Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Serpent Mound Historical Site

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July 22, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

The Great Serpent Mound is a 1,348-foot-long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound on a plateau of the Serpent Mound crater along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio.

Researchers have at different times attributed construction of the mound to two different prehistoric indigenous cultures. Originally thought to be Adena in origin, scholars now believe the mound was built by members of the Fort Ancient culture around 1070 CE. More recent research places the mound’s construction at around 300 BCE, once again suggesting Adena construction. Serpent Mound is the largest serpent effigy in the world.

There’s a great little museum about the Indigenous culture and Mound artifacts and history.

View from observation tower of the serpent coils:

There’s a lovely little woods path near the river and then we found the end of the serpent’s tail:

There are several burial mounds nearby:

There are Homeschool Days throughout the year.

Visit the Serpent Mound.

Hours

Serpent Mound is open daily, year round, from 9:00 am to dusk.
Winter Warning: Park roads are not plowed. During snowy or icy conditions, the park is open to pedestrian traffic only and parking fee is waived.

Museum Hours

Jan-Feb: Closed
March: Open weekends only 10am-4pm
April: Open daily 10am-4pm
May-Oct: Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm; Fri-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 9am-5pm 
Nov- the weekend before Christmas: Open weekends only 10-4pm

Parking Fees

$8/Vehicle
$4/Motorcycle
$15 Annual Parking Pass
Fees waived for Arc of Appalachia Members & Ohio History Connection Members

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Filed Under: Ohio Tagged With: americanindian, indigenous, nativeamerican, ohio

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

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July 15, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a great field trip!

We sang Barbara Manatee:

Lioness does the blep:

We were all so tickled watching the baby rhino romp and frolic.

I bet the poor polar bear was awful hot.

I wonder what she’s thinking about?

The viewing area for Baby Fiona was madness, but I snapped a photo!

Visit the Cincinnati Zoo.

Price Ranges

Adults: $15-22 Child: $9-16 Senior: $9-16

Buy tickets online before you go.

Parking is $10.00 and is purchased at the Zoo.

Military discount for all military personnel and their families. This discount is for $3 off adults and $2 off children. Military ID is required to receive discount and may only be obtained at the Cincinnati Zoo ticketing windows and is NOT available online. 

Hours

The Zoo is open January 1st – December 31st at 10am. The Zoo is closed on December 25 only.

January 2 – March 8: 10am-5pm
March 9 – May 24: 10am-5pm
May 25 – September 2: 10am-6pm
September 3 – October 31: 10am-5pm
November 1 – November 15: 10am-5pm
November 16 – January 4: PNC Festival of Lights – 10am-9pm (Sundays-Thursdays)/ 10am-10pm (Fridays-Saturdays)


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Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

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July 8, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We went to Columbus zoo for their FREE military day over the July 4th holiday weekend.

We arrived at 9 AM opening and went straight for the aquarium and Australia part in the back, took an ice cream break, then worked our way around the front part – North America, Africa, and Asia. We finished by about 2 PM.

We loved the manatee rehabilitation center!

Three kookaburras were in the aviary.

We were able to walk through the kangaroo habitat. We were *this close* to the roos!

We were tickled to see the gibbon baby!

Their fur ranges from white to black and everything in between.

This gorgeous Komodo dragon posed for me!

We were very, very hot by this point. As were the lionesses, apparently.

We really, really love bats.

Red pandas are in fact Pokémon.

We had a great time at the zoo!

Visit Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Summer hours 9-7.

$10 car parking fee.

Adults $21.99 Children 3-9 $16.99 Seniors $16.99 Under 3 FREE

Active and Non-active duty military personnel receive a $2 discount on up to 6 tickets when they show a valid military ID.

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Newport Aquarium

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July 8, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We visited Newport Aquarium in July 2018. It’s technically in Kentucky, right over the river.

Read about about the white alligators at Newport Aquarium.

We loved the Ray Tunnel.

We were amazed and fascinated by shark egg cases and baby sharks!

Jellyfish are so beautiful and peaceful.

This is why we came!

The Shark Tank Overlook!

Shark Bridge is the one of the only suspension bridges in North America where guests can walk just inches above over a dozen sharks. This V-shaped rope bridge is 75-feet long and is suspended over the open water of the 385,000 gallon Surrounded by Sharks exhibit. The Shark Bridge experience is included with admission or annual pass.

Visit Newport Aquarium.

There are usually lots of deals and coupons, so be sure to check online before you go! Hours are generally 9-7.

ADULTS – AGES 13+CHILD – AGES 2-12
$2599$1799
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Fort Ancient Archaeology Park

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February 11, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Fort Ancient Archaeology Park offers exploration and learning both indoors and out. Visitors will enjoy watching an introductory film in the indoor theater, viewing artifacts and learning about the history of the Village and its inhabitants in the Interpretive Center, and immersing themselves in the 800-year-old lifestyle by visiting the reconstructed structures, located in their original, exact locations.

The indoor museum teaches about Ohio native peoples and how European white people came for trade and decimated the native populations. It’s very accurate.

There are lots of artifacts that are family-friendly like clothing, musical instruments, and toys.

Native houses and a garden are in the courtyard.

We attended a special event last year to learn about native food.

Our Boonshoft membership is reciprocal.

Guides taught us about native foods – growing, preparing, and preserving.

We tasted some stew with hominy and bear meat.

Native foods and preserving

There are lovely hiking trails along the river.

There are events all year round for families to learn about the area and the native peoples who inhabited this area.

We’re excited for summer field camp!

Fort Ancient Archaeology Park Hours and Admission

April–November
Tuesday-Saturday
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday: noon-5:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays

December–March
Saturday
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday: noon-5:00 p.m.
*Closed Monday-Friday, except by appointment

Closed: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter

Adults $7.00
Seniors (60+) 6.00
Students (6-17) $6.00
Members are always FREE!

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Filed Under: Ohio Tagged With: indigenous, museum, nativeamerican, ohio

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

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December 9, 2018 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Our favorite event every month is the Boonshoft Homeschool Day.

It’s the first Thursday of the month from September through May.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

I purchase a membership each year since we all attend the homeschool days each month and it pays for itself in two sessions.

My middle girls attended invitation only Summer Field Camp and loved it.

There are homeschool science activities all day long. The earlier activities are geared for younger kids.

We like to show up for the 1:30 Do Lab activity.

They usually have stations set up at lab tables around the theme of the day. My kids like to learn together.

Safety first!

We’ve learned about ponds.

They have great equipment we don’t otherwise have access to, like microscopes.

The kids have learned about coding and robotics.

We’ve learned about African American inventors and their inventions.

We’ve learned about Native American history and archaeology.

We like chemistry and physics.

Testing water salinity from the pond.

We all shocked pennies and watched them change color.

Biology is not a favorite.

Bone density day was ok.

We dissected eyeballs and a heart for the last homeschool day last year!

After the 1:30 Do Lab, there are often animal meet and greets at 2:15 and science theatre at 3:30.

Boonshoft offers a small zoo, StarLab, hands-on science exhibits, special exhibits, NOVA weather station, archaeology exhibits, space exhibits, a children’s museum with a fun playground, treehouse birdwatching, pond and walking paths through the woods. There are fun special events throughout the year.

Boonshoft is a fun afternoon for our whole family!

Hours

Monday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Admission

Children (3-17) $11.50
Adults $14.50
Seniors (60+) $12.50
Children (under 3) Free
DSNH Members are FREE

Check for discounts and deals or how to become a member.

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Corn Maze

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November 5, 2018 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

The kids wanted to do some fun fall activities.

It’s getting harder the older they get. Most of the fun things seem to be for little kids.

We went to the homeschool day at Pot-Luck Greenhouse.

We went for the corn maze. It was ok. It was near our house, and we went through a couple times. There were activity books.

We’re already lost!

I have this same shot when Alex was 18 months old in Utah!

I love this shot of the bridge!

Fun games!

We took a hay ride to choose pumpkins. They were already cut, to my kids’ disappointment.

Our Other Fall Field Trips:

Black Island Farms in Utah

Sunshine Pumpkin Farm in Germany

Appel Happel in Germany

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Dayton Art Institute

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September 24, 2018 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

The Dayton Art Institute is a great beginner art museum for people of all ages.

It’s small and doesn’t take long to go through. There are some important examples of art for every era.

For military families, DAI is FREE all summer long. Students and kids are always FREE.

My teen daughter and I visited to check it out.

We were a little silly.

Some of our favorites:

Visit DAI:

REGULAR HOURS
MONDAYClosed
TUESDAYClosed
WEDNESDAY11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
THURSDAY11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRIDAY11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SATURDAY11 a.m. – 5 p.m
SUNDAYNoon – 5 p.m.
  
Leo Bistro is now open!

MUSEUM ADMISSION
Suggested general admission to the museum’s collection galleries:

  • Adults: $8
  • Seniors, Groups & Active Military: $5
  • Members, Students, & Youth: FREE

NOTE: Special exhibitions, programs and events may carry an additional admission charge.

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Spark Art

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April 9, 2018 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We are so thrilled to have found Spark Art Studio.

As a home educator, I don’t usually outsource my kids’ education. I can teach art history just fine.

But hands-on arts and crafts is something I often skip at home. While I absolutely love art, I fail in the actual hands-on part of art. I don’t like the setup, research, mess, or cleanup. I don’t have the time, talent, supplies, space, or aptitude. I don’t feel I do art justice or often enough.

These classes are worth every single penny.

The homeschool classes encompass all sorts of fabulous art techniques and art history.

Miss Jamie really goes all out with getting the kids involved in the process and creating amazing and fun projects.

I love this sign that hangs in their waiting room:

Sometimes when we arrive a few minutes early, I overhear the interaction with the previous class. I just love the kindness in Miss Jamie’s voice as she ever so gently guides the toddler and baby in their art exploration, play, and projects. Their mother also is exemplary in her respectful tone and words with her young children. They both are such role models!

I’ve never heard Miss Jamie get exasperated with a child. She must have the patience of a saint!

My kids adore Miss Jamie and the homeschool art class.

Here’s a lovely tribute wall to her mom:

I will sacrifice in other areas of our budget to ensure my kids get their art on.

Spark Art just moved to a new and improved permanent location and it’s just wonderful.

I’ve been so very impressed with all the incredible art my kids have learned about and created each week.

The kids loved making prints and learning about lithographs.

They learned about the Huichol people in Mexico and made some inspired texture designs.

Miss Jamie often gives me neat printouts of the artists and art history for me to bring home for my files. I love that.

I have no interest in glitter.

One of my favorites are these drip paint pieces. I sprayed them with polyurethane and mounted them on our wall.

I also love these circles paintings. I plan to frame those and hang them.

The kids really enjoyed making clay sculptures.

They learned about Helen Frankenthaler one week and painted these amazing rubber band boards. They’re still being stored on the shelf to dry.

They’ve learned about story book illustrators, painters, performance artists, sculptors, and pop art. 

They’ve worked on stop motion videos, anime, drawing, painting.

I love the variety.

Each homeschool class includes a lesson and/or story and often up to 3-4 projects!

There are classes for everyone!

You can order a whole session of 5 weekly classes or do a drop-in to see if you love it. (You will.)

  • Mommy and Me
  • Preschoolers
  • After School
  • Teens
  • Homeschoolers
  • Adults

There are special holiday workshops, Scouts events, and birthday parties!

The lineup for summer camp looks amazing.

If you live in the Dayton, OH, area…you must visit Spark Art Studio!

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Oahu with Kids

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August 14, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 4 Comments

We lived on O’ahu for three years. Living in Hawai’i isn’t the same as a vacation there. But every single day, there’s a rainbow!

My husband was stationed at Hickam AFB. We lived on base. It was mostly magical. The kids still call it home and we all long to go back.

The thing about living in paradise is that you’re living in paradise. It’s not a vacation every day. Dishes and laundry still have to get done. We homeschooled. Everything is expensive. Gas and food prices are high. Traffic is terrible. You have to watch out for centipedes.

But you can go to the beach whenever you want. There are lots of lovely parks and gardens and hiking opportunities. Those are FREE!

O’ahu is a great place for families!

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

Attractions in Kaneohe

The Windward Coast is a tropical paradise.

  • Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
  • Bellows Air Force Station
  • Sea Life Park
  • Hanauma Bay
  • Kualoa Ranch – Lots of movies and shows filmed there like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. There are ATV tours.
  • Kane’one Sandbar

North Shore Attractions

The beaches on the North Shore are best for families to visit during summer months. The waves get huge mid-November through March and host the famous Triple Crown of Surfing Championships.

There’s TONS to do on the North Shore of Oahu!

  • Matsumoto’s Shave Ice
  • Shrimp Trucks
  • Ted’s Bakery
  • Haleiwa Joe’s
  • Uncle Bo’s
  • Ray’s Chicken
  • Art Galleries
  • Surf Shops
  • Puu O Mahaka State Monument
  • Waimea Beach and Falls
  • Turtle Beach
  • Sharks Cove

Honolulu Attractions

Honolulu is the Hawaii state capital and of course, there are lots of fun things to do in the big city!

  • Honolulu Zoo
  • Waikiki Aquarium
  • Discovery Center Children’s Museum
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Pacific Aviation Museum
  • Diamond Head
  • Ko’olina
  • Bishop Museum
  • Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach (FREE)
  • Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden (FREE)

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.

Hawaii Coffee Company
Booking.com
Linking up:
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