Spark is a child-led, all-inclusive, secular homeschool community and does not discriminate against anyone regarding religion, race, gender, sexuality, age, educational methods, or other differentiating factors. We are a non-profit and parent-run cooperative in Cincinnati, Ohio. The group is open to families seeking a respectful, co-operative learning environment and community.
What is a secular co-op?
Spark is a secular group that welcomes all families, regardless of religious affiliations, beliefs, or the lack thereof. We ask that all families keep this in mind in order to maintain a respectful environment for everyone. As a secular group, we ask that families refrain from religious instruction at all Spark gatherings.
Support
Spark is dedicated to supporting marginalized voices in our community. We are decidedly anti-racist. Racism in any form will not be tolerated. We welcome our BIPOC members and want them to know that their lives matter to us. We also want our LGBTQ+ members to feel welcome. Whenever possible, families try to accommodate any special needs of our members.
“We can’t keep using tools of oppression and expect to raise free people – we must examine privilege and power in our relationships with our children, the world’s most vulnerable citizens and embrace chaos in efforts to allow trust-based practices to emerge. We can do this through liberation work that centers a decolonization of childhood, allowing trust-based practices and language to emerge.”
2024/2025 CALENDAR OVERVIEW
Fall Semester: 12 weeks
Mon, Sept. 9 & Thu, Sept. 12 – First Days of Fall Semester
Thu, Sept. 26 & Mon, Sept. 30 – CLOSED for Music in the Woods
Mon, Nov. 25 & Thu, Nov. 28 – CLOSED for Fall Break
Mon, Dec. 9 & Thu, Dec. 12 – Last Days of Fall Semester
Winter/Spring Semester: 17 weeks
Mon, Jan. 6 & Thu, Jan. 9 – First Days of Winter/Spring Semester
Mon, April 7 & Thu, April 10– CLOSED for Spring Break
Mon, May 5 & Thu, May 8 – Last Days of Winter/Spring Semester
We meet in the forest at Imago in Price Hill
We gather on Mondays & Thursdays from 11am to 3pm at Imago, an urban nature preserve in Cincinnati. This environment provides opportunities for us to explore, connect, create, and play while immersed in nature during all four seasons. We practice a self-directed learning approach with an emphasis on the natural world, developing life skills, and unstructured play.
We typically have one facilitated group offering per day leaving plenty of time to connect with nature and build community. SPARK offerings and activities are always optional allowing kids the choice to participate or not depending on their interests. Children are also encouraged to bring in activities, toys, passions to share. Caregivers enjoy time in nature supporting each other in their homeschooling journeys while also participating in offerings and/or shared activities. We deepen our partnership with Imago through service and place based projects such as habitat restoration, foraging, gardening, fort building, and art or playscape installations.
We also have an indoor area available for use with a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, various seating and table options. Our members come prepared with weather-appropriate clothing, shoes, water bottle, and sometimes extra clothes as we plan to be outside year round in all safe weather conditions. We are on property open to the public, with heavily wooded areas and water elements. We all worked together to keep each other safe and aware of these elements. The kids often enjoy unsupervised, independent play with friends in the woods or out of direct sight of adults. Members are expected to work through the discomforts of conflict to help mediate conflicts involving kids in their care, and/or themselves.
Follow us on Instagram to see more of what we do
