| Ah, you can't be too clueness. Not with a computer and the internet. Do a search for 4-H in your area and learn all about it. It is a wonderful club program for children of all ages.
Formal home-school groups plan many activities together. The parents have meetings and arrange field trips, gym days, team sports, co-op classes, picnics, parties, etc. We had neighbors that were also homeschooling and we got together for fun things nearly every day.
We have done 4H clubs (horsemanship, woodworking, cooking, sewing, knitting, etc.).
My daughters were on the high-school equestrian team.
My sons played little league baseball and home-school league baseball, and they participated on teams for basketball, wrestling, and football, Ultimate (frisbee) etc.... Check your community newspaper for activities for children and families. One son joined a wood carving class at the art center.
Go online to HSLDA.org and look for links to your state and community. There are many people in your area that are like you and want to get together with others for events and activities.
Find out if any of the local people are in home-school groups. Some are casual and made up of people that just want the kids to play together at the park for a while. Others have what they call, "Friday School" when all of them get together and take classes from the parents that sign up to teach. We've done science classes, drama, report writing, biology, chemistry, art (drawing, painting, ceramics, etc.), the list is as long as the ability within each family.
Some people like to start reading groups -- the children all read the same book and get together to talk about it. Others like to have regular game nights --- once a week or once a month --- along with a potluck meal.
Group field trips include aviation museums, meat packers, leather workers, electrician shops, the zoo, boating, camping, etc. It's easy to figure out what things are interesting to 12 yr olds and then go to see those things. Many businesses hold job-fairs for home-schoolers to see what the working world is like.
My children were in piano classes and group violin classes. They joined a local home-school choir and put on very professional concerts for the community.
There is also plenty to do as community service. One option is to visit a local nursing home on a regular basis. Get to know the elderly people and talk to them -- learn about their history. Another option is to volunteer at a food-bank or at a children's day care center.
My daughter became a regular babysitter for a mom's group bible study (non-homeschoolers) and became good friends with many of the ladies.
Many states have home-school organizations that work within the legislature and also hold conferences and curriculum fairs. They will have newsletters that you can receive. I am the editor for our local newsletter in Oregon and receive articles about events from many people.
The key is to not take on TOO much extra activity. :-) It can become hard to get any actual studies done if they are "playing" all of the time! But, many of the group things are very academic and it works out great.  |