AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi,
Having held her original Homeschool Fair at Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi in Arnold, Macaroni KID Pasadena, publisher Laura McElwain Colquhoun found the success of that event attracted the attention of more than two dozen vendors interested in marketing their services to the homeschool population. Thus, she teamed with friend Gloria who publishes Macaroni KID Annapolis and Macaroni KID Bowie to produce another homeschool fair and searched for a larger venue.
The Severna Park Community Center agreed to host the event this past Friday, September 12th in its spacious Andy Borland gymnasium. A quick count on our arrival revealed that 27 vendors were situated throughout the gym. We were not really surprised to see the community center’s own table set up right past the entrance. SPCC not only has offered a popular home school swim program for several years but is home to many other activities that home school students are drawn to. As can be seen from the opening photograph, there was a constant stream of parents and children at the Severna Park Community Center table throughout the event.
Parallel to SPCC’s table, we found two Severna Park businesses that market their programs to the homeschool community and often partner with each other to hold back-to-back activities. Danielle Bowen from Blended Essentials noted that homeschool kids seem to enjoy the hands-on classes where they not only create products like soaps or candles but must focus on details like measurements for ingredients, essential oils and essences as well as chemical reactions and densities.
With more than two dozen tables to visit, it was interesting to see the parade of parents pushing baby carriages with one or more young children in tow attempting to stop at each and every table. Quite a range of businesses was represented – some familiar but others that we wouldn’t have expected to find at a homeschool event.
A natural starting point for us, was to visit the business with the longest and deepest experience with the homeschooling community – Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi owner Nancy Greer was constantly busy fielding questions.
“Our homeschool Kung Fu program has been going on at Jing Ying Institute from the time we opened 25 years ago,” Greer said. “In fact, we homeschooled our own children who are now successful adults.”
“Back in the 1980s’, my husband Billy and I started a homeschool group. We also had an educational supply company for the homeschool community. It was so unique at the time that Billy appeared on several nationally known television shows to talk about it. He was even quoted about the business in an article in the New York Times. Boy, did we get a lot of calls from that.”
Greer says there are several reasons parents decide to school their kids at home. Some want to provide them a more traditional education and the ability to think for themselves. Others choose homeschooling because their careers are travel dependent. There are also families whose children have an auto immune disease and they can’t be accommodated by the public or private school systems. Occasionally, families chose the homeschool route because their kids were bullied or, on rare occasions, they have a child who was expelled.
Jing Ying Institute’s homeschool Kung Fu classes work well with daytime schedules and are enjoyed by the students. In addition to providing a healthy form of exercise, they are very social and kids easily make friends.
From their own past experience, the Greers realize that homeschool families are often living on one income, so they keep costs reasonable. Since Jing Ying Institute is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, they are presently giving a $25 discount for each child enrolling in a homeschool Kung Fu class.
As we expected, there were a number of familiar vendors, particularly those involved with exercise. One that we’d never heard of, however, was Crossing Currents Aquatics which hosts the Homeschool Hurricanes Intramural Team with 8-week sessions at the Arundel Olympic Swim Center. They also have Swim Squad Intramural Teams at North Arundel Aquatic Center and the Severna Park Racquetball Club and Open Water Swimming in the South River.
Nor had we heard of Skate Zone, a fun activity for homeschoolers with locations in Crofton and Odenton where McKenzie wore skates and Guy operated a prize wheel. Neighboring vendor, Team Randori Martial Arts where owner Al Hogan’s Annapolis-based school teaches Brazilian Jujitsu, was hard to miss thanks to the inflated jujitsu practitioner.
“Homeschool families gravitate to us because our program gives kids physical activity and builds the discipline, self-esteem, and confidence they might otherwise get from a school athletic team,” Hogan said.
With more varied activities in mind, we were pleased to find the Baltimore Area Council for Scouting America table manned by District Executive MacKenzie Cook; Katie Carico, Scoutmaster for Troop 192; and Joe Chope, Cubmaster for Pack 550. All three leaders said their scouting organizations have had homeschool children within their ranks for years because scouting provides the perfect opportunity to learn new skills while being with other kids.
We saw several groups of little girls lead their parents to the Annapolis Dance Academy table so they could get a better look at the photographs they displayed. The school offers ballet and tap classes for children and ballroom classes for teens.
Little boys preferred seeing the live python and other critters at the Eco Adventures table, however, and made a beeline for it.
There was a line of vendors hoping to attract homeschoolers stretched along the back wall of the gym that included Gym Guyz, Wild Hearts Academy and Mathnasium.
For some vendors, it was all about offering useful services. Madeline, from University of Maryland Urgent Care, hoped to acquaint families with the organization’s nearby locations in Pasadena and Glen Burnie. Mindy, from PDS Dentistry for Children in Gambrills said she was surprised to see some of their patients at the homeschool fair. Nicole, from Navy Federal Credit Union, was especially interesting to homeschool parents with middle school and high school aged kids. She was highlighting the Free Financial Workshops being offered for students in that age group that are available at all their branches. She noted that the workshops give students the basics about how to manage their money, explain the difference between a debit and a credit and even teaches them how to write a check.
There were two STEM education vendors – Saphire Rise, Inc. of Gambrills and iCode Severna Park at Benfield Village Shopping Center.
There was so much more to see that we couldn’t take it all in. On our way out, we stopped at the table of Lee Priddy from Priddy Music Academy which offers classes that would be a good fit for homeschoolers.
We couldn’t possibly leave without seeing Jason Kimmell and Amy Schropp from The Children’s Theatre of Annapolis. The theatre has many classes, workshops and camps scheduled at times that would work well for homeschool kids. Lots of good productions with which they might become involved as well.
The Macaroni KID Homeschool Fair seemed to be quite a success and, since the homeschooling movement is growing larger every day, we look forward to a return engagement same time next year.
ShoptoberFest scheduled for October 11 at Park Plaza
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce has announced that this year’s ShoptoberFest with a TRICK OR TREAT TWIST is scheduled for October 11th from 11 am till 3 pm at Park Plaza. The free event will feature music, shopping, food, trick or treating and a costume contest.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility whilereducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
And Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena, A family- owned business with four locations (Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton). With 40 years’ experience and the backing of a national brand, they are committed to earning customers’ trust by offering the expertise, value and responsiveness drivers expect – “every time they visit us.”
