Train up a child…

Places to Go and Things to Show

Now that summer is almost here, thoughts turn to family outings. We are blessed to have many places in our area that are fun and educational for the entire family. I know that all children love theme parks and I have nothing to say against them. However, it would be wise to provide a variety of experiences for children to enhance their understanding and enrich their vocabulary. Providing worthwhile experiences for children goes a very long way toward improving their performance in school and life itself.

Following are some ideas for family trips within the area that would be of great benefit to children: It is important to take the time while there to thoroughly see all there is to offer and talk about what is seen. Some of these places have good books that can be purchased and brought home to give the children excellent reading material during the summer months.

• Wilson Creek Battlefield is located near Republic within easy driving distance.
• Pea Ridge Battlefield located this side of Rogers, AR.
• George Washington Carver Memorial near Joplin at Diamond, MO
• Roaring River State Park located near Cassville. There is a trout farm at the park and one-day fishing permits can be purchased. Campgrounds are available for tents or RV’s. There is a beautiful lodge and restaurant and they will cook a trout that you catch for you. You will want to visit the gift shop and pick up a copy of the book, “Roaring River Heritage”. There are interesting stories in the book about a woman doctor who came there in the old days. Also, there is a story about the CCC boys who worked there during the depression years and a woman who claimed to be a seer. …
• The Passion Play at Eureka Springs, AR, draws visitors from all over the world, yet many people in our area have never seen it. It would be good to go early and take the Holy Land tour. Replicas have been built showing many things from Bible times. A replica of a tabernacle with the Holy of Holies, the altar used in Old Testament times, a vineyard with a watchtower, Christ’s tomb, Peter’s fishing boat, and the upper room where the last supper was held before the crucifixion are a few of the things one might see.
• The Butterfly Palace is a wonderful place for children to learn some science.
• Manufacturing sites are very educational for children in helping them understand what goes into making some of the products we use or preparing some of the foods we eat.
• Particularly for those who like rocks, there is a museum at Golden, MO, that has many interesting rock formations as well as arrowheads and other items.
• The museum at College of the Ozarks has arrowheads found in this area and grandparents will appreciate seeing the car used in the Beverly Hillbillies TV series.

These are just a few ideas. With a little investigation, I’m sure many more could be found.

Let’s plan a summer with worthwhile activities and not let it slip away wondering where it has gone. Children are only young once. We need to enjoy them and do all we can to prepare them for their future.