Renaissance Festival

[Nealewill]

This year my dd is starting RtR. We just started it so we are still at the time period of the early church. My guess is that we won't really be in the thick of the Renaissance Era until about half way through the year. Every year the Renaissance Festival is in my city for two months. They run from beginning of September through the end of October. So, my question is, when is it best to do the field trip? Would you do the field trip prior reading about all the renaissance stuff? Or would you plan to do the field trip after you read about it?

With my kids so close in age, I feel like doing it now schedule wise might be better so that I have about 3 years between going now and going again. I try not to repeat field trips TOO much since they do cost money and I want the kids excited when we go. I also feel like - since my son is right in the middle - targeting fields trips to my oldest and youngest HOD level might be a good trend to start - my son will have just studied it the year prior to my youngest studying it and he will have time between seeing it with my oldest and seeing again with the youngest if that makes sense.

Thoughts? What would you do? I will say, I am not going this year and then again next year though

[rumkimom]

We just went (just my husband and I) this past weekend (to the one in NY) and it was so much fun. My husband plans to take the boys next year. I do not think it matters when you go as they will learn there either way. My oldest daughter went a few weeks ago with friends and she made herself a costume to wear there (lots of people were wearing costumes).

[chillin'inandover]

We went to our local Renaissance Festival on educators day when we kicked off RTR, which was 2 years ago. The kids still remember it. It was nice to go on educators day as it was geared to children and education. There wasn't the tasteless entertainment. They learned to print, made a perfume with alchemy, made a medallion, and bound a book. They watched jousting and ate a Renaissance feast. Another nice benefit of education day was the discounted price. I highly recommend attending a Renaissance fair to kick off RTR if they have an education day.

[Nealewill]

I didn't see anything on their website about an educator day. I think I will call them though - thanks for the tip!

[chillin'inandover]

Our trip to the Renaissance Festival was a great kickoff for our year. It helped to have pre-read all the RTR books so that I knew what topics were addressed for the year. I sought activities that included topics that were included in RTR. For instance, the medallion was a later project. We used real silver composite to make a medallion. For book binding we made books that were used for Bible Quiet time or Common Place Book. We spent time at the printing press since I knew Ink on His Fingers was such a powerful book to see an actual printing press would have more impact. Finally, the alchemy was a delight for my Chemistry loving son.
I shared my comments to show how this field trip complemented and enhanced what I knew we would be studying in RTR. Since RTR was such a special year that I knew would impact my son's faith walk, I wanted him to truly live during the time period for a special day. I don't want to be detracting from the wonderful plans by saying that it is necessary to go to the Renaissance Festival since it can be full of "tasteless entertainment" that HOD would not support. This board is for HOD curriculum support, and our attendance was truly an educational field trip that highlighted and kicked off RTR. It supported HOD curriculum. If only we could have visited Boston and Washington DC when we did Bigger and Rev2Rev last year. Someday!
I hope Daneale your local Renaissance Festival has an educators day.

[Nealewill]

Thanks for your thoughts! I have vowed this year to try and get out more and do more stuff. I feel like in years past I was always so busy just trying to survive, that we have missed some fun things. That got me thinking - and I am actually making a long laundry list of field trips that I am trying to target to the various levels that we will be doing and the year those trips will best serve our family dynamics. I actually have listed that we should do a trip to Washington DC when my youngest is in MTMM, middle is in WG and oldest is in AH. That way all of my kids are a little bit older (and hopefully I won't hear anyone whining about being tired) - my youngest would have just finished Rev to Rev and my oldest will be starting AH. I also put on there that I want to go to the east coast when my middle child is in RevtoRev. Not sure where we will go yet but I was thinking NY/Pennsylvania area.

[LynnH]

I'm just seeing this now. I live in the same city as you so I know which Renaissance festival you are talking about. One word of caution, some of the humor, dress etc is less than appropriate. I have a good friend who has gone several times and I think she went again last year and stated that it has just gotten worse. Much of it is not very family friendly. You might want to ask if there are certain shows etc that you should avoid. She was pretty shocked by some of the things this last time. She also was doing RTR at the time which is why she took her son and daughter.

[Nealewill]

Thanks Lynn. I might know this mom. Does she have a boy and girl and she is doing Rev to Rev this year? And does she have a 1 or 2 year old? I am friends with her on Facebook. I might email her and ask her what happened.

[LynnH]

No this friend of mine doesn't have a 1 or 2 year old. I would ask around though and see if you have friends that have been. Just so you know what to avoid.

[Nealewill]

Sounds like a good plan Thanks.