Lemon Bay Homeschool Explorers
Fall and Spring Homeschool Co-Operation
Website updated as of Summer 2025.
Looking for an "old-school" Co-operative Learning Group that is hands on, volunteer based, and family centered? You have come to the right place!
We are a project-based learning Co-Op located in South Sarasota County Florida. We are a family and volunteer centered group that focuses on building community and working together. We are looking for families who encourage self-directed learning, exploring outside, teaching classes with mindfulness about ourselves and nature, and exploring our local history and habitats. We are focused on child-led experiences with parent guidance, learning life skills, hands on skills, and building social connections. Our mission is to provide a fun Co-Op that provides opportunities for kids to explore, enjoy their friends, and spend time learning as a group. We strive to provide a relaxed Co-Op experience where the focus is not the solely the learning material but an emphasis on the community being built.
Check out the Gallery for peak into our coop!
LBHE is an all-inclusive, no religious affiliation, and secular co-op that's goal is to provide a fun, consistent, educational environment for local families. The goal of the classes is to provide some structure with lots of hands-on exploration that has ties with project-based education, child led discussions and exploration. The goal for cost point is to ensure that the payments primarily cover the cost to rent the space, supplies for teachers' classes, and possibly some additional activities for the group. We do not participate in any scholarship programs.
General Information
Membership
Here is a breakdown of our Membership process.
Family Membership: $30 per year per family. This membership must be paid by ALL families before they can sign up for any sessions. This gives families access to our Facebook Group, early signups for activities, and priority signups for our 10-week Fall and Spring Sessions.
Fall/Spring Session Membership: Between $100 to $160 per session per family due before each session begins. Due dates vary as well as cost based on funds remaining from previous year AND when the facility has availability. This gives families access for their children to participate in each Co-Op learning experience. Must be a Family Member.
Volunteer Facilitator Membership: This family disregards Fall/Spring Session Membership fees. IF a parent volunteers to provide a parent-lead learning experience then their children are able to participate in the Fall/Spring Sessions without paying for that session. Additionally, co-op provides supply funds to help with supplies needed to facilitate those lessons. Must be a Family Member.
Who we are
Our goal as a cooperative learning group is to continue to provide a low-cost learning group experience in a more "traditional" setting. We do NOT take any scholarships. We are NOT a drop off. We are working to build friendships - for parents and kids - as well as providing low-cost options for those that either do not want to participate in scholarship programs, are not eligible, OR do participate but looking for a group like this.
We are located in Venice, FL and have many different families from all of South Sarasota County. This includes the communities of North Port, Englewood, Venice, and surrounding areas.
LBHE is an all-inclusive with no religious affiliation secular co-op that's goal is to provide a fun, consistent, educational environment for local families. The goal of the classes is to provide some structure with lots of hands-on exploration that has ties with project-based education, child led discussions and exploration.
Check out more information about Group Learning and the Parent Volunteer Infromation.
Registration
Registration for Fall/Spring session happens 2 times a year. Each Session is 10 weeks long with a mid-session break.
We have two stages of registration for each session. First is Priority Registration, this includes all families who have paid the Family Membership Fee. This gives them the chance to register their children for classes first, this does not guarantee they will get a spot if they do not register. Next, we offer Open Registration, this is for any family that is not already a member and wants to join.
Once Registration is completed, families should join the Facebook group for class updates, class rosters, and any additional information for coop.
Family Membership Sign-Ups are taking place starting June 1, 2025. You may join then to receive priority registration in the future! Follow this button to get to the Forms Page.
