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News & Stories

Houston’s 8th Annual Homeschool Family Expo to take place August 21 in Spring, TX

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In support of the growing trend towards education at home, WoodlandsMommy.com is planning its 8th annual Homeschool Family Expo for Houston & suburban areas, featuring dozens of homeschool-related exhibitors, live stage entertainment, Chick-fil-A concessions, and other activities. The event will take place on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 10am – 4pm at the Klein ISD Multipurpose Center, 7500 FM 2920 Rd., Spring, TX. Admission is free and open to the public.

The goal of the Homeschool Family Expo is to bring current and prospective homeschoolers together with the growing number of businesses who offer products, services, classes, and programs that service the needs of homeschooling families.

“This year, especially, we’re seeing so many new families experiment with homeschooling. The COVID-19 pandemic has made learning at home an accessible option for many families in our community. We’re excited to be able to provide parents with the information and resources they need to have successful homeschooling experiences,” says Karen Logan, Editor-in-Chief of WoodlandsMommy.com and founder of the Homeschool Family Expo. “Our annual event is one in which children enjoy attending as much as their parents. It’s useful and fun!”
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Those attending the 8th Annual Homeschool Family Expo will find a wealth of information regarding local academic classes, extracurricular activities, and field trips for homeschoolers; options for sports; exhibitors offering everything from wellness and holistic services to dual credit college courses;  a Student Commerce Fair of 50+ student-run “stores”; a Homeschool Through High School resource Fair; entertainment; concessions; a book fair, and more.

The Homeschool Family Expo is presented in part by Usborne Books & More, Extraordinary Education, National Youth Theater, and DPAC-Texas. Families, students, and business sponsors interested in attending and/or participating in the Expo should visit www.HomeschoolFamilyExpo.com or call 832-443-7291.

Celebrate Labor Day at Waterway Square, Sunday, September 5

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The Woodlands Township invites residents to relax and enjoy Labor Day weekend on Sunday, September 5, 2021, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Waterway Square (31 Waterway Square Place). Enjoy live music, children’s activities, strolling entertainment, pie eating contests and a fireworks display.  

This free event will have live music by Cold Shot (Variety), children’s craft activities (while supplies last), complimentary face painting and balloon art and youth and adult pie eating contests. A beverage booth will be available to purchase a variety of beverages. Please consider supporting local restaurants before or after attending the event.

The Labor Day weekend event is produced by The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department. Pie eating contests sponsored by Pie in the Sky Pie Co. 

Coolers, picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs are permitted; glass prohibited. Those planning to attend the event should practice social distancing, refrain from gathering in large groups and continue to follow all guidelines established by the CDC. Face coverings are optional. 

For the most up-to-date information on the day of the event, please follow The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/townshipparksandrec. For more information on The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department events, please call 281-210-3800 or visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/parksandrecreation..

Five Things To Know About School Zones

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The local schools will be back in session soon, and that means that school zones are active again. Rusty Fincher, Retired Captain in Precinct 1 of the Montgomery County Constable's Office, has five simple tips for drivers who find themselves driving up to a school zone.

1. Don't exceed your limit - Typically, a school zone is 20 miles per hour in a residential area, and can be as high as 35 or 40 mph in a highway area. Fincher warns that these are maximum speeds, and most law enforcement officers don't have a "buffer" zone of a few miles per hour over the limit. "By the time you reach the sign marking a school zone, you should be at or under the speed listed on it," said Fincher. "The difference between, say, 20 and 25 miles per hour may not amount to much on the open roads, but it can spell the difference between life and death when youngsters are running about."

Our evening at The Learning Zoo! (Plus tickets to their SUMMER BASH!)

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Eeek!! The kids held a python! 

It was part of our hands-on learning experience at The Learning Zoo right here in Conroe off FM 1488. Two moms and our 4 kids ranging in age from 4-11 got up close and personal with a variety of animals during our private VIP Tour. We saw snake and other reptiles, chickens, goats, pigs, a cow, parrot, and more! Feeding fresh veggies to the farm animals and tortoises was a huge hit with the kids! The grounds are perfect - spacious enough with many animal habitats, but not so huge to where it's overwhelming for kiddos. 

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The Learning Zoo is owned and operated by Drew Schulz,  a professional zookeeper, and the facility is currently open by appointment only. Our tour was conducted very efficiently. There were no long, drawn-out introductions; the kids grabbed their feeding cups and we got to the action right away! Drew shared so many fun facts about the animals we were seeing, and he moved along quickly so we never got bored.

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Check out The Learning Zoo for VIP Tours (like the one we did), homeschool classes, summer camps, weekend workshops, and more! Your child can even have a birthday party at the zoo, OR The Learning Zoo can bring out some of the animals to YOU! 

On Saturday, August 14, The Learning Zoo is having a Summer Bash that's open to the public. The event is open to the public and is a convenient opportunity for you to experience the zoo without assembling a small group for a private tour. Tickets are only $12 and free for children under 3. More info can be found here.

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It’s Houston Restaurant Weeks! There’s never been a better time to dine (or order) out!

gracesDrool!! The carefully crafted menus for Houston Restaurant Weeks are making us sooo hungry! Houston Restaurant Weeks, August 1 – September 6, 2021,  is the largest annual fundraiser for America's largest food bank, the HoustonFood Bank. The month-long dining extravaganza features specially priced lunches, brunches, and dinners at dozens of restaurants from The Woodlands to Galveston.

Restaurants on the list offer $20 2-course and 3-course brunch and lunch menus and $35 or $49 3-course or 4-course dinner menus. For each meal purchased, the restaurant donates $1-$5 to the Houston Food Bank. It's literally a win-win and an awesome way to support an organization that provides hunger relief for individuals and families in 18 counties!

Add your 2021 Fall Program or Activity to our Directory!

 
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Let us help our readers find your program! The 2021 Fall Classes & Programs Directory is a resource for families in The Woodlands, Spring, and surrounding areas to find local educational and extracurricular programs in which their children can participate in person, online, or both. Our Directory launches August 7, 2021 and remains live on our website through December 7, 2021.