Greg Landry Homeschool to the Rescue!

This post is sponsored by College Prep Science. 

Now, more than ever, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling has been front and center. Whether it's been thrust upon unprepared parents trying to navigate working from home while overseeing the education of their children, or a shifting of focus for those parents already educating their kids at home who no longer can be part of the homeschooling network they've relied upon for years, due to social distancing. 

Greg Landry homeschool has pioneered science classes and labs for homeschooling families. He offers online classes (for science leaning students and “non-science” students), science labs, ACT prep, homeschool student-produced print publications, and a podcast for homeschool moms. He has a heart for students and a passion for science... but more specifically a passion for teaching students to see God's hand in every aspect of His creation that surrounds us. His goal is to help them see that God's creation didn't just happen by chance - it wasn't an accident, a fluke of nature.

Greg Landry has spent the past 20+ years teaching science. He taught at a university, taught thousands of homeschooled students, has mentored students planning to pursue science/pre-med degrees, has designed and directed a university anatomy and physiology/biology/cadaver lab, has published and presented scientific research, has academically counseled hundreds of college pre-professional (pre-med, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy, etc.) sophomores and juniors, has designed science labs for homeschooled students and has written science lab manuals. Ten years ago he originated the "pre" classes (Pre-Biology, Pre-Anatomy & Physiology, Pre-Chemistry, and Pre-Physics) as a means of minimizing the intimidation of high school level science and preparing middle school age students for specific high school level classes. As one homeschool mom described it, "Greg has a unique ability to pull out the most important information and present it in a way that's interesting and easy to understand." 

The thrust of Greg Landry homeschool science is to give homeschooled students access to Christian Worldview science that is focused on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, process reasoning, data collection, and the graphical and written representation of research. Greg says, "We want to prepare competent, confident students for their remaining high school years, their college years, and life. 

Greg and his wife live near Nashville, TN. His desire is to follow the Lord's leading in teaching students to illuminate the incredible creation the Lord has put all around us. It reveals His glory! ​Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two-day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and student-produced homeschool print publications.

Snippets from my life -- Waiting

September 1989

Photo by Linnaea Mallette

Pushing aside the gauze curtains, I glanced out the back window and watched as my seven-year-old shuffled down the driveway. She reached the street, looking to her left and then to her right, waiting for her friend to come and play with her, to distract her, to make her forget for a while.

I don't think she heard me approaching as she sat cross-legged at the end of the driveway. I assumed her position and we sat quietly for a while, side-by-side. We were both waiting. The nightmare that had begun two short endless days ago was ever present. My husband, her daddy, was gone and tonight we had to go to a service where he would be eulogized.

"Did Daddy have on his old shoes?" Her question disrupted my thoughts. 

"What?" I asked. 

She repeated the question. 

"What do you mean, Bethany?"

"Well, if Daddy had on his new tennis shoes, he could have run faster and gotten away from the fire."

I didn't know what to say. I, too, wanted answers. 

Again, Bethany spoke. "I wish he would've worn his new shoes."

I still had no words for her. We went back to waiting, side-by-side. She was waiting for her friend. I was waiting, hoping, praying for the alarm clock to ring and for my husband to say, "Hana, it's time to get up."

My Favorite Things -- Silver Lozenges with Manuka Honey

I decided to start a new feature on GG: It's called My Favorite Things and will feature products I love. With a variety of infectious viruses on everyone's mind, I thought this week would be a good week to feature Silver Biotics® Silver Lozenges. They're made with 60 ppm SilverSol® and manuka honey. 

I've been a long-time lover of silver and its healing benefits. And ever since I was introduced to Multi-Healing Balm (which, sadly, is no longer available), I've been a believer in the miracle of manuka. So when I discovered these dandy little lozenges, I snatched them up. 

They're great to take at the first sign of a cold or sore throat. But I take one a day to ward off any sickness. They're made with organic ingredients and Silver Biotics patented nano-silver technology, raw New Zealand manuka honey, and cooling mint. A perfect combination. And they taste great!

Concerned about the influenza, pneumonia, or bronchitis? It goes without saying, although everyone is saying it, wash your hands. Often. And do the 20 second thing. And suck on some Silver Biotics Silver Lozenges to boost your immune system. They're even on sale right now (3/10/2020) at The Vitamin Shoppe. I just ordered 3 more bags!

And there you have the multiple reasons Silver Biotics Silver Lozenges made My Favorite Things list. And, no, this is not a sponsored post. Just my honest opinion.

Carry on and stay well.

Observe Chimps in the Wild—Without a Passport!

I don't want to brag, but I have some really cool writer friends. They're part of my tribe and I love hearing about their projects and celebrating their success with them. Today's guest post is by Dana Colecchia Getz, one of the fine writers in my monthly writing group, Writers at Work. She was asked to attend a program put on by Project Chimps and kindly agreed to write a blog post for me. I thought the GG community would enjoy learning more.

Crystal Alba/Project Chimps

For years, chimpanzees were used in invasive experimentation. Studies ranged from crash tests to HIV testing. Some chimps, like Hercules and Leo, spent their days forced to unnaturally walk upright with electrodes embedded into their muscles. 

Now Hercules, Leo, and 79 other chimpanzees formerly living in research labs are able to spend their days foraging, climbing, and playing in a natural, 236-acre forested setting. Project Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary set in the Georgian Blue Ridge Mountains, has become their forever home. 2015 marked the end of invasive experimentation on chimpanzees in the United States leaving chimps living in private research facilities with no place to go. Project Chimps stepped in to help by slowly transferring the primates to their sanctuary in 2016, with the goal of eventually housing 200 chimpanzees. 

Crystal Alba/Project Chimps

As they continue expanding the habitat for more chimps, they are broadening opportunities for humans as well. Although not generally open to the public, Project Chimps offers a variety of tours and volunteer-based ecotourism for animal and nature lovers of all ages. With the insight of a trained guide throughout the experiences, visitors are able to observe the chimps from platforms and windowed sections of wall along the perimeter of the habitat. It is important to remember, however, that unlike a zoo, the animals are free to explore as they want, which means visitors on a short tour cannot be guaranteed a sighting—although that is rare. According to Project Chimps director Ali Crumpaker, “They are not on exhibit. They are not there for your entertainment. We tell people all of the time—you are putting on the parade. You are part of the show. You are bringing something to them and if they are interested in what you bring to the environment, they will come and watch you.”

The goal of the sanctuary is to create a “fission-fusion society” where the physical environment supports their transition from lab to a more natural setting. In most labs, the chimpanzees were separated by age and gender. Here, for the first time, they can choose how they spend their day and with whom they interact. Visitors and volunteers have the unique opportunity to observe them as they navigate these new social structures as they would in the wild. 

If you are looking for a socially-conscious trip, consider visiting Project Chimps.They are certified by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries, ensuring the highest standards of animal care are upheld. Located only two hours outside of Atlanta, their tours offer a unique opportunity within the United States that many would be unable to experience otherwise. 

“You don’t need a passport, or a visa, or an expensive plane trip to go experience some creatures that are so close to us in a way that enriches the chimpanzees’ lives and educates the humans’ lives all at the same time,” explained Crumpaker.

Project Chimps

Project Chimps Ecotourism/Voluntourism Opportunities

Family-friendly Experiences: 

Discovery Days, Chimps Rock! and Chimp-or-Treat. (Plan ahead for Discovery Days, as they sell out months in advance.)

Volunteer Vacations: 

Chimpcation- a week long voluntourism opportunity better suited to adults and older kids who can be more actively involved.  

Spring Brachiate- an alternative spring break program, for college kids.

One-Day Experiences:

Full-day photography workshop 

AirBnb Experiences- 2 hour guided tour or tour with introduction to beekeeping

Dana Colecchia Getz is a Pittsburgh-based freelance writer specializing in travel, parenting, and social change. She is the recipient of a regional Jefferson Award for Public Service for her work as the founder of KnitHope, a grassroots craftivism project. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications including The Christian Science Monitor, Go World Travel, Livability.com, The Sunlight Press and Mamalode. You can follow her musings on Twitter @DanaCGetz.