There’s lots of detailed information for participants below, but they all boil down to “treat everyone with respect,” which means that when you register to attend a Homeschool Adventure you've made a personal commitment to your volunteer organizer that you will show up, you will be on time, and you will fully and promptly reimburse him/her for the cost of your family’s participation.
How Do I Join Homeschool Adventure?
To join Homeschool Adventure, visit us at Yahoo and click on Join This Group.
You will need a Yahoo ID to
join. Signing up for a Yahoo ID will result in the creation of a Yahoo email
account as well, but you are not obliged to use the Yahoo email address for
anything, including to join any Yahoo Groups.
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What Are the Costs of Membership?
There are no fees to join Homeschool Adventures. The cost of participation varies with the activity.
Homeschool Adventures is an all-volunteer homeschool support organization .
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Who is Eligible for Membership?
Membership is open to everyone interested, but our focus in on homeschoolers in
the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Most activity planning happens within the Twin
Cities but we do make occasional forays into Greater Minnesota.
Homeschool Adventures is a secular, inclusive homeschool support organization
committed to fulfilling our mission without discrimination based on race, color,
religion, gender, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
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Where Can I Find Out About Upcoming Homeschool Adventures?
The best way is to monitor the Yahoo Group for Event Notices as they are
announced. The other main sources are:
- The Group Calendar
- The Events folder in the Files section
The above resources are only available to members of the Yahoo Group.
Supplementary sources for event listings are…
- The HomeschoolRecess
calendar for Homeschool Adventures
This calendar will only contain events whose organizers are using
HomeschoolRecess for registration. The Yahoo calendar is more complete.
- Homeschool Adventure’s Twitter page
Selected events are announced via Twitter. Again the Yahoo calendar and files
section will be more complete.
- The Message
archive
This is also only available to members of the Yahoo Group and is also the least
reliable method as the message archive search function is notoriously
unreliable.
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Where Can I Find Out About Other Events for Homeschoolers?
Events and opportunities for homeschoolers are announced via the Yahoo Group,
but if you missed one or forgot what was out there, the following web resources
are available:
- The Calendar is the most comprehensive listing of area events for
homeschoolers. (This calendar does not contain Homeschool Adventures. To find
out about those you must join us on Yahoo.)
- Homeschool Adventure’s page on Facebook includes links to many area happenings for homeschoolers.
- Homeschool Adventure’s Twitter page includes announcements regarding area offerings for homeschoolers.
- The HomeschoolRecess public calendar lists many area events for homeschoolers.
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How Do I Register for a Homeschool Adventure?
Follow the instructions in the Event Notice as organizers use a variety of
methods to accept registrations. The most common methods are explained below.
Please read the event notice in its entirety if you plan to attend as
missing an important detail or deadline date can cause problems for both you and
the organizer.
When you register for a Homeschool Adventure, you may expect to receive an email from the
organizer with confirmation and/or payment instructions.
When an organizer announces that an event has filled up or the registration
deadline has passed, the notice in the Events folder will usually be marked as *full* or *closed.* (The lack of this mark does not guarantee the event is still open,
so check with the organizer if you are uncertain.)
(If the organizer is using HomeschoolRecess.com for registration, you will see
the message “Signups closed for this Field Trip.” if the registration deadline
date has passed or the maximum number of participants have already registered.)
You must provide ALL information requested by the organizer, and follow their
registration instructions, or the organizer may cancel your registration.
Registration Methods Commonly Used
- Yahoo Database registration
To register using a Database, go to the Database section of the Yahoo Group and click on the link to the Homeschool Adventure you
wish to attend. Click “Add Record” (in the upper right) and fill in all
information requested. Click the “Add Record” button, and you’re set.
In some cases you must email your registration to the organizer who then enters your information into the database for you.
If you are unable to add a new record, most likely the database has been closed because the event is full or the registration period has ended. You may wish to contact the organizer about wait lists in case of cancellations.
Because Yahoo databases do not close automatically when an event fills up and because organizers cannot monitor databases 24 hours a day, we recommend that you check with the organizer about space availability or check the number of existing registrants against the number of total spaces available to be sure there is room for all members of your family.
- HomeschoolRecess.com registration
To register via HomeschoolRecess, you’ll need a HomeschoolRecess User ID plus
you’ll need to be a member of the Homeschool Adventures group on
HomeschoolRecess. Getting a UserID is very easy, and you’ll find more
information about how to do so here.
To register for the event, just fill out the registration form at the end of the event notice. Your registration information will be visible only to you and the organizer, so please be complete.
If the registration deadline date has passed or the maximum number of participants have already registered, you will see the message “Signups closed for this Field Trip.”
Please read the Event Notices carefully and register according to the directions as given as failing to do so may result in you’re missing the event altogether.
You may expect to receive an email from “admin at homeschoolrecess.com” with
confirmation and/or payment instructions, so please be sure your email spam
filters will recognize homeschoolrecess.com as legitimate.
- Email registration
Some organizers will ask you to email them your registration information. If
they provide a “text form” for you to complete, please copy, paste and use it as
(1) doing so makes it much easier for organizers to copy and paste your
information into their spreadsheets at home and (2) it is simply too easy to
forget to include a piece of important information when composing a free form
registration request.
Please read the Event Notices carefully and register according to the directions
as given as failing to do so may result in you’re missing the event altogether.
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What Do I Need To Do Before Participating?
When you register to attend a Homeschool Adventure it is expected that you will
show up, you will be on time, and you will fully and promptly reimburse the
organizer.
Before registering…
- check your family’s calendar to be sure you are free to attend
- know the total cost and whether or not you can afford it
- understand the time commitment, including driving distance
- be aware of any and all requirements or restrictions (target ages, skill or
knowledge prerequisites, sibling policy, required supplies, stroller
restrictions, etc.)
- personally commit to attending barring illness or unexpected emergency
The expectation is that you will have read the complete event notice and that
you will read any email communications from the organizers and will respect all
parameters for the trip including all rules set by the organizer or venue.
Once you’ve registered for a Homeschool Adventure…
- mark your family’s calendar with the event’s name, time and organizer
- check your email for payment and/or confirmation instructions from the
organizer
Shortly before the event, be sure to revisit the Event folder and review the
information on your field trip:
- record the organizer’s contact information (phone number and email)
- make a note of the check-in time and the group’s gathering place
- print or otherwise prepare your map and/or driving directions to the location
- make a note of any parking information including cost and location
If the phone number for the location is given, write that down too, but be aware
that location phone numbers are provided for your convenience should you become
lost or need other last minute assistance. All other communication with
the location should go through the organizer unless the organizer
specifically directs you to contact the location. This includes requests for
additional information, for special accommodations, and for additional
seats/places.
If you are running late or need to cancel, please contact the organizer, not
the location!
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What Do I Do If I Am Running Late?
Please plan to be early to avoid being late due to inadequate maps, confusing
road signs, road construction, heavy traffic, inclement weather, parking
difficulties, or uncooperative children.
Tardiness affects the entire group. Arriving after an event is in process is
disruptive for the whole group. Many locations require the entire group be
present before starting a tour or seating a group.
If you are unavoidably late, please contact the organizer with your expected time of arrival. Do not call the location as it is unlikely that they will be able to pass the information on to the organizer. If you reach the organizer’s voice mail, please give the name of the registered adult, your estimated time of arrival and the number of participating children in your family, unless the organizer has directed you to provide different or additional information.
Organizers appreciate being able to say and our hosts appreciate hearing,
“X of Y participants have arrived, and Z are on their way and will be here in W
minutes.” They do not appreciate being left in the dark as to whether you are on
your way or are instead a no show.
Please do your best to minimize the disruption to the activities when you
arrive.
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What Do I Do If I Have To Cancel?
The Event Notice will contain information about canceling, including a
cancellation deadline and contact information.
It is not okay to just not show up! Being a “No Show” reflects
poorly on the Homeschool Adventures cooperative and on homeschoolers in general.
We all understand that children get sick and emergencies happen, but you
must let the organizer know if you will be unable to attend. In those
rare cases when an emergency is so dire that you are not able to contact the
organizer before the event, please do so as soon as you are able. Most
organizers prefer phone calls on the day of the event, but some will specify
that an email is preferred or that you may use either email or phone.
Do not under any circumstances contact the location to cancel your
registration unless the organizer has very specifically instructed you
to do so.
In most cases you will not receive a refund if you cancel after the cancellation
deadline. Many locations have a minimum fee requirements and/or require the
organizer to pay in advance. All locations will have set aside the staff and
supplies for the registered number of participants. Check the event notice for
refund information and contact the organizer for additional information if
needed.
Many organizers will maintain Waiting Lists and so will want to handle finding a
replacement for your family if you do need to cancel. In other cases, it is your
responsibility to find your replacement. If that is the case, you should
endeavor to do so even if your cancellation seems “last minute” to you, as is
often the case with sick children. Many events are quite popular with limited
space available and many families eager to have a chance to attend. Our members
live all over the metropolitan area, so what is a long drive for you may be
right next door for someone else. At a minimum, you should post the opening via
the Yahoo Group. If you are able to transfer your registration, please let the
organizer know.
Be aware that registration cancellations create extra work and may have
financial consequences for our volunteer organizers. Organizers may need to
reopen closed events, shuffle about pre-arranged sub-groupings, make new
arrangements with the location, and/or pay a financial penalty for the change in
attendance numbers. It also takes time to calculate, write and send payment
instructions or registration confirmations and to maintain an accurate
registration database. When you register for a Homeschool Adventure, your
volunteer organizer invests precious personal time in your family. Respect that
by honoring the commitment your registration represents.
While you do not need to divulge personal details when you cancel, most
organizers appreciated being given a general reason for your cancellation such
as “due to illness” or “due to a family emergency.”
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How Do I Reimburse (Pay) the Organizer?
Expect to receive an email from the organizer with confirmation and/or payment
instructions.
You are responsible for…
- supplying the organizer with a reliable email address that you check regularly
- ensuring that your junk mail filters allow emails from the organizer to reach you.
When you register for a Homeschool Adventure, you are making a commitment
to reimburse the organizer for the cost of your family’s participation, which
means taking responsibility for ensuring that you are able to receive the
information you need to do so.
Given the nature of Payment Instructions, they are very prone to falling prey to
overly aggressive spam filters, so please be sure your email spam filters will
recognize the organizer’s email address as legitimate. If you don’t receive the
expected email, it is your responsibility to notice this and search your bulk,
junk or spam folders for the email and to contact the organizer if you don’t
find it.
Organizers can fall prey to overly aggressive spam filters, too, so if you don’t
get a response to your email, please call the organizer. Most organizers will
include their phone number in the Event Notice.
Failure to receive email instructions does not excuse you from your registration
commitments.
Please reimburse the organizer promptly according to the organizer’s Payment
Instructions. Unless stated otherwise in the Payment Instructions, failure to
pay by the payment deadline will result in cancellation of your registration.
Payment deadlines and methods vary, so please read your Payment Instructions
carefully. You are responsible for all information contained in the Payment
Instructions.
Most organizers will direct you to send a check payable to their name to their
home address. Do not make your check payable to Homeschool Adventures or the
organizer will not be able to cash it.
A few organizers accept reimbursements via PayPal or Amazon Payments. Please
follow their payment instructions carefully to ensure they receive full
reimbursement.
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What Is My Responsibility for A “Free” Event?
Your responsibilities remain the same for Homeschool Adventures for which there
is no charge. You many not need to reimburse the organizer but before you
register for a free event, you must still personally commit to attending barring
illness or unexpected emergency.
Free events represent both an investment in precious personal time by your
volunteer organizer and an investment in staffing and resources by the hosting
location. The best way you can show your appreciation for that investment is by
honoring your commitments to show up and to be on time.
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What Are the Posting Policies?
Note: When you reply to a message from the group, it will only go to the
message author, not to the entire group. To post or reply to the group, use
this email address: hsadventures AT yahoogroups.com
All messages should be plain text. Rich Text and HTML are not supported.
Attachments are not distributed. Please convert the information in your
attachment to plain text and include it in the body of your email.
Alternatively, if the attachment or the information in the attachment is
available on the web, you may include a link instead.
Yahoo Groups is notorious for inserting line breaks into long URLs making them
“unclickable.” To avoid this, enclose long URLs in angle brackets. However,
angle brackets will not help if it is your email client that is inserting the
line breaks. In that case, use an URL shortener such as bit.ly or tinyurl.
We welcome posts about…
- events you’ve organized (we strongly recommend you use the Event Notice form to do so; we also recommend that you join HSAdventures-Organizers for advice and support from other organizers)
- other local homeschool events (e.g., homeschool days at The Works, classes
for homeschoolers at Como Zoo, etc)
- local events of interest to homeschoolers (e.g., educator discount days,
homeschooler theatrical productions, etc)
- feedback or requests for feedback about local events or services (e.g.,
homeschooler friendly dance studios, useful library services, etc)
Please keep announcements for political events or requests to sign petitions off
the list.
We invite you to announce non-HSAdventures events once on the HSAdventures list.
If the original announcement is more than 30 days before the registration
deadline or event, you may also send either one registration reminder as the
registration deadline nears or one event reminder shortly before the event.
While you may announce important changes (such as date, time or location) to the
group, additional updates should be sent directly to registered participants.
If you wish to post an ad (offer items for sale or to giveaway, promote your
business, etc), please send it to a moderator first for approval. We do not
forward advertisements from non-members.
HSAdventures is partnered with ECHO-MN, which is the place to go for homeschool
support, discussion, and other resources, including the opportunity to buy and
sell used homeschooling materials. Check out ECHO-MN’s website and join the discussion at the ECHO Yahoo Group.
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Managing Your Group Email Volume
We highly recommend that you subscribe to Individual Emails and NOT the Daily
Digest as events can fill up very quickly once announced. Since the group is
fairly low traffic, the digests just don’t go out that frequently. However if
you find the email traffic is too much, you may switch to Web Only (No Mail) or
Daily Digest.
Web Only or No Mail means you will still be a member of the group, but you won’t
receive any emails. You have to visit the group to read messages and find out about upcoming events.
The Daily Digest groups the day’s messages together into a single email, along
with an index of the posts. Usually you will get one digest every day or so, but
on those rare occasions when traffic is heavier, you may get two.
To change your settings via the web, start here
- Under Step 2 select “Web Only” for No Mail
- Select “Daily Digest” for Digest
- Select “Individual Email” to change your subscription back to individual
emails
At this time, moderators are not making use of the Special Notices feature.
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Homeschool Adventures Parental Behavior Guidelines
Parents attend Homeschool Adventures as parents, educators and chaperones and are expected to be attentive to all three roles. As such, parents are expected to be aware of their children and respond to any behavior that disrupts the gathering.
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