Our Programs

Village Home offers homeschoolers a variety of learning opportunities, activities, and travel for learners and their families.

Homeschooling provides customized, flexible, and adventurous learning. Village Home enhances our choice-based class experiences by providing diverse activities in which learners and families can participate. Village Home learners experience Field Trips, Teen Retreats, Outdoor School, and various types of teams and competitions such as Mock Trial, Model UN, First Lego League, and Destination Imagination.

Classes & Clubs

During the 2020-21 school year, Village Home offers 140 weekly classes and clubs online for self-directed learners who thrive in a classroom community with no grading and testing.  In our classes, we focus on community and learning together. Our classes have active, hands-on learning with plenty of opportunities to THINK collaboratively, even online. Our teachers engage your child’s imagination and ignite their desire to learn in small, mixed-age classes. The average class size is 10.  Classes are taught by paid professional instructors who are background-checked for your child’s safety. We also offer “clubs” which are casual gatherings hosted by Village Home parents.  Classes run in three 10-week terms. Most classes meet once a week for one hour. Click here for the current Course Catalog  

Service Learning

In addition to our volunteer program at Village Home for our families, we facilitate opportunities to serve our greater community. We know that giving back feels good, teaches us about the world and others, and strengthens our Village Home connection to make a difference in the world together. Village Home provides family-friendly community service opportunities for our learners and their families in the greater Portland/Metro area through our partnerships with Oregon Food Bank, SOLVEOregon,  Faith Cafe hot meals for those hungry for food and community,  and Northwest Children’s Outreach. We also encourage Village Home families to let us know about more opportunities for service! Thank you for your service to the community! Village Home is great because we have families who are willing to invest their time and talent in the community.    Upcoming Community Service Opportunities (See Field Trip Listing) For Information on our Teen Volunteer Program, click here.

Rivers Day Program

Happy learning happens here. In Rivers, learners are academically and socially engaged and inspired to take ownership of their learning. This program is designed for homeschooling families looking for a classroom community part-time.  Please note, this is NOT designed to be a comprehensive program — it is part-time only. Learn More  

Tutoring and Private Lessons

Individualized learning is more than a buzzword at Village Home. Whether you want to deepen understanding of a subject, or, manage to catch up in areas, one-on-one tutoring can be the most cost-effective and efficient way to do so. We understand that every person is a unique learner with your own learning style and preferences.  One-on-one tutoring is the ultimate in personalized learning, allowing you to move at your own pace through material, in a way that is relevant to you. Our Tutors Our tutors are experts at working with homeschoolers who are on independent learning paths. Most Village Home tutors are also classroom teachers at Village Home, so they have plenty of experience guiding all kinds of learners. Our tutors cover almost all subject areas and grade levels. All tutors are background checked and will meet you online, or on campus,  or at another mutually agreed upon public location such as a public library, or a public coffee shop.  Please click here for more information about our tutors: Village Home Tutors How do I Sign Up for Tutoring? Choose the tutor whose expertise suits your needs and preferences. You may purchase one session, or several depending on your preference. To see our slate of tutors, and to schedule a complimentary 15-minute meet-and-greet phone or zoom session with a tutor. Please email tutor@villagehome.org to schedule a meet-and-greet session. Please include the name of the tutor you are interested in meeting. complimentary If you need assistance selecting a tutor, contact our Tutor Coordinator, Peter, at tutoring@villagehome.org or call 503-597-9100. Tutoring Fees Fees vary somewhat, but typically: $40 per 50-minute academic tutoring $35 per 30-minute music lesson Some specialty services, such as reading diagnostics and reading tutoring have special per session pricing. Important Details Refunds: Tutoring packages must be paid in full at time of registration. There are no refunds for tutoring sessions delivered. Tutoring sessions cannot be returned. If you feel your tutor is not a suitable match, please contact the Tutoring Coordinator (tutoring@villagehome.org) and we will help identify another tutor.  Cancellation/Rescheduling: With 24-hour notice to the tutor of cancellation, your tutoring session may be rescheduled for no additional charge. If you fail to give notification and miss an appointment, you forfeit that session without a refund or rescheduling. No-shows: if you miss a session, or do not provide at least 24 hour notice you will not be refunded. Location: Tutoring sessions occur on the Village Home Campus, or at a mutually-agreed upon public venue. Parent Monitoring: Parents are welcome to observe tutoring sessions. Agreement: Tutoring clients are required to sign a waiver/agreement. For more information: 503-597-9100, or email tutoring@villagehome.org 

Theater Arts/Drama Program at Village Home

Each year, our Drama Department offers three different opportunities for our learners to shine on stage: Bloom Homegrown Talent Show Musical Production for ages 10-15 Teen Play  for ages 14+ Our musical productions strive to include as many learners on stage as possible. We believe in the power of theater for building self-confidence and community spirit.  The productions are a fantastic team effort that includes many volunteer parents helping behind the scenes with everything from set building to folding programs. The spring teen drama is a smaller production aimed at giving high school-aged learners the chance to stretch their acting wings. Both productions involve learners in every aspect of the production on stage and behind the scenes – we believe in giving the students complete ownership of the process. Once opening night begins, the Director is in the audience, and the learners have taken over the process completely, supporting and helping each other, and taking care of all of the backstage management. Often there is also a Props & Costumes class where learners help with designing and creating the costumes, props and sets. Between the Beaverton and Salem campuses, the Village Home Drama Department serves upwards of 100 learners each year, each with their own individual creative contribution to making art come to life for our community. Since 2015, Village Home hosts  a chapter of the International Thespian Society. Click for more information on our Drama Club: drama-club-thespians Here is a pic from a recent production: Produced by Village Home Drama Department 2023 Little Mermaid JR – coming in Dec 2023 2023 The Great Gatsby 2023 Matilda JR 2022 You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown 2022 Mary Poppins JR 2022 The Iliad, The Odyssey, and all of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less 2020 James and the Giant Peach (Spring) 2020 No Musical 2019 Willy Wonka JR (Fall) 2019 Bad Auditions for Bad Actors (Spring) 2018 The Lion King JR (Fall) 2018 16 in Ten Minutes or Less (Spring) 2017 The Little Mermaid JR. (Fall) 2017  Our Town (Spring) 2016 Elf Jr. (Fall) 2016 Twelve Angry Jurors (Spring) 2015 Guys & Dolls Jr. (Fall) 2015 Almost, Maine (Spring) 2014 Peter Pan Jr. (Fall) 2014 Check, Please! (Spring) 2013 Alice in Wonderland Jr. (Fall) 2013 Phantom Tollbooth (Spring) 2012 Seussical Jr. (Fall) 2012 Crazy House (Spring) 2011 Bugsy Malone Jr. (Fall) 2010 Aladdin Jr. (Fall) 2009 Willy Wonka Jr. (Fall) 2008 Pirates of Penzance Jr. (Fall)                    

Field Trips

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Retreats & Outdoor School

Village Home organizes the Teen Retreat each fall (ages 13+) and Outdoor School (ages 9 – 14) each spring. These overnight adventures last a few days and are chaperoned by VH staff and parent volunteers. These opportunities that build and strengthen relationships between VH friends are invaluable.

Competitions & Bees

Village Home of Champions: Learning in Friendly Competition Village Home learners shine at regional, state, and national school competitions and Bees. Our learners have the opportunity to participate in a variety of competitions, and have won numerous awards after competing in national and global arenas. Most recently, one of Village Home’s three Mock Trial Teams won the 2015 State Championship and competed at nationals in North Carolina. Mock Trial, Model United Nations, and the International Thespian Honor Society are Village Home classes in the course catalog, and teams are formed from those classes. Other Village Home teams are created and led by parent volunteers and include Destination Imagination, First Lego League, Jr. First Lego League, and First Tech Challenge. The Homeschool Bees are hosted by Village Home and open to all Portland/Metro area homeschoolers. The National History Bee, the National Geographic Bee, and the Scripps Spelling Bee series begin in January each year. Read more about all of these opportunities below, and check the Village Home Calendar and Events page for current dates and deadlines. Mock Trial The Village Home Mock Trial program (VHMT) started in 2010 with a small group of interested learners. Over the years it has grown into a highly successful program with two or more teams each year. VHMT participates in the Oregon High School Mock Trial competition, organized by Classroom Law Project. Each year, over 70 teams from high schools around the state compete in regional competitions in March. VHMT has consistently placed in the top five at the state tournament. In 2015, VHMT won State and represented Oregon at Nationals. Members work hard but have tons of fun while challenging themselves, learning important life skills, and making lasting memories with their teammates.  To prepare, teams prep mock court cases, playing the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and court officers. They develop critical analysis, public speaking, teamwork, and research skills while learning about legal concepts and civic engagement.  Team members gain poise and self-confidence under pressure. Through in-class practices and scrimmages with other schools, the team(s) prepare for competition. Mock Trial requires a commitment outside of class – extra practices and scrimmages happen outside of the regular class time and teach learners valuable time management skills.  More details about this year’s program here.  Model United Nations Model United Nations is an incredible opportunity for students from all over the state to come together and debate real-world, relevant issues. Not only does it allow for in-depth and stimulating research about these topics, but it provides a platform to begin discussion on an ultimate solution. Every generation is given a duty to maintain security and international harmony. Model United Nations strives to emulate the peacekeeping qualities of the true United Nations: an organization created for peace and for justice. In a world plagued by violence, the United Nations stands as a prevailing hope of civilized argument, of agreement, and of compromise. In 2013, VH student Amelia Bryan, was awarded Secretary. In 2014, the VH team represented Canada and Turkey, and in 2015, the VH team represented Russia. International Thespian Honor Society The International Thespian Society (ITS) is the Educational Theatre Association’s student honorary organization. ITS recognizes the achievements of high school and middle school theatre students. Since 1929, EdTA has inducted more than 2 million Thespians into ITS. That number continues to grow, with more than 36,000 students from around the country being inducted each year. Village Home’s Thespian is led by troupe director Loriann Schmidt. Students earn an invitation to be inducted into the Thespian Society. Thespian troupes include students in grades 9-12, and Junior Thespian troupes include students in grades 6-8. There are troupes in more than 4,000 high schools and middle schools. A few of our Thespian alumni are famous names from the entertainment industry, including Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer, James Marsters, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Stephen Schwartz. But most alumni are in just about any industry you can imagine and excel using skills they learned as Thespians. Village Home currently has an active Thespian and Junior Thespian Troupe. For more information: VH Drama Club & Thespians Destination Imagination The mission of Destination Imagination (DI) is to develop opportunities that inspire the global community of learners to utilize diverse approaches in applying 21st Century Skills and creativity. The DI program encourages teams of learners to have fun, take risks, focus, and frame challenges while incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the arts, and service learning. Our participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem solving process. Teams may showcase their solutions at a regional and state tournaments. Start a Team Information. First Lego League/Jr. First Lego League First Lego League introduces younger students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FIRST LEGO League teams, guided by their imaginations and adult coaches, discover exciting career possibilities and, through the process, learn to make positive contributions to society. For children ages 6-9, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) captures young children’s curiosity and directs it toward discovering the wonders of science and technology. This program features a real-world scientific concept to be explored through research, teamwork, construction, and imagination. Guided by adult Coaches, teams use LEGO® bricks to build a model that moves and develop a Show Me Poster to illustrate their journey. First Tech Challenge First Tech Challenge is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments. Individual Competitions Every year Village Home hosts the Portland/Metro Homeschool Bees! These include the National History Bee, the National Geographic Bee, and the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The Bees start in January, and are open

Preschool Offerings

Preschool Enrichment for Homeschooled Children and Their Parents at Village Home All of our preschool offerings require parent attendance and participation at all times. In addition to our scheduled classes and clubs, we have an on-site play area for our families with preschoolers so that you can enjoy playing together while older siblings are in class. We offer a small handful of preschool classes and clubs for you to enjoy with your preschooler. Little Villagers at Village Home Little Villagers is our primary offering for the preschoolers and their parent. Little Villagers provides a gentle, home-like environment, where children have the freedom and opportunity to simply be children. Self directed creative play occupies a large portion of their day, as play is truly the work of the child. We believe that the best environment for learning and development is one in which children gain self-esteem, enjoy discovering basic learning materials, develop cooperative play skills, and build trusting relationships with each other and with adults. We encourage children to be individuals while learning to respect the rights of others and progress at their own pace. We believe parent’s involvement is essential since the parent is the primary educator. Little Villagers will enrich the parent-child relationship through parent participation and leadership in the classroom. Parents achieve a better understanding of their child’s development with regular involvement in the children’s activities and play materials. What guides the attitudes, words, and gestures of our parents and facilitators is the knowledge that young children learn through imitation.  Parents are an integral part of Little Villagers through their presence. Parents are asked to model active participation in every aspect of our daily routine. The instructor strongly encourages the parent to share their ideas, suggestions, and input.  Little Villagers is for our youngest community members (ages 3 – 4 years old). Parents are asked to bring a nut-free snack from home for their own child and themselves daily. At Little Villagers we have a flexible, unhurried daily rhythm included in all of our activities: outdoor play, story time, block building, painting, clay and beeswax modeling, circle time and bread baking to name a few.

High School/Homeschool

High school experiences vary between individuals here at Village Home. Before 9th grade, homeschooling is straightforward; there are no "credits", no "diploma" related decisions until 9th grade. Over the years, we have noticed there are three primary ways learners work their way through the high school years. Homeschool or Unschool Some learners choose to continue their independent learning path at Village Home and in the community, and bypass high school official paths with a diploma at the end. Homeschoolers who are about 18 may attend colleges and universities, hack their own college education, travel (gap year), enter community college (including alternative community colleges such as Wayfinding), enter professional training programs (note: some REQUIRE a GED or diploma), or pursue their career interests. If you are interested in applying to college as a homeschooler or unschooler, we recommend researching admission information in the 9th grade year to find out what the requirements are for admission for homeschoolers at colleges you may be interested in attending. Most universities include this information on their website. For homeschool applicants, there is typically a requirement to take the SAT or ACT, at least one subject test, and two years of for-credit foreign language. In addition, homeschool applicants will be asked to summarize their learning in a portfolio format, including their Village Home classes, self-study classes, classes taken at the community college, and internships. Dual Credit PCC Programs Some VH high school learners stay at Village Home until they enroll in one of the dual-credit charter school programs when they are 16 years-old to earn high school and college credit. (Enrolling in PCC courses prior to age 16 is possible, but not typical.) Most VH students continue to take classes at Village Home while also taking classes at PCC. It is easy to fit at least 3-4 VH classes/week into a typical PCC schedule, and we have noticed that students who remain grounded in their community at Village Home are experiencing better outcomes in their dual-credit programs at PCC. Students in a dual-credit program typically earn their high school diploma in 2-3 years (not 4), and also earn college credits that are guaranteed to transfer to Oregon State Universities, and often also transfer to many other private and public universities. Learners may also have the option to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree simultaneously. These programs require students to place at a certain level on  the Compass Test Entrance Exam at PCC at a particular level. See Baker Early College, and Summit Learning Academy  for details. Additional dual-credit programs include Gateway to College, which is managed directly by PCC, and district-based programs, which tend to more narrowly define participation as compared to the charter-based programs. We host an information session each spring for families interested in applying to these dual-credit options. Enroll in Public or Private High School Some homeschoolers or independent learners want a diploma and prefer a traditional path to that end. Enrolling in a traditional public or private high school is a very defined path to a diploma. As such, it is easiest to enter this path during the 9th grade year, although students may enter their neighborhood school at other junctures. What About College?

Family Events

Village Home hosts annual family events for the community! Check the Village Home Calendar for the current dates of these events. Fall Term Trunk or Treat – Families decorate their parked cars while the community visits each “trunk” for a “treat”! Everyone gets in the October Halloween spirit and dresses in costume. There are always games and crafts for all ages, and snacks, too! Entrepreneur Fair – Do you have a child who enjoys crafting or baking? Do you enjoy crafting or baking? Would you like to sell the items you make? The whole family is welcome to participate in the November Entrepreneur Fair. Sign up for a table by providing a food donation of at least 2 cans of food for Bethel’s Food Pantry. Winter Term Game Night – Gather with Village Home families to share an evening that includes a potluck, games, and music, too! SpringTerm BLOOM Talent Show and Fundraiser – This is Village Home’s main fundraiser coupled with the annual talent show. A raffle fundraiser over the past few years have been quite a success, along with the silent auction the night of the show. Come for light refreshments, bidding on items and parent-donated parties, and watching the heart-warming performances of our talented community. Summerfest – The best way to celebrate the end of the year is to have a big party, and every year, that’s what we do! This is a time to play games, have a picnic, pick up your yearbook, get some faces painted, visit the petting zoo, and listen to class performances. Each year, the celebration gets bigger…the more the merrier!

Family and Educational Travel

Travel with Village Home Each year, Village Home brings travel opportunities to our families. Trips are planned based on direct feedback from the community. We do an annual family camping trip (sometimes more than one) and build in educational experiences or cultural experiences or family adventure.  As homeschoolers, we know that the world is our classroom. We are excited to provide opportunities to experience the global classroom first hand and give our kids the chance to develop into global citizens.  International travel gives students (and adults) new perspectives of the world around them, as well as new perspectives about themselves and their unique and special place in the world. EF is the world leader in affordable, educational travel and we are proud to be partnering with them to create safe, educational, affordable trips. EF trips include options for earning high school or college credit, through a  new, innovative project-based educational program at no additional cost to enrich the experience. Summer Family Camping, 2022 South Beach Stub Stewart Cabin Camping April 2022 Nehalem Bay Family Camping 2021 We didn’t let a global pandemic ruin all of the fun! Families gathered on the coast of Oregon and enjoyed time together (socially-distanced). We had a beach bonfire and morning storytimes, and families had plenty of time to get to know eachother. Summer 2020, Champoeg – canceled due to Covid-19 Summer 2019, South Beach State Campground On this trip, families trekked to the lighthouse nearby for a tour, and enjoyed tidepooling together. And, found an inland lake to swim in that was warm. Summer 2018, Fort Stevens Washington A trip into town was a highlight, as well as a tour of the shipwreck in Fort Stevens! Lots of history to learn together! Summer 2017, Honeyman State Park This camping trip was all about adventure! We learned how to sand board! Summer 2016, Tumalo State Park Summer 2015, Nehalem Bay State Park Homeschooler Trip to Europe June 2015 AP European History 12 Day Tour June 2015 (Cities: Rome, Florence, Paris, Normandy, London Battleground Lake Family Camping 2014 Village Home families had a wish list of things they wanted for camping and we were able to oblige! Battleground Lake is conveniently located less than an hour from Portland, it’s warm and dry with on-site group activities and water play. Campers were swimming, boating, tubing, rafting every day, all day long! Families not able to camp were able to join the group for an easy day trip. South Beach Family Camping 2013 We returned to South Beach for the amazing beach experience and educational opportunities available in Newport. From early morning clamming when the tide was low, to a bike ride and visit to Hatfield Marine Science Center, everyone bundled up and enjoyed their Oregon Coast beach experience. Tumalo State Park Family Camping 2012 Nestled in the heart of sunny central Oregon, Tumalo rests along Oregon’s spectacular Deschutes River. The campground is simultaneously close enough to the town of Bend to make a quick jaunt to the grocery store, but far enough away to escape the commotion. Everyone spent hours floating in the river, and soaking up the beautiful scenery. Nehalem Bay Family Camping 2011 Manzanita is a great beach town, albeit windy! The group enjoyed easy access to the beach and the town life. Watching the sun set over the ocean in the shadow of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain is a highlight. Some folks tried their hand at kayaking too! Tugman Family Camping 2010 Tugman State Park is relatively unknown — a private hideaway on the wondrous south coast, approximately 3.5 hours from the Portland metroplex was home away from home for VH families this summer. Situated on Eel Lake, swimming, canoeing, sailing and boating ruled the day. We enjoyed the famous Oregon Dunes Recreation area, less than a mile away. South Beach August 2009 Twenty-two Village Home families camped together at South Beach State Park. Together we played on the beach, explored tidepools, paddled in kayaks, swam across a fresh water lake, played field games, and sang around the campfire. It was the highlight of the summer for many! Camping in Bend Oregon August 2008 About twenty Village Home families will explore the high desert together in August. Our adventure includes a day at the High Desert Museum, naturalist walks, and sketching classes. We even have a few brave souls who are white water rafting! Fun for the whole family! Williamsburg and Washington DC June 2008 Forty-two Village Home travelers explored the roots of American History in a 10-day trip June 2008. We visited colonial Williamsburg, Pamplin Park, Jamestown, Yorktown, and Old Town Alexandria. In DC, we toured the monuments on bicycles, explored the Smithsonian Institution, and toured the US Capitol, among other things. Overall, it was a memorable trip full of laughs, learning, and fun! Camping at the Oregon Coast August 2007 Village Home families ventured to Honeyman State Park on the first overnight family travel event in Village Home’s history. Together, we climbed the sand dunes, went swimming and kayaking, and ate a lot of s’mores! The start of an annual tradition!