March is here!  Valentine’s Day came and went quietly in our house.  We sent a few homemade cards to friends and family, but there wasn’t the frenzy of trying to do cards for 25 classmates.   It was a nice feeling to not be so wrapped up in the materialistic part of the holiday.  As the distance with our connection to public education widens, I have found it interesting how holidays, along with life in general, take on a different feeling.  Oh, we still like to celebrate and do things for others, but there is a calmer atmosphere.  How are the holidays at your homes?  I would love to hear from you.  Please write us anytime at, contactus@homeschoolliving.com.

Here are several fieldtrip ideas for you!  We visited the Crane Meadows Nature Center in Alda, Nebraska, and The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail & Visitors Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska , this Friday.   During this spring, you might take the opportunity to see the migration of the Sandhill Cranes.  The Crane Meadows Nature Center in Alda, Nebraska was about a 4 hour drive for us from Weston, Missouri .  It’s just off Interstate 80, exit 305.  We left Friday morning about 8:00 a.m.  We drove up and stopped at The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail & Visitors Center in Nebraska City, Nebraska , first. It took us about 2 hours to get here.  We drove up I-29 N and then crossed over on IA-2. 

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail & Visitors Center is just off  IA-2, you can’t miss it.  We spent about an hour there.  There were so many things to see.  They had exhibits showing the information Lewis and Clark gathered for Thomas Jefferson, such as drawings of the river, and drawings of the various animals.  There were hands-on exhibits dealing with the trials the men had to face.  They have some large animals on exhibit on the upper floor. These are examples of what Lewis and Clark ran into along their journey; such as the grizzly.  On the bottom floor there is an interactive area for the children.  There are many other things to do at this center, also.  All of my children really enjoyed visiting the center.  They had been in the local theatrical production of Lewis and Clark and found this very interesting.  If you get a chance this is a wonderful center to visit.  

We had lunch and continued on to the Crane Meadows Nature Center in Alda, Nebraska .  We got to the Crane Meadows Nature Center at about 2:30 p.m.  There were many birds displayed along the wall, along with other animals such as the badger.  They were all booked for the tours, but did offer a map of the surrounding area and told us where to look.  We were able to drive around and view the cranes with binoculars.  We had been told that they would probably be more difficult to see after a day of lots of other viewers trying to see them.  However, we were also told that near evening they would start to settle down.  We spent about two hours driving and looking at the Sandhill Cranes.  The cranes are so graceful when they are flying. If you get a chance, get some information on the birds before you go. The children had fun viewing the birds through the binoculars.  They also had a great time taking pictures.  When you do go, be sure to take binoculars and your camera.  This applies to both of the places I have mentioned.  We had a wonderful day, and after eating supper, headed for home.  We arrived home about 10:30 p.m.  It was a long day, but was well worth it!