Washington Homeschool Groups & Co-ops
When you first begin homeschooling, you might feel a little stranded, like you are alone on an island. This is completely normal for anything that is new to you. By surround yourself with other families on the same journey as you, however, your island will get larger and larger. Getting to know even one other homeschooling family can make all the difference in your first year of homeschooling.
Whether you live rurally, or in an area with few homeschoolers, networking with other families can be difficult. Don’t hesitate to search online or within Facebook for a virtual homeschool group in Washington. Communication and sharing can take place even when you aren’t able to meet very often in person. If you’re very lucky, however, your local area may even have a homeschool cooperative (also called a co-op), where families join together in collaborative learning.
This page will inform you about the local homeschool groups Washington has to offer. Also, you’ll learn more about what homeschool cooperatives are and why you might want to become a part of one of them.
Washington Homeschool Support Groups
Because of the vibrant and growing population of home educators in the state, the Evergreen state has a variety of social groups for homeschoolers to choose from. There are many groups within each region of the state. In recent years, many local groups have begun using Facebook as their main means of communication. So, when first searching for a support group near you, you may want to begin there.
Another great source for discovering homeschool support groups in Washington is the regional list provided by Washington Homeschool Organization. To help kick off your exploration of groups near you, the following is a representative list of support networks around the state:
Be sure to visit Time4Learning’s Washington parent forum where you’ll be able to connect with other families in the Evergreen State and discover additional resources.
Washington Homeschool Co-ops
One of the unique outgrowths of some homeschool support groups is called a cooperative (or co-op). Homeschool co-ops fulfill the desire that many homeschool families have for group learning – – particularly for subjects like p.e., music, and lab science, where cooperative activities can enhance the experience.
In general, a co-op comes into being when a group of parents decides to work together to organize specific regularly scheduled classes, clubs, or activities that member families can participate in. Co-ops will have a wide range of operation styles, goals, and worldviews, so be sure to explore all your options before deciding to join a specific one.
An example of a homeschool co-op in Washington state is First Class Skaggit County. This Christian co-op meets on Fridays at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. Membership includes participation in classes, field trips, and other activities that the co-op organizes, as well as multiple ways for families to connect. The co-op offers two semesters of classes and activities–spring and fall.
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Benefits of Joining a Homeschool Group or Co-op
When a family first seeks out local homeschool support, they are usually in search of connection. And that is certainly one of the chief benefits of connecting with a group. However, there are so many potential upsides to belonging to a homeschool network in your area, such as:
- group field trips
- park days and/or p.e. days
- organized clubs such as geography club, 4H, chess, robotics, etc.
- book and curriculum exchanges
- dedicated email loops or Facebook groups for sharing information
- organized athletic opportunities
- the opportunity to make new friends!!
Additional Resources for Homeschooling in Washington
Have other questions about homeschooling in Washington? You may find the following pages helpful.
- Homeschooling in Washington
- Washington Homeschooling Laws
- Washington Homeschool Associations
- Homeschool Field Trips in Washington
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