Urban Adventure Quest Discount

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Our family loves a good adventure and anything that resembles a scavenger hunt. We geocache, do local clue town booklets, discover painted rocks, go picking, dig for rocks and gems, go fossil hunting etc. Not only are we spending time as a family while out on these fun filled adventures but we are most certainly learning as well.

Well I recently learned about a new scavenger hunt adventure where you can turn Atlanta into a giant game board. Urban Adventure Quest combines the excitement of the Amazing Race with a three-hour city tour. Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. You can play anytime during daylight hours. Start when you want and play at your pace. Doesn't that sound like great family fun?

Right now you can save 20% - Only $39.20 for a team of 2-5 people after Promotion Code: FGBLOG. Sign up online at www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com.

*Review coming soon.

Clue Town Books - Educational Scavenger Hunts For Atlanta

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Clue Town Books were created by Jay Carlson a stay at home dad and creator of The Plug, a monthly web magazine that is part social experiment and part avant-garde life documentation. Clue Town scavenger hunt books are the first of their kind. They combine Jay's love of zines and games into an activity that anyone can enjoy.

A moms review: 
Have you ever wanted to find a way to make visits to Atlanta more fun and exciting for your family? Are you looking for a way to combine education, entertainment and exercise? Well look no further Clue Town Books totally fit the bill! There are 6 books including Piedmont Park, Oakland Cemetery, Downtown Decatur, Atlanta BelLine, Grant Park and Downtown Kirkwood, and hopefully more to come. They are perfect for date nights, birthday parties, team building events, sightseeing, homeschool groups, scouts and more. And they are suitable for adults and children (ages 12 and up can easily complete the hunt on their own but younger children may need assistance). Each full-length booklet includes a compass and pencil.  Full-length books take 60-90 minutes to complete and mini-hunts take 20-40 minutes to complete.

Our homeschool group visited Oakland Cemetery and did The Clue Town book as a group. Oakland Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Atlanta and was founded in 1850. The 48 acre site mixes Victorian and garden styles within its historic sections. Did you know almost 70,000 people are buried there? The Oakland Cemetery Clue Town booklet takes visitors down brick paths in a respectful scavenger hunt that delivers a beautiful and cultural experiences.

We had children ranging from about 6-12 completing the scavenger hunt and everyone had such a blast that they all agreed we definitely needed to do it again. To complete the hunt and earn the reward at the end of the booklet hunters use the cemetery landmarks to solve a variety of puzzles. Each solution to the puzzles reveal how to get to the next checkpoint. Some of the puzzle types in the Oakland Cemetery book include matching, mazes, rebuses and more. Each family used 1-2 booklets depending on how many children they had. To add to the fun each family that completed hunt had their names entered into a drawing to win Downtown Decatur Clue Town booklet.

Order a few and see for yourself how much fun the Clue Town Books are!

Links to follow:
-Clue Town Website
-Clue Town Facebook

-Clue Town Twitter

Where to buy:

Clue Town booklets can be purchased online or at various stores around Atlanta. Full-length books are $15 and mini-hunts are $7.  

FREE Nature Scavenger Hunts

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

First off I want to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. Do you have any exciting plans this weekend? We are going on a camping adventure with some friends and visiting another one of a kind camping destination in Georgia (don't worry I will share all about it when we return). Remember you can follow us on our fun adventures by checking in with us on Instagram and Facebook.

We have all kinds of fun activities lined up for the weekend like learning how to tie the different types of knots, making para-cord bracelets, playing board games, geocaching, and going on scavenger hunts. So today I decided to make up my own nature scavenger hunts and share them with you.

Download the nature scavenger hunt here, or click the photo below.

Download the fungus scavenger hunt here, or click the photo below.

For more fun, FREE downloads including nature journal pages (leaf, arachnid, flower, etc) and fieldtrip/road trip worksheets (letter game, travel journal page, road trip scavenger hunt) visit my freebie page.

Do you have any camping trips planned this year? I'd love to hear more about them post a comment below.

You can also tag us on instagram (@kbalman or use hashtag #2015campingfun) or share a photo on our Facebook page.

Clued In Kids Treasure Hunts Review

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Clued in Kids was launched in 2013 by a Helen Bertelli. Creating treasure hunts for a living was always a childhood dream of hers and making her dream come true was quite a journey. She started out creating treasure hunts for children in her neighborhood and when she had her own children she continued creating treasure hunts for them. It was then that she realized 3 things about treasure hunts: they were an incredible, memorable way to teach; they got children moving; and they remind us that life is a journey to a treasure and that if learning and laughter occur along the way, the destination doesn't really matter. Helen's story is quite an amazing one so make sure you visit the website to learn more. 

What child (or adult for that matter) doesn't love scavenger or treasure hunts? 

A moms review:
I absolutely love the Clued In Kids motto, “Treasure The Journey," because that is exactly what our family does on a daily basis. We treasure the fact that we are able to homeschool and go on adventures daily. And we treasure that we get to spend time learning and having fun together. Part of that learning fun for us is geocaching and scavenger hunts. Every week we go on an adventure, armed with our gps in search of a hidden treasure. And for the last year I have been creating my children scavenger hunts for our road trips and visits to various attractions and museums. So when I learned about Clued In Kids I totally jumped at the chance to review the treasure hunts. I know first hand how educational a scavenger hunt can be!

We received the Halloween Treasure Hunt and the Happy Tummy Treasure Hunt. But these are just 2 of the many options available. There are pdf versions as well as clue pads. The two we received were pdf versions. The nice thing about the printable version is that you can use them over and over again. So if you have a group of friends visiting for the day you can introduce them to learning with Clued In Kids too!

It takes just 8-10 minutes to print and set up the treasure hunt and children will have 20-30 minutes of learning fun. The Clued In Kids treasure hunts are suitable for children ages 4 and up. As for the final treasure it can be anything you wish. I stopped by Dollar Tree and picked up a few goodies like dress up clothes and magnetic doodle boards.

These treasure hunts were perfect for our unschooling style and are great for all learning types. They are also perfect for children with special needs and ADHD. My 7 and 8 year old had a blast and were able to complete the activities with very little assistance. They took turns finding the clues so it was a great lesson in teamwork too. Be sure to watch this video to see exactly how it works.

Below are additional details on the two treasure hunts we received:

Halloween Treasure Hunt

In these printable options, parents print out the series of five clues along with the place the next “answer” should be found. Each set requires only 8  minutes of set up time for about 20 minutes of fun and learning! - See more at: http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/clued-in-kids-review/#sthash.PkY4rJUv.dpuf

Trick or Treasure? The Halloween-themed treasure hunt is great for helping children burn off all that candy they have collected. There are a total of 12 clues to print and hide and each clue has the exact instructions on where to hide them printed at the bottom. Some of the clue hiding places include broom, form, cereal, bike, etc. We didn't have a pumpkin yet which was were the final clue needed to be hidden, so I improvised and hid the clue on our Fall door hanger which happens to have a pumpkin on it! There were also fun activities children had to complete to get a clue from the clue holder (aka mom) like howl or say boo! This treasure hunt is great for 1-10 children. Activities children need to solve include solving riddles, finding hidden pictures, decoding messages, solving math problems and more.

Happy Tummy Treasure Hunt
The Happy Tummy Treasure Hunt helps children learn about health and nutrition. There are 12 clues to print and hide and each clue has the exact instructions on where to hide them printed at the bottom. Some of the clue hiding places include: bed, coats, microwave, bath etc. And there were also some fun activities children had to complete to get a clue from the clue holder (aka mom) like eat a healthy snack (the children really enjoyed this one). This treasure hunt is great for a single child or a group. Activities children need to solve include decoding messages, learning what nutrients are, finding hidden objects, and more.

If you are looking for a way to boost your child's critical thinking skills and get them away from the screen for some good ole' fashioned learning and fun then definitely try Clued In Kids. Believe me when they find out there is treasure involved they will totally be on board!

Freebie:
Visit the Clued In Kids website and subscribe to their newsletter to receive a FREE Homework Reward Treasure Hunt.

Gwyn (8 yrs old) review:
I really liked the treasure hunts. They were lots of fun and we learned some neat things too. My brother and I took turns running around the house to find the clues and at the end we got special treasures. One time the treasure was even hidden in the refrigerator. Sometimes finding the clues were a little hard because we have multiple sock drawers and beds.

Links to follow:

-Clued In Kids Facebook
-Clued In Kids Twitter
-Clued In Kids Pinterest

Where to buy:
Printable treasure hunts are $5.99 and clue books are $8.99 both can be ordered from the Clued In Kids website.

Click here for more Clued In Kids reviews (many different products were reviewed) from the The Schoolhouse Review Crew.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Briefing - October 2014

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Welcome to the October edition of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta Briefing. Have you visited LEGOLAND yet?  LEGOLAND Atlanta opened a little over a year ago and has been a hot spot for Lego loving children.

Did you know that LEGOLAND offers monthly events, coupon deals, birthday party packages and even group fieldtrips?

During our most recent visit we helped kick off the Brick-or-Treat October event by getting the pumpkin ready for October visitors.

Upcoming October Events:

Image courtesy of LEGOLAND.

Brick-or-Treat! - October 1-31, 2014 - Every weekend in October (October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, and 31) you are invited to join LEGOLAND throughout the day for Brick-or-Treat. Children can fill their candy baskets by trick-or-treating between decorated LEGOLAND attractions. The festive month will also include "guess the pumpkins" MINILAND scavenger hunts, costume contest (October 25-26, top winner will take home an annual attraction pass other prizes include general admission tickets, LEGO sets, LEGO trophies and all participants will receive a certificate), a LEGO pumpkin patch and more. 

Halloween Adult Night - October 9, 2014 - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Toddler Days - October 13th - December 17th, 2014 - every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday bring your little LEGO lovers to Toddler Time at 9:30 am to read, play and build! There will be different themes throughout the weeks, so bring your tots to learn about different things and have a blast! Tickets are $12 for children and adults and kids 2 and under are free! Tickets are only available for purchase online, so make sure you buy them ahead of time!

Image courtesy of LEGOLAND.

Superhero Sundays! - LEGOLAND Discovery Center is inviting local children's charities and nonprofit organizations to Superhero Sundays. Beginning October 5th and running through the end of the year, the attraction will treat a local organization to a fun-filled outing every Sunday. The FREE tickets are made possible by Merlin's Magic Wand. 

To be considered, organizations should submit contact information, mission, requested number of tickets (up to 50) and possible dates to LDCAtlantaMMW@gmail.com. 

In addition, any child that dresses as a superhero on Sundays to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta throughout the Fall will receive a Kids Go Free voucher when they visit!

Announcements and Future Events:

Image courtesy of LEGOLAND.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center is starting homeschool days. As a homeschool mom I am super excited about this.

Are you ready to enjoy a fun and educational field trip unlike any other?

During the week of November 17th-21st homeschoolers receive admission for only $7 and a FREE workshop*. Homeschool parents are only $10 each. All you need to do to qualify for these special rates is bring a printed copy of your child’s "Declaration of Intent" on the day of your visit and you will be able to purchase these discounted tickets at our admissions counter! Groups of over 20 people please book by calling 404-848-9252 Ext. 4001.

FREE Workshop Times (November 17th-21st)
1:00PM-1:30PM: Racecar Junior (K-1st Grade)
1:30PM-2:00PM: Tall Towers Junior (K-1st Grade)
2:00PM-2:30PM: Racecar (2nd-4th Grade)
2:30PM-3:00PM: Tall Towers (2nd-4th Grade)

Can’t make it during the week of November 17th-21st? No worries! You can still qualify for the $7/child and $10/adult rate as long as you come in a group of 10 or more. To reserve your group of 10 or more please call 404-848-9252 Ext. 4001 or email rashayne.tulloch@merlinentertainments.biz.

*Workshop availability is limited to capacity and will be granted on a first come first serve basis.

Image courtesy of LEGOLAND.

Mark your calenders!! LEGOLAND Discovery Center will be having its first annual LEGO Ninjago Spinjitzu Tournament hosted each day of Ninjago Laser Maze Weekend on November 8-9.  Each day, players will face off in the ultimate ninja competition with their official LEGO Ninjago Spinners and Minifigures. Competitors are challenged to knock their opponent’s Minifigure off its spinner for a chance to win annual passes, ticket packages and more! Ninjago Laser Maze Weekend will also offer families the chance to witness performances from real-life ninjas, test their ninja skills in the limited-time Ninjago Laser Maze and plenty more LEGO fun!

WHAT: Ninjago Laser Maze Weekend  - LEGO Ninjago Spinjitzu Tournaments each day at noon until a winner prevails for the chance to win annual passes, Ninjago prize baskets and plenty more! Weekend also includes photo opportunities with large-scale Ninjago Minifigures, Ninjago-themed build in the Model Builder’s Academy, live Ninjago performances throughout each day and a hidden ninja scavenger hunt for a chance to win annual passes!

WHEN: November 8 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and  November 9 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. - LEGO Ninjago Spinjitzu Tournaments begin at noon each day.

*Each participating child in the Spinjitzu Tournament must have an official LEGO Ninjago Spinner and one Minifigure. Note: The Minifigure does not have to be a LEGO Ninjago Minifigure, but it must fit inside the spinner. 

Deal Alerts:

Image courtesy of LEGOLAND.

For the best value ticket in town purchase your tickets online for only $13.50 (+tax) per person ($3.50-$5.50 savings).

GREAT NEWS LEGOLAND has lowered their annual passes and if you purchase them online you can save  an additional 10% off. Individual passes are only $40 (online price) and family of 4 passes are only $150 (online price). Annual passes entitle you to unlimited entry to LEGOLAND for 12 months, exclusive discounts in the shop and cafe ad a subscription to LEGO magazine.

Various deal websites like Goldstar offer specials from time to time. Right now on Goldstar you can get your tickets for only $12.00 per person.

Free resources for children:

LEGO Experiment Tutorial - Learn about floating and sinking with LEGO Bricks. 

My kids love scavenger hunts and LEGOLAND so I thought why not create them a LEGOLAND Discovery Center Scavenger Hunt. Before you visit be sure to print yours here for FREE!

For more information about upcoming events/programs and announcements visit the LEGOLAND website.

As a LEGOLAND Ambassador I will try to provide you with an update at the beginning of each month about LEGOLAND events and announcements. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for even more updates including photos during our visits.

Boredom Busters For Road Trips

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Mom, I'm bored! Are we there yet? How much longer? We have all heard these common phrases on road trips, right? Well that's where boredom busters come in handy. Here is a list of 10 boredom busting ideas for your next road trip. With these ideas in your mom arsenal you are guaranteed to never hear these dreaded phrases again.

1) Audio Books - Audio books are not only great for children, but also adults. Check with your local library, visit Amazon or check out my previous posts about audio books (one post has a list of 7 websites where you can download FREE audio books). Two of our favorite audio book series are 39 Clues and Guardians of Ga'Hoole, both of these will keep you busy for awhile.
2) Mad libs - Mad libs can be tons of fun and educational too. You can pick them up at Amazon for around $3-$6 or possibly at your local Dollar Tree. You can also print FREE Mad Libs here.

3) Mobile devices and hand held games - I think just about every family now owns a tablet, iPod, hand held game device, or old cell phone. And there is nothing wrong with using these devices to help keep children busy in the car. With all of the FREE eBooks,  FREE educational apps and movie streaming options available children are guaranteed to stay busy even on the very long trips. My children also love taking their Educational Insights Hot Dots sets on road trips.
4) Scavenger hunts - Every child loves scavenger hunts. Download this FREE Road Trip Scavenger Hunt that I created for my children. They have a blast with it, even on our short trips.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

5) Trip journal pages - Here are a couple of trip journal pages that I created. These are meant to be fun and sneak in some learning too.

The first one is a FREE Travel Journal Page and can be used for car trips, plane trips, train trips, etc. It includes questions like what was eaten during the trip, how many miles were traveled, etc.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The second is a FREE State Journal Page. This is tons of fun and compliments our favorite children road atlases nicely.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The third is a vehicle journal page.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

6) Activity and coloring books -  You can find loads of FREE activity and coloring pages online. Or hit up Amazon and your local Dollar Tree.
7) Old fashioned car games -  Do you remember the find the alphabet game? In case you have forgotten how to play it, here are the rules. You must find the letter "A" anywhere outside the car (storefront signs, billboards, street signs, vehicle tags, etc.), then the letter "B," and so on. When you find a letter you must shout out the word & the letter you found, & nobody else can use the same sign to find the same letter. The first person to find "Z" is the winner!

You can find more old fashioned game ideas and printable mad libs, activity pages and coloring pages over at Spoonful.com.

We love playing the alphabet game so I decided to make a FREE Letter Game Printable. This provides another option for playing the alphabet game. Instead of shouting out the word each player can write the word they found. Or for another variation you can also use it as a scavenger hunt and try to find something that starts with each letter, good luck spotting a zebra!

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

8) Magnetic play kits - When my kids were toddlers magnetic play kits were their favorite travel item. You can purchase these on Amazon for around $10. Or you can easily make your own using a cookie sheet from Dollar Tree. Just place magnets onto the back of stickers, paper dolls, foam pieces, wooden pieces or even felt pieces and ta-da you have your customized magnetic play kits great for road trips. Make It & Love It has a great example, check out her DIY magnetic paper dolls.

9) Favorite books - Load up on your favorite books. We always keep a stack of books in the car. They are great for short and long trips. Or you can load up your mobile device with FREE eBooks.
10) Art/Craft supplies - Crayons, markers, stickers, tissue paper, pom poms, scissors, glue, tape, etc are great for road trip crafting. Just throw everything into a ziplock baggie for easy storage and protection. Use a cookie sheet from Dollar Tree as a table. And let your little traveler's imaginations run wild. You never know what will spark some creative crafting fun during a trip! Also check out this DIY Travel Coloring Case over at Family Fresh Meals (a sandwich box container would work great too).

Head over to WordTraveling.com to check out some other amazing #TravelEffect posts. While you're there be sure to enter the amazing giveaway too!