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1. Trails & Sails in Essex County
TRAILS & SAILS
is coming! This annual event will run from September 12 through September 27, featuring free events throughout the North Shore and the Merrimack Valley. Included are historical tours, art programs, music performances, interactive exhibits, and more. Here is a link to all of the events included. Literally
HUNDREDS
of great field trip opportunities.
2. Music classes and ensembles for homeschoolers
Thayer Conservatory in Lancaster is offering the following classes in the fall:
Thayer Homeschool chorus
Wednesdays 9/23-12/16 from 12:30-1:30
Beginner Violin Class for homeschoolers
Wednesdays 9/16-12/9 from 1:30-2:30
Fiddle Group -
Rose, Thorn and Fiddle
Wednesdays starting 9/16 from 4:30-5:30
Come join us in playing Celtic, early American and ancient tunes. Instruments include violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, ukulele, flute, tin whistle, and others. All levels are welcome.
Youth Ensemble of New England - Youth Orchestra
Wednesdays starting 9/16 from 5:45-7:15
Instruments include violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, French horn, trumpet, trombone. Intermediate to advanced levels. Audition dates August 26 and Sept. 9. Email
yeofne@gmail.com
to request an audition time.
Email
thayermedia.dd@gmail.com
if you are interested or need more information about any of the groups.
3. TeenPact returning to Connecticut and New Hampshire
TeenPact Connecticut
invites you to join them at this year's dynamic leadership camp from
March 29- April 2, 2027
at the Capitol in Hartford. TeenPact inspires youth in their relationship with Christ and trains them to understand the political process, value their liberty, defend the Christian faith, and engage the culture around them. There is a four- or five-day camp for ages 13-19, one day for ages 8-12, and a one-day Political Communication Workshop for ages 13-19. The overnight camp will be held at the beautiful Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford. Learn more about all the details and the new exciting location for overnight camp option by emailing jenjen632@yahoo.com, calling (860)779-3999 (home #) or going to
TEENPACT
.
Registration opens September 1, 2027 and the best prices are from September 1-30. Here’s how the savings work:
Double Early Bird — Save $30
Register during the month of September and receive
$30 off tuition
.
Early Bird — Save $15
After September, the savings continue at
$15 off tuition
until 60 days before your class begins.
Can’t make it to Connecticut? The same classes (also offering student housing) will be held in
New Hampshire on May 3-7.
For the first time in many years, these New Hampshire dates
do not conflict
with the MassHOPE Convention in Sturbridge.
Register
HERE
for Connecticut and
HERE
for New Hampshire.
Don’t know
what
TeenPact is, and
why
you should attend?
The
WHAT
: here’s a
QUICK LOOK
at what it’s all about. [Bonus for attending a state class: you’re eligible for Alumni Events. My kids loved them!]
The
WHY
: read this
INSPIRING STORY
about the huge impact TeenPact had on one student.
Here is the testimony of an alumnus:
The godliest peers I had growing up were those I knew through TeenPact. Going to TeenPact classes and alumni events strengthened me spiritually, shaped my growth and maturity as a person, and sparked a passion for influencing government and culture and gave me a venue to put that into practice. The educational experiences TeenPact offered were not only challenging and impactful but also loads of fun.
ONE-DAY TeenPact for 8-12-year olds
For many students, TeenPact begins with a simple but meaningful experience — a day spent learning, exploring, and connecting with new friends who share their
curiosity and excitement.
These one-day state classes (sometimes affectionately referred to as “TeenyPact”) are created especially for students
ages 8–12
, giving younger students a chance to experience TeenPact in a fun, welcoming environment where relationships form naturally and confidence begins to grow.
Throughout the day, students will:
• Join together in worship and prayer
• Participate in prayer walks
• Discover how laws are made
• Take part in an engaging mock legislature
Students don’t just learn about leadership at TeenPact — they experience it firsthand alongside new friends, building skills and memories that last long after the day ends. To reserve your student’s spot,
CLICK HERE
.
4. Couldn’t make it to the used curriculum sale?
Connect with other buyers and sellers on MassHOPE’s homeschool marketplace and UCS in order to buy and sell used curriculum! Join at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MassHOPEUCS
.
5. Only six more days of August Adventures
AUGUST ADVENTURES
,
courtesy of the Highland Street Foundation, has offered free access to high-quality museums, events, and sites throughout this month – one on each of the month’s 31 days. The six remaining venues are located in Boston, the Berkshires, Cape Cod, and Plymouth. Check out the listings
HERE
.
6. Folk song event in Topsfield
V is the Valley
: A Concert-Conversation featuring New England Folksongs from the Helen Hartness Flanders Ballad Collection
with singer-storyteller Jack DesBois
Enjoy a vibrant tour through the landscape of traditional folk songs!
-
Enter into the living history of traditional New England folk music
-
Learn about Helen Hartness Flanders, song-catcher (1890–1972)
-
Hear the songs – and learn to sing one yourself
-
Join in a conversation about this rich musical heritage
When:
Thursday, September 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Where:
Topsfield Town Library, 1 South Common Street
Run-time: approx. 90 minutes
Free and open to the public
Recommended for audiences ages 8 through adult
To learn more,
click
HERE
or visit
www.DesBoisTutoring.org
RSVP optional (drop-ins welcome) at:
www.TopsfieldLibrary.org
Celebrate America’s Folk History & Culture!
And a testimonial from the mouth of a babe: At Jack’s "V is the Valley" event at Nevins Library in Methuen last May, there was a homeschooling mother and her three elementary-age children in the audience. These children were attentive and fully engaged, were familiar with some of the songs, and enjoyed singing the refrain to "Carrion Crow." Afterwards, when asked what they thought, the 7-year-old immediately responded, "It was
really
good!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack DesBois
Singer ~ Actor ~ Storyteller
jackdesbois.com
Jack is always looking for organizations to host this and his other educational enrichment programs. If a homeschooling family would like him to bring a program to a library, homeschool co-op, historical society, museum, performing arts venue, church, etc., near them, they can suggest an organization for him to contact. You can find his contact info, and more information about the educational enrichment offerings from DesBois Tutoring & Enrichment, at
www.desboistutoring.org
.
7. Speaker vault for August – Seann Dikkers on the development of government schools
The MassHOPE website features a
CURATED LIBRARY OF RECORDED WORKSHOPS
from past conventions. Over the years, we have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of inspiring speakers, and we regularly showcase some of their most encouraging presentations in this section. For August, we invite you to listen to another thought-provoking message by Seann Dikkers from our 2026 convention.
Dr. Dikkers is a husband and father with over thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, professor, pastor, curriculum designer, researcher, and author. A passionate advocate for faith-based education, purposeful play, balanced use of digital media, and individualized learning, Seann serves as Executive Director of Portals Education.
In this workshop, The Hidden Agenda Behind Mass Education, Dr. Dikkers takes a historical look at 150 years of government schooling in America, contrasting its development with the tradition of freedom centered Christian education. He examines key legislation, influential educational leaders, and the philosophies that shaped the modern public education system. Along the way, he explores questions such as: What were government schools originally designed to accomplish? Where did they go wrong? How has the system itself contributed to declining educational outcomes? Most importantly, Dr. Dikkers highlights how home discipleship offers a fundamentally different and deeply biblical approach to educating the next generation.
8. Field trip fun in Waltham
Explore technology from the Industrial Revolution through the present at the
CHARLES RIVER MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY & INNOVATION
.
From Tripadvisor.com (which gives a rating of 4.5/5): “Located in the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill, an icon of the American Industrial Revolution, the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation brings together intriguing artifacts, cultural insights, and inspiring stories to delight people of all ages, enabling them to see the past and envision the future. The Museum's Main Gallery, displaying artifacts from industries and technologies spanning over 200 years of American innovation, is housed in the final boiler house of the Boston Manufacturing Company, a textile mill founded in 1813 and America's first modern factory. This site would become the model for the mills that formed the City of Lowell and is one of the most important locations of the American Industrial Revolution.”
9. For your encouragement: the “worst candidate” for the job
How God transformed this former teacher’s
HOMESCHOOL
.
10. In the news: USA Today
This
OPINION PIECE
in USA Today is a beautiful defense of homeschooling.
11. Chuckles: mounting evidence
For those days when you can only cry or
LAUGH
.
12. Ballet Magnificat!’s “Anchored: The Pilgrim Story”
Beautifully choreographed and performed by
BALLET MAGNIFICAT!
, “Anchored: The Pilgrim Story” will inspire audiences with its portrayal of the courage and faith of the Pilgrims, their perilous crossing, and the friendship that developed with Native Americans. The timing is especially fitting for America's 250th anniversary, since the Pilgrims' Mayflower Compact was a governing document that directly influenced the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Ballet Magnificat! is the nation’s top Christian ballet company, and their faith is shared sincerely. “Anchored” is a perfect event to invite friends and family to. Presented by
FirstLoveWorks
. Three performances are scheduled in Massachusetts: September 23 in Andover, September 25 in Worcester, and September 26 in Plymouth.
In conjunction with the Ballet, FirstLoveWorks is arranging for Leo and Nancy Martin, and/or Paul Jehle, to give presentations about the Pilgrims and their connection to the Declaration and Constitution at schools and for homeschool groups during the weeks prior to the performances, as their schedules permit. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, you should contact
Ann@firstloveworks.org
. Also, there will be a presentation about the Pilgrims and the Declaration at Plymouth Memorial Hall on the afternoon of September 26, ahead of the performance itself at 6:30. The presentation is free of charge (as are all presentations scheduled within a week or two prior to the performances), but folks will be asked to register. There will be more details coming in future issues of the MassHOPE Messenger.
Discounts for homeschoolers, students at Christian schools, and groups
Homeschoolers and students from Christian schools, and their families and friends, will receive a 25% discount on tickets. They should contact Anne Smith at
volunteer@masshope.org
for information.
Groups of 25 or more receive a 25% discount. A representative of the group will need to contact Tom at
tom@firstloveworks.org
in order to receive the discount code for group members to register with.
Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. This will happen automatically at the website for the Andover and Plymouth performances, but not for Worcester’s, as Mechanics Hall does its own ticketing. If your group will be attending there, a representative should email
Tom@firstloveworks.org
and he will arrange for the discount.
All other tickets may be purchased at
pilgrimballet.com
.
Also, there are many, many volunteer opportunities available for the events, carrying different levels of compensation ranging from complimentary tickets to 10% discounts. If interested, please contact Tom at tom@firstloveworks.org or Anne at
ann@firstloveworks.org
.
13. Deals and events at Old Sturbridge Village
For the month of August, kids (two per paying adult) will be admitted free. See details
HERE
and
HERE
. Also, the next Homeschool Day is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26. Click
HERE
for details and to see the list of Homeschool Days for September and October. Sign up for workshops
HERE
for August 26; act now before they all fill up!
14. Spaces available at speech clubs in Hudson
Speech 101 and Speech 102 – Please see descriptions of these clubs
HERE
. They meet in Hudson on Friday afternoons.
The descriptions include information about expectations and what will happen each week, dates and times of meetings, information about the coach, and cost (payment for full commitment is due at the end of August).
Feel free to reach out via email with questions to
cmhscoop7@gmail.com
. You can also look through the co-op website:
cmchscoop.org
Speech 101 – Ages 10 -18. Fridays from 12:00-1:30 for the fall semester only. We use a curriculum through
NCFCA.org
.
Speech 102 – Ages 12-18.on Fridays from 1:00-2:30 for the fall semester and 12:00-2:30 for the spring semester. Every student in this club will be required to participate in at least TWO tournaments with NCFCA (in-person or online). We use a curriculum through
NCFCA.org.
15. Free summer Fridays on commuter rail!
From the MBTA WEBSITE:
Commuter Rail service will continue to be free every Friday through August. This promotion does not apply to
the
CapeFLYER
or to
special event trains
.
How to get your discount:
No action needed—just board the train!
16. Speaker vault for July – Seann Dikkers on home discipleship
The MassHOPE website features a
CURATED LIBRARY OF RECORDED WORKSHOPS
from past conventions. Over the years, we have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of inspiring speakers, and we regularly showcase some of their most encouraging presentations in this section. For July, we invite you to listen to a thought-provoking message by Seann Dikkers from our 2026 convention.
Dr. Dikkers is a husband and father with over thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, professor, pastor, curriculum designer, researcher, and author. A passionate advocate for faith-based education, purposeful play, balanced use of digital media, and individualized learning, Seann serves as Executive Director of Portals Education.
In this workshop, Seann explains that education and discipleship are not the same as mass schooling. They have different traditions and different expectations. If you have ever asked, “How do I know if they are on pace?”, “What if they miss something?”, “How do I know if they are learning?”, or even “I’m not sure I know enough to teach high school!” then this session should settle your mind and help you plan for discipleship with excitement. Explore some of the key differences and save massive amounts of time and stress trying to recreate schooling at home.
17. Field trip fun in Hull
A visit to the
HULL LIFESAVING MUSEUM
looks to be well worth the trip.
18. For your encouragement: the cost of not homeschooling
In
THIS ARTICLE
, Deborah Wuehler lays out the many costs of
not
homeschooling, along with homeschooling’s rewards.
19. In the news: parents sentenced in Brazil
This is a sad and outrageous
STORY
. Please pray that this family will win their appeal, and that homeschooling in Brazil will be allowed to thrive.
20. Chuckles
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
21. Recordings from the 2026 convention
Did you miss a session because there were too many great workshops to choose from? Or, sadly, did you miss the entire convention? No problem. Order session recordings individually, or get the whole set. Just click
HERE
.
22. Know someone who doesn’t receive the Messenger?
We share important information about MassHOPE, and other items of interest to homeschooling families. So spread the word! Encourage your friends to sign up now to ensure they receive all this, especially upcoming convention info.
All they need to do to receive it is to send full name and email address to
info@masshope.org
.
Help them stay informed!
Also,
while you’re at it, why don’t you start thinking about volunteering at our next convention? We need you!
23. Choose “MassHOPE” when purchasing from Christian Book
MassHOPE has been approved for the GiveBack affiliate program at Christian Book and will receive a 4% cashback donation on any orders that are placed with MassHOPE as the beneficiary! Look for a box at checkout that says to find your church (which actually includes Christian schools and 501(c)(3) organizations as well as churches).
24. Social media triple play
We’re on each of the Big Three: X
, Facebook, and Instagram. Our Facebook and Instagram accounts are linked, so you can follow us on Instagram and get some of the same info we post there. Go to our link -
https://www.instagram.com/massachusetts_homeschool/
-
and click “Follow.”
25.
Discounts from SchoolhouseTeachers.com
Homeschooling can be challenging.
It can be expensive, time-consuming, and confusing to choose classes and curricula for multiple students. We are writing to tell you that
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
will provide all the courses you need for homeschooling each of your preschool through graduating 12th-grade students at the discounted annual price of $179 (you save $90)
.
With hundreds of online courses, lesson plans, quizzes, tests, answer keys, certificates of completion, and streaming videos, your annual
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
membership will ensure you have a full-spectrum, non-Common Core curriculum platform to confidently educate your children at home.
Membership is good for your whole family—including grandparents—no matter how many children you have. Because everything is included online, there is no need to buy textbooks. PLUS, there are no per class, no per child, nor any other hidden fees. You can also generate quarterly report cards for each student and access help with transcript creation for your high schoolers.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com contains nearly every subject imaginable—art history, drawing, computer technology, foreign languages, history, language arts, math, music, science, and loads of electives. Let your kids help pick out their own courses!
26. MassHOPE Facebook groups
Did you know that MassHOPE has two private Facebook groups in addition to its main Facebook page? If you would like to join the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Discussion and Support Group (described in Item #25) or the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Marketplace and UCS group
(described in Item #4)
, or if you invite anyone to join these groups, please note that there are questions you will need to answer in order to be approved. If you don't get approved soon after your request to join, perhaps you didn't answer the required questions.
27. MassHOPE advertising opportunities
MassHOPE has a variety of advertising options available at reasonable rates in several media paths – MassHOPE website, dedicated email, Facebook, MassHOPE Messenger. If interested, please send an email to advertising@masshope.org. All ads are subject to availability and space. MassHOPE reserves the right to accept or reject ads as we must apportion limited space and evaluate relevance to our audience.
28. MassHOPE Facebook discussion group
Connect with us on Facebook at
MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Discussion and Support Group
. This group provides support and encouragement for homeschoolers pursuing privately-funded, parent-led home education. Its purpose is to encourage and equip homeschool parents to disciple and educate their children for the Lord, and to connect families within our state to give them opportunities to gather together for educational and recreational experiences. Join at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MassHOPEDiscussion/
29.
The MassHOPE Educator ID Card
Educator IDs are available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website
HERE
.
30. Your news items wanted
Do you know of an event or activity in or near Massachusetts that would edify or interest the homeschool community? Email Anne Smith at
volunteer@masshope.org
and we will review it for possible inclusion in the MassHOPE Messenger.
31. Remember to "Like" MassHOPE on Facebook
"Like" MassHOPE's
FACEBOOK PAGE
.
You'll be encouraged in your homeschooling journey and will receive all updates for upcoming events.
32. Are you on our mailing lists?
If you are receiving this e-newsletter, you are on our email list! May we also add you to our “snail mail” list to receive occasional information via the U.S. Postal Service? If Yes, please send your full name and complete mailing address to
newsletter@masshope.org
.
33. How to homeschool legally in Massachusetts
This video features Michael Donnelly, formerly HSLDA's designated counsel for Massachusetts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmELLON4OFI&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWzxwNhyZUNrdz0K-tbkz9a&index=21
.
The link referenced for further Massachusetts-specific articles is
https://hslda.org/legal/massachusetts
.
34. Special education resources
Here are two valuable resources for homeschooling parents of special needs children.
FREE DOWNLOADS
provides IEP templates, therapy resources, a Getting Started guide, and more.
EMPOWERING HOMESCHOOL CONVERSATIONS
, which covers a wide range of issues.
35. Videos and webinars from HSLDA
T
hree-part video series on getting started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVOzkYx2vcA&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWAtvLTz1gA1CYyPLBBe-Ke
.
How to Start Homeschooling with Special Needs
:
https://hslda.org/teaching-my-kids/special-needs
.
And many, many more
:
https://hslda.org/community/webinars
.
36. Get started homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for
getting started
.
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