General Information

Where will the Reunion be held?
Ponderosa Conference and Retreat Center rests on 650 acres of rolling hills and woods. It is truly a wonderful and exciting place to be! The Ponderosa is a beautiful and spacious setting with comfortable accommodations where attendees can enjoy a beautiful spot to get away from the world.

So... when you say "camp", do you mean like tents and stuff?
No! Ponderosa Conference and Retreat Center is a great setting to appreciate God's wonderful creation - but rest assured, you’ll be resting in the great indoors. The camp ground has a dining hall, chapel, auditorium, separate guys and girls dorms, cabins, and a gym. Some of the outdoor activities you can enjoy are hiking trails, basketball and volleyball courts, and a skateboard park.

What will meals be like?
Nine cafeteria-style meals will be served in the dining hall by the Ponderosa staff. Dinner on Thursday, three meals on Friday, three meals on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Please let us know if you have a severe food allergy, as our host facility is able to accommodate special food requirements.

How much does it cost?
$249.00 for HSA members, spouses, and parents,
$239.00 for HSA members who are second-generation homeschool parents, and
$259.00 for non-members.

This includes registration, meals and lodging and for the 4 days (3 nights), and a 2009 Homeschool ALUMNI National Reunion t-shirt.

Who are the speakers going to be?
Click here for more information about this year's speakers and programs.

What types of activities can I expect?
This is a "reunion" more than it is a conference, so there will be a lot of time to get to know your fellow graduates and spend time with friends old and new. We're also organizing great talks by our featured guests, special interest group workshops, an English Country dance, praise and worship time, a live HSAIR show, a bonfire, games, sports (volleyball, basketball, ultimate Frisbee, etc.), hiking trails, plenty of conversation, lots of time to hang out with friends old and new, and a few special surprises. 

What should I bring?
Click here to view the list of things that you should (and should not) bring.

So, is the National Reunion one great big party?
The National Reunion is an event for adults. The atmosphere is fun, energetic, and inspiring, but you will be expected to act like an adult by exhibiting maturity and self-control. No practical jokes/pranks, foolish and risky behavior, or inappropriate conduct that would potentially damage any aspect of the buildings or grounds of our host facility is permitted. This event is an opportunity to exemplify the best of the homeschool community and glorify Christ with our behavior. If we keep our testimony as homeschool graduates blameless and strong, we can live a powerful message. So, show respect to our host facility, your fellow attendees, and yourself...and we can promise that you will experience the best of the National Reunion!

My parents are not interested/able to attend, but they'd like to visit with someone in their age group to get a parent’s perspective on HSA and the National Reunion.
Click here to read a letter written the parent's of Homeschool ALUMNI's founders.

Registration

Who is eligible to attend?
This event is specifically focused on homeschool graduates (ages 18 and up), but spouses (regardless of educational background), and parents of homeschool graduates with their adult children, are welcome and invited to attend at the alumni rate.

What if I haven’t been homeschooled all my life? Or what if I finished high school elsewhere? Can I still come?
You bet! Anyone who has been homeschooled for a significant portion of his or her education (a year or more) is welcome and invited (see above question).

Can I bring my children?
Our host facility permits children under age 3 to attend with a parent at no additional cost. For children ages 3-10, registration is half price. Children will need to room with a family member. No childcare or nursery items are provided; please bring your own essential items.

Can I request to room with a friend or family member?
Yes, you may make one same gender roommate request when you submit your registration. We will do our best to accommodate roommate requests but we cannot make any guarantees. At an increased cost, married couples may have the option of a private room based on availability.

Can I purchase a "day pass" and come to the events for just one day?
We are not able to offer a separate registration option for one-day attendees. We’d love for you to come and stay the weekend, but come when you can and stay as long as you can.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?
We're able to offer a 30% refund for cancellation requests received by July 15. Email events@homeschoolalumni.org to cancel your registration.

I've already registered, where should I mail a check?
Checks should be mailed and made payable to:

Homeschool ALUMNI
2435 E. North St., #235
Greenville, SC 29615

Activities

Can I bring musical instruments, games and sports equipment?
Yes! Impromptu jam sessions, games, and sports are highlights of the National Reunion. For details see: What to Bring.

What is English Country Dancing?
If you’ve seen a Jane Austen movie (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, etc.), Gone with the Wind, A Christmas Carol, or Revolutionary to Civil War era reenactments, you’ve seen this form of dance. English Country Dance (ECD) is an easy to learn traditional folk dance, similar to most old-fashioned folk dances. The emphasis is on groups of partners as opposed to couples and it’s generally considered proper to change partners after each dance. Not the dancing type? Don’t worry; this will be one of several concurrent activity options.

What activities will be available to me at the Ponderosa?
As an attendee of the 2009 Homeschool ALUMNI National Reunion at the Ponderosa, you'll have access to participate in Ultimate Frisbee, Fooseball, Frisbee Golf, Horseshoes, Table Tennis, a Pool Table, Air Hockey, Indoor/Outdoor Basketball, Indoor/Outdoor Volleyball, Hiking Trails, a Skateboard Park, and Softball/Baseball. While we're thrilled to have been able to procure a host facility as beautiful and welcoming as the Ponderosa, keeping the registration price as low as possible for our attendees was very important to us. Please note that there were some activities that we will not be able to use because of cost considerations. These activities included Hay Rides, Paintball, the Challenge Course, and Snow Tubing. Thank you for your understanding!

Other Questions?

We'd love to hear from you. Just drop us an email at events@homeschoolalumni.org and we'll get back with you as soon as we can.

How Can I Help? 

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