The annual hay ride was held at the Vinton's home on October 3rd. After several days of cool temperatures and strong winds, we were blessed with a beautiful day for the hay ride. There were rides on the four wheeler prior to the hay ride and beef stew and chili after the hay ride.

Photos taken during the Fall Cooperative which began on September 22nd and ran through November 19th, 2009. The open house was held on September 14th at Bethel Baptist Church in Scottsbluff.

Salute to America Musical Auditions held on August 29th, 2009.

The annual Ice Cream Social was held on August 29, 2009 at Westmoor Park in Scottsbluff.

It has become a tradition among WNHEN families to gather monthly for backyard BBQ's in the summer. We have a great time together swaping stories, sharing in fellowship and eating!

Summer Co-op began June 1 and ends July 13th at the Gering Baptist Church. Classes included Beginning Digital Photography, Research Writing, Rocketry, Geography Bee, Video's, Chalk/Bubbles and Scavenger Hunt.

Field Trips were planned on Monday mornings from 10 to noon for those looking ofr a little PE and family time during the summer months. We hiked the monument, strolled the pathway, played frisbee baseball, hiked the wildcats and more.

The WNHEN 2009 Graduation was held on May 29 at the Gering Baptist Church. The Class Verse was Jeremiah 29:11 and the class Colors were Green and Grey. We had five graduates particpating in this years ceremony.

Students in the Outdoor Adventure Class offered through the Cooperative had the opportunity to participate in a campout at the camp clarke raiders black powder site near Bridgeport, Nebraska on May 1 -3. We had 11 students and 6 adults present for the event. Although it rained on Friday and Saturday we didn't let that stop us from having a great time. Students had the opportunity to participate in some of the activities we did in class and took part in some new activities at camp. Each student had to cook their own meals over the campfire and the learned how to throw a tomahawk, shoot a black powder gun, build a fire (in wet conditions), and how to whittle. They also particpated in a nature hike, geocaching and orienteering along with a few other things.

Here's a collection of photo's from our musical rehearsals and performance. Enjoy! The Western Nebraska Home Educators Network presents "The Castaways". This musical grounded in historical fact, the plot, delivered through flashbacks, reveals the struggles of immigrant children left to fend for themselves on the streets of New York City in the early 1900's. All the children's daily challenges are rendered with whimsy, drama and pathos. Ultimately the happy ending for these "Castaways" takes them to homes with Midwestern families seeking children. Their poignant stories sensitize today’s children to the stark realities of homelessness.