ex: 95035 or Milpitas, CA A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling

		California I am Ann Zeise, your guide to the best and most interesting and useful sites and articles about home education on the web.
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California Homeschooling Associations About Charter Schools Charter School List Events Field Trips Forming a Private School Laws Legal Information Legislation Watch Online Support PSA PSA Sample PSPs Public ISPs Publications Resources Support Groups Support Group Lists A to Z Home's Cool Welcome to Homeschooling Articles Beginning to Homeschool Chat Room Community Networking Concerns Curriculum Shopping Distance Learning Programs DVD Rentals Early Years Events Explorations 4 Kids Field Trips Gifted Kids Holiday Directory Homeschooling Jokes Laws & Legalities Lessons & Ideas Methods, Styles Regional Information Religion & Cultural Special Needs Support Group Resources Teens & College-Bound Thoughts & Hard Facts Unschooling Explorations 4 Kids Computer Literacy Drivers Ed Fine Arts General Interest Health & Fitness Language Arts Languages Math Science Experiments * Astronomy * Biology * Chemistry * Earth Science * Physics Social Studies   The Jelly Belly Factory Tour Step into our factory and smell the aroma of chocolate, peach, cinnamon, pineapple, or whatever is being cooked up that day. A visit to our candy making factory in Fairfield, California, located about an hour's drive north of San Francisco, and 45 minutes west of Sacramento.

California Field Trips Annotated Lists Adventure Schooling This group is for families who enjoy getting out of the house and being adventurous. You are welcome to join us. Tell us about great field trips in your area, and about good family vacations you have enjoyed, and any other advice you may have about traveling and learning as a family. Barbary Coast Trail Video Tour of this 3.8 mile walking tour of historic San Francisco. Download the audio tour to your cell phone or ipod. Bay Area Experiences A database of fun and unusual things to do and see in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some are quite unusual, such as where you can go to learn to blow glass. Bay Area Family Travel We will focus on a specific Bay Area locale for our monthly cover story. And in the How-to with Kids department, writers provide the essentials on how to ski with kids, camp with kids, visit museums with kids...you get the idea. Bay Area Homeschool Field Trips This Yahoo group is for Homeschooling families in the SF- San Jose Bay Area who enjoy field trips. At least 2 field trips a month; some are free, some having fees. Everyone is welcome to post field trips that they are organizing. Bay Area Kid Fun Find fun things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area and also get discount coupons for doing them! BestHomeschooling.org's Guide to California Field Trip Resources This directory provides information about finding and planning an endless array of field trip opportunities throughout the state. Formerly on the HSC site. Researched by Lillian Jones. CaliforniaHS-Calendar An announcement-only email list concerning field trips and events of interest to California Homeschoolers. Central Coast Homeschoolers Field Trips Each Monday from 12:00 - 2:30 Homeschoolers of the Central Coast hosts field trips. The field trips are open to anyone who would like to attend. They are geared to the age group 4 - 11 but children of other ages are welcome. Field Trip Directory Homefires ~ The Journal of Homeschooling, famous in Northern California for its field trip announcements, has put up a dozen lists of its readers' favorite places to take kids. OC Homeschool Events This is an announcements only (low volume) for events and activities that may be of interest to homeschooling families in and around the Orange County, California area. Sacramento Area Field Trip & info For homeschoolers in the Sacramento Area. Posts are limited to field trips, classes, park days and events of interest to homeschoolers. Any member may organize trips, and post events sponsored by other groups. San Diego Family Events Fun things for families with kids to do in San Diego area. Aquariums & Ocean Life Birch Aquarium at Scripps We provide ocean science education through creative exhibits, programs, and activities designed to help people use critical thinking, and to make science relevant to their daily lives. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, (619) 534-FISH Monterey Bay Aquarium All you need to know to plan your aquarium visit, including hours, prices, maps, online tickets and more. 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, (408) 648-4800 Area Guides Enter San Diego Beaches, Sea World, Zoos, LegoLand, and more from this local site. Oh, don't forget that Mexico is about 15 minutes from downtown, so they include it, too. Aquariums Monterey Bay Aquarium Holds Homeschool Days each fall. Fall 2009 is sold out. Sign up early for the 2010 days. As with other education groups, home school groups and families are eligible to participate in only one free field trip each school year. Art Bowers Museum of Cultural Art We offer Docent led tours of our Museum galleries and the facilities at our Kidseum provide Art Classes and a Lunch Area. We have a special promotion for groups booking before June 30th: Receive a complimentary Curriculum Guide. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA. 92706, (714) 567-3679. Paramount Theatre Guided Tours Art Deco style. My father was the general contractor on the remodeling of this center for performing arts in Oakland. Public tours of the Paramount Theatre are given on the first and third Saturdays of each month, excluding holidays. Children must be at least 10 years old and adult chaperones are required. (510) 893-2300 ext. 801. Astronomy Chabot Space & Science Center The universe is yours to experience! Set amid 13 trail-laced acres of East Bay parkland, with glorious views of San Francisco Bay and the Oakland foothills, Chabot is a hands-on celebration of sights, sounds, and sensations.10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland, CA 94619, 510-336-7300. Fremont Peak Observatory Fremont Peak Observatory is open to the public for viewing and educational programs from April through October on Saturday evenings that don't include a full moon (usually three Saturdays each month). San Juan Bautista, 831-623-2465. Classes Lawrence Livermore Labs Student Enrichment Programs Free lectures and demonstrations intended for students 5th grade through high school. Discovery Centers The Children's Discovery Museum Encompassing the broad themes of community, connections and creativity, exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations, while programs provide facilitated, focused, and sustained interactions. 180 Woz Way, San Jose, (408) 298-5437 The Discovery Center Museum of Science & Natural History An educational science center offering children an outdoor hands-on learning experience to stimulate passion, curiosity and wonder for the environment and physical sciences. 1937 N. Winery, Fresno, CA 93703. (559) 251-5533. Sacramento History Museum Step back in time and experience the rich history of Sacramento, our state capital. Explore underneath Old Sacramento with an Underground Tour. Head West or explore the legacy of the Nisenans; experience the life of May Woolsey or take a look at Sacramento's early agriculture roots with Life on the Farm. Round out your day by panning for gold or getting your very own "Wanted Poster" printed on the circa 1860's printing press. 101 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 808-7059. History Trips California Gold These folks will take you on a gold mining tour. Kids under 12 are free. Write them an interesting email about gold, and they may send you a nugget. (Do ask a parent before giving anyone your email address online.) The California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento The world-class tribute to the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. Ghost Town - Bodie, California  AN A TO Z ARTICLE Homeschoolers haunt this historic gold mining town on a fine October day. An online field trip. Go Milpitas! Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and general California resources for homeschooling families, such as California History, field trip ideas, and Drivers Ed. (My community website. Shameless plug.) Jamestown Gold Panning You can keep all of the gold that you find. However, if you insist on donating it to Miner John, he surely will not object. Open all year long. 17712 Harvard Mine Road, Jamestown, CA 95327. To Make Reservations call 209-984-4038. Old Sacramento Experience the Sacramento of the Gold Rush. Enjoy museums,entertainment, restaurants, lots of interesting shops, and plenty of great places to stay at this National Registered Landmark and 28-acre State Historic Park, on the river, in downtown Sacramento. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation From this site you can access Presidential Papers and Presidential Photographs, learn about the Museum and Air Force One, become a member of the Library Foundation, learn about our events, and shop at our online Museum Store. 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, California 93065. 800-410-8354. Rosie the Riveter Historical Park The memorial is located at Melville Square & Esplanade Drive, Richmond, CA 94804. Download the self-guided auto tour which will take you around to all the sites. Industry & Technology Factory Tours Visit and learn about the industries that make our state great. Members may submit reviews of their favorite field trips. Science on Saturday A series of free lectures and demonstrations targeted at middle and high school students. Topics are selected from the forefront of science and technology research in a variety of disciplines. Held in Pleasanton and in the Central Valley. Check back monthly for new classes. Music Clarion Music Chinese musical instruments and exotic musical instruments of the world. 816 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA, 415-391-1317. Music at Kohl Mansion We have two series which would be appropriate for homeschoolers: Family Concerts and Children's Concerts. In Burlingame. 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010. (650) 762-1130 Natural History Caverns of California Guided Cave Tours, Spelunking Trips and Underground Gold Mine Tours - Advanced Expeditions, Rappels and Family Cavern Expeditions - Sutter Gold Mine explorations underground - Sierra Nevada Recreation Corp. Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education Watch otters or foxes play as they are being fed. 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401, (650) 342-7755 Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching Orange County. Student groups go for only $14 per person! These 2-hour whale watching cruises are fully narrated by our expert captains. Our staff are available on board to answer any of your questions. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629. (949) 496-5794. East Bay Regional Park District Activities for kids page, but do wander further into the site for information about such things as boating, fishing, and camping. Humboldt State University Natural History Museum Learn more about the natural wonders of the north coast of California. 1315 G Street, Arcata, CA 95521, (707) 826-4479 Lindsay Wildlife Museum A wildlife rehabilitation and educational center that focuses on native California wildlife and natural history. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 935-1978. Nature Explorers of the East Bay Our nature hikes in the East San Francisco Bay area for parents and their young children (ages have been ranging from 18 months to 10 years, with a lot of 4- to 7-year-old kids) have been wonderful so far, and we have had a great time meeting new moms and their children! Point Reyes Outdoors We provide customized guided hiking, kayaking, team building and camping trips for groups and families in and around Point Reyes National Seashore. Our organization strives to provide quality instruction, education, and outdoor experiences. Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. (415) 663-8192. San Francisco Zoo Despite the many reasons that draw people here, we know that once they arrive at the Zoo, they will inevitably fall in love with wildlife, and that upon their departure from the Zoo they will begin their journey to become conservationists. Take a virtual tour. Fees, hours and directions. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History A close look at the story of the region's birth, geology and paleontology, native wildlife, rich marine life, and the culture of the Chumash Indians. 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, (805) 682-4711 Turtle Bay Museums and Arboretum on the River A collection of indoor/outdoor learning attractions with a focus on the Sacramento River watershed, its natural inhabitants, regional culture, and human history. 800 Auditorium Drive (street address), P.O. Box 992360, Redding, CA 96099-2360, (530) 243-8850 Rural Life McFarland Living History Ranch The students enter a portal of time back to the late 1800's. Judging by the smiles and laughter learning is fun, not only fun but also something students remember a lifetime. Galt Area Historical Society, Inc. Galt CA 95632. For information call (209) 745-0951. Science Museums California Academy of Sciences Be sure to check the Education section for great ideas and lesson plans. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118-4499, (415) 221-5100 California Science Center The mission of the California Science Center is to stimulate and nurture interest in science, mathematics, and technology, to take an interdisciplinary approach that places them in a social and cultural context. 700 State Drive, Los Angeles, (213) SCI-ENCE The Discovery Museum Science & Space Center NEW Join us as the Museum presents educational programming especially planned and priced for our homeschool visitors. All programs align with state and federal grade-level curriculum standards. Groups and individual students are welcome to participate. Make a day of it! If you wish to pack your lunch, several picnic areas are available on the Museum grounds. Discovery Science Center Science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and programs. 2500 Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 542-CUBE Exploratorium Housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits. 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, (415) 561-0360 Homeschool Science Program, 20 spaces available! Experiment Ideas, Museum Store, Exploratorium Exhibit Cross Reference. Explorit Science Center Our hands-on experiences are involving, open ended, user friendly, and incorporate inquiry and problem solving strategies. P.O. Box 1288, Davis, (530) 756-0191 Hall of Health A community health-education museum and science center dedicated to promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health. 2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 549-1564 Lawrence Hall of Science A singular resource center for preschool through high school science and mathematics education, and a public science center with exciting hands-on experiences for learners of all ages. Centennial Dr., University of California Berkeley, (510) 642-5132 Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Seeks to inspire life-long learning by furthering the public's understanding and enjoyment of science and technology. P.O. Box 33303, San Diego, (619) 238-1233 The Tech Museum of Innovation With its worldwide reputation for technical innovation and economic growth, Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area offer an opportunity to create an educational model linking industry, the schools and the community. 201 South Market St., San Jose, (408) 294-TECH Water Ways Bay Model Visitor Center Why a Bay Model? By building the Model in the late 1950's and testing the Reber Plan, scientists and engineers were able to determine that the proposed creation of several dams across the Bay would adversly affect it's unique ecosystem. 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965, (415) 332-3871 Guadalupe River Park & Gardens 2-Day Water Wizard summer enrichment day camps for ages 7-11 in San Jose. 408-298-7657. 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Books for More Field Trip Ideas   Kids' Adventures Around San Francisco Bay: Educational Places to Go, Things to Do, and Classes to Take in the North Bay, Peninsula, Silicon Valley, East Bay, and Santa Cruz by Elina Wong The attractions chosen here help kids to learn new things, covers the entire Bay Area, and includes related follow-up activities to reinforce learning.   California: Fun Facts & Games by Julie Douglas, Larry Nolte (Illustrator) In planning a family vacation to California, we found the book by Julie Douglas to be very informative and loads of fun for our children. We all learned a lot and had such fun doing it.   Fodor's Around Los Angeles With Kids by Lisa Oppenheimer Fun to read and easy to use, these handy little guides make it easy to plan an enjoyable, hassle-free day with children in Los Angeles. Perfect idea book for every city parent and grandparent, and indispensable aids for families on vacation.   The City by the Bay: A Magical Journey Around San Francisco by Tricia Brown, the Junior League of San Francisco, Elisa Kleven (Illustrator) The illustrations are so incredible--bright, cheerful, detailed and full of life. Each illustration (i.e. Golden Gate Bridge, The Cable Cars and Lombard Street) is accompanied by a brief history and interesting facts. Other sections include an Overview of the city's history, "Fun Facts" about San Francisco and an "Explorer's Guide".   Top 10 and Recently Published Homeschooling Books