Get Involved

There is nothing better than teaching our children how to give back and to watch them grow.  We are big supporters of helping our local community.  I encourage you to find out what is available in your area and see how you can help.  

Here are a list of things we have found in our community here in Columbia, SC & surrounding areas.  

Operation Christmas Child

Children under the age of 13 are not able to volunteer in a Processing Center; however, tours are available throughout the season when families with children under 13 or individuals who want to know more about the project can come to the processing center. The tours help people learn about the journey of a shoebox, what we do at the warehouse, and how they can pray for children receiving boxes. Please contact your local processing center to register for a tour, offered Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at select times.  You can also have them pack a box and take it to one of your local drop off locations in your area.  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

  

There may also local churches and drop off locations in your area that will allow a child to volunteer under the age of 13. They can pack boxes to go to the distribution center.  



All volunteers must be at least 13 years of age, regardless of a student’s grade level. Due to the warehouse environment, we can allow no exceptions to this age requirement. At least one chaperone for every four youth is required (youth volunteers include any volunteers between the ages of 13-17). The primary responsibility of a chaperone is to ensure the safety and appropriate behavior of your youth. For the safety of all volunteers in the warehouse, processing center staff reserve the right to ask any group not acting in accordance with safety procedures and outlined policies to leave the building at any time.

Can Food Drive



Good News Club

This is a program that local churches volunteer their time in public schools to teach the children about Jesus through crafts, songs, and games.  It is an elective program that the parents have to sign for their children to participate in after school. 

Churches and Soup Kitchens that serve the homeless



Build a Free Library

Our local homeschool co-op paired up with Home Depot to build a little free library to donate to parks in our area.  The free libraries are for children to read at the park, take home and borrow, and donate their old books for other children to read.  https://littlefreelibrary.org/



  
Women & Children's Shelter

Volunteer your time to go in and read to the children, have your kids play and talk with them and spend time with the children. https://www.familysheltersc.org/volunteer.html

Nursing Homes

Schedule with the business office to sing Christmas carols to them during the holiday season, play the piano, bring in your instruments to play, make cards to take in and hand out, make little hand made gifts to give to the residents, and you can go by to sit and chat with them throughout the year.  They love to see the little kids and the adults dressed up in costumes.  Some of the residents do not get any visitors and it can become very lonely at time.  The smiles on their faces is something you will never forget. 



Dang It Dolls

We have a group of ladies here locally that get together and will allow children to help make the dolls to send to the troops overseas.  We made a pattern at home and made some of our own to ship to soldiers with a care package.  We went on social media and asked our friends if they had an address for any of their family or friends unit so that we could send some care packages and others cards for their whole unit.  
https://www.facebook.com/Dang-It-DollsOMSRD-171348516227405/



Cards for Soldiers



Homeless

Homeless shelters here will not let a young child volunteer at the shelters.  So we collected toiletries from our friends and family and went to the Dollar Tree and picked up some items to put in zip lock bags and delivered them at the park where they hang out in.  We also put little encouraging notes and drawings inside each bag to make it more personable.  At Christmas times we took socks and blankets.  


Soup kitchen-volunteer at http://wsmethodist.org/about/

Bake Goods

Show appreciation for your local fire department, police department, ambulance service, military offices, etc.  We delivered a donuts when Krispy Kreme allowed everyone to receive a dozen donuts per person to whomever was dressed like a pirate one day out of the year.  

Food Banks

Volunteer your time to your local food banks to help pack food into boxes.
https://www.harvesthope.org/get-involved/volunteer-faq
http://www.godsstorehousesc.org/

VBS

Local churches will allow your children to volunteer to help with the younger children during the summer.

Camps

Some camps will allow your child to become a camp leader/co-leader in some of the Summer Camps in your area.  


Bread Donation

King Arthur Flour has a program for kids.  They provide you with all the supplies you will need to bake the goods and then donate to one of your local shelters, or organizations that will deliver them.  https://www.kingarthurflour.com/bakeforgood/kids/

Ronald McDonald House

Did you know that in addition to donating cash, you can donate can tabs off your soda cans?  They use them to make bracelets and other items to sale to help fund what they do there.
https://www.rmhc.org/other-ways-to-help

Animals Shelter

http://pawmettolifeline.org/volunteer/youth_volunteers/

https://humanesc.org/

Thinking of Homeschooling

So you’re thinking about homeschooling.......

Rather your child is ready to enter kindergarten or your child has been in public or private school for a year or more and is struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or spiritually, and you wonder if bringing her home would help.  Maybe you have a child that is doing great in school now and loves it, but you are wondering if there is other education options out there for you that would be better for you and your families needs.  You could just be curious and want to know all your options.  

Homeschooling has come a long way.  The days are long gone that one could assume that someone who homeschooled fit a social, religious, or political profile.  We all homeschool for different reasons.  Here in my area we have numerous opportunities to engage our children into whatever their interests may be.  There are groups that meet for social events, park playdates, academic classes, teacher/parent let classes, field trips, clubs, etc.  (See my other posts with options in the area)  http://theoverachieverhomeschoolmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Homeschool%20Resources 

It has grown It is no longer confined just to your home and with your family.  We get out and do a lot of other things to tie into our studies and adjust the way we school our children based on each individual child.  They all have different learning styles and we have to adjust the way we teach them so they will learn to their potential.  My child for instance is a hands on learner and thrives off doing a lot of things during the week.  We choose to learn in all different forms of learning instead of being here at home every day.  Homeschooling has grown rapidly in popularity among all kinds of families.  With all the things going on around us and in schools, we change our opinions on what is best for our families and what we want to be influenced on our children.  

Your “Options” for Homeschooling in South Carolina

Here are some steps to take if you are debating on if it is for you, and, if so, how to do it.

In South Carolina, there are three legal “options.” You can get additional information on https://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/ and on https://hslda.org/content/hs/state/SC/default.asp (has information for the other 49 states as well)

You can also read the actual law here:  https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/state-accountability/home-schooling/https://hslda.org/content/hs/state/SC/default.asp

If you are elsewhere, you can get good information on homeschooling laws across the country at https://hslda.org/content/

The rules for homeschooling in South Carolina are in https://ed.sc.gov/districts-schools/state-accountability/home-schooling/   



Please note: The summary below is NOT legal advice, but my understanding of the law as stated in the South Carolina Department of Education link above.

There are three options for homeschooling in South Carolina. All three options require:

• Parents to have a high school diploma or GED
• Instruction in math, science, reading/literature, writing/composition, and social studies
• 180 days of schooling
• Records demonstrating attendance, instruction, and progress

The primary differences are summarized below:

Option 1

Submit an application to homeschool through your local school district. If you choose this option, your curriculum must be approved by your school district and your child will participate in state testing, administered by a state employee. You must maintain records of what is taught, and these records may be requested by school officials with reasonable notice. A semiannual progress report must be submitted to the school district for review. If at any time the district believes a homeschool is not operating the according to what is spelled out in the legislation, they can give the parents 30 days to correct any deficiencies before withdrawing their approval. You must teach your children for 180 school days, and your school day is expected to be four and a half hours long (not counting lunch and recess).

Option 2

Sign up to homeschool through http://www.scaihs.org/  the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools. There is an annual fee per family ranging from $350 to $450, depending on how many children you are enrolling. (If your child is in kindergarten, though, the fee is only $45, and there is a 5% discount for military, police, firemen, missionaries, and full time pastors.) If you choose this option, your curriculum choices must be approved by SCAIHS, your child is required for annual testing, and you are accountable to SCAIHS to demonstrate that you are fulfilling all legal requirements of homeschooling, including finishing 180 instructional days by May 31. They also provide many services to parents. SCAIHS must report the number and grade levels (but not names) of homeschooled children to local school districts.

Option 3

Sign up to homeschool through an “Option 3 accountability group,” which is an association of homeschooling families of no fewer than 50 member.  These accountability groups then report the number and grade levels (but not names) of homeschooled children to local school districts by the end of January. Generally, Option 3 accountability groups are less expensive than SCAIHS. The amount of support they offer parents varies from group to group, so check into which one fits your families needs.  Some accountability groups I have tried are through https://reachgroup.org/ and https://www.tschaa.com/   

Your curriculum must include reading, writing, math, science, social studies.  In addition to that, grades 7–12 you will include composition and literature, but there is no set curriculum that must be followed.  You have more flexibility with Option 3. You must keep educational records, including a plan book, a portfolio of samples of academic work, and a semi-annual progress report that shows attendance.  I buy a lesson plan book that has a calendar in the back of it so I can keep it all in one.  

Co-op & Resource Centers

Do I need these?

People who aren't familiar with homeschooling or are new at it, can not fully understand what we do.  Although there are several ways homeschool moms teach their children and choose the style of schooling that fits their family, kids are always learning everyday.  One of the first assumptions is that we are home with our kids all day long, everyday of the week.  There are some homeschool families that choose that approach.  From from my experience, that's not the case at all for a lot of families here in my area.   Our family does a collective variety of things.  We do online and book curriculum, experiments, art projects, co-ops, classes in areas in SC & NC, field trips, social hang outs, park play dates, etc.  There is not enough time in the day/week to get to everything so we just incorporate whatever is going on in our area with what we are studying that week here at home.  

There are programs in and around the Midlands that offer year-long classes for homeschooling students. There are also co-ops that meet year round and some in 10 to 12 weeks a semester.  Most of the co-ops are parent leaders deciding on the classes and either teach alone or with another mom to teach the class.  The classes are usually small and less than 20 kids.  Prices vary by which programs you choose.  

The Benefits of Choice Programs

Our goal is to educate our children.  We all do it in different ways and accommodate the learning style of each individual child.  They do not all learn the same.  Homeschooling isn't just about independence and nontraditional educational settings.  

Programs like the ones listed here have many benefits to homeschooling our children.  Maybe the parent want to add more socialization, or doesn't feel confident in to teach or wants to supplement what they are already teaching.  It gives the chance for both students and parents to build supportive friendships with peers, to explore academic and extracurricular areas, and to help get more resources and ideas for courses that may be too expensive for a family to pursue alone.  Sometimes our kids can go through a rough patch and get bored, so in our family we choose to mix it up some and come back to what we are doing and take a break to help keep our sanity in the home.  We are required to get in 180 school days a year, but that doesn't mean every single day has to be book work.  All your classes, co-ops, and field trips count towards your 180 days of schooling.  

• Co-op Classes (Cooperatives) are usually fun, interactive group learning opportunities led by parent volunteers.
• Resource Centers are often more academically challenging subjects led by a qualified instructor for a fee.

**Arrows Academy,  Columbia, Lexington Contact Form: Jessica Jones, director

**Chapin Academy, Columbia/Chapin  Grades k4-8th grade.  Email: admin@chapinacademy.com  Contact: Shawn Hammond 803-400-8284 or Rebecca Davis 803-566-2933

**Classical Conversations, various locations across the state  

Northeast CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/2205/Columbia/SC

Irmo, Lake Murray CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/2206/Irmo/SC

Lancaster CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/2307/Lancaster/SC

Lexington CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/568/Lexington/SC

Lugoff CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/2853/LUGOFF/SC

Orangeburg CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/518/BLUFFTON/SC

Rosewood CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/564/COLUMBIA/SC

Sumter CC- https://members.classicalconversations.com/community-info/6081/SUMTER/SC

**Dutch Fork Resource Center, Chapin/Columbia  Contact: Dr. Analisa Smith or Lisa Baghdady

**Excelsior Academy, Irmo 

The Academy classes are ages 4-13.  Contact: Ashlee Vickery

**FLEET Co-op, Columbia  Faith, Learning, Educational, Experience, Together (FLEET) Academy meets in Columbia, SC. Christian co-op geared towards middle and high school age homeschooled students.

**Grounded Co-op Academy, Columbia  Meets at Riverland Hills Baptist Church on Thursdays.  It's courses are for K5-9th.  Contact: Kaitlin Tew email: kaitlin@riverlandhills.org or call: 772.3227

**Lexington Homeschool Co-op, Lexington/Columbia  Meets at Red Bank Baptist Church for classes on Mondays.  Contact:  Laurie Lamb

**Midlands Homeschool Resource Center, Lexington/Columbia  Contact:  MHSRC2@gmail.com

**Principia, Columbia  This is a resource center for homeschool families for students in grades 7-12.  Contact Form 

 **REACH Co-op classes, Newberry, NorthEast Columbia/Blythewood, West Columbia   Must join REACH support group Contact: reach@reachgroup.org

**SC G.E.E.K.S., Columbia   https://www.facebook.com/groups/scgeeks/   This co-op started in 2018 and is a secular based learning.  Contact:  Kendria Clark  

**School of the Minds, Irmo/Columbia  Meets on Thursdays.  Contact: Carissa Cox

Summer Programs in the Columbia Area

                             For free or cheap
Great way to beat the heat and hit the air conditioning without having to stay in your home. Get out and get some fresh air and keep your kids entertained.  Kids are out of school and getting bored.  

1.  Kids Bowl Free 

Registered kids receive 2 FREE games of bowling every day all summer long even on the weekends.  You can purchase adults for an extra fee (one price all summer long) 
https://www.kidsbowlfree.com

2.  Circle K & Kangaroo 

Cups (formerly Roo Cups) are $7.99 for the cups and the 1st re-fill is free. Refills are $0.25  all summer for sodas, tea and slushies.

3.   Richland & Lexington County Summer Reading Programs

Receive FREE coupons and tickets to the Blowfish Game as well as prizes.  
https://www.goblowfishbaseball.com/landing/index

4.  SC State Museum

FREE for Homeschoolers with a valid I.D. and an accountability card.  They have a lot of things going on in this building.  It's three floors of historical artifacts as well as hands on learning for the kids on every floor.  We have a fairly new Planetarium with several shows and variety of viewing times ($3), 4-D Theater ($3), and a huge telescope.  They also have  Civil War section in the building and traveling exhibits for an additional charge. Also on the 1st Sunday of every month is $1 entry day for everyone.   
http://scmuseum.org/

5.  Regal Cinemas

They have two different movies each week during the Summer for $1.00.  The only time they play are at 10:00 am every Tuesday & Wednesday.  They show both movies at the same time on both days.  

6.   McKissick Museum 

Part of the USC campus by the horseshoe.  It is FREE to everyone and to all of their traveling exhibits.  https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/mckissick_museum/

7.   SC State House

They do FREE tours several times throughout the day  
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/

8.  Skate Station USA in Lexington

They have family skate nights every Monday night from 6:30-8:30

$3 pp or $6 per family up to 5 people. (includes skates)  
https://www.skatestationusalexsc.com/hours.htm

9.   AMC Theater (Bush River Road-Dutch Square Mall)

Members get movies for $5 all day/night every Tuesday

10. St. Andrews Cinema 5

Everyday all (and selective days/nights during the year) all movies are $3 pp

11.  Pelican Snowballs 

    

This may not be indoors, but the one located off St. Andrews road in the old 
K-mart Shopping Center is AWESOME!  They have corn hole toss, hula hoops, chalk, swings, and tree swings that are by the edge of the bar.  We LOVE this location and you an even get your dog one for $1.00.  They are vanilla or peanut butter flavored with a dog to top it off. 

12.  Dave & Busters

Another one of our FAVORITE places to go.  If you sign up for emails and watch for specials they always run the $20 for $20.  Play $20 for fun play and receive an additional $20 to use at any time.  Another awesome deal is on Wednesday's all day they have 1/2 off all games. https://www.daveandbusters.com/locations/columbia 

13.  Congaree National Park

They do FREE canoe trips in the Spring & Summer 
https://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm

14.  Saluda Shoals Park

The park is $5.00 per car.  Take your kids for a nature walk then head over to the splash pad for $3.00 pp.
https://www.icrc.net/parks/saluda-shoals-park