HARMONY Center:
What is a "center for homeschoolers" and why do we need one?
DILEMMA 1:
Public school pitfalls
You try public school, but something isn't working. Maybe it's the dog-eat-dog social mentality of public school, where bullying is commonplace, social hierarchy reigns supreme, kids have to lose themselves to fit in and have just the "right" clothes/hair/hobbies/ speech/phone, etc., and the price for NOT "fitting in" is ridicule, exclusion, or shame. Maybe it's the one-size-fits-all approach to learning, where kids learn what the teacher or administration wants regardless of their interests, where teachers must teach "to the middle" and/or "teach to the test," leaving some kids in the dust and others unchallenged. Where kids are stuck in their desks sitting quietly all day & are bogged down with homework at night. Where teachers are doing their best but are too overloaded with bureaucratic obligations to find the time, warmth and kindness needed to support your child's spirit. Maybe it's the nonstop schedule of all day, every day that has you burnt-out and longing for freedom to design your week, pursue interests, visit family, or just slow down or even be spontaneous. Maybe you struggle with the idea of giving up half your daytime hours with your child and want more flexibility to enjoy the wonder of their childhood while it's here. OR maybe you're worried about kids growing up too fast in the public school, sitting on tech all day surrounded by kids with their noses in a cellphone instead of chatting, or the influence of social media and peer pressure on kids' mental health. Do you long for those cellphone-free days for them? (I do.)
DILEMMA 2:
Homeschool social struggles
So you choose to homeschool, but something isn’t working here, either. You feel isolated, and your child is longing for relationships with other kids/teens. Easier said than done! You scour the internet, but finding that “just right group” is proving more difficult than you expected. Maybe the scheduled time or activities aren't quite right for you, or the kids' ages are off. Perhaps they require adherence to a particular religion/belief system that doesn’t align with yours, or the group just isn’t active or reliable enough. Maybe they travel to too-far-off locations, or you just feel too intimidated to jump into an unknown group of strangers never knowing who will be there, if you'll have shared values, or if you'll be the only one who shows up! It's possible you’ve tried reaching out personally, but everyone is scattered chasing their own pursuits, leaving you feeling like an island. Or perhaps you *have* a social network, but it takes So. Much. Work. You may find yourself constantly hunting & pecking for events or even having to organize them yourself with all the work and stress that come with that, when you’d rather be focusing on things and people at home. You've probably tried local after-school activities (geared toward public school children), only to find that your child feels like an outsider anyway or social interaction isn’t nurtured by the adults (or it's even discouraged!) and they fail to develop friendships that way. Or maybe you're new to all this and just don’t know where to turn for a social network at all!?
Harmony Center is one family's vision as the solution to all these dilemmas.
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It is true community based in one consistent location that eliminates the constant "scramble" for homeschool families and provides the missing link in homeschoolers’ lives for social and educational support & CHOICE.
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It is secular--Harmony has no religious components but respects all faiths.
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A kinder, gentler social world: All families & instructors would be expected to adhere to an agreed-upon set of core values that place kindness, respect, and acceptance at the highest priority. Share community with families who share your values. (See Harmony Tenets)
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Affordable, high-quality drop-off programming during school hours for kids ages 5-14
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A realistic 5-hour "full day" that complements your family life instead of monopolizing it
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Backward-design instruction that is hands-on, meaningful, & interactive--no "lecture & busywork" approach
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Skilled instructors teach our classes, guided by a master-degreed educator ensuring quality & innovative teaching methods with an emphasis on meaningful, hands-on and project-based learning
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"Pathfinders" Learning Pod option: Once per week, we offer a cohort-style, yearlong program where kids stay from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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Build your own schedule of interest-led classes to enhance your education in a way that meets your specific needs through Harmony Choice Academy on Fridays.
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Weekly co-op style enrichment events (parent attended) that focus on building relationships, not just keeping busy.
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Quarterly family events outside the school day to give the working parent a chance to be part of their kids' homeschooling "world," too.
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Access to community-planned outings, service projects, park meetups, etc.
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Opportunities for parents to work or teach classes to offset costs of tuition
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Social relationships are actively nurtured instructors by learning names, "checking in," playing icebreakers, etc.
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Approach to student behavior is one of "freedom within structure" that helps foster independence while maintaining a civil, organized, & respectful group culture.
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Harmony requires membership for all participation. Nametags are required by all attendees, providing security and building familiarity. Instructors & volunteers are background-checked.
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Run BY a homeschooling family, FOR homeschooling families.
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Classes organized in manageable 6-8 week sessions with quarterly breaks
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Teen leadership opportunities via our Teen Apprentice program
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Home-like environment where respect/appreciation for nature is also fostered.
As we grow we hope to one day occupy our own stand-alone facility and expand our vision to also include:
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Drop-in to play: we envision a permanent, inviting outdoor space with natural features & a natural-materials playspace where you’re likely to find other homeschoolers playing or picnicking whenever you stop by (with indoor bathrooms year-round!)
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Private music lessons & 1-1 tutoring available*
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Growing offerings of optional social events outside the school day: Field Days, Fun Fairs, Multicultural Celebrations, student performances, poetry slams, potlucks, art/craft fairs, plays, recitals, bonfires, guest speakers, non-religious holiday celebrations like Valentine card exchanges & Halloween dress-up parties, etc.
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Small social "clubs" such as book clubs/hobby groups, etc.
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Opportunities for parent enrichment such as "Intro to Homeschooling" sessions, parent-to-parent hobby/skill classes, curriculum or parenting share sessions, etc.
THE VISION
for
HARMONY COMMUNITY CENTER
for HOMESCHOOLERS
DILEMMA 3:
Home-learning options
leave you wanting more.
Then again, maybe you have a social network that works for you, BUT you’re a little bored with learning 100% at home and unable to re-create the group learning dynamics or experiences you long for. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed with having to handle your kids’ entire curriculum AND social life yourself. Maybe you wish for learning and enrichment opportunities outside the home with other knowledgeable adult leaders, but finding affordable options that occur during the school-day hours is all but impossible… and even if you find them they’re pricy, perhaps too time-consuming & competitive, require a lot of schedule juggling, &/or quality can be hit or miss. Maybe you want your kids home from full-time public school, but you still need *some* time to yourself to work, manage your household, pursue personal goals, care for a family member, rest (what’s that?), or a myriad of other reasons. Some of us just want options!! Maybe you want your kids to attend “some” school, but you're frustrated with the lack of options available for flexible scheduling, or options that let you choose programming that suits/interests your child? It's too much or not enough. All or nothing!
DILEMMA 4:
Finding balance outside
the home
Homeschoolers love to be home. But, a "school" setting CAN offer some benefits we also long for, such as: -a community outside the family -a secular, science-minded learning environment -a physical "home away from home" -a sense of belonging outside the home -a source of pride and achievement -opportunities to learn from other students and adult experts with different skillsets -exposure to other cultural backgrounds -a chance to learn how to exist, function, and learn in a group setting -a chance to learn to share, take turns, win and lose with grace, make a friend and be a friend -a chance to "stand on your own two feet" and gain independence and confidence -chances to struggle, build grit, stretch & grow -physical amenities like playgrounds, gyms, access to tech, gathering spaces -social functions and celebrations outside the school day -student plays, concerts, recitals, performances, demonstrations, exhibitions -chances to build relationships with positive adult mentors outside the family -opportunities to develop leadership skills -memorable shared experiences with peers -access to friendship and time to grow bonds What if there were a way to have all this while homeschooling on your own terms?
Join in!
Membership would be required for any/all services & functions at Harmony.
Administrative/Membership fee for 2025-26 is $105 per household/year.
Membership requirements:
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Must be a homeschooling family
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Agree to uphold Harmony Tenets'
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Sign agreement of general policies
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All family/household members must clear basic background check of publicly available offender registries
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Complete registration* & pay the fee
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Sign in/out whenever attending
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Wear your name-tag
In 2025-2026 we will offer the following programs:
Harmony Choice Academy classes (5-14)
Teen Apprentice Leaders (15-18) (inquire via email)
Weekly CREW Social Events (all members)
Seasonal Family Events (all members)
Our goal is to grow over time to include a wide variety of paid class options & choices, such as:
Academic enhancement classes in areas like math, science, and reading
Enrichment options for learning new skills like drawing or dancing in a low-pressure, exploratory environment
Design your own schedule based on your interests, budget, and needs
Reasonable prices
Opportunities for skilled/qualified parents to teach/volunteer in exchange for tuition
The Community:
Harmony strives to become a home away from home for homeschoolers with reliable community.
Harmony seeks to be an open-minded, tolerant, and peaceful community. Our goal is to create the culture of kindness, warmth, and acceptance that we want to be a part of and that we want for our kids. The Harmony Tenets would bind us to a set of common values that promote mutual respect and civility. Are these your values too? Find people who share these values here!
Get to know a familiar, committed community thanks to memberships.
Over time, we would like to grow to provide small groups/clubs, social groups, larger events, workshops, and parent-to-parent classes.
MEMBERSHIP
CLASSES
COMMUNITY LIFE