H o m e s c h o o l I o w a . o r g

Skate Castle
Newton
First Friday of the month
Skate Castle is again allowing us
to come skate to Christian music the first Friday of each month
from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Cost is $5 per person with a maximum of $20 per family.
There is a $2 charge per person
for those choosing inline skates.

Old-Fashioned Barn Dances
Newton
7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
the 3rd Thursday of each month
at the Skate Castle
1611 1st Avenue West -
just east of Hwy 14 on the south side of the street
in Newton.
Dances include old-time squares, circles,
reels, contras, waltzes, and polkas –
all danced to live music and with a live caller.
All dances are taught,
no knowledge or experience is necessary,
and there is no need to bring a partner.
Admission is $5 per person,
with a family maximum of $20,
and infants and toddlers are admitted without charge
(with their parents, of course!).
The Skate Castle concession stand
is open during the dances
(no food or drink may be brought in).
Only clean white-soled, soft-soled shoes (like tennis shoes)
are allowed on the floor. No tobacco or alcohol is allowed.
Come out and have a great time
while helping us keep an old tradition alive!
For additional information,
or to be added to an e-mail announcement/reminder list,
contact Linda Rex at lindarex@iowatelecom.net.

Generation Joshua Club
Adel/West Des Moines
Interested in government?
Want to get involved in the political arena?
Generation Joshua,
a division of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA),
encourages Christian youth to make a difference
in their community and their government.
GenJ clubs “pray for the nation,
carry out their civic and community duties,
support each other in their civic educational process,
communicate truth (spiritual and political),
and be ready on short notice to be involved in campaigns
for pro-family, conservative candidates.”
To be in this club,
you must join or be a member of Generation Joshua,
age 11-19, and be serious about politics and government.
Outside of GenJ membership,
there is no cost to be in the club.
(For more information about Generation Joshua,
go to www.generationjoshua.org.)
We will meet once a month, plus extra events.
If you are interested in being in this new GenJ club,
contact Nicolas Frappier at 952-836-4254
or at rfrappr@aol.com

Joy Singers
Cooperative Home School Choir
Beginning Friday, September 11
2:00 p.m.
Grace Church, Des Moines
Mark your calendars
for the first meeting of Joy Singers Choir
for the fall! Registration deadline is
Friday, September 25 (opens again in January).
Location at Grace Church, easy access off I-80 and I-235.
Grades PreK-12th.
The choir meets on Friday afternoons.
We sing Christian, traditional, and patriotic music.
We offer music instruction, group singing, activities,
drama roles (spring play)
and opportunities to sing at nursing homes.
For more information, please contact:
Margaret Ussery
(515) 285-1799
rmkussery3@aol.com

Walnut Creek YMCA Homeschool P.E. Program
Windsor Heights
This program offers physical exercise
for homeschool children ages 6 through high school
the third Friday each month from September to May.
The program runs from 1-4 p.m.
at the Walnut Creek YMCA located
at 948 73rd Street in Windsor Heights.
(Mature five-year olds may attend with parent the first time
and staff okay without parent.)
Youth are divided into approximate age groups
of 5-8, 9-11 and teens.
The first half of the time includes gym activities and snacks
followed by either pool/gym time for the second half.
Cost will be $5 for non-members and $2 for Y members.
Parents are encouraged to register and pay on-line at
https://register.dmymca.org/online/search.php
Children get in free when parents volunteer
with either the gym time or by assisting in the pool.
Sign up must be done one week prior to the date to receive free admission,
though parent volunteers are always welcome.
Contact Phil Simmons at
phil.simmons@dmymca.org or
515 224-1888 to sign up.
This year’s dates include the following
(note later date for March):
9/18, 10/16, 11/20, 12/18,
1/15, 2/19, 3/26, 4/16, and 5/21.
 
Homeschool Bowling League
Des Moines
Thursdays 10AM
Ages 5-19
Christian music,
Bumpers available
Plaza Lanes
2701 Douglas Ave
Call Melody, (515) 255-1111
for more information or to reserve your spot.

Dreesman Buffalo Ranch Open House
Tama
October 3
Come enjoy a day with the buffalo. 
We have our annual open house every year
on the first Saturday in October. 
This year it is on Oct. 3rd., from 10:00 to 2:00.
Some Indian friends of ours will give a little dance
and you can have a hay ride out into the herd. 
Everything is free except the food you eat.
For more information please call us at:
641-484-6725
Tom and Connie Dreesman
Dreesman Buffalo Ranch
3575 L Ave., Tama, Ia. 52339
dreesman@iowatelecom.net

Indian Creek Nature Center
Fall events
6665 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids
Following are some of the events
being held this fall at the Indian Creek Nature Center.
Some involve cost and others are free.
Call ahead to make your reservation
and to find out costs and other information
(319) 362-0664,
email:
naturecenter@indiancreeknaturecenter.org
website:
www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org
Saturday, Oct 3, 11AM-4PM
Annual National Solar Tour and Energy Efficiency Open House (free)
Monday, Oct 5, 7PM
Fall Connections
Tues, Oct 6, 9:30-10:30AM
Bat Business for Preschoolers & Parents
Saturday, Oct 10, 10AM-2PM
Prairie Seeds for the Yard
Friday, Oct 16, 7PM
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Saturday, Oct 14, 10AM-12
Toddler Tracks: Tall Trees and Falling Leaves
Saturday, Oct 24, 3PM
Abbe Hills Garden: Home-grown Food Tour
Friday, Nov 20, 7PM
Green and Simple Gifts: Willow Jewelry
Saturday, Dec 5, 9AM-12, Nature’s Noel

Basketball Skills n’ Drills
Home school kids ONLY
Des Moines
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4 (5 weeks!)
Wednesdays
Grades K-3 (1:00 pm-2:30 pm)
Grades 4-6 (2:30 pm-4:00 pm)
Cost: $39 (1st child)
$29  (2nd child)
$19  (3rd, 4th...child)
All sessions held at Aspen Athletic Club,
Hickman Rd, W. Des Moines
Skills n’ Drills will teach the fundamentals of basketball
including ball handling, passing, shooting and agility drills.
The kids will also learn about sportsmanship, teamwork,
responsibility and hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Skills n’ Drills is led by Doug Diers.
Doug has been teaching basketball
and sharing Gods Word with the youth of Iowa
for over 5 years.
He reaches 1000’s of kids each year.
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whatsoever you eat or drink or whatever you do,
you must do all for the glory of God”
Visit shoot-it.com for additional info and registration form
or contact Doug Diers at dougdiers@shoot-it.com
(515)-450-7302

Fort Des Moines Museum and Educational Center
Des Moines
Located South of Des Moines on Army Post Road,
the museum honors both
the first class of African-American men
who trained at Fort Des Moines as officers during WWI
and the women who also trained at Fort Des Moines
and served in
the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) during WWII.
The museum has age-based learning programs
and many exhibits,
including videos of an African-American soldier
and WAC soldier telling their stories of training
at the Fort and life overseas. 
There are hands-on objects
such as a record player and radio
which plays period music, an antique typewriter
that students can practice their typing skills,
and a trumpet that plays a recording
of an African-American Army band. 
Students can also test their horse riding skills
on a replica of a saddle once used by the Buffalo Soldiers
(early African-American Calvary soldiers),
and try on a World War I backpack.
The museum program focuses on K - 12th grades; 
younger students may need assistance
from an older student or adult. 
Students will enjoy the interactive scavenger hunts.
The museum is open
Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. 
The cost to visit the museum is
$1.00 per student and $5.00 per adult. 
Contact
Michael Kates, Education Coordinator
Fort Des Moines Museum
Katesedu@qwestoffice.net
(515) 282-8060
www.fortdesmoines.org

2009 National Christian College Fairs
October 19, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Des Moines Christian School
13007 Douglas Parkway
Urbandale, IA  50322
October 20, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Covenant Bible Church
1800 46th Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Free admission & financial workshop
www.nccf.us
888-423-2477

Third Annual Creation Conference
November 8-9 2009
Rochester, Minnesota
November 8th topics
The Consequences of the Life You Choose,
Fossils, Grand Canyon and the Global Flood
at: Redeemer Lutheran Church,
869 7th Avenue Southeast, Rochester, MN
November 9th topics
Dinosaurs and Dragons (age 11 and up)
at: Rochester Central Lutheran School,
2619 9th Ave. NW, Rochester, MN
This is a FREE event.
For more information contact John Van  Proosdy 
507-993-8166 or jvanproosdy@yahoo.com 
or go to www.answersingenesis.org and click on events.

$3000 Master Books Essay Scholarship
Deadline in January 2010
Master Books, the world's largest creation resource publisher,
announces that the 2010 Master Books Essay Scholarship competition
is now open for applications from high school juniors and seniors.
This $3000 scholarship is a one-time award
and may be used at
any accredited two-year, four-year, or trade school
within the contiguous United States.
Please visit:
www.nlpg.com/store/scholarship.htm
for all the rules, regulations and application form.

TeenPact
Des Moines
March 22-26
TeenPact pleased to announce
that registration is now open for the 2010 state class season!
Four Day Students - Ages 13-19
DISCOUNTS
Double Early Bird Discount
Register by September 30th to take advantage of
our combined discount of $30 per student
for the Four Day class!
Early Bird Discount
If you register at least 60 days before your class,
you'll receive $15 off your Four Day tuition.
Other discounts can be found online when you register.
If you have any questions
please call us at 1-888-343-1776
or visit our website at www.teenpact.com
And, NEW HOMEWORK!
One Day Students - Ages 8-12
DISCOUNTS
Sibling Discount
If you have more than one child
who will be attending the One Day class,
you will receive $5 off the student cost
for each additional child.
Group Discount
If you are able to get a group of 10 or more students to attend
you will receive an additional $5 off per student.
Other discounts can be found online when you register.
If you have any questions
please call us at 1-888-343-1776
or visit our website at www.teenpact.com
Donations are always welcome.
If you would like to donate,
send your donation to
TeenPact,
PO Box 9, Jefferson, GA 30549
or log into our website and click "donate."
If you have any friends or family
that would benefit from our Four Day or One Day programs,
please consider sending them a referral at
www.teenpact.com/refer

2010 NICHE Graduation
May 22
2:00 p.m.
First Federated Church
Des Moines, Iowa
Watch for further details and application!

2010 NICHE Conference
June 18-19
Polk County Convention Center
Des Moines, Iowa