CONTACT LIST

This contact list is for the exclusive purpose of helping homeschoolers find the support group right for their family. This list is not to be used to promote sales, events, or any religious or political causes.
Anyone found to use this list for a purpose other than intended will be publicly named and homeschoolers throughout the state will be asked to boycott your cause, service or other promotion. If you have an event or service that specifically relates to homeschooling in the local area you may promote it by sending it to the Johnsburg Library at bryan@johnsburglibrary.org

STATEWIDE SUPPORT (and basic legal information): Illinois Christian Home Educators Website: http://www.iche.org/

Illinois H.O.U.S.E. (Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience)
http://www.illinoishouse.org/

Support Group (families get together for social time, activities and field trips)
Cooperative (volunteer hours are required and parents teach each other’s students)
Offers Classes (the group hires teachers for anything from piano to Calculus)

Afternoon Occupations: A Charlotte Mason Gathering Co-Op
We meet at conservation areas around McHenry County bi-weekly. We, as a group, cover the Charlotte Mason subjects best done with a small group: nature study, scouting, folk dance, handicrafts, sloyd, and others.

If you are a Charlotte Mason homeschooler interested in joining please contact Catherine.knight@gmail.com

AIM Home School Cooperative
IHHSG is a Christian co-op offering non-credit enrichment classes for pre-K through high school, and for-credit high school classes. Non-credit classes meet on Tuesdays generally from early September to late March. For-credit classes meet Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (day depends on the class) from August to early May. We take a substantial break in December.
Meeting location: Indian Hills Bible Church in Ingleside, IL
Contact: aimhscoop@gmail.com

Apple Tree North (Cooperative)
Apple Tree Christian Homeschoolers Inc. is a Christian homeschooling co-operative for children 1st-12th grade and their younger siblings. We desire to bring glory to God by providing activities, fellowship, and learning opportunities to enhance a family’s homeschooling journey. We meet several times monthly in Lake Villa, IL on Wednesdays,  September through April. Apple Tree has a scope and sequence for each grade that offers alternating unit studies of history, science, and literature, along with weekly music, drama, physical education, and art.
Website:  https://www.homeschool-life.com/il/appletree/

Barrington Area Home Schoolers (Support Group)
Barrington Area Home Schoolers of the Northwest Suburbs (BAHS) is a Christian organization that exists to strengthen home educating families in the north and northwest suburban counties of Chicago (e.g. Lake, McHenry, Kane) by fostering relationships, providing activities, and inspiring learning. We provide monthly meet-ups for parents, member-led field trips, social gatherings, and clubs throughout the year. Through our email group, private Facebook group and newsletters, members can find out about all kinds of opportunities and have the opportunity to ask questions as they come up in life/school. Visit our webpage, BarringtonAreaHomeschoolers.org to learn more about our group, to find current information about meet-up locations, and membership details.
Contact: BarringtonAreaHomeschoolers@gmail.com

Chain of Lakes Homeschoolers
Chain of Lakes Homeschoolers (CoLH) is an inclusive, non-sectarian support group for families exercising their right to homeschool (and those who are considering or simply support homeschool families) regardless of age, color, ethnic background, family composition, financial condition, learning or physical disabilities, political affiliation, race, religion or lack thereof, sexual preference or identity, or special educational needs. We do this through virtual and in person meet ups, field trips, and parent support meetings with plans to initiate an academic, parent led co-op when meeting space can be identified. Centered in the Chain of Lakes area of Lake and McHenry Counties, most of our activities, with the exception of field trips, are held in this region. We would be delighted if you contacted us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/777913476016641 or text Jen at 815-404-4479, or email at
jen@mark-martin.com

Classical Consortium Academy (Offers Classes)
C.C.A. is a comprehensive, academic program that follows a classical method in both the subjects taught and how those subjects are taught. Students attend classes and are responsible for accomplishing homework from those classes during the week under their parents’ supervision. Homework is graded by C.C.A. Grade reports are given twice a year. Primary, Grammar, and Logic Levels (Kindergarten-8th grade) meet on Mondays. Rhetoric Levels (9th-12th grades) meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursday mornings. The Classical Consortium meets from August until
mid-May, except holidays, at the Village Church of Barrington. Students are in classes from 8:00am to 3:45pm.

Tuition for C.C.A. Primary Students is $1200/year, Grammar Students is $1485/year, Logic students is $1535/year, and Rhetoric students is $2500/year. Tuition may be paid in monthly installments. Books must be purchased separately. A comprehensive book list is provided by C.C.A. No Statement of Faith is required for students’ families. No volunteer hours must be served. Parents are not required to be onsite. Check out their web site at: www.ClassicalConsortiumAcademy.com Or contact Jennifer Burns fourthdegree@sbcglobal.net 847-863-6867

Classical Conversations
We’re the homeschool program that helps you cultivate an inquisitive, thoughtful child through an intentional, community-based approach. Learning together with families like yours, you’re equipped with the tools and support to teach a Christ-centered worldview that’s rooted in the classical model. Want a community in your neighborhood?
Contact Jennifer Hultman jhultman@classicalconversations.com

Fox Valley Free Learners
We are a non-sectarian homeschool group that meets regularly, but does not have mandated classes. Be sure to browse our website to learn about our mission and self-directed learning.
https://foxvalleyfreelearners.wildapricot.org/

G.I.F.T. Homeschool Co-Op
This group meets in Hampshire on Thursdays. Statement of Faith required for all Board members. For a complete schedule and information please visit: https://www.homeschool-life.com/1872/

Grace Community Co-Op
Grace Community is a group of Christian home school families cooperating to educate, stimulate, and support one another in our calling to educate our children at home to “…bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4). Grace Community is not affiliated with any particular denomination. Our families attend a variety of area churches.

One of the purposes of Grace Community is to provide experiences that home educated children can only experience in a co-op situation. Students experience being part of an academically oriented class in a classroom situation with a teacher other than their parent; they have a ready audience for their academic achievements; and practice group cooperation and appropriate competitive skills.

We meet Thursdays 9:30am to 1:50pm September through December and again February through May.
We Meet in Crystal Lake. We offer classes for pre-k through high school. If you have questions or
would like to add your gifts and talents to our cooperative, please contact us by email at
gracehomeschool123@gmail.com or you can call or text Crystelle at 254-251-0400.

H.E.A.R.T. (Homeschool Enrichment Achieved Respectfully Together) Cooperative
H.E.A.R.T. is a nine-month, weekly program for homeschooled children from Kindergarten through 8th grade that supplements the teaching they receive at home through qualified instruction in the areas of art, science, Spanish, and physical education. In addition, students may choose between music, drama, strategic games, and a bible study. Older students are able to take classes in speech, physical education, Spanish, sign language, home economics, sewing, project club, robotics, stop motion animation, advanced art, 3D art, business basics, cool chemistry, phun physics, cooking and baking, gardening, tae kwon do, and critical thinking. Also, students are exposed to a wide variety of other subjects during month-long unit studies taught by parent volunteers.

The program is on Thursdays from 8:30 am to 3:20 pm at The Village Church of Barrington. No Statement of Faith required. Yearly tuition for H.E.A.R.T. students in Kindergarten through Fourth Grades is $900. Students in Fifth through Eighth Grades are able to join us for the morning ($585/year), afternoon ($450/year) or all day ($945/year). Tuition may be paid in equal monthly installments. In addition, parents of kindergarten through third grade students must volunteer roughly 15 hours per student enrolled and parents of fourth through eighth grade students must volunteer roughly 7 hours per enrolled student. When parents are not volunteering they are not required to be on site.

Check out their web page at: www.HEARThsenrichment.com or contact twamsley.cc@gmail.com

Heritage Homeschool Group (Support Group)
HHG is a Christian mother’s support group that meets once a month in Harvard. They offer occasional field trips for member children. Statement of Faith required. Karen Savino 815-943-1934

Hilltop Christian Community Co-Op
Hilltop Christian Community is a hybrid homeschool cooperative. HCC families work together to emphasize fellowship, discipleship, and support through our morning cooperative enrichment classes. The afternoon transitions to individualized academic options where students can choose from a variety of core and elective classes.
https://homeschool-life.com/il/hilltop/ 

McHenry County Homeschool Happenings (Support Group)
The homeschooling community of McHenry County, IL is widespread and diverse. This on-line only group is designed to help all of us in McHenry County stay in touch with one another, share events, and help each other find the local resources we need to succeed beyond our wildest dreams. This group is for all McHenry County homeschoolers no matter your educational philosophy, curriculum, or religious background and is not intended to discuss those issues. Respect for all is mandatory. https://www.facebook.com/groups/McHenryCountyHomeschoolHappenings/

Schaumburg House
Schaumburg House is a large, non-sectarian group of homeschoolers that supports all educational philosophies and family lifestyles. We facilitate monthly social activities, holiday parties, classes, field trips, and general gatherings to help our children in making friends and being part of a larger community. We offer support for parents including a special needs support group. Our group hosts two teen events a month as well as middle school, tween, and younger children activities. We have private monthly roller skating and ice skating times. New members are accepted year round, membership year runs July-June. Our membership comes from all areas in a 20 mile radius of Schaumburg, but if you are willing to drive, you are welcome to come! Visit our website at schaumburghouse.org

Society of St. Scholastica Home School Group SOSS (Support Group)
Society of St. Scholastica (SOSS) is a Catholic homeschool group that primarily draws from Lake and McHenry County in Northern Illinois. Established in 1985, we have 50-70 families in a typical year. As mothers we provide particular themed events throughout the school year and also activities that meet on a monthly basis. All activities vary but can include themes consistent with scholastics, tween groups, teen groups, events centered around the liturgical year, social gatherings, and monthly Mom’s meetings geared towards mutual support.
Contact us on our website: http://sosscatholichomeschooling.org/

Splendor of Truth Catholic Home Educators (SOTCHE)
We are a group of homeschooling Catholic families. Our location spans the IL/WI border: from southeastern Wisconsin to northeastern Illinois. We have families from Racine, WI to Lake Bluff, IL and from Lake Michigan to McHenry County, IL.
As like-minded Catholic home educators, we share information relevant to homeschooling. We share advice, activities for our children and learning experiences. Our member families and teaching styles all look a little different. We embrace the diversity our group represents in teaching and curricula. We support, encourage and learn from each other and pray for each other. Our activities include field trips, Co-op, gym classes, support meetings for moms and moms’ book club, to name a few. email: info@sotche.org website: www.sotche.org

Veritas Catholic Home Education Cooperative
Open Registration begins Wednesday, August 5 and ends on Friday, August 14, 2020
Veritas Christi (Latin for “Truth of Christ”) is a homeschooling cooperative of Catholic families that meets in Huntley, Illinois. We gather once a week on Wednesdays for Mass, classes and community.
Opportunities include courses for Preschool through High School children, as well as specialty events (group field trips, park play dates, liturgical year celebrations, etc.). Veritas Christi is an entirely volunteer-run organization. Our success depends on the generous support and volunteerism of parents.
Website: https://www.homeschool-life.com/il/veritascatholic
Email: veritascatholiccooperative@gmail.com

This list was designed for McHenry County Libraries and their patrons. If you know of any additions or changes, please contact the Library at bryan@johnsburglibrary.org