The Maurice River and its tributaries drain the southwest portion of the Pinelands National Reserve, providing a critical link between the Reserve and the Delaware Estuary. The Pinelands Commission considers the entire Manumuskin watershed an ecologically critical area, with the vast, unspoiled Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer underlying most of the region. State and local governments, and conservation organizations own significant acreage for preservation purposes. The rivers and associated wetlands serve as nurseries for ocean-going wildlife, offering food and habitat for resident and migrating species, many of which are considered endangered. Each year, huge flocks of birds alight within the watershed to enjoy the area's natural bounty. The Maurice River corridor is rich in natural, cultural and historical significance. Its tributaries, and the bay beyond, not only shaped the lifestyle and livelihood of the region's past inhabitants, but they continue to support the areas' economy and the lifestyle of many residents today. Early industries relied on the river water channeled swiftly into flowing mill races. Some residents built dikes so they could farm the often boggy land close to the river. Others worked in maritime occupations. Local ship builders provided vessels for fishing and for carrying local products to distant markets. The region's entire glass making industry emerged because of, and still depends on the sandy deposits found throughout the watershed. Cumberland County's heritage is steeped in the history of the Lenni-Lenape people, a nation that numbers some 6,000 inhabitants at the time of the earliest colonial explorations of the Delaware Bay region.

For those using Charlotte Mason homeschooling methods for special needs children. A wide range of special children are represented on our list, from learning differences to developmental delays, audio and visual processing disorders to deafness and blindness. This list is for the sharing of information related to adapting CM for special needs and for sharing the unique challenges and joys of everyday life with our kids, for support, encouragement and prayer.

BestOnlineSchools.org offers a comprehensive directory of the best open courseware (OCW) available. Our site does not rank the best online school programs, but simply displays the OCW from top-ranking accredited online schools in a format that is easy to use.

More organizing tips from Katherine Von Duyke. How to use Velcro, slip-in report covers, and large plastic containers to tame your homeschool supplies.

Language skills usually evolve naturally in a normal family environment. But what if your child isn't taking to communication as readily as your other kids did? Maybe he isn't talking as much or understanding what he hears. There are fun ways to help kids learn the language skills that come naturally to most people.

Here you'll learn to create a simple, inexpensive, and fun home preschool for your children. You'll also find suggestions for books and toys to use in your home preschool. This site supports any type of home preschool, whether you're just supplementing your child's regular preschool, creating an educational home environment, or homeschooling completely.

Diane Knect is homeschooling an only child. Share her experiences with raising her daughter Grace in a homeschooling small family.

It's mid-morning and Erin and Noah are playing with Duplo. They have built something they are calling a "mooseum" which has incorporated almost every block we own. Each doorway serves a specific imaginary purpose. A windmill apparently supplies the museum with power. There is a large parking lot for cars and trains. The museum is popular and very busy today. The "less fierce" animals, those with soft fur, reside in a special area where they are looked after by the Red Guy. The Blue Guy is feeding meat and bones to the fiercer animals in another area. A monkey is balancing on the fridge but keeps falling off. Erin and Noah laugh every time this happens. The train is leaving on a tour of the museum grounds. The Green Guy, who drives the train, gives a running commentary of the exhibits, by way of Erin. The tour encircles the play room, winding under the legs of the piano bench, over to the computer desk where am sitting with the baby, around the couch and back to the museum.

Find out how to manage life so it doesn't manage you. Organized-Living.com is a rich resource of information, tips, and advice to help create organized lifestyles for the home and workplace.

A satirical look at the differences between public and home education.