TESTIMONIALS  

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Here are just a few of the comments we received after last year's first UWWG !

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We had a terrific time at the waterpark! The kids said to us, I swear EVERY night, "thanks for bringing us here," and "this is the BEST vacation!" It tickled me so much to know that they were having a blast! It was good to talk with others, to find out how others taught, to hear new ideas (new to us).

We are loosely-organized Homeschoolers, and over the past year or two, I can see how we've drifted away from the structured school day, to an unstructured form. This definitely gave us more of a reassurance that what we're doing is really "okay" and nobody is REALLY going to haul us off to jail for what we're doing! (silly, huh?)

Dana (& Chris) McQueen
Pennsylvania

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Our family had so much fun that we've convinced other families to join us next year. They've even started their loose change jars to facilitate.

.. . I've only attended traditional Homeschooler things before and I felt like an oddball there. Once I did a funshop though, I realized that unschoolers really meant it when they said, "Whatever works for your family is okay." So the opposite of, "We've got all the answers - buy our book(s)" crowd.

.. . The kids were even blogging at our family site -
  http://web.mac.com/hero_brainery/Site/Welcome.html

Lauri Rogers
Ohio

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From the moment we arrived at the Kalahari Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio we had a complete blast.

.... We made many new friends interested about our life on the road who offered invitations to visit when we’re in their states......

We will definitely go back next year - the conference was worth the drive from New Mexico!

Mary Ann Malkoff
California
(presently on a 3 yr road trip through the USA and Canada in their RV)
    http://malkoffgrandadventure.blogspot.com/2008/01/12108-conference-fun-in-sandusky-oh.html

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The trip was WELL worth everything and anything we put into it. The Kalahari was very welcoming and the entire facility was top notch. The only changes we’re making next year is leaving a day early and bringing an extra set of hands! (…Gramma!).

I would definitely recommend this gathering for unschoolers next year. The Kalahari gave us a SPECTACULAR group rate that we couldn’t beat anywhere. We had more fun in this trip then we have had in a very long time!!! Not an empty minute went by. We are refreshingly exhausted.

Heather Burditt
Vermont
http://www.swissarmywife.net/2008/01/unschoolers-winter-waterpark-gathering.html

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We all enjoyed ourselves immensely, but it seems that I, in particular, was deeply moved by the experience.

.. . The UWWG was the first big unschoolers gathering that we've had the money to go to and I'll say right now that it was worth every penny!

It's one thing to be on lists and forums with other unschoolers, but it's a totally different experience to be in a gathering of hundreds of them. TOTALLY different.

I have spent the last few years feeling very isolated much of the time, even with the awesome bunch of more traditional Homeschoolers that surrounds me. My ideas about so many things, the way I try to respond to my children, the laid back lifestyle that we strive for...so much about us is just so foreign to most of the people I'm around most of the time.

.. . But at the Kalahari I didn't feel that way. The one night that we got to hang out in the lounge and just *BE* was perhaps my favorite time of the whole trip. While I obviously loved spending the time I did with my kids and husband in the waterpark and in our room, it was *THAT* time - the lounge time - that I will forever associate with this....awakening that I'm feeling.

Jessica Radtke
Indiana
http://radicalradtkes.blogspot.com/

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We are also looking forward to next year. The kids are going to ask for the whole week from Santa Claus :).

Thank you,
Laura, Eric, Ethan, Joshua, Jeanne and Eric
Ohio

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Cheers,
Jessie Voigts
Michigan

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We all had a blast. There were several families from the Columbus area, we all had a great, wonderful, exciting, rewarding...ok you get the picture, time. We had to drag our teens away. There were at least 12 teens from our local group there. They were making friends all over the place.

The seminars were fabulous. I remember when our local meetings felt as satisfying. Somehow over time our meetings shifted and stopped having the excitement that was present at the seminars and then we kind of just stopped having meetings altogether. We still see each other all of the time but it's not the same.

It was great meeting all of you who organized this. For me the highlight was meeting Ruth Radney and Mary Nix because I had known them for years online and had always enjoyed their wonderful ideas and well thought out responses. They did not disappoint in person. Those of you who have access these ladies on a regular basis are truly blessed.

And then there was Mary Ann Malkoff...OH MY!! I guess I was not paying attention because for the first two days I did not even realize Mary Ann was going to offer a seminar. I happened to be talking to two new friends in the lobby Thursday morning and they mentioned they were staying because the dad (Hi Dennis) wanted to stay to attend Mary Ann's seminar (how cool is that?) Talk about serendipity. So, our plans changed (much to our children's dismay...NOT!)

Mary Ann has a gift and I am so glad to have been able to be there to hear her. I can't wait to follow them across the country (via the Internet, LOL) The trip they are taking is one of the most exciting things I have heard about in ages but it is her gift to inspire that I found the most exciting.

My poor husband, he already thought I was way too far out of the box... I think I could actually hear all of the little padlocks in my brain clicking open on the way Home....OH MY!

Laura Buoni
Ohio

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Our family just wants to say THANK YOU again so very, very much for all the hours and hard work you all put into planning an absolutely AWESOME event. The kids, Mike, and I enjoyed it tremendously!!! We had the best time ever!

Dennis--Thank you so much for donating your time and your awesome DJ'ing equipment for the dance. My girls danced the night away and I assure you that for Chelsea that was a major milestone! They have just gone on and on about how fun you made it! So thanks again!!!!

To all the ladies who led discussions/funshops--THANK you...I wasn't able to attend all the discussion groups I wanted to, but I enjoyed the couple I did get to attend and walked away "INSPIRED"--Thank you Ruth!!

My kids had a GREAT time meeting other teens and just being able to do what teens do--hang out and socialize! Imagine that...Homeschoolers socializing <gasp>!!!!!

We were all certainly exhausted by Friday and while happy to get Home and sleep in our own beds, we were a bit sad to see the week come to an end so quickly. Like someone else said earlier, it helped us to feel a part of something much bigger than ourselves--it was a great feeling!

We talked about "next year" all the way Home and Mike and the girls all have their fair share of ideas/suggestions" for next year...LOL!!!!

Thanks again you guys and please give yourselves a big hi-five from us for a job well done, put your feet up, and relax a bit...I have a feeling next year will be even bigger and better!!!!!

Marla MacLean
N. Carolina (formerly Ohio)