"Home Education"?
Organized groups of homeschoolers are often called "support groups", because the original intent of most was to offer moral support in a time when homeschooling was generally unknown to the public, and homeschoolers were sometimes treated with hostility.
Today's support groups may offer field trips and other activities for families and co-op learning opportunities for homeschooling kids, as well as suggestions and advice on homeschooling. Most still offer moral support to new homeschoolers.
Some groups are coalitions of smaller local or specialized groups. Some are regional, some are aimed at families of kids in a particular age group, some have a focus on a particular aspect of homeschooling. Some support groups are highly organized, with officers and formal meetings; others may be informal gatherings of families that will disband after their children are old enough to travel on their own.
Unschoolers Network
2 Smith St., Farmingdale, NJ 07727
732-938-2473
E-mail:
Area Covered: statewide
Contact: Nancy Plent
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: "inclusive"
Dues: $10 for quarterly newsletter
Services: information clearinghouse, newsletter, annual conference/curriculum fair
The Learning Community of Bergen and Rockland (TLC)
Email list:
TLC
Area covered: Bergen Count, NJ, Rockland County, NY, and the surrounding areas.
Comments: We are a large, very active group of a diverse group of homeschool families. We have museum trips, theater trips, park days, and many different types of classes and workshops offered in the Bergen County NJ, Rockland County NY and New York City. To join, please go to our Yahoo email list.
Educational Excellence - School at Home (EE-SAH)
E-mail:
HomeschoolSummit@aol.com
Area Covered:We are mainstream homeschooling families from Summit and surrounding NJ towns and counties.
Contact: Patti Bryden
Mission: Our mission is to facilitate: (1) positive social interaction; (2) structured, education-oriented activities; and (3) joyful sports, crafts, and play AMONG WELL BEHAVED CHILDREN. Great manners and kindness are a MUST for all children and parents that participate in our weekly activities. Please note: This is NOT A SUPPORT group for parents--"EE-SAH" is a "FUN GROUP" for SUPER KIDS THAT WANT AND DESERVE SUPER
FRIENDS.
FREE - Families Reaching for an Eclectic Education
E-mail:
or
Email list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/free_revisited/
Website: www.geocities.com/freehmsc/
Area Covered: NW NJ area - Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic.
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: inclusive
Dues: No
Comments: We are a network of homeschooling families who gather together to share friendship and homeschooling opportunities.
North Jersey Home Schoolers Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 34, Hillsdale NJ 07642
Website: www.njhsa.net
Area Covered: Bergen, Passiac, Union, Essex Counties.
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: Christian
Dues: Yes
Services: Picnic, Spelling Bee, Curriculum Night, Science Fair, 8th/12th Graduation
Comments: NJHSA is the parent organization of a number of smaller local support groups ("LSG"). Each has its own phone chain, newsletter, meetings, and events. Dues are paid to the LSG, which in turn pays the parent organization. NJHSA is run by a board of about 13 couples. Each LSG is represented on the board.
See our website for info about NJHSA and about homeschooling.
Sussex County Christian Home Schoolers
Area Covered: Sussex, Warren County area
Services: information meetings, social events for parents, family activities, instruction/activities for kids, newsletter, email contacts, field trips
Comments: 30 Week Fine Arts & Enrichment Program
Dues: Yes
Contact: Chris and Luz Hunton, P.O. Box 162, Franklin, NJ 07416
Website:
http://scchs.nac.net
E-mail:
Teen, Tweens, & Company of Northern NJ
E-mail: ttcofnnj@yahoo.com
Email list: groups.yahoo.com/group/ttcofnnj/
Area Covered: NW NJ area - Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic.
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: inclusive
Dues: No
Contact: Michele Tanis, 73 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ 07874 973-347-2441
Comments: We are a network of homeschooling families who are homeschooling teens & tweens that gather together to share friendship and homeschooling opportunities.
Alliance of Home Educators
Area Covered:Central Jersey, Hunterdon County
Services:
social gatherings for parents, family activities, instruction /activities for kids, newsletter, field trips
email contacts, networking, field trips.
Also
clubs, academic teams, yearbook, prom, sports, website
Dues:Yes
Comments:AHE is open to all home educators
Contact:Alliance of Home Educators
Kathleen Iuzzolino
P.O. Box 379, Annandale, NJ 08801
908-713-8439 ext. 1
Alliance of Home Educators
Homeschoolers of Central New Jersey
116 Mountain View Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540
609-333-1119
Area Covered: Mercer County, northern Burlington County
Contact: Karen Mende-Fridkis
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: "none"
Services: "Living Through Learning" newsletter, weekly meetings, field trips
Catholic Home Educators Linked for Fun (CHELF)
E-mail:
Website: CHELF
Area Covered: Monmouth and Ocean Counties
Contact: Sherry Prioli
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: Roman Catholic
Dues: $2.50
Services: Information meetings, social gatherings for parents, family activities, instruction /activities for kids, e-mail newsletter, field trips.
Kids Homeschool Network
Area Covered: Hunterdon County and surrounding counties
Email:
Services: "Our mission is to facilitate: 1) structured, education-oriented activities; and (2) social interaction.
Kids Homeschool Network is an association of homeschooled children. We meet every Thursday for enrichment activities in Flemington, New Jersey. Meetings are centered around activities for the children, planned and overseen by the parents. We arrange field trips, park days, and group classes. We have a Yahoo email list for our parents and parent meetings. Kids Homeschool Network is accepting new members."
Live and Learn Homeschool 4-H Club
Email: http://groups.msn.com/liveandlearn4Hclub
Area Covered: Monmouth County - Middletown
NJContact: Mary Bane
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest:4-H
Purpose:A 4-H Club with a focus on visual arts and creative writing.
FreedomQuest Alternative
Medford, NJ 08055
E-mail:
Contact: Stacy, 609-654-1386
This is a non-denominational/secular support group for homeschooling families with children primarily under the age of 10 years (older siblings are welcome too) who utilize relaxed/eclectic curriculum. Children will not be segregated by age so entire families are welcome. Families with special circumstances such as chronic illness, special needs/developmental delays, etc., are encouraged to join as group leader has personal experience with these issues.
Marlton Homeschool Network
Area Covered:Burlington County - Marlton, Mt. Laurel, Cherry Hill area.
Services:social gatherings for parents, family activities, instruction /activities for kids, newsletter, field trips
Contact Person: JoAnn DeWysockie, 13 Medoc Ct, Marlton
856-596-9022
Chaplet - Catholic Homeschool Association w/ Papal Loyalty Educating Together
E-mail:
Website:
www.chaplet.org
Area Covered: Camden and Burlington Counties
Contact: Diane Toler
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: Roman Catholic
Dues: Yes
Services: Information meetings, social gatherings for parents, family activities, instruction /activities for kids, newsletter, conference, field trips
PACT (Parents and Children Teaching Together)
E-mail:
Website:
www.snj.com/PACT
Area Covered: Gloucester, Burlington, and Camden counties
Services: Activities, field trips, newsletter, networking, information nights
Dues: Yes
Comments: "We welcome people of all beliefs. We may have begun homeschooling for different reasons, we may use different curriculum, but we all have the same goal: nurturing and educating our children."
Cumberland Area Homeschoolers
E-Mail:
Website:
Area Covered: All of South Jersey but we are located in Cumberland County.
Contact: Melanie, Brandi,Kim
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest: We are a secular group of many faiths, but religion is not part of our group dynamics.
Dues: $10/year
Services: bi-monthly newsletter, monthly email updates, yahoo group, monthly support meeting, weekly activities, networking, field trips.
Statement: "The purpose of Cumberland Area Homeschoolers is to provide a friendly, welcoming group atmosphere for local homeschooling families."
South Jersey Homeschoolers
E-Mail:
Website:
www.thetutornj.com
Area Covered: Burlington, Ocean, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May counties
Contact: Rose Sias
Homeschooling Autistic Children Coordinator: Rachel Vazquez
Religious Affiliation/Special Interest:"all-inclusive"
Dues: $15/year
Services: monthly newsletter, monthly support meeting, weekly activities, lending library (books, videos, tapes, CDs), consulting service, networking
Statement: "Our focus is to restore the lost art of 'parents teaching their own'."
West Jersey Homeschoolers
E-Mail:
Discussion List: groups.yahoo.com/group/WestJerseyHomeschoolers
Area Covered: West New Jersey (Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties)
Contact: Sherry Perkins
Dues: none
Statement: "We are a diverse group, from different religious backgrounds, homeschool styles and education philosophies. We share a mutual respect for each other. All ideas and opinions are welcome and appreciated. Our common goal is having fun together, while facilitating our children's education outside of the traditional classroom."
Comments and suggestions welcomed!
Write to:
NJ Homeschool Association
P.O.Box 1386
Medford, NJ 08055
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Or call (609)346-2060
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