The Top Ten Reasons I’m Proud to be an Arlington Explorer

1. The Arlington Explorers sure has come a long way!  Four years ago, when a group of moms first named their bunch the “Arlington Explorers,” there were eight families, with the eldest child being in third grade.  Now, we have over fifty active families with children ranging from infancy through high school.
2. Although we do not require a signed statement of faith to join, AE is a Christian group.  The Explorers have an amazing mix of Protestant, Catholic, and Adventist families.  Although we differ in some of the ways in which we practice our faith, we have laid a foundation for mutual respect and are open to families who may not yet know the Lord. 
3. THE KIDS – We have phenomenal kids in AE.  Our children’s talents range from artists and dancers, all kinds of athletes (including football, baseball, soccer, skating, paint ball, motor sports, and swimming), science buffs and writers.  They are enjoyable young people with great hearts and bright minds. 
4. THE MOMS – I love the variety of moms in our group.  We have teachers, nurses, pastor’s wives, and business women.  We have a mom who is former active duty Air Force and one who runs her own advertising agency.  We have artists and at least one past missionary.    I love the differences in their personalities and appreciate their intense devotion to their kids.  Most of all, they’re just plain fun to be around.
5. Explorers support each other.  In the more than four years I’ve been with AE, I’ve seen so many situations in which families help each other.    Whether it’s a meal during a hard time, homeschooling helps, support in the arrival of a new baby, aid in a family emergency, or cheering at another child’s competition or performance, I’ve seen some of the incredible evidence of God’s love within our group.  I also see that love from member families who step up and volunteer in leadership roles for field trips, service projects, parties, opportunities for discounted library building books through Scholastic, and other events.  It takes a devoted team to do what we do. 
6. Explorers support the homeschooling community.  When fellow homeschooling mom Susan Spear lost her husband and seven-year-old daughter in a tragic car accident, Explorer families raised over $900 to assist with expenses.  Word spread via our members who also attend East Pointe Church and an additional $2,300 was raised through an East Pointe church fundraiser.  Also, when the Homeschool PE Programs were in danger in 2005 due to a last minute change hidden in the proposed annual budget, Arlington Explorers were on the front lines sending e-mails, making phone calls, conducting meetings with and presenting speeches to City Council Representatives and the Mayor’s Office.  The determination of our homeschooling community made the news on all four broadcasts as we defeated the proposal.  As a result, Parks Dept. homeschool programs continue to expand in Duval County.
7. Arlington Explorers serve the community.  In the past four years, AE has participated in several outreach projects including a City Rescue Mission Food Drive, Operation Christmas Child, collecting curriculum materials and other needed items for homeschooling families hit by hurricanes, and collecting items for the BEAKS Bird and Wildlife Rehab Center and Sanctuary.  Through the American Grown 4H Group, Explorer children have made no sew pillows to be given to patients at the ER at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital (otherwise, they do not have pillows) and collected over $1,200 via a student conceived and implemented walk-a-thon to purchase 274 books and 77 puzzles and games for the Wolfson’s ER waiting room library.  As a thank you for our use of East Pointe Church property to hold our 4H meetings, Explorers in American Grown 4H have baked and delivered over 4,000 cookies to support East Pointe Church’s Hospitality Ministry. 
8. Arlington Explorers offers excellent, discounted testing for homeschooling families.  By the time this year’s testing is complete, AE will have provided 138 discounted evaluations to Explorer children.  This will be our third year offering this service to our member families. 
9. Arlington Explorers have fantastic field trips and other events.  In four years, AE has provided thirty field trips which include a Mayport Helicopter Squadron, the zoo and theatre, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Sally Corp., St. Augustine historical tours, Agrirama, and the Pioneer Settlement at Barberville, to name a few.  By year’s end, we will have also hosted four end of the year parties, three pool party kick-offs, and a fantastic fall cookout that I would love to repeat.  Through American Grown 4H, Explorer kids have gotten to go to tour the Marine Science Center, learn horse care at a horse rescue, observe and dissect fish, attend a robotics competition, etc.
10. AE is not perfect, but more times than not, its membership strives to “do right” by their kids and each other.  I know that I am far from the perfect leader.  I’m pretty young in the big scheme of things.  I have a lot to learn, and I’m grateful for everything the moms in this group have to teach me.  Sometimes we do fall short, but it’s not for lack of trying and it’s certainly not for lack of caring.  Over all I think that Explorer families do their best to serve our Lord, our community, and each other.    Most of the time, when we do mess up, we pray about it, learn from it, and strive to do better.  Overall, I think it’s better to be a part of a group that never gives up trying new things, even if there are mistakes along the way.  I think it’s more important to fail forward sometimes than to not try at all.  The families in this group soldier on, and I’m really proud to be a part of that. 

         In His Love,
         Meleah Noland Dennis
         Leader – Arlington Explorers
         (for however long God wills it)