November Field Trips

Nothing like starting off the new year catching up on the old year...

We had a few fun field trip adventures in November. We started off the month with a visit to the King County Elections office. 

It was the week before the election deadline, so the place was hopping. 

 

And by "hopping," I mean there were lots of envelopes and temporary employees. The facility is interesting in that there is a walkway bordering all the work areas. The walkway areas are open to the public so anyone can watch the sorting and counting processes.

Our county has 100% mail-in ballots. One of the best parts of the tour was seeing thousands of envelopes fly through the counting and sorting machine.

After the Elections Office, we swung over to an Asian market for another mini-field trip. The kids found some interesting products.

 

The following week Aubree and her co-op friends, as part of their business class, had their own booth at a local craft bizarre. Each kid made products to sell. I taught Aubree how to make "noisy socks," and she spent all her spare time crocheting beads onto little girl socks.

The kids had fun selling their wares and learned a lot of good lessons. Aubree's socks didn't sell great, but some of the other kids were sold out of their items by noon!

Another Friday, while Aubree went to watch her friends swim with sharks at the aquarium (yikes!), I took the other kids and we went to a really fun indoor play place called Odyssey One. It was like a giant McDonalds play place and they had a blast.

Aubree and Bryce finished off the month with a really amazing field trip to Junior Achievement BizTown. This was another field trip in conjunction with Aubree's business class. 

 

Here's a description of BizTown I stole from their website:

"JA BizTown is an indoor center that is a mini city with up to 21 public and private businesses. Businesses within the center are sponsored by real local businesses, and display the authentic logo and the actual marketplace appearance of the sponsoring business, bringing the town to life for the students. Before visiting JA BizTown, students complete classrom curriculum where they learn basic economic principles such as free enterprise and business, how to make choices as a consumer, and how to manage their personal bank account. They also participate in job interviews, and learn about their new workplace and the job they will perform. Jobs range from retail sales professionals, accountants, business managers, medical professionals to TV and newspaper reporters. There is even a Mayor in City Hall!"

BizTown doesn't usually allow homeschoolers to participate in their program, but one of our co-op moms spent a lot of time working out arrangements and inviting the broader homeschool community. Bryce and Aubree loved every second! Aubree was assigned the job of CEO of Fox13 News. Bryce was assigned to be a Fox13 cameraman. At first he thought he wouldn't like that job, but by the end he was sure it was the best job possible. I am sure we will be back in future years.