Found an expo near us - still far, but a city we like. (There are none "close" to us.) Do you think these expos/conventions are worth the $ (it is a little out of our budget)? And I can't figure out how people take their whole families. Lastly-would it be better to just wait for next year and spend the time researching-and maybe making it a family trip/vacation....to one I'm really psyched about?
They can be worth the money. The workshops can be very helpful. But before you decide to make a family vacation of it, research what the kids can do. First of all, most conventions do NOT allow children. The one I use to attend in Ohio made exceptions for nursing children, and also would have sessions just for teens. If the one you're looking at is like that, what would the children do while you're attending the conference? Would your husband attend, too? Could you get the most out of it if you're thinking about the chldren, too?
Our convention is VA only has a kids program for 4-12. Kids 10-12 can register as tweens and attend classes with their parents, teens can register and go to separate class from their parents. Kids under 4 aren't allowed in the sesson or classes (but I think can get into the exhibit hall). I took my 3 last year because my hubby was deployed. It was fine but it made for a LONG day for them in the kids sessions and they had to be picked up for lunch, etc...which made my day more stressful. Now if hubby had gone, it'd have been different because he could have been my extra hands. This year, my oldest (almost 12) is going with me and the little kids and Daddy are staying home. They are definitely worth the $$ even if you just get a "shopping pass" to get into the exhibit hall assuming it's a decent size convention/expo. VA has one of the largest with about 120 classes, 300+ vendors, a HUGE used sale, and high school graduation and roughly 10,000 attendess (including from the graduation)....It's huge! So we're very blessed in that respect. You might see if they "tape" the convention and then you can just order the seminars. I did that the first 2 years because I just couldn't make it. It was worth the $$ to buy all the speaker sessions. I still tend to do this because it's not physically possible to hear what every speaker has to say.
The convention by us (Roch. NY) is worth the money in my opinion. I have gotten great deals in the vendor area and the speakers have been so inspiring and educational. I am so excited that this year Sarita Holtzman (Sonlight) is actually going to be speaking at our convention. I can not wait to go and see her. Kids 12 and younger are discouraged from coming to our convention but I see plenty of families who bring everyone. Dd stays with my in laws for the couple of days of the convention. I am hoping we can get to the one in Cincinatti some year, that is supposed be a huge one.
The exhibition hall is worth it for me. Even though I search for many products on-line, there is always something new and worthwhile to look at in the exhibition hall. Also, most items are on sale or shipping is free when bought at the exhibition hall. I have gone to the convention/classes twice. The classes are good and very uplifting but can't afford to go every year. I just can't justify spending $65 for the convention. I would rather put that money into curriculum.
The one we're looking at is small, and I think we would make it our weekend away (no kids). Keep the info coming though-cuz it's superhelpful.
that would be fun then BrandyBJ Actually if they were less expensive here I would have gone to one. I like to learn more stuff and alll, but I dint even know they had them till a few years back.
That's kind of how I feel, a little too late for me. Back when we first started, when I could have used the experience, it was too expensive. But it think it would be very worthwhile for new homeschoolers to hear all the different people. I just don't think the one in my area is worth the cost of admission, especially now - almost 9 years...if I haven't figured it out by now I'm a lost cause! I guess if I had younger kids it would still be good - they always have new stuff for the little ones - not so much once they near hgh school.
The one by us has had some great stuff for high schoolers. The teen track they have is also really great. After going to our local convention last year I came up with some good ideas for sd who was going to be a senior. Ours actually has some colleges that set up booths and sessions on finacial aid/college planning.
In our area they do a convention once a year, but it's local so I come home at night, and just have to pay the entry fee. They keep it fairly cheap. The big draw for me is the exhibit hall. I really like to be able to talk to vendors and see the curriculum in person. I really don't like choosing on line if I haven't seen it before. Also, there are often local writers at the convention that have great products I wouldn't have known about otherwise. It's a good idea to do some research though. Make sure the topics presented really seem important to you, and if they are taping them and posting them online or for sale, you may be able to just access your favorites from there.
I pretty much agree with MKR. Of course my only experience is with the one in my area, but it is usually fairly large, I think. The frst two years, i bought the pass for the whole thing, speakers and all. the price for two of us was the same as for the whole family. people brought kids, and they had some activities, but I did not bring mine. One year my youngest came for about 2 hours so he could try out a specific program we were looking at, and he hung out with some friends, etc. THEN, i learned the hard way, that it was, IMO, NOT worth my time nor money to go to the seminars, because most of what they were teaching was already in their CDs, DVDs or books. **ALSO, nearly all of them had a vendor booth, and when they were not lecturing, you could always go up to their booth and have some one on one time talking with them. This was much, much more valueable to me as my objective was finding and researching and trying our curriculum, outsource options, and activities. The speakers were more often political topics, discipline issues, etc. The exception would be the college planning lectures, but at the time mine were too young. So....all that to say...for our convention, the expo hall only tickets were lke $15, maybe even $10, so very well worth it! Some of them even have a little schedule posted at their booth of when they willl do mini workshops and/or demonstrations.But I agree, there is always stuff on sale, more real parents to get opinions from, as well as interesting things we would not see in a catalog. One for instance, we found an FCA baseball/fishing boys camp that my son attended one summer because of meeting them at the convention. I'd say definitey go, btu if they allow it, buy the expo hall only tickets, and spend the other on your hotel budget. you will get more than your $$'s worth. have fun, Miller:angel:
CHEO doesn't have exhibit hall only tickets. It's an "all or nothing" deal. And I really have found many of the speakers very informative. They have something for everyone, whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newbie.
Ours boats of the exibits that is what I wanted to go to one for beforebut they are way more than 15 dollars to get admission to the conference as a whole and If I was a member of the local hs thing like CHeo or Chec, Chea then I would get a discount..
I wish I would have gone to one this year. I have learned so much from the speakers I have heard in the past and I especially love the ones where people are allowed to sell their used curriculum. That alone has made it worth it for me in the past.
Wow, I didn't know some were so expensive. Here in Texas, I just went to one where if you registered early it was $5 per person an $10 if you registered there. The parking was another $5. I went by myself for two reasons--one, my son has no interest in those type of things and two, I can look as long as I want and not be distracted by other people. I only have one child though, so it would still be inexpensive even if he wanted to go. The funny thing is this year I only bought interesting things, not curriculum. We are in the middle of a school year, because we delayed his freshman year a semester. Heck, I really don't even like all this artificial grade level stuff (oh well, that is another post, let me stick to the point). The best thing can be the speakers. I have only been to one, but it was SO worth it. I would give one word of advice though, be aware just like there are many homeschoolers, there are many different ways to homeschool. If you go to one where the ideas are really different it can be good or bad. It might make you re-think education and send you in a new positive direction. Or, it might make you feel guilty and send you in a negative direction. The only one I went to was from Chris Davis, who thinking is more like where I want to be. I have to be careful because the guilt monster and curriculum monster can easily ensnare me. So, all in all, it depends on why you go and how strong you are. There were a lot more things I wanted to buy, but I had to pull back and remember that there is always next year.
