GR AGGIES
Connecting agriculture to Scripture in a year-long journey through the Bible.
Have questions about GR Aggies? Find the answers below.
If you cannot find an answer to your questions, please feel free to contact us for more information.
What are we going to do?
In a nut shell, we are going to have a blast digging into the Word of God and harvesting what it has to offer – literally at times! It is up to you how much you want to participate.
Basically, the plan is to study through the Bible in chronological order and explore a related sector of the agricultural industry each month. For example, we will visit an olive farm when we study about the first Passover in the Promised Land when the Israelites ate from orchards they did not plant (How cool is that!), and we will visit a sheep farm as we study about the life of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. (There may even be a cute little surprise when visit the sheep farm!)
How does it work?
Each week of the month will have a different focus. I will send a monthly and/or weekly email and post a blog entry with information, suggestions, and ideas on how I might cover the topics in our family. This will NOT be a lesson plan. It will be more of a guide on what your family can study to connect the Bible with agriculture in an organized and logical manner including field trips, hands on activities and projects to bring the Bible to life, and fellowship with other families on the same journey.
(We may also have a private Facebook page and/or a GroupMe to communicate and share thoughts.)
Weekly topic/purpose:
Week 1 – Bible Week
Week 2 – Agriculture Study Week
Week 3 – Field Trip Week (shooting for 3rd Thursday of each month, time determined by location)
Week 4 – Project/Share Week
Week 5 – potential social/fellowship if enough interest
It’s completely up to you how deep you go each week. Dig in and take all month to glean every kernel from the Bible, study each sector of agriculture in detail, pick a different project each month, and then give the kids a Bible and agriculture study credit. On the other hand, just review the Bible stories, briefly cover the agricultural focus so they’ll be ready for the field trip, and just join us for the field trip.
Please, do what works best for you family during this season of life. I just want us to have fun and, ultimately and most importantly, for us and our kids to praise God as we discover and explore new aspects of His amazing and awesome creation.
Can we do just the field trips?
Absolutetly! Feel free to pick and choose whatever activities work best for your family.
Nevertheless, I strongly encourage to at least review the Bible stories for each month That is the most important part of the whole year!
(You will need to sign up for the whole year or at least fall or spring semester to receive information about the field trips, but you do not have to attend every field trip or do any of the other activities.)
What do my kids have to do?
-
Behave and not complain on field trips! (About weather, smells, etc!).
-
Respect the people and places we visit.
-
Participate in activities on field trips if they are physically able. (At least try to get them to…)
-
Prepare AND ask questions on the field trips. It makes it more interesting for everyone.
-
See Aggies Extra for more opportunities, competitions, etc.
Where are the field trips?
See the tentative schedule on the GR Aggies page.
The current schedule includes:
|
Lanier Farms (produce) |
|
Meteor Shower & River Boat Rides @ Stephen C. Foster State Park |
|
Olive Farm – Lakeland |
|
Sunbelt EXPO – Moultrie |
|
Pecan Orchard – Ray City |
|
Sunbelt Greenhouses – Douglas |
|
Hound River (sheep) Farm – Hahira |
|
Grace Reigns Equine – Ray City |
|
Hathery Fish Farm – Alapaha |
|
Thigpen Trail – Doerun |
|
Burton Peach Farm – Morven |
How much does it cost?
There is a $5 monthly fee per kid with a family cap of $20 per month. If you pay at the beginning of the school year or the beginning of each semester, you will receive a free month for the year. If this stretches your budget and your kids are willing to work for their $5 each month, we usually have odd “jobs” at our farm. Give me a call or send me an email, and we’ll see if we can work out something.
While most of the field trips will be free, some of the field trips will cost. As of now, I know the the boat ride ($10/kid) and the optional camping trip and private meteor watching ($6/kid) at Stephen Foster as well as the EXPO (~$8 admission) have additional fees. Also, some field trip locations may have a gift shop/store but not all of them. If archery works out, it will also include an additional fee.
You will be responsible for all travel, meals, etc.
Can I join any time?
Absolutely! I can add at any time, and you’ll only need to pay for the remaining months of the year.
Who can participate?
Although it is organized with homeschoolers in mind, anyone can participate. Just be aware field trips will be on weekdays.
Do my kids have to be school age to participate?
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings.
No. As long as your children can behave and act respectably on the field trips, you are welcome to join us.
Can younger siblings, grandparents, etc come on the field trips?
Absolutely! I know everyone does not have 24-7 babysitters, and I probably would not have survived if my mom had not “tagged along” on some field trips. Just be sure to give me a headcount by the deadline for each field trip.
What if we cannot finish the year?
Been there, done that, and have the scars to prove it. If you can’t finish out the year, I will return your monthly fees for the reminder of the school year.
What do I have to do to sign up?
Send me your email, and I will send you the information to pay (or you can bring cash to the first field trip if that is easier). Once you have paid, I will add you to the weekly email list.