How to Find Homeschool Activities and Groups

“I love to homeschool but we get so lonely.” “Sometimes I am envious of school kids because they have built-in friends — and so do the moms.” “We want to join a Montessori co-op but are not sure where to start looking.”

Do you relate to any of these? Have you ever had that moment of watching your children work on a lesson and feeling lonely for adult interaction? We were made for community — and your home education will thrive even more with the support of others who get it. Try these tips to find or create community in your area.

How to Find Local Homeschool Activities or a Support Group

The local library is a great place to start. Libraries often offer activities for homeschoolers during the day. Even if they do not, head there mid-morning — the other families you see are likely home educators too. Ask the librarian when homeschoolers tend to visit, then strike up a conversation. You can also ask to post a flyer on the bulletin board or in a newsletter to organize a co-op, play date, or a gathering for parents.

It takes some legwork to wade through results, but it is effective. Try search terms like: [Your town] + homeschool group, [Your town] + homeschool co-op, [Your town] + home educators, or [Your town] + Montessori. If you are in a smaller area, expand your search to the county or nearest large town. Your main challenge will be filtering out groups that are no longer active.

There are many options for finding community on Facebook. Use the same search terms as above, or head to your favorite home education groups and search for your town, area, or state. Browse the Events tab — local homeschool activities are often posted publicly. You may also find events not specifically targeted at homeschoolers that happen to take place during the day.

Search by tagged location to find other homeschooling families nearby, then send a direct message. Search hashtags relevant to your approach or curriculum. When you post, use relevant hashtags and tag your location (if you are comfortable) so others can find you. When we moved to our new area, connecting with several other families via Instagram made all the difference.

Many grocery stores, coffee shops, and community centers have bulletin boards. Browse them for local events and meetups — or post your own to start something new.

Virtually every large church has some form of community for home educators — and these groups are often not faith-based. Churches frequently rent their space to any group that needs it. Even smaller churches often have one or two homeschool families who can help connect you with others.

Local charter schools frequently offer bridge programs, where homeschool children attend a couple of days a week. They may also have special activities open to homeschoolers. In most areas, public schools offer the opportunity for students to come in for specific subjects. These schools may not be able to share family contact information directly, but they can pass yours along or offer advice on connecting.

Umbrella schools are set up specifically for home-educating families. You enroll as you would a private school — the umbrella school helps ensure you are following state and local laws, manages paperwork, and often organizes regular get-togethers. Availability varies by area.

Like the library, these are great places to connect during the day, find programs for home-educating families, or spot community bulletin boards. Many also offer excellent childcare — so you can get a workout in and meet a new friend while your children connect with other kids.

Many of these venues already have homeschool programs. If they do not, visit during the day to meet other families — or ask if there has been interest in starting a program. If enough families ask, one often begins.

This one almost seems too simple, yet it is how many friendships begin. Monday and Friday mid-morning tend to be the best times. If there are kids at the park during school hours, they are most likely home-educated. A growing number of parks have community boards too — post a note saying you will be there every week at a certain time.

If your curriculum is active on social media, use the tips above to connect. Or reach out directly — send an email and ask if they have customers in your area. Companies may not be able to share contact information directly due to privacy policies, but they can pass your information along to others who might be interested.

Hundreds of conventions occur every year — from small local gatherings to large state-wide events. Even if you have to drive a few hours, you will be able to connect with other families and make new friends. Follow ShillerLearning on social media to see which conventions we will be attending.

Cannot Find a Community? Start Your Own.

The nature study group I am part of was started exactly this way. A mom wanted like-minded home educators and could not find anything nearby. She started a small Facebook group — it now has over 200 people in our area, and we have split into several smaller groups that meet weekly.

Try posting an ad in a local newspaper or magazine. Take the leap of faith to ask that family you see at the park every week if they would like to start a group. Put out feelers on Facebook to see if a friend-of-a-friend is interested.

And if you truly cannot find community locally, find an online group that resonates with you. Some of the most meaningful friendships formed in the homeschool world have been with other families met online — communicating almost every day and becoming genuine support for one another.

Follow ShillerLearning for community, inspiration, and homeschool ideas:

— Amanda Osenga, ShillerLearning