Waco Area Lectures & Workshops – Baylor U.

If you’re in the Waco area, you may be interested in some upcoming lecture and workshop opportunities at Baylor University:

• February 16, 7 to 8 pm;  “Wetlands for Water” , Lake Waco Wetland , free and open to the public.  Part of the H.O.T. H2O lecture series (see flyer for details).  www.lakewacowetlands.com for directions or (254) 848-9654 for questions. Information Flyer: H.O.T. H2O
• March 2^nd, 12:30 – 2 pm; “State of the Gulf” video screening, Baylor Science Building, free and open to the public.  (254) 710-7275 orparking@baylor.edu for visitor parking information. Information flyer: The State of the Gulf BSB
• June 13^th and 14^th, 9 am to 4 pm; “Wetland Plants, Know ‘Em and Grow ‘Em” and “Rain Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms”, Baylor Science Building, $40 each course.  Environmental Concern at (410) 745-9620 or www.wetland.org to register. Information Flyer: TX KEGE Rain Gardens 2012

Additional details are on the attached flyers, feel free to print and distribute.

Several folks have asked about a Project WET workshop.  The most recent Project WET offering was an educator workshop here at the BSB in June 2011; they anticipate offering a facilitator’s workshop utilizing the new curriculum in 2012, in Waco or possibly Austin area.  We will post details as soon as they are available.

If you’re interested in attending any of these events, please contact:

Melissa L. Mullins
One Bear Place #97178
Waco, TX 76798-7178

Melissa_Mullins@baylor.edu

Baylor Science Building C.410    (254) 710-2382

Center for Reservoir & Aquatic Systems Research (C.R.A.S.R.) | Baylor University

Environmental Educator | GEAR UP Waco Marsh Madness |

If you know of similar opportunities anywhere in the state of Texas, please send us the information so we can share it with our members. Email: TXSHN-owner@yahoogroups.com

TXSHN News

We have some interesting goings-on to report. If you’re new to the TXSHN website, you may find some new additions. We’ve added links to secular/inclusive homeschooling conferences and summer camps, and we’re looking for additions. If We’d love to have a section of purely secular materials (though if you have a secularized version of material that contains religious materials or references, that would be acceptable as well) and resources – please share your tips for websites and curriculum!

We’re also added a Facebook Group that may take the place of our Yahoo Group (or exist in addition to) for group messaging. Some of our members prefer that format; we’re going to keep both for now and see what works better over the coming months. If you have a preference, let us know. We have several on-going discussions on both lists, so please feel free to jump in and share your thoughts and comments, or post new topics of discussion that may be of interest or concern for secular homeschooling families. The more participation our groups have, the more closely-knit our support structure will become.

One of the hardest things to cope with as a secular parent can be isolation, both for the students and the parents. To help our members find each other, we’ve added a visual map of our group’s members. You can add your own marker with as much or as little information as you like by clicking the ‘addition’ tab and ‘add marker (simple or detailed). This will let you see where in Texas other secular families are, and who/how many are near you. If you’re a group leader, you ca also list your group and use the ‘sunflower’ marker option so potential members can spot your group quickly.

We’re hoping to start planning events this year – we’d love your input on where and when. We’re also still seeking regional coordinators; if you’re interested in volunteering please leave a comment to that effect and we’ll be in touch. The job is not particularly taxing; if you have a few hours to spare each month, that’s probably all that would be needed at this point.

We look forward to seeing what our members will share!

Regional Coordinators Needed!

We’re making plans for getting the TSHN off the ground in 2011. One of the first things we’re looking for is interested persons to fill regional coordinator positions. Our RCs will serve two very important functions within the TSHN. They will be responsible for contacting and maintaining a list of active secular homeschooling groups in their area and serve as the contact person to help new secular homeschoolers find a group to connect with. They will also help with keeping TSHN updated on events in their area that might be of interest to secular homeschoolers.

Currently, Texas is divided into six regions and will need at least one contact person for each region:

• Central TX (Waco, Bryan, San Antonio, North of Del Rio, East of San Angelo)
• NorthEast (Wichita Falls to LA border; from Lufkin to AK/OK border)
• Panhandle (Midland to Wichita Falls and all of the Panhandle)
• South TX (South of Victoria, San Antonio, Del Rio)
• SouthEast (South of Lufkin to the Gulf; Victoria to the LA border)
• West TX (NorthWest of Del Rio, West of San Angelo, South of Midland to the NM/Mexico border)

If you’re interested in being an RC or co-RC, please contact us. We are also looking for several additional volunteers to serve as TSHN Coordinators to help organize, plan and oversee the network.

Our inbox is open to your suggestions! This is the first group of this kind that is being formed and we want to know what YOU are looking for in a state-wide secular organization.

Send suggestions, feedback and volunteer inquiries to: TXSHN-owner@yahoogroups.com

TSHN

Welcome to the TSHN!

The Texas Secular Homeschooling Network is a new organization that is being formed with the goal of offering secular homeschooling parents the same sort of organizational and regional support that is offered to faith-based homeschooling parents by organizations such as THSC and SETHSA.

We are actively seeking administrators and organizers for this group. If you are a secular homeschool group leader or would be interested in starting a secular homeschooling support group in your area, please contact us at TXSHN-owner@yahoogroups.com.

For more information, please join the TSHN Yahoo Group.

TSHN