homeschooler the Utah Utah August 2026THE UUtahtah HOMESCHOOLER Volume 3, Issue 1 ·· August 2026 Executive Director Editor in Chief Supporting Editor Sales & Marketing Harold Godfrey Della Hilton Anna Owen Clara Warrick PUBLISHED BY The Homeschooler Magazine support@TheUtahHomeschooler.com MISSION STATEMENT To provide community, resources, and support for homeschooling parents, and to recognize and inspire excellence, creativity, and exploration in homeschooling students. CELEBRATING AND INSPIRING EXCELLENCE You could be in the next issue of The Utah Homeschooler! STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS Tell us about the fun, interesting, and exciting things you’re doing in your homeschool! Share the fascinating, inspiring, or unforgettable books you’re reading! Write out step-by- step instructions for how to do a crazy, imaginary task. BOOK REVIEWS PROCEDURAL Writing Contest WANTED : Families and teens to share their stories! Celebrate Inspire Support & Encourage Homeschoolers Across the State email: family@TheUtahHomeschooler.com www.TheUtahHomeschooler.com/participate Stock images from Pexels, Pixabay, Freepik, and Vecteezy. Features Student Submissions Resource Directoryhen I was in tenth grade, I was so excited to take AP European History. My grandma called me a romantic because of how much I glamorized European history—the majestic castles, the intrigue of the misty moors, the myths and legends. But eleventh grade was American History, and I was not interested. That was how I felt about the subject for many years. When I went to BYU, I had to take an American Heritage class, and that was when I first started to get a glimpse into the importance of this country and the freedoms we have. However, my true love for the United States didn’t blossom until after I started homeschooling. Early in my homeschooling years, I listened to Marlene Peterson of Well Educated Heart read The Story of Liberty1 on her podcast2. That was the thing that brought it all together—everything I had learned in high school and college about European and American history that had been floating around in my brain finally coalesced into a coherent understanding. 1 by Charles Carleton Coffin 2 Episodes 37-68, February & March 2018; https://www.librariesofhopestore.com/podcasts/wemh-37-introduction-to-the-story-of-liberty The Story of Liberty starts in medieval Europe with King John and the Magna Carta, and for the first time, I understood just how horrendous life was for so many people back then. For thousands of years, their lives were lived at the whim of the dictates and opinions of whoever it was that ruled them. Kings believed they were chosen by God, and they claimed absolute power and authority to rule. Whatever they declared was the way things were, and if you didn’t like it, they could have you punished or put to death. But in 1215, the Magna Carta established the revolutionary idea of “the rule of law”, that all people— including kings and rulers—should be governed by predetermined laws and that no one was above them. It limited the power of leaders and asserted that people had rights that couldn’t be arbitrarily taken away. Sound familiar? It should, since the moral and political ideas of the Magna Carta are the foundation upon which the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were built. The Story of Liberty helped me see what an incredible, 4 | The Utah Homeschooler by Bailee Neering A FOUNDATION Wrevolutionary concept the rule of law was and how this country, built on that premise, allowed us to live in a way that no other people in all of history had been able to live. By the time I finished listening to the audiobook, I was overwhelmed with a sense of awe and appreciation for the United States. Yes, there are corrupt people and stupid laws, but we have a method to change it. We don’t have a leader saying, “If you don’t like it, off with your head!” Patriotism and celebrating our country has always been an important part of my family. I married into a family for whom the 4th of July is a big celebration, so that has become part of my family culture as well. When my oldest was about kindergarten age, we decided we were going to homeschool her. I made a list of what I felt was important to teach our kids, and one of those things was a love of our country and a love of freedom. That was eight years ago. Sometimes I look back at our homeschool and am critical of what I’ve been able to accomplish. Then I remember what I had written down in my list, especially the item about patriotism and freedom, and feel like I’ve done pretty good at them. My kids have a solid foundation on who the important people were in history and what they did. Samantha, my oldest, went through an Alexander Hamilton phase when the musical came out, and Clayton, my second oldest, has recently gotten really into the world wars and the military in general. One of my favorite resources for US history is Promises of the Constitution: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow by Pamela Romeny Openshaw. It’s a collection of short essays about different parts of the Constitution, the Revolutionary War, and the beginning of the Republic. We have been reading one essay each day during our morning time together. Another big way we learn about US history is through Patriot Camp. When I was very first married, my husband and I lived in Fruit Heights in the basement of a house, and I became good friends with the landlord. One day, we got talking and she told me about her kids participating in Patriot Camp. As soon as I heard about it, I knew it was something I wanted my kids to do. Every few years, I would look it up to see if my kids could participate, but they were never old enough. Then COVID hit, and things were put on hold. A Foundation to Build Upon | 5 TO BUILD UPONWhen we moved up to Cache Valley, I was delighted to find that Cache Valley had its own Patriot Camp and excitedly enrolled my three oldest kids. They’ve participated for the past four years now, sometimes with moans and groans, but overall, it has been a huge boon for our homeschool. Patriot Camp is a fun summer camp where kids learn about the founding of our country. Every year, they learn patriotic songs, participate in period-specific activities like making rope and candles, listen to costumed reenactors share about themselves (like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin), and even throw boxes of “tea” off a giant ship. An important part of Patriot Camp is the Patriot Challenge, where students memorize important historical things, like famous speeches or portions of important documents. In the past, I’ve sometimes bribed my kids to get them to participate, but this year I didn’t require or provide any incentives. One day, Clayton pulled out the papers for the challenge and said, “Mom, I want to do this.” He memorized everything that was required and had it passed off the day before camp ended. It was awesome to see him take the initiative and follow through, and when he got his certificate, he was so proud of what he had accomplished. (And so was I!) The thing I love most about Patriot Camp is how it provides a strong foundation I can point to throughout the year. Whenever we run across something that connects to US history or the constitution, I can say, “Remember when you did this at Patriot Camp?” and it provides an instant point of reference for them to connect it with. There is so much we can learn from the past, especially as we study the history of our own country and state. And really, the United States is the story of us all—each of our families have played a part in the history of this great country, whether we are descendants of the pilgrims or first generation immigrants ourselves. It’s crazy to think that so much of our lives are the result of the choices of all those who came before us. I sometimes imagine how different my life would be if my ancestors hadn’t chosen to board the Mayflower or cross the plains with the Mormon Pioneers to settle in Utah. We have found value in studying about our personal ancestors, in addition to the “main” stories of history. Last year, I learned that James G. Willie, captain of the Willie handcart company that became stranded in severe blizzards in 1859—a handcart company where some of my own ancestors attempted to cross the plains—was one of the early settlers of Mendon, Utah, the very town where my family now lives. The Mendon library had a book for sale about the Mormon handcart companies. It was the same book my parents had while I was growing up, so I bought it for my family. In it, we read portions of journals from members of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. When we were finished, we took our kids up to Martin’s Cove so they could see where the events we had just read about actually took place. There’s a difference between reading about history and standing in the place where it happened, and it was important to me that my kids understood that this is who they descended from, and that like the Mormon Pioneers, they too were capable of hard things. At Martin’s Cove, we did a short handcart trek and walked through the cove. At the Sixth Crossing Visitor’s Center, where the Willie handcart company was first met by the rescuers, my kids were delighted to discover that it was our ancestor whose family was chosen to illustrate the story throughout the museum. Reading about how our ancestors fit into the bigger picture of history and then travelling to walk where they walked and ponder where so many died made history intimately personal for my family. Words on a page transformed into real-life people in our minds. Between the journals and the museums, we came to understand how difficult their journey was and couldn’t help but ask why they would choose to endure such hardship. Ultimately, 6 | The Utah Homeschoolerit came down to their faith and convictions—they were committed to the truth they felt they had found. It was the same for our Founding Fathers. When they signed the Declaration of Independence, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the radical idea that ordinary people could govern themselves without a king at all, that rights came from God and not from any crown, and that liberty was worth more than safety. And in the generations since, that same conviction has motivated countless soldiers and citizens who have fought and often died for this country—not because they loved war, but because they believed that some things are worth more than their own lives: truth, liberty, the freedom to worship and think and raise a family as you see fit. My ancestors froze and starved on the plains for a conviction they held to. The Founders risked the noose for a conviction they held to. And in the story of America, someone has always been willing to pay the price for the freedoms the rest of us get to live inside. Back when I was developing my own understanding of America’s importance, we went on a family vacation to Europe, and one of the places we visited was the American National Cemetery in Normandy. Normandy is one of the holiest places I have ever been. It was breathtaking. I have a couple distinct memories, but my favorite is watching one-and-a-half-year- old Clayton reaching up to grasp his father’s finger as they wandered the pristine grounds around row after row of shining white crosses. I remember thinking to myself, “I hope Clayton can remember this.” He was probably too young to really have any memory of it now, but I want to believe that somewhere in his subconscious, it is a part of why he is so militarily-minded right now. When I pictured that horrendous day when so many young american men gave everything they had for the cause of freedom, and then thought of the fact that we were standing there at Normandy almost eighty years later, it was humbling to realize that all of it, our being able to walk on that ground freely, was because of those young men now resting beneath it. There’s a statue there called “The Spirit of the American Youth Rising From the Waves”, symbolizing the spirits of the men who died there. It’s one of only two statues in the world that make me want to sit and ponder and study them. When we first got to the visitor’s center, my parents took the kids so my husband and I could wander the museum by ourselves for a while. It was interesting to see the different exhibits, like what the soldiers were wearing and what their rations were. But when I first saw that statue, my heart stopped for a moment and I was forced to consider what really happened that day—what was given up and why. It made me pause and think: Would I be okay with letting my son go and serve like these men did? The older he gets, and the more interest he shows in the military, the more I am forced to confront the same question as those mothers who sent their sons to Normandy: Would I be okay with Clayton being in the ground, memorialized by a white cross or a plaque on a wall somewhere, because he gave his life for our freedom? And I think to myself: Yes. It would be hard, but yeah, I would be okay with it. The feeling in Normandy—and the question it left me with—is exactly why it matters so much to me that my family understands not just the value of freedom, but the cost of it, and why it’s worth fighting for still. I’m so grateful that we live in America at this time with the freedoms that we have, and that we live in Utah, where we have the freedom to educate our kids in whatever way is best for them. We have five kids now and have taken a different educational path with each of them, depending on their personality and temperament, developmental abilities or struggles, and individual interests. I am so thankful for the homeschooling laws in Utah that allow my husband and I to pick and choose what each child needs and tailor their education to them, rather than force them to fit inside a one-size-fits- all box. If you don’t yet have a love of freedom and of American history, start cultivating that inside yourself; it needs to be passed on to the next generation. And when you do find it, share it with your kids, however you feel inspired to. If you will plant the seed and nurture it, God will make it blossom and bear fruit. • A Foundation to Build Upon | 7 “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves” by Donald Harcourt De Lue The engraving below the statue reads, “To these we owe the high resolve that the cause for which they died shall live.”8 | The Utah Homeschooler raising patriots a practical guide n a hot July evening, I sat on a blanket in a grassy park, surrounded by my family and hundreds of strangers. We were from all different walks of life, and yet one thread connected us all: our love for the United States of America. As darkness fell, we stood together, hands over our hearts and gazing up at an enormous U.S. flag strung between two utility vehicles, and spoke the words of the Pledge of Allegiance. Hearing that promise of loyalty delivered in unison by such an enormous crowd gave me a chill. Then the music started, followed by the percussive brilliance of the fireworks, each burst timed to a crescendo, a beat, a swell. After nearly half an hour, the Star Spangled Banner began to play and I rose to my feet, hand again over my heart, as the grand finale unfolded. As I watched the flag blowing before me, swirled by smoke and lit by “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” I imagined what it must have been like to be Francis Scott Key, watching the battle rage across Baltimore harbor, peering through the darkness and smoke in the hopes that an artillery explosion might let him get a glimpse of the Stars and Stripes still flying and let him know that his beloved country survived. Tears of love and gratitude streamed down my face as I was reminded of the weight of what our flag represents—all it cost to win, and everything it’s taken to keep it flying for the past two hundred and fifty years. USA 250 had been on the news and in my mind, and that 4th of July celebration was a culmination of thoughts that had been building over the summer. As I watched the light of the fireworks chase the shadows from the faces of my kids, the questions I had been pondering all summer came back to my mind: How do I help my kids understand and appreciate what America means? How do I instill in them the same sense of love and patriotism that I feel toward our great nation? How do I teach them its history and prepare them for the role they will play in its future? How do I help them grow up to be servant leaders like George Washington, principled like John Adams, or self- disciplined like Benjamin Franklin? This year, we’ll be studying US history in our homeschool. I know what my objective is; I’m just not certain how to get there. There are so many choices and resources that it feels overwhelming. I’ve also learned from o “America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination.” Harry S. Truman, 33rd President January 8, 1947hard experience that how you teach a subject matters more than which curriculum or lesson plan you follow. So I spent the last few weeks researching and reaching out to people who’ve spent years teaching US history and patriotism to kids, and what follows are the underlying principles I found. They break down into three areas: loving our country, knowing its history, and living out our civic responsibility. These are the building blocks of what patriotism actually is. Love and respect without understanding is naive. Knowledge without action is just trivia. And action without love behind it is just duty. Patriotism isn’t something we’re born with. It’s a virtue we must intentionally cultivate, both for ourselves and our families. Incorporating all three pieces into our homes and homeschools can help us all succeed at raising patriots. Love and Gratitude My kids can’t imagine a world without cell phones and Google. To them, having nearly every piece of information in the world available instantly and being able to reach a friend or a grandparent with a tap isn’t a marvel—it’s just how things are. They can’t picture what it took to write a research paper before that: trips to the library, physical books, index cards. They can’t fathom writing a letter to grandma and waiting weeks to hear back. This is all they’ve ever known, so they take it for granted because there’s nothing in their experience to measure it against. It’s hard to feel grateful for something you don’t know is rare; without something to compare it to, gratitude has nowhere to take root. The same is true for differences in place, not just time. Most kids have only ever lived here, in this one country, with this one set of freedoms and opportunities. Until they learn about or experience something different, they will have a hard time understanding how truly unique and free America is. One of the best tools to remedy this is to read or hear the stories of immigrants. Read books about life in other countries or other historical time periods. Read biographies of people who moved Raising Patriots: A Practical Guide | 9 “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” Ronald Reagan, 40th President – Inaugural Address given January 5, 1967 What Freedoms Are We Talking About? It’s easy to say “freedom” without picturing anything specific. Here are a few of the freedoms Americans often take for granted, until they hear what life looks like without them: ✮ FREEDOM OF SPEECH: The right to share your thoughts, ideas, and opinions out loud or in writing without the government stopping you. ✮ FREEDOM OF RELIGION: The right to practice any religion you want, or no religion at all. ✮ FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: The right of news sources to share true information and honest opinions safely. ✮ FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY: The right to meet up peacefully with other people in public spaces to talk or protest. ✮ RIGHT TO VOTE: The right to have a say in who represents you and how your community, state, and country are run. ✮ FREEDOM TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH: The freedom to choose your own education, career, and future, instead of having it chosen for you. ✮ FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT: The freedom to move, change jobs, or leave a difficult situation without needing government permission. ✮ PROPERTY RIGHTS: The right to own what is yours, without the government taking it away. ✮ DUE PROCESS: The right to a fair trial, a lawyer, and a jury of your peers if you’re ever accused of a crime. ✮ PROTECTION FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH: The right to keep your home and belongings private, safe from search or seizure without good reason. ✮ RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS: The right to own a firearm to protect yourself, your family, and your home. ✮ RIGHT TO HOMESCHOOL: The right to teach your own children in the way you believe is best. Next time one of these feels ordinary, remember: for most of human history, and in many places today, none of it has been guaranteed.Next >