Local Treasures to Build Upon Your Family’s Homeschool Experience

Education is a cumulative process and, as homeschooling parents, we can be thankful that learning builds upon itself. Imagine laying one brick at a time and mortaring it solidly into place. Or making occasional small, yet valuable, deposits into a long-term savings account where no withdrawals are permitted. Take heart, your small efforts add up!

If you are feeling overwhelmed before your homeschool year even begins, be encouraged by the wealth of resources available in Tehama County to help build upon your child’s education. Here are six ideas to get your homeschooling year off to a good start:

Acorn to Oaks—Homeschool enrichment in Manton

Acorn to Oaks is a Manton-based, homeschool enrichment program offered by the Manton Education Council. Children can attend 1-3 days per week for tutoring, hands-on group activities and a healthy snack. Families travel from surrounding towns to plug their children into activities such as “Fish in the Classroom,” Archery Club, organic garden tending, creation of a community seed library, programing through CSU Chico and visits to William B. Ide State Historic Park and the Subway Cave. Acorn to Oaks serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade with mentorship opportunities available for older students. Students meet at the old Manton Elementary School, 31345 Forward Road, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30am-12pm. They would love to make this affordable for your family by offering sliding-scale pricing.

Aquarium and Pets—Red Bluff’s mini-zoo

Tehama County is fortunate to have a one-of-a-kind pet store with animals available to cuddle, observe and purchase. Bring your family, free of charge, to Aquarium and Pets, 345 S. Main Street, Red Bluff, and ask the employees to describe some of their unique friends which could include a Giant Crimson Day Gecko or a Zebra Finch. After a long homeschool day or week, a trip to this pet store is a reward that never grows old. Open seven days a week, 9am-6pm.

Gaumer’s Mineral and Mining Museum—bring out the rockhound in your child

Gaumer’s Mineral and Mining Museum, 78 Belle Mill Road, Red Bluff, is the perfect place to deposit a passion for geology into your child’s educational experience bank account. Call ahead to schedule a free tour for your family or homeschool group. Students can complete a treasure hunt through the gold-mining museum and the extensive rock and mineral displays. Broaden the experience with a lesson in finances while children make tax-free purchases of items starting at 10 cents and a keepsake bag starting at 65 cents per bag. Open Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm.

Moon Beam Farm and Gift Shop—loofah and lavender fascination.

Test your knowledge of lavender varieties and, depending on the season, see loofah growing on the vine at this beautiful farm. Moon Beam Farm, 3911 Columbia Avenue, Corning, boasts over 1100 lavender plants in at least eight varieties. Smell, identify and learn the unique properties of each variety. Feel and experience the difference of Moon Beam’s loofah sponges compared to commercial varieties. Hear directly from the farm employees about the fun animal uses for the loofah. Afterward, tour the country store stocked with unique, handcrafted items. Tours of 10 or less can stop by anytime Thursday – Monday, 10am- 4pm. Groups larger than 10 should call ahead to arrange a tour.

Sacramento River Discovery Center—explore the river watershed

Discovery in nature gives an extra boost to learning, so why not visit the Sacramento River Discovery Center, 1000 Sale Lane, Red Bluff? Located on over 400 acres of explorable Mendocino National Forest property, the center’s goal is to educate all ages about the Sacramento River watershed through educational displays and exhibits, hands-on instructional programs and restoration and rehabilitation opportunities. Children love to walk through the native plant/drought tolerant garden and attend the yearly plant sales. The center has 5 miles of surfaced walking trails for family-led birdwatching or organized bird walks. These walks can double as a PE class and a lesson in bird anatomy. The most famous center “hosts” are George and Al, the California Desert King Snakes. Call ahead so volunteers and employees can tailor a lesson for your family’s needs. There is a material cost of $4 per student for a two-to-three-hour program. Bring a picnic to enjoy after your lesson or plan for a game of Disc Golf.

William B. Ide Adobe State Park—living the gold rush reality

A rich source of California history is located at Ide Adobe on the banks of the Sacramento River in Red Bluff where visitors have the opportunity to feel what it must have been like to survive in the mid-nineteenth century. Depending on the season, students might participate in hands-on educational activities such as woodworking, knot tying and spool-knitting. Play old-time schoolhouse or try your hand at table games and various seasonal crafts. Tour the adobe house and hear stories of real people who lived in Tehama County at the time. Make sure to bring a picnic to share by the river afterward. Located at 21659 Adobe Road, Red Bluff, park grounds are open sunrise to sunset and the visitor center is open Friday-Sunday, 10am- 4pm.

Call (530)529-8599 or check the North State Parent Community Calendar for information on events like the Spring Pollinator Party, StoryWalks or Holidays on the Homestead.

Remember, homeschool parent, you are surrounded by a supportive village of volunteers, business owners and fellow educators who want to help build upon your child’s education. Leila Dumore, the founder of Evergreen Institute of Excellence in Cottonwood has been offering support to Tehama County homeschool parents for 27 years and when parents are feeling doubtful about their efforts, she reminds them, “You’ve chosen homeschooling because your child’s success matters to you. That commitment means you will do what it takes to help them thrive— not fail. Reach out a hand and there will be a helping hand there to grab hold and guide you with each step. There are countless resources in our area to help and inspire you.”

For more homeschooling resources, look for our Fall/Winter Family Resource Guide—hitting newsstands and online in September to help with your 2025/2026 school year.

Kate Hiller is thankful for the cumulative nature of education and for all of those who made valuable deposits in her children’s lives during their homeschooling years.