Build a pirate ship, a firetruck, and a skeleton For Free!

October 10, 2008

There’s nothing like a activity with good instruction, quality materials, and zero cost to attract a homeschool family’s attention. We just discovered the Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics at our local hardware store. They are scheduled every other week during the school year (once a month or so in the summer) and include some great hands-on crafts. Best of all, it’s free!

Here’s what we liked:

Easy online sign-up and clear information with project pictures for the next two clinics with a waiver you print and bring in with you.
The project was from 10 – 11 am and we could arrive any time in that hour to do our project.
The whole family, infant to age 8, was welcomed with the baby stroller parked at the edge of the room.
Friendly Lowe’s employees readily helped us and were very patient.
Awesome FREE Lowe’s apron for each kid with a slot for their name card.
The building kit came in a bag with large, clearly illustrated directions. The wooden pieces were all pre-cut and the nail holes were even pre-drilled for beginning ‘hammerers’.
At the end, each child received a nice certificate and a cool patch (much like Boy Scout merit badges) to sew to their apron. Some of the kids there had aprons almost completely full of patches. What a great family tradition!
We got to take the pirate ships home where they became a craft project for another day. We painted the ships and when they dried, sprayed them with a lacquer (purchased at Lowes to seal and waterproof them. The kids were very anxious to get them in the tub to test them out and make a few action figures ‘walk the plank’. Bath time battles galore!
Did I mention it’s totally free?

I hope you enjoy the clinics as much as we do. Do you know of other good hands-on building and craft resources? Please share them in the comment section. Thanks!