Local Homeschool Support Groups

As mentioned on the front page of this packet, Northern Inclusive Colorado Home Educators, or NICHE, is one such local group in this area.  NICHE is centered in Boulder County, with many of its active members in the Lafayette, Erie, and Longmont area.  NICHE has members as far away as Westminster, Fort Lupton, and Estes Park, though the vast majority of the activities take place in Boulder County.  NICHE welcomes all homeschooling families, whatever their homeschooling style, parenting style, or spiritual/religious beliefs may be.  Membership is free.  To join the NICHE e-mail list, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColoradoNICHE/. 

The Boulder County Home Educators/Instructors Association, or BCHIA, is centered primarily in Boulder.  To join the BCHIA e-mail list, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bchia/. 

Blue Skies is a support group for “unschoolers”.  Their name stands for “Boulder’s Lifelong Unschooling Enthusiasts Simply Keeping Independent Education Special!”  From their website, they are “a support group for those Unschooling, beginning to Unschool, or interested in the philosophy, in Boulder and Surrounding areas. Unschooling is a child-led, self-directed process of learning, and LIFE is our classroom.  This list is not for curriculum discussion, or coerced learning. These things do not make up Unschooling, and are not a part of what we do.  This list also does NOT include talk of religion of any kind. We all are from different backgrounds, and beliefs, so please be mindful and respectful of this. Religious and political talk need to be taken off list amongst each other.  All ages welcome! Toddlers to teens, and kids at heart. Friendships are important… let’s get together and create a wonderful community of families, not only for our kids, but for ourselves as well.”  Blue Skies’ e-mail list can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BLUE_SKIES2/.  Moderator approval is required for membership. 

The Longmont Christian Homeschool Cooperative (LCHC) is made up of smaller support groups overseen by a central Steering Committee. All Steering Committee members as well as the leaders of each small support group must sign a Statement of Faith.  Each small group sets its own membership requirements.  LCHC publishes a monthly newsletter, and has information on their website of interest to new homeschoolers.  http://www.longmont-chc.org/ 

Pneuma Homeschool Group is a Christian group in the Erie area.  Email kimlancaster@comcast.net for info. 

The Leaf Bombers is a social group for teenaged homeschoolers, formed by NICHE member Ann Tisue.  It is open to kids ages 12 or so, and up; all homeschoolers are welcome. Three activities are organized per month, including one park day, with locations varying.  “To make logistics reasonable for the parents, younger siblings are allowed.  If siblings are small, parents should make sure they are present so that the siblings won’t distract the older kids.”  To join their e-mail list and find out about upcoming activities, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Leafbombers/. 

Excuse me while I toss out some search terms so Yahoo can find the site. Silly Yahoo!  Longmont Homeschool secular Colorado co-op inclusive support group