From Marksmanship to Baking, Homeschooling Helps Brothers Hone Skills

If you’ve ever questioned whether homeschooling empowers students to explore a wide range of opportunities and engage with people outside their families, a visit to the Lee family home in North Dakota would quickly change your mind.

Assuming the four older Lee boys aren’t busy honing their air rifle marksmanship or baking prize-winning cakes, they would be happy to display the medals they’ve earned pursuing these and many other exploits. They’ll also regale you with stories of the individuals they’ve met in competitions and other excursions that have taken them across the state and beyond.

“We still get people who assume that because our kids are homeschooled that they are isolated,” Sarah Peterson-Lee said. “We try very hard to stay connected to the community.”

Sarah and her husband have homeschooled Nolan, 13, Tanner, 11, Zane, 10, Xavier, 8, and Thaddeus, 7, since preschool. Even before they had children, Sarah added, she and her husband were convinced homeschooling was the right choice for them.

“We believe parents are the ones best suited to teach their children,” she said.

To secure hands-on opportunities as a way to augment her sons’ core academics, Sarah has sometimes had to take the lead herself.

She recalled, for example, “I wanted to give the kids access to STEM and robotics.” When nothing suitable turned up for homeschooled students, Sarah launched a LEGO robotics club. “I was the coach even though I don’t know a lick about robotics,” Sarah quipped.

Nolan and Tanner pose with teammates after winning the state Lego robotics regional qualifier.

The club entered competitions to build and program robots to perform certain functions within a set amount of time. A team consisting of Nolan, Tanner, and two other homeschooled students ended up winning their regional tournament with one of the highest point totals in the state. And the entire experience counted as a homeschool science project!

Teaming up with others

Though the robotics team she helped launch succeeded beyond her expectations, Sarah added that it’s beneficial to work with existing organizations when possible.

Tanner celebrates after winning a 5k run.

For example, when her son Xavier expressed an interest in running track, Sarah connected him with USA Track and Field (USATF). This organization schedules meets nationwide with the goal of identifying athletes who can represent the US in international competition, including the Olympics. The structured environment has helped Xavier excel. At a recent regional USATF event he qualified for the youth national meet (9–10-year-olds) in the 400m run. He also had the chance to meet an American Master’s Record Holder in the 10,000m, April Lund.

The Lees have also tapped into 4-H for a number of activities. Nolan, Tanner, and Zane won state championships as part of two separate 4-H air rifle teams. In addition, Tanner and Zane qualified for the state finals in communications arts for their dramatic reading of one of the Frog and Toad children’s books by Arnold Lobel. Nolan tasted victory again when his red velvet cake earned grand champion honors at the state fair. Tanner’s homemade angel food cake garnered a blue honor. Nolan also garnered Best of Division in the State Fair Open Class for his black currants berry submission.

Zane and Xavier ride horses as part of a 4-H project.

The family’s small hobby farm also inspires some of the brothers’ other extracurricular pursuits. Nolan was named 4-H reserve champion in poultry showmanship, an accomplishment in keeping with the Lees’ raising chickens and other domestic fowl. Zane received Reserve Champion in his equivalent of the County Fair for Rabbit Showmanship, and Tanner, who has hatched some heritage turkeys of his own, received Grand Champion in the Turkey division for his broad-breasted turkey.

Zane has also shown an aptitude for tending livestock. Recently he intervened when one of the ewes in the family’s small flock was struggling to give birth. Zane helped reposition the lamb while it was still in utero. The ewe delivered safely, and Zane was so elated by the outcome that he insisted on sleeping with the newborn two nights in a row.

Soon afterward, Zane applied for a grant program with the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association. Based on his answers to a brief application, Zane qualified for a loan and 10 sheep of his own.

Nolan poses with his ribbon and prize-winning bird.

Pleased to meet you

Sarah said another reason she strives to keep her sons involved in extracurriculars is the opportunity they provide to meet other people. For example, this year she took her sons to the State Capitol for a homeschool rally day. There they were introduced to Gov. Kelly Armstrong. They also participated in the TeenPact leadership camp where they created a bill and worked on honing public speaking skills while praying for those making decisions.

Thanks to the skills of a local artist who put on an art camp for the boys to supplement their coursework, Thaddeus, then 5, entered his painting of an Arizona landscape and came home with Best of Show at a recent homeschooling convention.

Thanks to another youth program, the Lee boys put their hands to curling with an athlete who has earned Olympic medals competing in the winter sport.

“At the end of our first lesson,” Sarah recalled, “he asked if the boys had curled before. He told them they curl like pros!”

Not all their activities are this novel. This fall, Sarah said, for general physical fitness they’ve decided to simply bowl as a family.

“We found something that works for us and is flexible,” she explained. When it comes to selecting the right events to augment homeschooling, Sarah added, “you always have to pick and choose and realize some things are for a season.”

For homeschooling families who are looking to expand opportunities for their kids, Sarah said the important thing is to make connections and get creative.

“It’s easy to just do things that are in your wheelhouse,” she noted. “But don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out. You may even need to find people who can think outside the box.”