Join us for tobogganing, bonfire, and some good ol’ winter fun!
When: Monday, March 3rd from 11:00am – 2:00pm Where: St. Vital Park – Toboggan Slides Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7txTw34YBdK3zsyK8 Parking: there is parking lot east of the toboggan slides
What to Bring (optional):
Toboggan
Lunch
Things for roasting (ie. roasting sticks, marshmallows, wieners, etc.)
Hot beverage of choice
Fun winter activity to share
This is one of our annual MASH events and one of my favorites! Meet y’all around the fire!
Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2025 Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm Address: Harrow United 995 Mulvey Ave, Winnipeg Registration Deadline: January 31st Registering early helps conference organizers with scheduling tables and facilitators.
Ticket Price: $40 – for two people registering together $25 – for an individual registering $30 – for an individual registering (after January 31) Lunch, snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Ways to Pay: 1. etransfer to [email protected] with a note of your name/names of participants registering together. 2. Make alternate arrangement through Michele Merchant or Tiffany Todosichuk by emailing [email protected].
Are you BRAVELY OPTIMISTIC?
…if you’re a homeschooler, you already are!
We as homeschoolers have BRAVELY made a decision to homeschool. This path is not always clear or well walked, but by gauging those on the trail with us and our surroundings, we walk this path. While we are homeschooling not only are we leading our children, we are following them too, as that is the way to walk the unbeaten path.
“There is always light if only we were brave enough to see it, if only we were brave enough to be it.”
-Amanda Gormon
When deciding to set off on this homeschooling journey, we all had OPTIMISTIC outlooks. None of us started this adventure hoping these steps would lead to hunger, sore muscles, scrapes and bruises, and getting lost. On the way, we might prepare for these eventualities, but that is not the reason we made the choice to embark.
“Optimism is essential to achievement and the foundation of courage and true progress.”
-Nicholas M. Butler
In the thick of homeschooling, we may feel the occasional doubt. We all do. Winter lulls due to cold weather and some isolation does happen here in Manitoba. That is why we should come together to be the light that shines and reflects the initial spark that lit our homeschooling flame.
*Update* SPEAKERS We are happy to announce our “Bravely Optimistic” 2025 MASH Conference speakers: Jennifer Gehman and Daniel McIntyre-Ridd
Jennifer has been an activate member in the MASH homeschooling community. She is a seasoned homeschooling ninja and proud mom to a lively bunch of five grown-up adventurers! She will not sugar coat the homeschool lifestyle, but cuts it into easily understandable tips. We are happy to have her share about being “Brave”.
Daniel is a homeschool graduate himself, graduating in 2016. His passion for homeschooling and life show us how unique each journey is. His confidence is contagious while speaking and answering questions. He helps us homeschooling parents have an “Optimistic” view about our own charges.
If you were at the 2023 MASH Conference, you will remember what wonderful speakers they are. We are happy to welcome them back to this year’s conference.
TABLE TALKS Last conference, we changed the format to table talks that run like a living library (an event where people can borrow volunteers to have conversations about their experiences). The table talks are facilitated small-group discussions of up to eight participants along with two facilitators. We learned a lot from each other and loved it. We will be following the same format. These discussions are meant to connect homeschoolers that share experiences with specific topics. The conference strives to create a comfortable environment where these intimate group discussions can really help connect participates with each other and help build a strong foundation for the homeschooling community.
2025 MASH Conference Table Topics:
Talking about Life-Learning/Unschooling
Likely you’ve seen life learning and unschooling in action as your child explores, asks questions and naturally builds on previous knowledge. These child-led educational approaches do not involve a curriculum, rather they involve supporting your child in their desired learning, and trusting that they will learn what they need to know. At this Table Talk, chat with homeschoolers about the benefits and challenges with this educational approach.
Nurturing Your Homeschooler’s Passions
Supporting your child’s passions is a wonderful sentiment, but what does it mean? At this Table Talk, we look forward to discussing what your child is excited about and how supporting those interests may look. It can be challenging to support an interest that isn’t easily identifiable as providing life skills, but let’s delve into how those interests can provide opportunities for growth and mastery.
Homeschooling Neurodivergent Children
Homeschooling any child can be a struggle sometimes, but homeschooling children who don’t “fit the mould” can provide an extra layer of challenges. At the same time, homeschooling can provide our neurodivergent children with the freedom to develop in their own way. At this Table Talk, we’ll talk about the real life struggles and successes of homeschooling students who are neurodivergent.
Creating Co-ops and Coordinating Events
Are you looking for a community to share experiences with? Do you have an idea for a club that you’d like to create for your kids to play with other homeschooled kids? Would you like to attend field trips with other homeschoolers? How do you go about finding your community? At this Table Talk, we will be discussing these questions and sharing how homeschoolers have created – and kept – their homeschool co-op community alive.
Homeschooling the Early Years (start to approximately 12 years old)
It is natural to be born with a love of learning. How can you foster this love of learning and help your child(ren) develop a solid foundation for future learning? At this Table Talk, chat with two homeschoolers about the trial and error of developing an early years homeschool plan.
Homeschooling the Later Years (teen years to graduation)
Homeschooling during the teen years comes with unique challenges, such as planning for the future, providing opportunities for engaging with peers, and ensuring that plans are in place if further education (university, college, etc.) is anticipated. At this Table Talk, chat with homeschoolers to hear their experiences, ask your questions and to get inspiration as you homeschool your teen(s).
Homeschooling Multiple Ages
Homeschooling children of multiple ages can be challenging because there are just so many kids!! Juggling your time to meet the needs of each child and each subject, while dealing with frequent interruptions is a lot. However, it can also allow for unique opportunities like prioritizing teamwork, strengthening family bonds and developing character. At this Table Talk, we look forward to discussing some of the challenges and opportunities when simultaneously homeschooling children of different ages.
Homeschooling with Anxiety
Has your anxiety prevented you from taking part in homeschooling events or reaching out to fellow homeschoolers? Has it made it challenging to be the homeschooling parent you want to be for your child(ren)? At This Table talk, chat with homeschoolers who live with anxiety, hear about their challenges/successes, share your own (if you’d like) and, hopefully, feel comforted on your homeschooling journey.
2025 MASH CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
9:30am – 10:00am
Registration, Refreshments, Find Your Seat at First Table Talk
10:00am – 10:30am
Welcome Speeches
10:30am – 11:30am
First Table Talk
11:30am – 12:30pm
Lunch Break
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Second Table Talk
1:30pm – 2:00pm
Break
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Third Table Talk
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Closing Remarks
OPTIONAL THINGS TO BRING
Your own reusable mug
Homeschooling resources to share – labeled with your name
This helps homeschoolers see different resources that other homeschoolers recommend.
Homeschooling resources to sell – labeled with your name and the price
Homeschooling resources to give away – labeled with “FREE”
Paper and pen for notes
GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
We were hoping to create a graduate spotlight booklet of homeschool graduates to help inspire the rest of us. If you are or know a homeschool graduate, please fill out this form to help us create our Graduate Spotlight for our conference pamphlet.
SPONSORS This year we will not have on-site vendors, but will still open our conference pamphlet, Facebook groups, website and emailed newsletter to homeschool related sponsors. If you would like to sponsor our 2025 conference, please fill out our Sponsorship Form.
Payment can be etransfered to [email protected] or alternative arrangements can be made with Michele Merchant or Tiffany Todosichuk by emailing [email protected]. If you have questions, please email our conference sponsor coordinator Emma Farmer at [email protected]. THANK YOU!
We hope you will join us for the 2025 “Bravely Optimistic” MASH Conference.
This is a message from Lindsey from Birds Hill Junior Naturalist Program (please send your responses directly to her by emailing her at [email protected]):
Good afternoon,
There have been several inquiries over the past few months about the park hosting programs for older homeschooling students in grades 7-12 (ages 13-18). I am considering hosting a trial run of these programs over the winter months and would like to gauge how many people would be interested in this sort of a program.
If you have students in your family that are homeschooling in grades 7-12 (ages 13-18) that would be interested in attending outdoor educational programs at Birds Hill Park, could you please reply to this email and let me know how many students and what grades/ages they are. If there is a particular topic or activity your student would like to learn more about in the park, please let me know.
Please note: this is not a registration. This is just an information gathering phase to help me gauge the level of interest before setting dates and program content.
If you do not have homeschooling students in grades 7-12 (ages 13-18), no follow up is required and you can disregard this email.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you for your assistance!
Lindsey Mitton, Senior Park Interpreter Birds Hill Provincial Park Manitoba Environment and Climate Change Birds Hill District 68092 PR 206 Cooks Creek, MB R5M 0C9 Phone: 204-654-6739
Sharing a message from the Homeschooling Office for a possible job opportunity:
I hope you are well. I thought I would share this with MASH as they might be aware of Manitoba certified teachers who might be interested, please share this announcement with anyone interested in applying for the advertised homeschooling Liaison Officer position. I wish you all the best. https://jobsearch.gov.mb.ca/generateBulletin.action?ID=125279
Tuesday, December 17th from 1-4pm @Harrow United 955 Mulvey Avenue
$5 per family *
Please join us in the gym at Harrow United for a holiday party with music, food and activities. If you are able, consider bringing a food item to share (please label ingredients). If you have an activity/craft you would like to include, feel free to do so.
Please register if you are planning to attend to help us plan.
We plan to collect money for the charity “Be A Santa For A Senior” group. If you are interested in donating, you can bring cash or etransfer with a note “Be A Santa For A Senior” to [email protected].
From our family to yours, happy holidays homeschooler!
[This is a MASH Event] *This money helps us pay for the cost of renting the facility
Join us for a day on the farm and learn about textile agriculture:
Learn how wool is harvested and spun into yarn for clothing.
Tour the woolen mill.
Get hands-on and naturally dye some fabric or yarn in Manitoba grown Indigo.
Explore our local clothing supply chain, and meet the sheep that grow your wool!
Meet new homeschooling friends.
All Ages Welcome $9 per person or $26 per family (4 people max per family) Kids 3 and under are free (pay what you can available upon request – email[email protected])
-If you wish to do the hands-on dye activity, please bring a t-shirt, bandanna, wool yarn, or other natural fibre (cotton, linen, hemp, wool, alpaca only) to dip in an indigo vat.
-This is an outdoor event. There will be canopy tents to keep out the rain or sunshine, but there are no indoor facilities. We recommend footwear appropriate to the weather (rain boots if its rainy or running shoes).
-Please bring a water bottle and your own lunch.
-There is an outhouse on site.
–Here is what can be expected re accessibility at Long Way Homestead. The driveway, walkways, dye studio and outdoor workshops spaces are a mix of grass and gravel with some bumpy terrain and accessible by wheelchair. The outhouse, indoor studio space and wool mill all have one step access and not wheelchair accessible. They are working to build wheelchair accessibility into the entire farm, mill and field school.
Birds Hill Park put on a great homeschooling program. Check out their blurb. Spots are limited. Register Here.
Junior Naturalist programs explore the natural and cultural features of Birds Hill Provincial Park that connect to the science and social studies school curriculums in Manitoba.
All programs take place at the Interpretive Workshop, located at the end of Nimowin Road. Programs are FREE. Parents/caregivers will participate with their students. Please let us know if you require accessibility accommodations. Program presented in English.
For more information, call the Park Interpreter’s office at 204-654-6739 or email [email protected].
Remember, vehicle permits are required year round in provincial parks. Park Vehicle Permits can be purchased and printed online at manitobaelicensing.ca or in-person at a local retailer. Permits are not available for sale at the event.
Birds Hill Provincial Park is located on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the homeland of the Red River Métis.
Two program dates each month, Register for a morning and afternoon session (10 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.).
Sessions:
Super Soils – Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27: Get your hands dirty with these fun experiments as we discover why soil is important to the ecosystem. Explore the soil found along Nimowin Trail as we enjoy a guided walk.
Water Systems – Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25: Discover the importance of water, its link to the weather and how to conserve it. Find out what happens to an ecosystem when aquatic invasive species move into it with some active outdoor games.
What’s Alive – Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22: Learn about the biodiversity and interactions of living and non-living things in the park’s ecosystem. See how many you can observe on a scavenger hunt walk on Nimowin Trail.
Winter Adaptations – Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20: Discover how animals adapt to their changing environment through physical and behavioral changes. Explore Nimowin Trail in search of signs of active winter animals.
Glenwood CC has a Stick and Puck times from :15pm – 2:30pm and 2:45pm to 4:00pm on Tuesdays starting January. You can register online to reserve your spot, sessions are FREE, but it is limited to 20 participants on the ice per session.
Glenwood CC Puck & Stick Rules & Information: To ensure the safety of all participants, and due to the growing popularity of Sticks, Rings & Pucks, Glenwood Community Centre will now limit the number of skaters on the ice to 20. Please register online in advance of the session, and our staff will verify participants upon arrival. Just a reminder that children 12 and under MUST be supervised by an adult (18 years of age or older). We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Currently, Sticks, Rings & Pucks will be offered every Tuesday, from 1:15pm – 2:30pm and 2:45pm to 4:00pm commencing January 7, 2025.
Canlan Sports has a Stick and Puck time from 9:40am – 10:40am on Tuesdays starting in September. You can register online to reserve your spot or walk-in. Each session is $5/person on the ice. The limitation is that there are only 20 spot for each session.
Canlan Sports Stick and Puck Description: Family Stick & Puck strengths the bond between a parent and child. Hone your hockey skills together, at your own pace. Practice your passing, shooting, and puck control. So bring your pucks and sticks, take your best stride, stay fit and make lasting hockey memories.Don’t forget: Helmet (full facial protection required for participants under 18), gloves, stick, and puck. Full gear is recommended for participants under 11).Age: Participants must be under 13 with an 18+ guardian on ice or rink side.
East St Paul Arena has Stick and Puck time 10:00am – 11:30am on Thursdays starting in October. There is no registration and the sessions are FREE.
East St Paul Arena Rules & Information:
All participants must wear a CSA approved helmet
Hockey gloves recommended
No shinny, scrimmages, games, slap shots, formal instruction, or goalies during Stick & Puck.
Only people wearing skates are permitted on the ice.
Inappropriate behaviour, language and/or unsafe activities will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the ice.
Must bring your own stick and pucks/rings. We won’t have these available on site.
