Parent Volunteers - What does it look like to participate as a parent volunteer?
Parent Volunteer Roles
Each Family Member is expected to participate and be present during each Co-Op day each week they are attending. Please see below for more information on each Role. These are simply brief summaries of those roles, and they may be further expanded on during the sign-up process which happens during Fall and Spring Session Registration.
01.
Parent Facilitator
This is a parent who plans to host a class for 10 weeks (there for 10 lessons) during one of our sessions. There may be 2 parent facilitators per classroom, and they may work together in whatever capacity they would like. Responsibilities include planning lessons, providing materials, leading discussions and classes, and guiding children through the different activities.
June 1, 2025, we will open up the form to submit to be a Parent Facilitator for our Fall and Spring 2025 to 2026 co-op sessions. You do not need to have a full lesson plan put together but a general idea of what type of class/meet up you would like to host. See below for past ideas.
02.
Parent Helper
This is the role of most of our co-op parents - you will be expected to help set up and take down one of the rooms during co-op days. You are expected to help assist the parent facilitator during their class period. Tasks included by not limited to -- help setting up tables and chairs, sweep, wipe down tables and chairs, assist your own child or others with projects, help put away chairs and tables, take out garbage, etc.
** Parents with toddlers will be placed with their other children. Toddlers may either be in the classrooms with their siblings OR they will be asked to play at the playground. More information about this when registration opens up.
03.
Substitute Parent Facilitator
EVERY parent will be required to select 2 groups, whether their child's group or not, to prepare a single class activity that, if called upon, they can use to fill in for a facilitator. Ideas include having a craft day, a STEM project, or other single day projects. The activity does not need to be related to the class you are filling in for. Co-Op also has access to Mystery Science which is an online grab-and-go science activities that will be available for Substitute Facilitators.
**Parents with toddlers may not be exempt from this requirement but will likely not be asked to lead a class unless they feel comfortable.
Examples of Past Classes
Here are some great examples of past classes to hopefully inspire future classes AND give an insight to what type of classes we host.
Mighty Minnows - Ages 4 to 6
* Nature Crafting - using different items to craft fun items.
*Ocean Explorers - crafts centered around lessons about the ocean and animals that lived there.
*Human Body - crafts centered around different aspects about the human body
*North American Animals - crafts centered around the different animals found in North America
Famous Flounders - Ages 7 to 9
*Marine Biology - learning about animals in the ocean and hands on projects about them
*Beach Biology - animals found at the beach and the different fossils found there
*Camp Cooking Class - class focused on outdoor cooking skills
Tenacious Tarpons - Ages 10 to 12
*Art and History with Beatrix Potter - learning about history through the life and tales of Beatrix Potter and the various watercolor techniques
*Nature Study - nature journalling and learning about Florida local habitats
*Permaculture and Gardening - learning how to manage and build gardens
*Survival Skills - learning basic aspects of survival skills such as building shelters and knot tying
Salty Snooks - 13+
*Florida Geology - study of rocks and Florida's natural geology such as sinkholes and limestone
*Photography Class - study of photography and various skills for taking photos
*Philosophy Class - study of ancient philosophers and mindfulness