In the springtime of my life, probably May of 1993 or 1995, my mother piled my four brothers and sisters and me into our homeschool van (brown, two-tone, Dodge Ram) and drove us down to the Capitol building in Salem, Oregon, an apple pie nestled in the back. I was shocked to see the droves of homeschoolers from around Salem and, indeed, the state gathered at the Capitol to bring pies to their legislators and fellowship with each other. The place was alive with the excitement of home education’s early days in Oregon!
Apple Pie Day, since its inception in 1993, has “provided an excellent opportunity for Oregon homeschoolers to share a positive message with the Legislature and the public about the benefits of homeschooling,” writes Dorothy Karman in an article titled The Beginnings of Home Education Week and Apple Pie Day in Oregon.
Not only did homeschoolers bake and deliver pies to each of the legislators’ offices, but Governor Roberts also proclaimed the first week in May “Home Education Week in Oregon.” Homeschooled kids wrote letters to the Governor, enjoyed field trips at the Capitol, and attended the legislative sessions in the House and Senate.
I remember the sense of awe I had as I stepped into the visitor’s gallery and watched my representatives at work. Years later, when I became a pastor, this awe was increased as I had the honor of opening the Oregon Senate with prayer. All of this was compliments of Apple Pie Day, a day devoted to making our legislative representatives deliciously aware of the amazing outcomes and benefits of homeschooling in our state.
Apple Pie Day Today
Drive on State Street in downtown Salem these days, and you will find the Capitol building utterly surrounded by construction equipment, the building itself festooned with scaffolding as it undergoes earthquake renovations. Access to the central part of the Capitol is limited, and for now, one may not enter the dome and gaze upon the beautiful murals under which choirs of homeschoolers used to sing.
But the current state of the Capitol provides an apt analogy to the state of Apple Pie Day: something inspiring that is currently under renovation! In 2021, Apple Pie Day was hit by the drama of Covid. Since then, OCEANetwork has found it difficult — even nearly impossible — to enjoy significant access to the Capitol, though we have marched doggedly onward with Apple Pie Day in 2023 and Capitol Day in 2024.
Now, we are rethinking and frankly renovating Apple Pie Day for this moment! Little access to the Capitol? No problem! We will organize and take pies into the East and West entrances, providing them to the House and Senate once again. No rooms to reserve for gatherings and educational experiences? That’s fine. We will do so later that day at a local church where we will be fed pizza and encouraging counsel from veteran homeschoolers through workshops, a panel, and an inspiring keynote speaker. Little access to House or Senate deliberations? We will take that in stride, too, and send homeschoolers to every House and Senate office with apple pies and information packets.
The spirit of home education in Oregon — doubtless across our fair land — has always been one of intrepid pioneering. We share this in common with the circuit riders who graced our state well over a century ago, a tribute to whom sits in statuesque stillness on the Capitol grounds. Like them, instead of being daunted by obstacles, we are enthused to take them on and see what may be accomplished for hearth and heartland.
For Apple Pie Day this year, we’re rolling out a new recipe to meet the new needs, but with the same basic ingredients:
Apple Pies
Baked by Willamette Valley Pie Company-all the deliciousness of home baking with none of the hassle-and provided for Apple Pie Day volunteers at a significant discount from our friends at WVPC. You will be able to sponsor a pie (even if you can’t make it to Apple Pie Day) for delivery to a State Senator or Representative.
Information Packets
We will be providing the same sort of solid information to our State Senators and State Representatives as we have in the past: facts about the absolute success of homeschooling from an academic standpoint (for additional information, go to oceanetwork.org or homeschoolbackgrounder.com) as well as our hopes that they will continue to support this grand institution of home education in the years to come.
Rally on the Mall
As with previous years, we hope to gather on this early March day (briefly because, hey, it’s going to be cold and maybe even wet, right?) and pray together, rejoicing in our home education freedom, seeking Heaven’s favor for continued freedom in the decades to come, and listening to veteran homeschooler Dr. Matt Friedeman who also has much to say about home discipleship — which for OCEANetwork is what homeschooling is really all about.
Evening Gathering
After delivering pies and packets and after enjoying a bracing gathering on the Mall outside the Capitol, we will be heading over to Fruitland Community Church to enjoy pizza, workshops intended to help you in your homeschool journey, and a panel of experts to help you navigate the current home education climate. That evening, we will hear from Dr. Friedeman again about disciplining our kids at home!
Interested in Helping?
We are looking for top-notch deputies to provide bold leadership in key positions, such as coordinators for rallies, hospitality, greeting, information packet preparation, legislative interactions (House and Senate), training, and more. We are excited about the possibility of your help with Apple Pie Day 2025!
CONTACT: Josh Adams, adams@oceanetwork.org, 503-559-5591
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