Receive our weekly newsletter in your inbox and never miss out on one of our great events, homeschooling classes, or clubs! Join Our Board! Would you like to be more involved in the homeschooling community? We invite you to join our board and help us plan for our future! Our next meeting is Monday, March 20th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at 111 Errett Circle, Santa Cruz (West Side, on the campus of the Garfield Community Church). We Run on Volunteer Energy!
Are you interested in helping as a volunteer? Even if you cannot make a commitment to serve every week, we still need alternates to cover for sick days and travel. You will earn credit towards membership to the DLC, you can bring your kids, and you will support our county's volunteer-led nonprofit for homeschoolers! For details, email info@dlcsantacruz.org.
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The Discovery Learning Center of Santa Cruz is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that provides learning resources to preschool, homeschool, and traditionally schooled families. The core of our mission is to provide a location and resources for pre-K through 8th grade family learning.
View Courses and Register Online!
Our spring semester has launched, but many classes are still open. Browse our online catalog and register online.
We have partnered with CourseStorm to bring you online registration and easy pay-ahead options for our exciting line up of classes and clubs. Register today!
We have partnered with CourseStorm to bring you online registration and easy pay-ahead options for our exciting line up of classes and clubs. Register today!
Do you have a class you would like to teach?
The sooner you can get your class proposal submitted, the better. You don't have to be a professional teacher, just someone who is passionate about a particular topic and willing to share your curiosity and expertise with the next generation.
You can lead a one day, one week, or all semester long activity this fall.
Submit your class, event, activity, or workshop proposal today!
Special Events
Fundraiser Yard Sale
Saturday, May 6th
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Spring cleaning? Please consider setting aside your gently used clothing, toys, small furniture, household items, etc. for the Discovery Learning Center's fundraiser in May.
On Thursday and Friday, May 4th & 5th, you can drop off your donations at the DLC from 10:00-12:00 (12:30 Friday) and get a tax deductible receipt.
Come Thursday morning and help make signs to put up around the neighborhood, 10:00-12:00.
Come to the sale, bring your kids, bring your friends! Kids are welcome to set up a small table to sell their own crafts, baked goods, etc.
Adult Classes & Support Groups
Homeschool Parent Support Group
NOTE: Only two more months (April & May)!
Join this supportive group of homeschooling parents where we share the joys and challenges of homeschooling over tea, coffee, and (always) chocolate! New and prospective homeschoolers area always welcome!
Questions about the support group? Please contact Heddi at heddicr@gmail.com.
Monday, April 10th, 7-9 pm
Leader: Heddi
Activity Rating: Adult & Babes in Arms
Join this supportive group of homeschooling parents where we share the joys and challenges of homeschooling over tea, coffee, and (always) chocolate! New and prospective homeschoolers area always welcome!
Questions about the support group? Please contact Heddi at heddicr@gmail.com.
Monday, April 10th, 7-9 pm
Leader: Heddi
Activity Rating: Adult & Babes in Arms
Volunteer Opportunities
DLC Board Meeting
Our board meetings are always open to anyone who would like to get involved. Do you have an idea about how the DLC could better support local homeschoolers? Come share it with the board!
Monday, March 20th: 7-8:30 p.m.
Just in case you missed the big announcement, the DLC is going to be moving this summer! We found a wonderful new location at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley.
We will continue to offer lending library services and host classes at this new location this fall.
Our new address will be:
5271 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Important Dates to Remember:
May 6th, 9:00 - 1:00 - DLC fundraiser yard sale (at our current location, 111 Errett Circle, Santa Cruz). Kids are welcome to set up tables where they can sell their homemade crafts or baked goods.
May 14th - Painting rooms at the new location.
Sign up here to help.
May 22nd - 26th - Packing up the lending library
Sign up here to help
Sign up here to help
Hot dog/veggie dog lunch and ice cream social for the DLC community and the congregation of St. Philip's to get acquainted. Come and tour the new facility!
September 5th - First day of fall classes
If you have an idea for a class proposal, use this form to submit it to our board!
We are offering our current members $10 off all levels of Fall or School Year Memberships. We hope you'll make the move with us to Scotts Valley and continue to support our county's only homeschooling non-profit. Join or renew today online.
Our workshops are free to supporting members. We request a $2-$5 (sliding scale based on what you're comfortable with) donation per family for each class day of all others to help support the DLC. Some classes have an additional materials fee listed in the class description.
NOTE: The DLC is not a drop off program. If you wish to leave the DLC campus while your child is participating in a class, activity, or club, then you must arrange for another parent or caregiver who will be staying on campus to supervise your child.
MONDAY
The Wheel Tooth about Gears
Explore the world of hands-on mechanics using LEGO materials! Students work individually to build moving models from an assortment of bricks, numerous gears, wheels and axles. Discover how gear arrangements can change the direction of motion as well as the amount of force in machines. Using a variety of mechanical components, your LEGO models all really work! You choose which machines to construct like the dancing birds, monkey drummer, or spinning top. Students won’t take their LEGO projects home but parents are invited for demonstrations.
Mondays April 17 - May 1st: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Age Range: 7-12 years
Activity Rating: Tangy
Instructor: Kristine North
Cost: $9 registration fee, $52 to teacher fee to be paid at first class
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/the-wheel-tooth-about-gears?search=wheel
TUESDAY
U.S. Constitution Basics
We will look at the history and basic layout of the Constitution as well as learn about the three branches of government and the Bill of Rights.
Tuesdays April 11 - May 2nd: 10:30 - 11:30
Age Range: 13 and up
Activity Rating: Tangy
Instructor: Melody Panttaja
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/u-s-constitution-basics
Big History
Big History brings to life an audacious idea—a single course that covers the complete history of people and the Universe. By sharing the big picture and challenging students to look at the world from many different perspectives, we hope to help them better understand how we got here, where we’re going, and how they fit in. We will be using the Big History Project (bighistoryproject.com) as our main source of material.
Tuesdays: 12:00 - 1:00
Age Range: 13 and up
Activity Rating: Mellow
Instructor: Heddi Craft
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/big-history
Teen Lit: The Book Thief
The Book Thief is just a small story really, about, among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. This class will explore both critical and creative responses to the novel.
Tuesdays April 13th - May 23rd 1:30 - 2:30
Age Range: 13 and up
Activity Rating: Mellow
Instructor: Heddi Craft & Connie Corona-Falls
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/teen-lit-the-book-thief
Writing Individually Together
For more information, contact Deb Bell at tinkerbellwordsmith@gmail.com
Tuesdays, 4:00 - 6:00
Age Range: independent writers of any age through adult
Activity Rating: Mellow
Instructor: Deb Bell
Full Class Description & register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/writing-individually-together
Tuesdays, 4:00 - 6:00
Age Range: independent writers of any age through adult
Activity Rating: Mellow
Instructor: Deb Bell
Full Class Description & register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/writing-individually-together
WEDNESDAY
United States Geography
In this six week class, we'll learn about U.S. geography. We'll explore the major regions of the U.S. and learn more about the 50 states. This will build on the just completed World Geography class, but you need not have taken that class to participate in this one.
Wednesdays, March 29- May 10, 10:30-11:30
Age Range: 9-12
Activity Rating: Tangy
Instructor: Heddi Craft
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/united-states-geography
THURSDAY
No classes this week - but come and make posters for our yard sale 10-12!
FRIDAY
Early Childhood Co-op
Parent co-op hosted by the Discovery Learning Center for families with children ages 2-6. Friday Co-op is currently full.
Upcoming Classes & Clubs:
Writing and Bookmaking Workshop
Kids will have fun writing and learn how to support each other. Each session will include a quiet writing time and a sharing session. We'll also play games, do writing explorations and look closely at literature examples to see how different authors practice their craft. We'll continue to explore different ways to publish and share our work from traditional bookmaking to computer options. There will be plenty of social time. Kids will be expected to do some writing between sessions and to share. Kids choose what they write. Any genre is fine, fiction or nonfiction.
Open to interested writers 11 and up. (Younger if highly motivated). Reluctant writers and dyslexic/dysgraphic kids are fine, although parents should plan to be a scribe if necessary. Kids should plan to attend regularly.
Six twice-monthy sessions.
Alternating Thursdays: 9:30-12:30
Activity Rating: Mellow
Leader: Charlotte McManus-Guthrie
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/writing-and-bookmaking-workshop-spring-session
Beginning Spanish
This will be a continuation Spanish class from last year, open to new students. We will continue to conjugate verbs, structure sentences, and conversation, explore culture and current topics. This class is highly interactive, engaging and has developed into more of a group structure where students assist one another and develop new methods to learn and understand Spanish.
Tuesdays: 3:00 - 4:00
Age Range: 11 and up
Activity Rating: Tangy
Instructor: Connie Corona-Falls
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/beginning-spanish
Tuesdays: 3:00 - 4:00
Age Range: 11 and up
Activity Rating: Tangy
Instructor: Connie Corona-Falls
Full Class Description & Register on CourseStorm:
https://dlcsantacruz.coursestorm.com/course/beginning-spanish
Book Club
Please contact Charlotte McManus for more information at santacruzhomeschoolbookclub@gmail.com).
DLC Activity Ratings
Mellow- this activity is calm and tends to be focused and/or structured, good for sensitive kids
Tangy- this activity is a mix of calm and high energy periods, good for kids who can focus for short periods of time but also like to get up and move around
Spicy- this activity is high energy with a lot going on, good for kids who like to be busy and active
