museum guests may purchase an
underground parking vouchers for $2.
Details: Everyone enjoys a celebration!  What brings families and communities together?  How are traditions enjoyed? Come and join us at Old Red as we discover some of the rich traditional celebrations that help create the great city of Dallas. Students will enjoy music, making sand art, designing special placemats, creating cards and other items to be taken home and shared with family and friends.

CURRENT EXHIBITS
TBA

Other Exhibits:
Early Years: Prehistory to 1873
Trading Center

Big D
World Crossroads


Discount:  The Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture is offering HEART of Texas members (with valid HEART of Texas Family ID) a $1 discount per person/ticket. Discount may not be used for the Home School Workshops.
To learn about HEART of Texas membership:
Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


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74.  STAR PARTIES at  FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

Have you ever seen the rings of Saturn? Have you ever wanted to view the moons of Jupiter? Have you been dazzled by a star cluster? Are you in the market for a telescope and don't know where to start? This and more can be discovered every month outside the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History during the free monthly telescope observing. The star gazing events are held every month on area north of the Museum on the Saturday nearest the first quarter moon, weather permitting.   They are presented by the Noble Planetarium staff and members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society.

The Noble Planetarium is under construction, but you can still gaze at the stars and learn about the night sky during our free monthly  Star Parties.

2015 STAR PARTIES
:
Dates TBA

Cost:  
Free
Location:   In the Musuem's South Parking Lot.
Parking:  
Parking is available in the lot south of Harley Street.
Time:  Dusk–10:30 p.m.
Details:
Join the Noble Planetarium staff and members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society in front of the Museum on Gendy Street.  You’ll find plenty of telescopes for viewing and even more astronomy buffs to help you navigate your way through the skies. This event is weather permitting. 


For more information:  click here
              

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75.  NORTH TEXAS DISTRICT SCIENCE FAIR FOR HOME SCHOOLERS

Need a boost to your homeschool science curriculum? Have a detail inclined child or one who loves science or technology? Need something on a college application to convince the staff your child can compete with the best? Science fair should be in your future!

Your 6th graders have a chance to participate in the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair (DRSEF) too!

Private homeschooled students in grades 3-12 may enter in one of 4 divisions. Those living in TEA region 10: Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall counties compete for the opportunity to enter the DRSEF. Students in other near-by counties may compete at our NDTSF for awards, but cannot be guaranteed entry into a regional ISEF event: some have gone on to the FortWorth Regional event.

All 6 - 12 grade projects need some ISEF forms (like the research plan) to be filled in BEFORE experimentation begins! 6th graders' projects may NOT include any handling of toxic/dangerous substances or require permission for human or animal subjects. Higher grades must submit forms for these BEFORE experimentation begins - start early. Please find out more on our website. This is the most confusing part of science fair participation, so let's get it worked out early - contact us. We don't want students eliminated on technicalities.

Students from our NDTSF have done very well at DRSEF (placing and even Grand Prize!) and at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair (placing). You don't have to place to win a special prize. Add that "WOW" factor to your project by checking out our new links to give your project even more "Marvelocity". Ask how we can help. Don't forget to check our "Links" page for more homeschool friendly science competitions (some links need to be fixed at Texas A&M).

For More Information:  Click Here to email

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76.  ALEDO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL'S BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL TEAMS

Aledo Christian School, located in Aledo,TX, is offering their sports programs to home schoolers.

Who:  7-12th grade boys and girls
Girls Sports:  
Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
Boys Sports:  Basketball & Baseball

Location:  Aledo Christian School
                400 Queen Street
                Aledo, TX  76008

For Information About Baseball:  817-939-2979 or click here to email
For Information About Other Sports: Contact 817-441-7357
 

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77.  BERNE ACADEMY'S BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

Berne Academy, located in Lancaster, TX, is looking for homeschoolers to play on their Boys'  Varsity Basketball Team.  They are associated with T-CAL (Texas Christian Athletic League) out of San Antonio.

Who:  7-12th grade boys
Location of Practices:  Tommie Allen Recreation Center on Bonnie View Road
For More Information:  972-218-7373 or click here to email
 

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78.  HOMESCHOOL SWIM-- The Colony Aquatic Park

Brand New!  Expanded Homeschool Swim in The Colony!!
The price for fall season passes are very reasonable, especially since there are now three different days a week that you can come!
 

When: 
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Time:  
12:30-1:30pm

Location:  
The Colony Aquatic Park
               5580 N. Colony Blvd  
               The Colony, TX  75056


Cost:
$4 per person or purchase a season pass

Note:  Children 6 and under MUST be directly attended by a swimming adult within arms reach.

Seasonal Passes available:
 $45–Individual
                                          $60–Micro-family (2-3 members)
                                               
  $80–Family (4+ members)

For More Information: 972-624-2225 or Click Here to email
http://www.TCpard.com

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79.  HOME SCHOOL SWIM AND SWIM TEAM AT DON RODENBAUGH NATATORIUM
IN ALLEN

Home School Open Swim
Half-Price Fridays at the Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium!

Time:  1 p.m. – 3 p.m. during the school year
Who:  Home school students and their families.
Cost:  $2/Students;  $2.50/adults
For More Information:  Call 214-509-4770 or visit http://www.allenparks.org/

City of Allen Home School Swim Team
Practices:  Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location:  Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium
For more information:  Call 972-992-3996 or visit http://www.metro-aquatics.org/


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80.  CHRISTIAN MARTIAL ARTS

Christian Martial Arts, an outreach of First Baptist Church of Euless, is offering a free month of classes to HEART of Texas newsletter readers who wish to try out their program.  Christian Martial Arts has been ministering to the physical as well as spiritual needs of local families for almost ten years at First Euless!

It is a fun way to get plenty of exercise in an environment that seeks to honor God and teach respect for others. The tenets of CMA are Courtesy, Humility, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable spirit. Students learn fundamentals of self-defense, balance, flexibility, practice and repetition. We encourage progress through belt promotions but each student is only in competition with himself to advance. We have sparring nights, optional board breaking, tournaments and special events including Christmas parties and demonstrations. If you are looking for a great family activity, you've found it!


Cost: $25/month per person

Times/Class Descriptions:
Monday: 6:00  p.m.–6:30  p.m.–Children only
Monday: 6:30  p.m.–7:30  p.m.–Beginners & Advanced of all ages
Thursday: 6:30  p.m.–7:30  p.m.–Beginners of all ages
Thursday: 7:30  p.m.–8:30  p.m.–Advanced students
Saturday: 10:00 am–12:00  p.m.–Open Workout for all students



For More Information: Click Here


Discount:  Christian Martial Arts, an outreach of First Baptist Church of Euless, is offering a free month of classes to HEART of Texas newsletter readers who wish to try out their program.


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81.  DALLAS THUNDER HOME SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Dallas Thunder is a home school competitive basketball organization.
Dallas Thunder offers:
Christ-centered, competitive Basketball for Home schooled boys and girls
Experienced, Professional Coaches.
The opportunity to play top public and private schools in the area
Participation in the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Tournament.

Website: http://www.dallasthunder.org 


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82.  ELITE TRACK CLUB/CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM


For More Information:  Click Here to email or 817-800-3922                                
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83.  HOME SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Home School Athletic Association is a Christian-based organization providing athletics for homeschoolers through volunteer home school parent. They provide various programs including football, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and basketball for high school and middle school home schoolers.
 
Cheerleading:  Girls junior high cheerleading squad for the 2014 football season.  Click here to contact the coach.  

Cross Country:
If you are interested in joining HSAA Cross Country, p
lease click here to contact the Track Commissioner.

Football: If interested in a two day football camp for middle schoolers this summer, please click here.

Details: 11-Man Tackle Football...Middle School, JV, and Varsity!
Open to boys, ages 11 to 18 and in grades 6 through 12, HSAA Football promises to provide each student-athlete with a Christ-centered approach to sports. Though competitive in nature, to be sure, HSAA will not sacrifice core values to win at all costs.

Instead, coaches and parents – and team mentors (varsity players and those who have recently graduated) – work with the players to build character for life.

Registration details: Click Here

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84.  HULCY HOME SCHOOL PE CLASSES IN RICHARDSON

Come try your first class for free and see if our 20 year reputation of helping kids enjoy  in a competitive Christian atmosphere is right for your family. 100% of the children that have tried it... have stayed.
 
Ages:  6-12
Cost:  $20 a month for first child... $15 a month for any additional children.

When:  Tuesdays (once a week)
Girls meet from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Boys meet from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
To sign up just call 214-695-5560
 
Where:–Heights Park in Richardson on Floyd
in between Belt Line and Arapaho on the West  side of 75 (south of Arapaho).
 
We play an array of competitive  for kids at any skill level: dodgeball, football, kickball, flag tag, capture the flag, war, softball, baseball, crazyball, flipperball, Frisbee golf, soccer, circle dodgeball, track and field, and tons more.  We also play fun and easy games such as:  squirrel in a tree, two headed monster, parachute games, and much more!

We have a family camp out in January, and a Field Day at the end of the year that includes a picnic dinner, volleyball, hay ride, playing in a tree house, games, a bonfire, and cooking hotdogs outside!
  
Call RHETT HULCY directly to enroll or for any questions about the class:
214-695-5560

Discount:  Rhett is offering HEART of Texas members one free month of classes, with a valid Heart of Texas family membership card.  
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


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85.  HOME SCHOOL PE PROGRAMS AT VELOCITY  IN SOUTHLAKE

Location:  Velocity Sports Performance
                1800 East Highway 114, Suite 101
                Southlake, TX  
                817-416-0606

Discount:  Velocity /Southlake is offering HEART of Texas members a 10% discount on all training, whether it is with the Home School program, regular training program or any camps that are held at this location., with a valid Heart of Texas family membership card.   
To Learn About HEART of Texas Membership: http://www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership

Velocity Sports Performance in Southlake has designed a program to meet the needs of Home School Families!

Location:
     1800 East Hwy 114, Suite 101
, Southlake, TX  
For More Information: Call 817-416-0606
To Learn More About Velocity:  www.velocitysp.com/southlake

Velocity  Performance is a  training facility with a staff of degreed and certified coaches.  Their programs focus on all facets of athletic performance, including speed and agility, strength and explosive power, flexibility and mobility, endurance and energy system develo p.m.ent, and injury risk prevention.

Their 18,200 sq. ft. indoor facility includes a 30 yard turf field, 60 yard speed track, regulation volleyball court, Olympic weight area, comfortable viewing area for parents/coaches with wireless internet, men's and women's showers, electronic timing system and video analysis, and SPARQ testing.

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86.  HOME SCHOOL FENCING CLASSES AT FENCING INSTITUTE OF TEXAS

Fencing Institute of Texas is committed to supporting our Home Schooled children by providing physical fitness that challenges the mind as well as the body.  

Home School Classes
Times:  4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Tuesdays and Thursdays
        10:00 a.m. – 11:30 am. – Saturdays

Instructor:  Coach Rhonda Trietsch
For More Information: 972-444-8498 or visit: http://www.fenceintexas.org/homeschool.html

Students enjoy private lessons, group training, and mini-tournaments during this time.

Parents are welcome to participate along with their children in these programs.

Additional classes during the week between the hours of 10 AM and 4  p.m. will be added
as this program and need grows.  

Open Enrollment: Students may join this program at any time; the first month's fees are prorated.  There is no pro-ration of fees after the first month.  Fees are $90 per month plus $50 tuition ($140), and are due by the 5th of the month.  Fees are due in advance and are non-refundable.

Students may take additional private lessons outside of the class meeting time for an additional fee.

To Register: Class size is limited to 15 students; pre-registration is required.  If you are interested, please call our school at (972) 444-8498, or complete and mail or FAX the Home School Registration form.

To Download Registration Form: http://www.fenceintexas.org/homeschool.html

Discount:  Fencing Institute of Texas is offering HEART of Texas members a $10 discount off the monthly tuition (individual or family) with a valid Heart of Texas family membership card.   HEART of Texas students participating in the FIT Saturday Page or Squire programs receive a $5 discount off the monthly program fee with a valid Heart of Texas family membership card.
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here



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87.  PARKER-TARRANT HOME SCHOOL SPORTS

Parker-Tarrant Home School exists to promote and accomplish  education for the Texas Home School student in a Christian environment. With a focus primarily in the Parker County and West Tarrant County areas of North Texas, the organization’s objective is to provide a competitive environment for middle school and high school  competition that is not normally provided by traditional home school organizations or support groups. PTHSS desires to accomplish this goal in a way that both works alongside the parents and honors Jesus Christ.

Currently the PTHSS organization offers boys' Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball, boys' Basketball from middle school through high school, girls' high school basketball and girls' Varsity and Junior Varsity Volleyball. Six-Man boys' football is being added this fall! Other  programs and age divisions may be offered in the future.

Many of the PT Warriors athletic activities occur at Birchman Baptist Church in West Fort Worth.


For More Information:  click Here to email or www.pthss.org/

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88.  POP-IN PLAYTIME AT PUMP-IT-UP OF GRAPEVINE

WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS
Time:  10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ages:  2-6 years old

WEDNESDAYS
Time:  3:30–5:30 p.m.
Ages:  6-12 years old

Discount:  Pump-It-Up of Grapevine is offering HEART of Texas members a 10% discount on private parties. Members also receive $1 off Pop-In-Playtime on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for ages 2 through 6, and on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 for ages 6-12.   Members must present their valid HEART of Texas Family ID card to take advantage of these special offers.
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


For More Information:  817-329-1332 or grapevine@pumpitupdfw.com


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89.  THESA RIDERS HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THESA Riders is a home school association, providing the DFW area with competitive and Christ-centered athletic programs for home schoolers at the high school and junior high level.

THESA offers the following:
Baseball -- 
Boys Basketball -- Girls Basketball -- Girls Cheer -- Boys Football -- Boys and Girls Golf -- Girls Softball -- Girls Volleyball

THESA Riders is offering a competitive HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER program for 2013-2014.
TRYOUTS:  Dates to be announced SOON – check web site or email us

Who is THESA?
THESA  (Texas Home Educators' Sports Association) exists to support families with a calling to home educate their children by providing high quality, competitive sports programs, enabling children to grow in Godly character and skills at the junior and senior high level.

What does a THESA soccer tryout look like?
The coaches will spend about 20 minutes at the beginning of the tryouts with a parent/player orientation – expectations, what a season looks like, practices, commitment. 
The coaches will then put players through 1 Ä‚ -2 hours of stretching, conditioning, skills, drills, and team play.

Do players need to attend all the tryouts?
If your schedule allows, attending all the tryouts is best.  While attending all the tryouts is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged for each player to make the best showing, get to know the other players and coaches.

What does a player need to bring?

Players need to come with a GREAT attitude, dressed in appropriate soccer attire and equipment, bring a personal ball (only size 5) and LOTS of water, maybe even a snack.

Questions?
Web site:  http://www.thesariders.net/
Email us at thesaridersoccer@gmail.com


For More Information: http://www.thesariders.net

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90.  TRAINING FOR CONFIDENCE MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL IN COLLEYVILLE

Training for Confidence is a full-time martial arts school in Colleyville.

We currently have several families at our Colleyville school location who home school their children. 
We would welcome the opportunity to partner with Heart of Texas and offer discounted tuition to your members.

Discount:  Training for Confidence is offering HEART of Texas members a 25% discount off the monthly student membership fee, with a current Heart of Texas family membership card.  
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here



To Learn More:  TFCKarate.com

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91.  BEST GYMNASTICS IN FLOWER MOUND 

Gymnastics is the best sport available to create young athletes and proper athletic foundations for all future sporting endeavors.  We offer several classes for all ages including: Little Tots class for 14mo-3 years, Best Kids 3-4 years.  For ages 5 and up we offer Tumbling, Girls Gymnastics, Boys Gymnastics and a Home schooling class. 

Location:  601 Cross Timbers Rd. Suite 100 in Flower Mound.
To Learn More: 972-874-8800 or click here

Home School Class
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm
Details: Best Gymnastics does not have sessions, so you can join at anytime! This co-ed class for ages 5 and older will focus on athletic conditioning, tumbling, flexibility, core strength, and of course, fun! The class has a 10:1 student/teacher ratio.
Cost: $59/month
For more information: Click here

Open Gym
Date: Every Friday
Time:  6:00pm-9:00pm 
Cost: $12/child
Details: This is a drop off event. Lots of exercise and lots of fun! No reservations required.
For more information: Click here


Best Night Out
Date: Swpt 14
Time:
6:00-10:00pm
Cost:
$25/child; siblings receive $5 discount
Details:
Best Night Out is designed for parents to get the night off while kids have a blast at the gym! Dinner and a drink are provided. Children 3 (potty trained) and older may attend Best Night Out.
For more information:
 Click here
Upcoming dates: 
Sept 14: Best Bucks Spending Spree; Oct 19: Monster Mash Madness; Nov 9: Pirates and Princesses Party; Dec 14: Winter Wonderland

Discount:  Best Gymnastics is offering HEART of Texas members a 15% discount off all of their recreational gymnastics classes, with a current Heart of Texas family membership card.  
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


To Learn More about Best Gymnastics: 972-874-8800 or click here

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92.   HOME SCHOOL GOLF PROGRAM AT LANTANA GOLF CLUB

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR HOME SCHOOL GOLF PROGRAM
FALL 2014 SESSION

Experience the Game of Golf! Lantana Golf Club is offering three separate golf programs for juniors, age 8-17, in 2014. The Spring, Summer and Fall programs will each offer weekly clinics over a period of 8-10 weeks.

Participants will receive instruction on full swing, short game (chip, pitch, putting) and bunker play. Participants will also receive a basic introduction to the rules & etiquette of golf and the opportunity for quality time on the course.

Our objective is to introduce juniors to the game of golf, improve playing skills and provide the opportunity for personal growth and learning. We hope to build and strengthen character, develop new friendships, and enjoy the experience and life lessons this great game provides.

Marc Brooks will provide lead instruction with assistance from other local golf professionals as needed. Mr. Brooks is a PGA member and currently Director of Instruction at Lantana Golf Club. He was recently named "Best Golf Instructor Denton County 2012" and a member of the PGA President's Council for his continuing effors to promote the grow the game of golf.  

To Register: click here to download the registration form.

For more information: Contact Marc Brooks, PGA at 940-728-4653 or click here to email

Discount:  Marc Brooks is offering HEART of Texas members a 10% discount, with a current Heart of Texas family membership card.  
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here


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93.  SMOOTHING THE WAY MEETINGS -- NORTH TEXAS

Smoothing the Way is a support group dedicated to serving first-year homeschooling mothers. Each month a topic of specific interest to the new homeschooler is offered.  We will offer you information that will make your first year less confusing. We will also offer you the opportunity to meet other new homeschoolers who are sharing your experiences — both good and bad! You will meet veteran homeschoolers who can reassure you that these experiences are very normal and can help you to navigate through your first year.

For Information about Smoothing the Way groups near you, or to find out how you can lead a group: http://www.smoothingtheway.com/


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94.  DFW SPEECH & DEBATE CLUB

DFW Speech & Debate is committed to providing quality communications training to help students sharpen their ability to analyze problems, think and listen critically, and communicate their ideas in an organized and compelling manner. Our communications training includes:
 
Speech & Debate Summer Camps
We train hundreds of students each summer who go on to excel in competition! Our camps are engaging and fun and serve to inspire students to cultivate their critical thinking and communication skills. We offer a wide variety of training including introductory, intermediate and advanced Speech and Debate camps, Model UN, Moot Court and much more for ages 12-18! This summer we are expanding our offerings to include Junior Speech for ages 6-11!
 
Private Coaching! - for speakers, debaters and writers who would like to advance their skills at a faster pace
Most great competitors have great coaches. Our veteran team of coaches provide individualized training for students prior to and during the school year. Coaching sessions include helping students develop a high level of competency writing AP quality essays, writing and performing speeches, and writing and arguing their debate case. See specific Coaching Services here.
 
Tools for Debate Curriculum
Most great competitors also have great TOOLS. Our easy-to-use 12-week curricula puts valuable instruction in the hands of debate students and club leaders to prepare students for Policy and Lincoln Douglas debate competition. Our curriculum includes a dual track approach to help beginners master foundational skills such as Writing a Case, 4-Point Refutation, Organization and Cross-Examination (C/X) and more. Experienced debaters will advance to the next level with round-winning techniques on C/X Strategies, and NEG strategies (e.g. identifying unproven or faulty assumptions). Packed with examples, drills, quizzes and a FREE affirmative case!
 
For More Information:  dfwspeechanddebate.com
 
Discount:  DFW Speech & Debate is offering HEART of Texas member-supporters  (with current Family ID) 10% off their Summer Camp fee.
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here

 

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95.  DENTON COUNTY CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL ASSOCIATION

This group has no announcements this month.

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96.  IRVING HOME SCHOOLERS

A support group for families in Irving and all surrounding communities.

Time:
7pm
Details:
We are a volunteer, non-profit organization committed to serving home school families in Irving and all surrounding communities. Our mission is to reach out to all homeschooling families - providing resource information, ongoing activities, and support. All are welcome. We meet the 1st Thursday of the month (Sept. - May except Dec.) at Lee Park in Irving.
For more information:
click here


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97.  PEACH

A support group for families in the Plano area
Click Here for More Information


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98.  OFFICIAL 2014-2015 COLLEGE BOARD TEST DATES

2014 PSAT TEST DATES:  OCT 15;  OCT 18
To Find out When Your Local High School is Offering the PSAT Test:  Click Here

PSAT TESTING FEE:  $15 (some schools charge an additional fee to cover administrative costs)
Homeschoolers who take the test at their local public school should not be charged more than the school charges its own students.  The College Board makes fee waivers available to schools for students in eleventh grade from low-income families who can't afford the test fee. See the school counselor for more information about fee waivers.  Special testing situations are also available for special needs students.  Ask the school counselor for more details.
PSAT Code for Texas Homeschoolers:  
994499

Information for Students with Disabilities: Click Here

2014-2015 SAT TEST DATES:

DEC 6 -- Registration Deadline Nov 6 (Subject Tests also available)
JAN 24 -- Registration Deadline Dec 29 (Subject Tests also available)
MAR 14 -- Registration Deadline Feb 13
MAY 2 -- Registration Deadline Apr 6 (Subject Tests also available)
JUN 6 -- Registration Deadline May 8 (Subject Tests also available)


For SAT Subject Test Calendar:  Click Here

For More Information:
Click Here



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99.  MASTER THE SAT CLASSES WITH JEAN BURK

College Prep Genius will be offering their incredible "MASTER THE SAT CLASS" in several Texas cities. This revolutionary course will give students all the tools needed to conquer the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT. Students will learn the logical patterns behind standardized test questions as well as necessary strategies that could help increase their test scores tremendously. A high score on the SAT or PSAT/NMSQT can open doors to college entrance and colossal scholarships that could include full tuition, room and board, honors dorms, graduate money and stipends to study abroad! Many of their students have raised their test scores as much as 600 points and received scholarhips over $200,000 from Ivy-League schools. College Prep Genius has been featured on NBC, CBS, Fox, TXA21 and The Homeschool Channel.

Their carefully selected teachers will show students how to ace the SAT so they can raise their scores and get scholarships to college. The SAT and PSAT are tests of logic (not high school subjects) and most students do poorly on them because they don't understand the test. She will teach how to look at the test questions correctly so they don't fall for the wrong answer and she will not only explain why the right answer is right but also why the wrong answer is wrong. Students will gain confidence in their test-taking skills and be given the necessary tools for scoring high on these standardized tests.

Watch College Prep Genius founder, Jean Burk, give speeches on "How to Ace the SAT" and "Free College Can Happen to You" click here

What's Covered in Class:
"Master the SAT Class” is a thorough investigation of the SAT and PSAT including an extensive review of all three test sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing.


Register at collegeprepgenius.com

Download the e-book “15 Secrets to FREE College” for a penny at www.collegeprepgenius.com  Use code: heart

Discount:  College Prep Genius is offering a $5 discount off classes and products to HEART of Texas family members.  You must have a valid membership card to qualify for the discount.
To learn about HEART of Texas membership: Click Here
To view our ever-expanding list of partners:  
Click Here
                     
 
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100.  BAYLOR & AIR FORCE ROTC (AFROTC) SCHOLARSHIP

Baylor and Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) have teamed up to provide an enormous scholarship opportunity to help students afford a Christian college education while pursuing their dream in a career in aviation, medicine, science, engineering, law, space, business, etc. 

DEADLINE:  DECEMBER 1, 2014

To Apply:  Visit http://www.afrotc.com/ and fill out the on-line application.


Highlights:

• We appreciate the homeschooled student and know first-hand the talent and intellect they offer.  Our Cadet Wing Commander last Fall was homeschooled and she was outstanding!
 
• Who do we want to help?  Your students interested in leadership who are about to graduate, applying to a service academy (Baylor would be a great Plan B), excels academically, involved in Eta Sigma Alpha or other honor societies and service organizations, as well as competitors of all kinds.
 
• The application deadline for AFROTC high school scholarships is December 1, 2012. 

• AFROTC’s best scholarship (Type 1) pays full tuition and fees (~$25,000/year at Baylor).
The second best scholarship (Type 2) pays $15,000/year. 
The majority of our cadets are on these two types of scholarships.

 
• Baylor is very generous with their merit scholarships which range from $3,000–$14,000/year.  Have your student go to http://www.baylor.edu/admissions/calculator/ and input their ACT/SAT scores and class ranking into the Scholarship Calculator to see what they could be offered.  You will be amazed.
 
•  If your student receives an AFROTC high school scholarship and brings it to Baylor, they will receive the Baylor AFROTC Incentive Scholarship worth $3,000/year.  They get this just by simply bringing the AFROTC scholarship to Baylor!
 
•  Students on scholarship also receive $900/year for books and a monthly, tax-free stipend of $300-$500.  They can use this stipend however they like (cheeseburgers and coffee??).
 
•  A student with a high school scholarship can try AFROTC their freshman year, and if they decide not to continue, they can simply walk away without having to pay back their scholarship.  No kidding!
 
•  If your student does not receive a high school scholarship, there’s an even greater opportunity to receive an AFROTC scholarship once they are at Baylor.  AFROTC has a $60 million scholarship budget to award scholarships from and as of the end of the Spring semester, 86% of Baylor cadets were on scholarship.
 
•  Baylor AFROTC is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year (the Air Force is 61 years old) and for the first time in our history, we are opening an AFROTC Living & Learning Center where cadets have the option to live among themselves.  Visit http://www.baylor.edu/rotc/llc/ for more information.

•  If you would like to come for a visit, we have a “Bunk with a Bear” program where your students can spend the night with a cadet, attend classes, eat with them, meet other cadets, take the campus tour, talk to academic advisors, and get the feel of Baylor. 

For More Information:  Click here to email or call 254-710-3513.


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101.  VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE for HOME SCHOOLERS IN 21 COUNTIES ---- AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

The American Cancer Society is the largest nonprofit voluntary organization in the world. The Society depends on the competence, creativity and dedication of its 2 million volunteers nationwide to   achieve   its   mission.  Along  with  learning  the value  of volunteering in your community we can offer your home schooled student a way to apply all they are learning in a real world atmosphere.

Counties in the North Texas Region of the American Cancer Society:  Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Wise, Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Collin, Hunt, Rains, Kaufman, Ellis, Johnson, Eastland, Comanche, Erath, Hood, Rockwall

For more information:  817-570-0612 or Click Here to email
                                  

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102.  BECOME A HOST FAMILY FOR A FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT THROUGH INTO EdVENTURES HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE ORGANIZATION

Learn to Laugh in Another Language!

INTO EdVENTURES High School Exchange Organization offers you the opportunity to host a young high school student from another nation in your own home...let these incredible young people from other countries  show you their culture, up close and personal.  Welcome them as a son or daughter...touch their lives, and change their world, and your's too.  The experience will teach you and your children how another family lives across the world, while they, in turn, learn about you and the American culture...many of them love to cook and share themselves and their family with you.. They become part of your family for a lifetime.

Share your heart, your faith, your family and your home with a high school foreign exchange student. 

IF you have children at home, they can learn so much and make a life long friend.  If you do not have kids at home you will LOVE the new dimensions they will add to your life, and the new life they will give to your home.

There are boys and girls ages 15-18 from South america, Asia and Europe.  They bring their wide-eyed enthusiasm and a desire to learn our culture, and in turn share their's.

They will attend your local high school for the academic year.

IF THIS SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART...you can make a huge difference in a young person's life.  You will touch a nation, and change the world!!

All host families are volunteer
Who can become a Host Family:  
Young families with small children, families with teens, empty nesters, grand parents, even single parents!

Our host families must provide:  Room, Board, Food, and Transportation.  Host families
Must also be financially able take in another child.

The students have:  Full health insurance coverage and their own spending money ($200-$300/month, which takes care of personal things or extra things they want, and school activity expenses).  These will not have to be provided by the host family.

Student information:  Our students are boys and girls ranging in age from 15-18.  They are from South America, Asia, and Europe.   They arrive the third week of August, hopefully a week or two before school starts.

They will attend the LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL for either the ENTIRE ACADEMIC YEAR...OR ONE SEMESTER (either spring for fall)  

INTO EdVENTURES will share with the prospective host families the student's & letters to the host family from the student and their parents...  

How are families and students matched:  We do our best to match common interests, etc.  And once a match is made, host families can begin communicating with their new "son/daughter"...usually, the student overseas emails as soon as they hear they have been placed with a family...  THEN, MEETING THEM AT THE AIRPORT IN AUGUST… IS AWESOME!!

For more information:  817-545-5058  or Click Here to email    


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103.  VOLUNTEER AT THE FORT WORTH ZOO -- WEEKDAY HOME SCHOOL VOLUNTEENS PROGRAM

The Fort Worth Zoo's Weekday Home School Volunteens Program provides home-schooled teens, ages 12-17, the opportunity to assist Fort Worth Zoo Preschool teachers by helping set up, clean up, and assist students with crafts and excursions into the Zoo.

Volunteens come in once a week, for half of the day -- either from 8:45am to 12:15pm or from 12:45pm to 4:15pm.
The fall session runs from September to December;  the spring sessions runs from January to May.

Applications are completed online and interviews are scheduled after the final application date.  After interviewing all applicangs, the Education staff will make selections.  Selected Volunteens are required to attend a mandatory orientation prior to the start of the semester.

Registration for the spring semester ends November 16, 2014

For More Information, or to Apply:  Click Here


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104.  MEALS ON WHEELS, INC. OF TARRANT COUNTY SEEKS HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES TO DELIVER HOT MEALS AND FRIENDSHIP

Meals on Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County is a community based agency that provides meals to the homebound in Tarrant County. Delivering meals is a great community service as well as a unique learning opportunity, and we welcome students, along with adults, to be involved in the meal delivery.  Our clients depend on volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals along with care and compassion.

Several home school families currently volunteer for our program and we would like you to join us. 
Weekly and substitute volunteers are needed now. 
Meals are picked up from local distribution sites and delivered to homes within close proximity. 
Delivery typically takes about hour. 
If you join our volunteer team you will feel great ensuring that several Tarrant County neighbors
have received food and a friendly visit.


From a Homeschool Mom's Perspective–by Trudi L.
Benson (age 10) and I started delivering meals when he was two years old.   It's been a very rewarding experience.  We both have learned so much and met some really nice people along the way.  I incorporate our volunteer activities into our daily lessons.
Math:  We count the number of clients, meals, and milks on a route sheet; use a lot of addition and subtraction.
Reading and Spelling:  Letters and words are everywhere on a route sheet.
Science and Health:  We've learned about diabetes and good nutrition.  We also talk about different disabilities.
Social Studies/Geography: We interact with people from different socioeconomic groups.  as we deliver meals, we discuss surrounding terrain, lakes, rivers, and teh weather.  Map reading skills are also developed.
Community Service:  By providing hot, nutritious meals, we help a lot of people in our community.

For More Information:  817-336-0912


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105.  MEALS ON WHEELS OF JOHNSON & ELLIS COUNTIES SEEKS HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES TO DELIVER HOT MEALS

Volunteers Needed!!!
Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties serves the children of yesterday by helping needy elderly and disabled persons to remain independent and healthy in their own homes by providing home-delivered meals, daily personal contact, and support for individuals and their families. 

Meals-on-Wheels could not operate one day without the help of volunteers.  Dedicated, caring volunteers assist in providing hot, noontime meals.  Not only do our volunteers deliver nutritious meals, they also ensure the safety of our clients.  Daily contact is as important as the meals we serve. 

A meal route takes approximately 45 minutes to deliver with convenient pick-up sites located throughout each county.  By volunteering, you help bring hope, love, and friendship to the elderly and disabled homebound in your community. 

To Volunteer:  817-558-2840 or 972-351-9943.


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106.  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SERVE MEALS AT THE STEWPOT IN DALLAS

Is your family or support group looking for an opportunity to help the needy?
The Stewpot is a 501c(3) organization that reaches out to the homeless of Dallas by providing meals and other services.  The Stewpot serves 3 meals a day, every single day of the year.  To meet this great need, The Stewpot is seeking volunteers  (individuals or groups of 10-15) to serve a meal once a month.

For more information:  214-746-2785 ext. 320 or Click Here    

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107.  TEXAS GLOBAL EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Experience the world and expand your family's horizons this summer!
Open your heart and your home to a global visitor and enable your teenager to stay with a family abroad. 

Details: Texas Global Education and Cultural Exchange provides several one-month home-stay opportunities.
Home-stays (instead of staying in a hotel) have many advantages:
•Experience life from the inside - not as a tourist
•Learn, appreciate, understand and evaluate another culture - and your own
•Establish a close relationship with someone - from another culture
•Develop cross-cultural understanding through communication and interaction

The focus of a cultural exchange is friendship, but lasting friendships and warm memories aren't the only results. Young people who have the opportunity to live with a host family in a foreign country or to host an international youth in their home enjoy a priceless educational experience that better prepares them for a life in a global society.
 
For more information: Call 940.241.3097
Info.texasglobaleducation@gmail.com
www.texasglobaleducation.org


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108. FREE ORGAN RECITALS IN DALLAS

FREE ORGAN RECITAL DATES
DECEMBER 17
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
JUNE 12, 2015

Time: 12pm-12:30pm (followed by a one hour tour of the Center)
Cost: FREE

Location:  Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora, Dallas, 75201
Details: Recital given by Mary Preston, resident organist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, on the Lay Family Concert Organ. This 30 minute presentation will be followed by a one-hour tour of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
Reservations not required, but requested for groups of 15 or more.
For More Information or for a Group Reservation: 
214-670-3331

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109. 2014-2015 GREATER PLANO AREA COTILLION

When:  We will hold four fall and four spring cotillions, excluding December and April. Dates should be considered tentative, however, until the receipt of your invitation approximately two weeks beforehand. Tentative dates for the 2014-2015 year are: TBA
Details: We are a fellowship of homeschooling parents offering instruction to teens in etiquette and various forms of traditional dance along with the opportunity to build socialization skills and new relationships for God’s glory. The cotillion is open to homeschoolers aged 12 to 18. 2014—2015 Selective Sundays of the month 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Gleneagles Country Club: 5401 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75093
Cost: $50 non-refundable, annual registration fee per family; $25/per person for each cotillion (includes meal and dance instruction); parents may R.S.V.P. for dinner as space allows for $25
:

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If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider becoming a member supporter!  For $25 a year, your family can receive all of the benefits of membership, including $20 off THSC annual membership, discounts at various area homeschool stores and other businesses and organizations that have partnered with us.  

Support groups can also partner with us for just $25/year, which includes a FREE HEART of Texas family membership for the primary leader of the group. Board Members of Partnering Support Groups will also receive a discounted rate to our annual Leadership Conference.  

To learn more about becoming a member supporter:  www.heartoftex.org/resources/membership 
To view our growing list of partners:  www.heartoftex.org/partners/

This newsletter is free to any and all homeschool families and support group leaders who wish to receive it!

HEART of Texas     P.O. Box 211882    Bedford, TX  76095-1882    http://www.heartoftex.org    
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