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home : convention : General Information 2009
2009 THSC State Convention and Family Conference August 6-8, 2009
The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Sponsors NEW FOR 2009! Convention Appetizer ~ Thursday, August 6 Come Thursday evening for a FREE taste of the workshops and shopping to be enjoyed all weekend! Have friends interested in homeschooling? Bring them along for the Beginner's Track! Start your vacation weekend with an Appetizer like no other!
Convention Appetizer Schedule (Thursday, August 6 only): On-site Registration – 5-9 p.m. Exhibit Hall – 5-7 p.m. Evening Workshops – 7-9 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Tour Overwhelmed by all the curriculum options out there? Join Mary James Thursday night for her workshop Which Way do I Go? and then take a guided Tour of the Exhibit Hall! Learn about what each of the vendors has to offer and make your shopping plans for the weekend! (There is limited space available for the Tour, and workshop attendees will get tour vouchers on a first-come first-served basis. The Tour will take place immediately after the workshop from 9:40-10:30 p.m.)
Convention Specials Many THSC Convention exhibitors offer Convention specials attendees!
Freebies
Click here for more information.
CD Valued at $200 FREE with Registration! Click here for more information.
Volunteer and get FREE Registration! THSC needs volunteers! Free adult, children's, or Exhibit Hall Pass registrations will gladly be given in exchange for a few hours of your time.
Most available volunteer positions entail working the registration booth, checking name badges, or assisting in the toddler play area. Positions are available from Thursday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Volunteers will be scheduled while space lasts. Email convention@thsc.org as soon as possible but by no later than July 24 with your contact information, the times you will be available, and your first, second, and third choices of preferred job.
The comfortably carpeted Exhibit Hall will be filled with over 175 booths! Experienced vendors from all over the nation will be there to offer the very latest in educational material for home schoolers.
There will be full-scale curricula, books and materials for specific subjects, traditional textbooks, unit study materials, life skills (needlework, carpentry skills, homemaking skills, mechanical skills, etc.), fun extras (educational games, videos, art supplies, science kits, music programs), and more.
Click here for a 2009 Convention exhibitor listing!
Didn’t get to experience the 2008 THSC State Convention and Family Conference? Hear the quality of speaker you can expect to be inspired by in 2009 when you enjoy recordings of each 2008 workshop, available for purchase from Rhino Technologies. To order, visit their website.
Keynotes Sally Clarkson John Erickson Voddie Baucham
Featured Tom Clark Tim and Lyndsay Lambert David Hazell Mary James Doug and Patsy Arnold Phillip Telfer Jim and Karen Stobaugh
Click here to learn more about these speakers.
Grab your magnifying glass and look around—the clues are everywhere! Join Children’s Ministries of Texas and lots of children your age for two days packed with sleuthing adventures as Truth Seekers! Learn valuable lessons, meet new friends, and enjoy hilarious skits and memorable songs while uncovering truths from God’s Word that will help you detect life’s counterfeits.
Who can come? Elementary, my dear Watson! (Children ages 4-12)
The Teen Staff Program (TSP) offers a perfect mix of educational workshops, fun activities, and important service jobs for Pre-Registered teens, ages 13-18. Teens will again join together to check name badges, man book check, staff the Exhibit Hall, and the like. They will also enjoy exciting games, activities, and fellowship with other homeschooled teens. The TSP is a two-day commitment (August 7-8, 2009).
* Registration for the TSP is no longer available. Teens registering with their parents can register for an Exhibit Hall pass ($15) and may shop with their parents (and attend Adult Workshops only if space is available) OR may register as adults ($25) to insure attendance at Adult Workshops.
Click here for more information.
The first ever Special Buddies Program, launched at the 2008 THSC State Convention, was a huge success!
THSC, together with Texas’ Special Kids, will again provide a limited program for Pre-Registered* children with special needs up to age 18. The program will offer Bible-based curriculum with music, crafts, and videos; low staff-to-student ratios; and self-contained, modified mainstream, and reverse-inclusion models. There are a limited number of spaces available for medically fragile children, with nurses on staff.
*Limited space is still available in the Special Buddies Program (SBP)! The SBP will not be available for on-site Registration. Registrations will continue to be accepted while space lasts or through July 30!
The Special Buddies Program (SBP) is available on a case-by-case basis. Parents must complete and remit the SBP Registration Form and include payment for the SBP registration fee.
Please read more in our FAQs. Special Buddies Program Registration Form
· Registration fee is the same whether you attend one day or two. · Pre-Registration closed June 5. The Special Buddies Program (SPB) and Teen Staff Program (TSP) were available through Pre-Registration. · Advance Registration closed June 19. Advance Registration fees were the same as on-site fees. Unfilled programs (e.g. TSP, SBP) and remaining add-ons (not available on-site) were available through Advance Registration. · Confirmation packets will be e-mailed to Pre-Registrants and Advance Registrants by July 10. If you do not receive your confirmation packet, please contact the THSC office before the Convention. · Refund Policy: Refunds requested in writing before June 5 will be issued minus 10%. There will be no refunds after June 5.
Card-carrying THSC Association Member Non-Member Adult – FREE Adult – $25 Spouse (or grandparent) – FREE Spouse (or grandparent) – FREE Additional Adult – $25 Additional Adult – $25 (e.g., adult child or additional grandparent)
Children and Teens Infants and Toddlers – ages 0-3 – FREE Children’s Program – ages 4-12 – $30 *Child and Teen Exhibit Hall Pass – $15
A medical waiver is required for each child/teen registration.
We urge parents to make other arrangements for toddlers on these two days if possible; however, infants and toddlers, ages 0-3 may attend free of charge with their parents. A Toddler Play Area will be provided at which parents may leave their toddlers, as space is available, for 75 minutes. A Nursing Mother’s Room will also be provided.
*Children and Teens Parents are strongly encouraged to allow their children ages 4-12 to attend the Children's Program or to make other arrangements. However, children and teens not attending respective programs may register for an Exhibit Hall Pass ($15) and may shop with their parents (and attend adult workshops if space is available) OR may register as an adult ($25) to insure attendance at adult workshops. Children must be attended at all times. Registration for all programs will be on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available as space allows. The Special Buddies Program and the Teen Staff Program will not be available for On-site Registration.
Friday and Saturday Evening Programs Your family will love getting to know Hank the Cowdog and his creator, John Erickson, during the Friday and Saturday Evening Programs!
Workshop Recordings
Need more time to shop? Two workshops
you want to hear taking place simultaneously? Get the CD
recording!
Strollers, Carts, Wagons, and Wheeled Luggage No large strollers (side-by-side double, jogging, etc.), strollers with out children, carts, wagons, or wheeled luggage will be allowed. Simple strollers are allowed in the Exhibit Hall for transporting children only. Due to space constraints, strollers will not be allowed into workshops but may be parked in a specified stroller parking area.
Concession Stand No outside food or drink will be allowed into the Convention Center. A concession stand will be available with meal and snack options. Many restaurants are within a short driving or walking distance from the Convention Center. Request a free visitor's guide.
Free parking will be available as long as space lasts in the Town Center Parking Garage adjacent to the Convention Center. Additional parking will be available for a minimal rate in the East Garage in front of the Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. See the link below for a map to the Convention Center as well as specific parking instructions.
Click here for a map and parking directions.
Convention Location The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center 1601 Lake Robbins Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Thursday Friday 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 1:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. 4:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Do you ever feel like you are the only one facing unique circumstances? Saturday afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., there will be special fellowships for minority families, support group leaders, families with single parents, families with special needs children, and families with only children. Come be encouraged, build relationships, and share ideas with others facing similar situations.
Encouragement by Chocolate – A Moms Night Out Moms who pre-registered for Encouragement by Chocolate, will enjoy a delicious time of chocolate, coffee, and sweet fellowship Friday night! Mary James, co-founder of Smoothing the Way, will host this rich fellowship packed with chatting, snacking, and relaxing with the girls! Additional details and information will be e-mailed to participants in the pre-conference packet.
Please Note: THSC has learned that the launch scheduled for August 6 has been rescheduled for a later date. However, attendees will be able to view footage of previous shuttle launches.
Pre-registered attendees will experience behind-the-scenes sites at Johnson Space Center and see where astronauts train for missions! An astronaut or other special guest from NASA will come and speak with us to give cool information about a day in the life of a NASA employee.
Tentative Schedule: Field trip begins - 10 a.m. Tram rides (90 minutes) Guest Speaker from NASA (60 minutes) Self-guided Tour of Space Center Houston (approximately 1-3 hours)
Complete Field Trip details will be included in the Pre-conference Packet e-mail.
Make the most of your weekend by taking advantage of what the Houston area has to offer. We have compiled a list of area amenities where visitors and residents alike will find fun and interesting places to see and things to do! Be sure to check each website for operating hours and other details.
Click here for listing.
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