RevQuest -- Where History Comes Alive

Mystery, secrecy (well, as much as you can have with amateur spies), intrigue and tons of fun describe our first experience with RevQuest:  The Old Enemy at Colonial Williamsburg.  RevQuest was exactly what our family needed to rediscover the charm and excitement of Colonial Williamsburg (CW)!

CW has been a part of my life since childhood as we've celebrated birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and school years there.  We are very familiar with the same sights and sounds that CW has to offer.  Some sounds, like the fife and drum corps, I can never get enough of, yet some of the houses and buildings have lost their luster over the years and we can recite some of the same spheels when we walk in the apothecary or tour the Palace.  However, RevQuest brought back that element of surprise and discovery that left us wanting more of CW!

Over the past year or so, we've seen RevQuest spy missions advertised.  We've found random clues and saw bandana-wearing families along Duke of Gloucester Street which further piqued our interest.  As we were deciding where to go on vacation this fall, we looked at CW once again because our child seemed to have the mental and physical stamina to attempt (and enjoy) this spy mission.  While we were doing RevQuest mainly for him, we were delighted to watch how RevQuest drew in our entire family as the mission progressed. 

We tried the optional online mission of RevQuest first to see if it was even worth doing in person.  Of course, I made the deciphering much harder than what it should've been but my husband and in-laws figured it out and completed the online mission quite easily.  We texted in our final answer and received a text back from CW stating that we can pick up a reward at one of the shops which further enticed us to try out the game in person.

 We picked up our RevQuest bandanas and secret mission orders at the Visitor's Center.  We already had the the RevQuest text # in our phone from the online mission...you use the same number throughout the whole mission to gather clues.  CW's reply texts are instant so you know on the spot whether your deciphering is right or wrong!

Note:  If you are a homeschooler (any state), go to Group Sales where you can receive discounted admission for everyone in your party.  Then go to the Visitor's Center and get 1/2-off yours and your spouse's admission by showing your teacher ID or NOI for the educator discount.  As an educator, you receive 15% off of all book purchases throughout CW as well!  Make sure to leave your email address with Group Services for info and deals.  Apparently they offered an annual CW homeschool membership for $20/person via email...can't beat that!

While at the Visitor's Center, there is a seven-minute intro video outlining the basics of the RevQuest mission, how to get help, and what you need to know, etc.  After that, you open your Top Secret orders where you find everything needed to complete the spy mission (including clues, maps, ciphers, a pencil, and more).  The first stop is with a Williamsburg Agent where you need an alias to use with that agent as well as members of the Committee of the Secret

Correspondence.  This alias comes in the form of clues and a text which we completed during the walk from the Visitor's Center to the Palace area.  These agents are the only ones that can help you with this quest as long as you mention the alias.  The agents are carefully marked so you know who you (and they) can trust with this mission.

One of the coolest parts of RevQuest is that you get a behind-the-scenes look at CW.  Though we started out in public areas, the agents always led us to secret, semi-secluded locations on various properties.  We could open up gates and go down paths that the regular public didn't go down.  We examined trade signs and saw them in a way we never saw them before as they were transformed into directions and clues.  There were moments when we felt like true spies as we "talked" in code with CW actors as we had to ask for documents along the way.  We were constantly on the look out for secret messages and others in the Committee of the Secret Correspondence and we also enjoyed causal game banter with other RevQuesting families along the way. 

The Agents did a superb job acting out their part and involving every child and adult on this secret mission.  They had this air of mystery yet belief and reassurance that with a little work, we actually could complete this mission and in a timely manner.  The Agents had a way of making RevQuest feel like a special experience, not just another visit to CW.

RevQuest truly was a fresh way of looking at CW for all of us--it appealed to my elementary-aged child all the way up to his grandparents.  Sometimes, my son was able to crack the code all by himself and other times, it took all of us working together in order to move to the next phase of the mission.

CW suggests that the play time is about two hours.  It would be two hours if you did each part of the mission back to back.  However, we stopped for lunch, browsed in the stores and houses and worked with our son to complete his children's CW map so he could earn his fourth CW pin.

Note:  Don't forget to pick up a children's CW map at the Visitor's Center or ask any of the CW cast members at the open houses/trades for a children's map.  You don't need to be a part of RevQuest in order to do the children's map.  We loved the way that CW redid this season's children's map because it made it much easier for the younger, shy crowd to complete it.  It gave it more of an "I Spy" feel and actually complemented RevQuest in a way.  

If you are interested in RevQuest, make sure to check out the Colonial Williamsburg/RevQuest website for the mission times because there aren't as many dates and times to meet up with the Agent, French Envoy and Courier in the off-season.  RevQuest runs through November 30th, so it's not too late to schedule a RevQuest field trip.   

Even though my child is on the younger side (second grade) and didn't fully grasp RevQuest and the concept of a secret mission on the outset, it didn't take him long at all to catch on and to get into the game.  He was all too proud of himself when he was able to decipher the messages and he used lunch time to cipher his own name!  It was amazing to see how quickly his interest turned toward ciphering, and the teacher discount came in handy as we walked out with a couple books on secret codes!  My in-laws enjoyed the challenge and family fun as well as mentioned how this reminds them of their favorite TV mini-series, Turn, and they can't wait to bring more family with them next time.  My husband and I enjoyed the novelty of the spy mission and being able to see CW in a new light.  RevQuest breathed new life, info, and perspective into our homeschool and reminded me that teaching history is fun when it's presented well.  We couldn't have asked for a better first RevQuest experience and we look forward to tackling more RevQuest missions in the future! 

Note:  No goods or services were exchanged for this review.  We simply enjoyed the experience and believe it complements the homeschool experience. 

Secret Code

Secret Paths

Secret Clues

Completing the Children's Map (available anytime during the year)

Receiving his prize after completing the map.  The ultimate prize was when this lady told us where we can get free milkshakes in our souvenir cup!  It was even more of a bonus when we discovered they were peanut-allergy friendly!

Showing off his 4th CW pin that he's earned since Kindergarten.

Sonlight Science vs. Science in the Beginning

We have been a Sonlight-only, multi-subject package homeschooling family since the beginning of our homeschool journey.  We have appreciated the ease and variety of Sonlight both for teacher and student.  And, it’s been well worth the cost to have everything come together in one box so all we need to purchase are a few pencils to start our school year.  In my naive mind, I thought we would do Sonlight Kindergarten through 12th grade.  But after two years using Sonlight, the honeymoon phase is over.  What worked for us in the beginning didn't necessarily work in its entirety two years later especially in regards to science.

With Sonlight Core A and Core B Science, we studied a variety of topics throughout the year so we never grew tired of science.  It was always new and fresh to my child.  We used several books to cover one area of science rather than one textbook.  We enjoyed fairly easy and age-appropriate science experiments using the things we had around our house plus the pre-made Sonlight science kit.  And, the science worksheets that came with the Sonlight Cores helped us gauge our child's comprehension level.   

Yet there were two negatives to Sonlight that we just couldn’t seem to work around.  The first was that fact that Sonlight uses mainly Usborne books for science.  Usborne presents the majority of its science from an evolution viewpoint.  Sonlight tries to compensate for that through shallowly sharing a Biblical viewpoint and a few accompanying verses in the Instructor’s Guide.  The second is that the Sonlight Core A and Core B science is an overview of science and it rarely goes beyond the surface.  However, I don’t think a science program can go beyond the surface if it’s not rooted firmly in the Word of God. 

So we were determined to find something different to use for science for second grade that had the Biblical, hands-on approach to science mixed with the variety of science that we love from Sonlight.  We really liked Apologia and how it is rooted in the Word, but we didn’t like how it focused on one area of science all year long.  That would quickly get old for my child (and for me).  A friend in a homeschool Facebook group recommended Dr. Jay Wile’s new science book, Science in the Beginning.  I had never heard of Dr. Wile before but when my friend mentioned that he wrote the high school science textbooks for Apologia, my interest was piqued.  Surely his Biblical worldview would carry over into his writing.  And knowing Apologia's reputation for science, surely he would bring a certain level of depth and knowledge to science that Sonlight didn’t afford with its Core. 

Dr. Wile sent us a copy of Science in the Beginning to look through and review, and we found the perfect compromise between Sonlight and Apologia!  Science in the Beginning is geared toward elementary students and can be done with one child or it can be done with several children of varying ages.  Each lesson ends with a review for the youngest students, older students and oldest students.  These reviews are centered around keeping a science journal and drawing or explaining the experiments and/or lessons.  At the end of first grade, we found ourselves going between the youngest and older student reviews based on my child’s writing vs. drawing capabilities. 

Like Sonlight, every experiment in Science in the Beginning (which there is one per lesson) can be done with household items.  There is a thorough explanation of what to do, and Dr. Wile explains the "why" behind every experiment (something that is hit or miss with Sonlight).  The plus to Science in the Beginning is that the experiments actually correspond with what you are studying; whereas, there is no coordination between Sonlight’s experiments and what is currently being studied (at least in Cores A and B). 

Science in the Beginning also relates science back to the Days of Creation.  The First Day of Creation Week (Lessons 1-15) deals with light where children learn all about light, colors, reflection, energy, the human eye, etc. The Second Day of Creation (Lessons 16-30) deals with everything water.  The Third Day of Creation (Lessons 31-45) centers around the land, rocks and plants.  Day Four of Creation (Lessons 46-60) focuses on the sun, moon and solar system.  Day Five of Creation gives an overview on birds and fish (Lessons 61-75).  And Day Six of Creation (Lessons 76-90) focuses on land animals, people and our senses.  Then, there is a page on Day Seven of Creation which talks about the need for rest. 

There is also a small supplement, Helps & Hints, to Science in the Beginning.  This guide contains the answers to the review questions in Science in the Beginning as well as contains corresponding tests and answer keys.  It is nice to have, but it is not necessary to complete the textbook. 

Science in the Beginning debuts Dr. Wile's new elementary series where he walks students through science in a historical context.  When we first received our book in December 2013, I was hesitant about jumping on board since the second book had not yet been released.  However, the second book, Science in the Ancient World, was released last month and there are plans for more to be released each year.  I see Dr. Wile’s series truly complementing the history portion of Sonlight’s Cores as science and history walk hand-in-hand.  We are picking up Science in the Beginning as we go into Sonlight Core C.  It is a great review and Science in the Beginning further reinforces the things we learned in previous Sonlight Cores.  For more on Dr. Wile’s approach, visit his blog at http://blog.drwile.com/?p=11016. 

I was concerned about Science in the Beginning being a duplicate of Sonlight Core A and B science, but there is enough difference between the two programs that it is worth going through Science in the Beginning in its entirety.  I was also concerned about Science in the Beginning being a “real” textbook since this is our first “official” textbook ever.  However, there is enough variety and science experiments in this book that we do not miss Sonlight science at all.  Plus, I secretly like having a little extra room on our bookshelf since we no longer need eight different books just for one year of science.  Science in the Beginning is a great starting point, and we use the library or find books at yard sales that complement Science in the Beginning for extra learning and enjoyment.  Also with Science in the Beginning, we are fully in control of the book selection rather than simply accepting what comes with the Sonlight Science program from an evolutionist standpoint. 

Science in the Beginning fills that niche for Sonlight users who aren’t ready to make a big curriculum change but who prefer science from a Biblical standpoint.  And Science in the Beginning provides both Biblical and educational depth that Sonlight simply cannot achieve using Usborne books.  It's definitely a great compromise for our family!  To find out more about Science in the Beginning, visit www.bereanbuilders.com/rl/index.php?8 .

Please note:  Other than receiving this product for free, we received no other compensation. 

Homemade With Love = Most Practical Cookbook I Now Own!

Homemade with Love: Treasured Family Recipes by Marilyn Boyer is like sitting down and thumbing through Mrs. Boyer’s personal recipe box (especially when she shares a memory with a recipe)…and you know those types of boxes are filled with tried-and-true family favorites!  I was amazed at how many recipes were quick, easy and kid-friendly.  Most of the recipes called for items that we usually have on hand making this cookbook extra practical.  The pictures included with some of the recipes were helpful and showed me that my food doesn’t have to look like a fancy Food Network dish in order for it to be a big hit with my family.  And, after making homemade crescent rolls for the first time following Mrs. Boyer’s easy recipe, I doubt we will ever buy crescent rolls from a blue can again! 

Since we are family of three (compared to feeding the Boyer’s 14 children) plus deal with severe nut allergies in our home, I wasn’t sure how well this cookbook would fit our lifestyle.  But I was pleasantly surprised and excited to find that the majority of the recipes did not make super-large quantities nor included a lot of nuts.  The recipes that include nuts are ones that we can substitute and still have a great dish.  It was an extra bonus to find a cookbook that gave us a lot of new recipes that we could use as written.  Homemade with Love has quickly become my favorite “go-to” for fast, delicious recipes that I know my family will like!

For more info on the cookbook, visit Homemade with Love: Treasured Family Recipes.

Of course, in order to honestly review this book, we wanted to try out a few recipes and turned it into a life skills class!  My child had a blast learning how to follow directions, read fractions and other cooking basics!  If a 6 year old can make crescent rolls, then anyone can!  :)  Here are a few pictures from our cooking session!  Enjoy! 

Learning how to make triangles

Sampling at every stage

Painting on the butter for the One-Hour Yeast Rolls

Our first attempt at making crescent rolls (One-Hour Yeast Rolls recipe)

Little Cheddar Meat Loaves cooking in the oven ... YUM!

Need a Family Gift Idea??

As a child, I remember my parents reading me the Christmas story from a special book every year!  While this Christmas book simply quoted the Scripture, there was just something extra special about my mom pulling out that book and reading it to us.  I had been looking for a book like that for years so I could carry on that tradition with my family.  However, I've turned up empty-handed until I ran across "Uncle Rick's Holiday Book"!

Uncle Rick's Holiday Book by Rick & Marilyn Boyer (Character Concepts) is a "coffee-table"-worthy book!  It lays out the history and significance of ten different holidays as well as includes a section sharing holiday-themed ideas, recipes and additional resources.  The pages are colorful and captivating especially for younger children.  I'm sure my child will remember the photographs on these pages when he is an adult as much as I remember the pages from that special book that my mom read to me!

Uncle Rick removes all the holiday consumerism and shares the facts and intent surrounding each holiday while giving great honor to God and the Christian principles that our Nation was founded on. 

We have this book on display in our home and I've enjoyed watching guests of all ages nonchalantly pick up this book and end up engrossed in one of the holiday stories!  They usually light up with excitement because they learned something new or close the book with appreciation for the author as he preserves the truth of these holidays. 

We can't wait to purchase more of these books to give away as gifts!

Holidays Included:

February 22 -- George Washington's Birthday
Spring -- Resurrection of Jesus
May 30 -- Memorial Day
June 14 -- Flag Day
July 4 -- Independence Day
September 14 -- The Star-Spangled Banner
October 12 -- Columbus Day
November 11 -- Veteran's Day
November -- Thanksgiving
December 25 -- Christmas

"Parenting From the Heart" Review

Parenting From the Heart by Marilyn Boyer encourages, reassures and instructs mothers at each stage of life in a friendly, Titus 2 kind of way.  Throughout the book, I felt as if Mrs. Boyer was giving me a glimpse into her personal life as she shares what is most important to her as a wife and mom of 14 children.  She gently challenges our culture, even our Christian culture, and presents another way of viewing and living life based on solid conviction from the Bible alone.  It was encouragement for me to put back up my guard and stand firm on the things I know to be true and fight for our home and family rather than cave into the pressures of culture, tradition and man's opinion. 

Mrs. Boyer offers wisdom on a variety of topics from free time, character and chores to potty training, discipline and homeschooling.  She also follows up each topic with real-life stories and helpful ideas, tips or resources.  Her practical and relevant wisdom applies to any mother of any family size.  I only wish I had read this book sooner!

Kindle Edition:  http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-from-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B00D3VPBMA/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1373836123&sr=1-5
 
Paperback:  http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-From-Heart-Marilyn-Boyer/dp/0970877072/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_2_87VS

Although I submitted the above as my "official review", I have more I'd like to add.  The Boyers run Character Concepts, a curriculum and family company centered around helping parents build strong, godly character in their children. 

I discovered Character Concepts via a google search and then had others recommend them.  I was even more excited to "buy local" as they are 20 minutes away from here!  We purchased Character Trails as a way to weave character training into our daily lives.  And, it's crazy how God is taking 12 colorful flashcards, simple yet meaty definitions to character traits and Bible verses and providing discipline and structure to our home.  The curriculum is an outline and God is filling in the rest as we seek to become more like Him!

On top of the character training, the Boyers have a strong sense of patriotism and seek to educate others on how our country was founded and the rights we need to fight for in order to remain a Christian nation.  Patriotism is something that is so lost in today's culture.  It's something that we don't talk about in our churches nor is it something we really see modeled in anyone younger than age 70 (aka those who haven't grown up in war times).

Between the things I heard at the HEAV Convention, the things I've been reading from the Boyers and then learning alongside my child about how our country was founded, I'm beginning to sense this great responsibility and even duty to understand our past so we can shape our future.  We need godly politicians and godly men and women to take the issues of today and speak God's truth to them.  We are being duped by so many even in the religious realm by the feel-good Christianity that we've lost our own voices and our own desires to stand up for what is right.  We think we are just one person, one voice, and fail to realize the impact that one voice can have.  But I want to teach my child otherwise.  I want to teach him that he has a God-given voice to use for real change and together, as a family, encourage others to find and use their voices, too.  But in order to do that, we have to know what we're talking about and what is most important!

Thankfully, God placed Character Concepts in our path to teach us our facts and our history.  We are being exposed to modern day patriots (whose foundation usually consists of solid character training) and discovering a network of Believers who seek to bring God's light and freedom to our world and to our country by taking a public stand for what is right and for the principles our country was founded upon.  I don't know what God has in store for us and what He will be teaching us in the year(s) ahead, but I'm beginning to see why homeschoolers typically have a strong sense of patriotism and I'm grateful for those who will share it with us!

For more on Character Concepts, visit their blog at http://characterconceptsblog.com.

Challenging Your Thoughts via IndoctriNation (free preview)

This 30-minute movie clip, a portion of the DVD, IndoctriNation, is worth the time to preview as it leaves you with powerful food for thought.

 http://watchindoctrination.com/

I have never been anti-public school (but went to a private school K-12) and was taught at a young age that public schools were "bad". Honestly, I had no idea why they were "bad" and why we were opposed to them (aside from the whole obvious, secular influences found in the schools). I never even thought twice about it until we started our own homeschooling journey and began to see what education is all about and began questioning education as I've always known it to be (even in the private schools).

At the HEAV Convention, I sat in on the workshops by IndoctriNation creator/producer, Colin Gunn, and my beliefs were challenged as he answered some of the tough questions and justifications that we hold about Christians being the salt and light in these schools. I'm still doing my own research as well as searching the Word and asking God to help us form our own family's convictions based on His Truth.

Don't instantly take this movie at face value but rather research what is said (it's eye-opening as you begin to see the truth) and use this movie as a conversation starter or jumping point to figure out what you believe about education and why you homeschool. Either way, let this movie encourage you in your homeschool journey as you are giving your child so much more than can be given in a traditional classroom setting!