Summer Classes & Clubs

Please note that all classes are volunteer led. Class fees pay our rent! 

Ongoing Classes:

Minecraft Club

Every Tuesday starting June 11, 10:00-12:00

Drop-in club.  Bring your own computer with Minecraft installed and an account.  Play Minecraft with others in a shared world. Led by Theoden Suhrie. Suggested donation $5/session.

Kids Teach

Every Wednesday starting June 12, 11:00-12:00

Open time slot for your kids to teach their peers. Come teach and learn together. To get your child on our schedule, email info@dlcsantacruz.org with their topic and preferred date. Drop-in to attend as a learner. Suggested donation $5.
On June 19, Sam (age 12) will teach beginning animators how to create an animated film using the ipad app Koma Koma. Bring one 3-5 inch toy to make a short group film.

Project-based Art

Every Thursday starting June 20, 11:00-12:00
Student teacher Addy Reza, who is working towards a teaching credential and has taught art workshops at Palace Art, will lead a new art project each week. Ages: 9-12
$10/session plus material fee. 

June Events:

Settlers of Catan Game Day

June 6, 11am-1pm
Start your summer with a strategy boardgame. We will play Settlers of Catan. Bring a snack. Drop-in. Hosted by Sharon Korpi. Suggested donation $5.
 

Lentil Science

June 12 and 26, 1pm-2pm
We'll use trays of lentils and household objects to solve puzzles and explore mathematical ideas. Led by Rebecca Paten. $10/session.
Please pre-register here

 

Dungeons and Dragons

June 17- 21, M-F, 12:30pm-2:30pm
D&D 3.5A cooperative role-playing adventure. Pre-generated characters will be provided, but we will take some time on the first day to write back stories and customize. No evil, no player vs player. Ages 10-14 Previous role-playing experience helpful but not required. Limit 5 students. Led by Amanda Abronson. $50.
Pre-registration required. Please do that here

July Events

The Brave Learner Book Discussion Group

Thursdays, July 11 - Aug 15th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Homeschooling parents, join us for lively, six week discussion of homeschooling around the book The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart. Get your print or digital copy of the book and read Section 1 (Chapters 1-3) before the first session. From the description: "Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards? In this book, Julie Bogart distills decades of experience--homeschooling her five now grown children, developing curricula, and training homeschooling families around the world--to show parents how to make education an exciting, even enchanting, experience for their kids, whether they're in elementary or high school." Whether you've just started homeschooing or have been at it for years, this book provides inspiration and thought provoking ideas worthy of discussion!  Led by Heddi Craft, $60.  Please register here

Cooperative Storytelling

Jul 15,16,17,18, (M-Th), 12:30 pm
We will learn a little bit about story structure then work together to make simple stories and act them out. Reading/writing ability not required. Ages 6-10. Led by Amanda Abronson. $40.
Pre-registration required. Please do that here

Digital Storytelling with HTML

Jul 15-19 at 2 pm,
Learn some HTML and build an interactive story with reader choices and animated graphics.  Each student or group needs a laptop with a text editor and the chrome browser. Ages 8 and up. Rating: Mellow. Led by Melody Panttaja. $50.

Please pre-register here

Larp Weapon making

July 22-26 12:30-2:30

Basic techniques for making swords using foam, bamboo and duct tape.  Choose a weapon and use the techniques you've learned to get help making it. Taught by teen member Theoden.  Material fee due to instructor.  Ages: 5 and up provided kids can focus on cutting and taping for the 2 hour class.

Please register here.

Join the DLC

What is the DLC?

The DLC is a homeschool collaborative.

We support families who want to learn together outside of traditional school environments. We host social events for the broader Santa Cruz County homeschooling community.

We are different from learning centers that provide outsourced academic classes. We are 100% volunteer run and non-profit. We only offer classes and social activities based on what our active member families are passionate about teaching, learning, and doing together.

Our members enjoy access to our lending library of curricula, educational materials and learning games.

Spring Classes & Clubs

All classes and events are FREE to supporting members. 
Supporting members join as a family. The entire family gets free entrance to all DLC classes and events for the term of the membership.

All classes and events are open to the homeschooling community. You may pay for classes and events individually without becoming a member.

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.

Ancient Technologies

Mondays (June 3)
12:00 p.m.-1pm

Study history and pre-history through tech advances! We will start in the paleolithic 20,000 years ago, discussing what technologies "cave men" had at their disposal. Then we'll move forward in time towards agriculture, writing and beyond. Wherever possible, we will engage in hands on crafts and games (maybe even foods) relevant to each advance. 

Leader: Amanda Abronson

Rating: Tangy

Ages: 9-12

Wednesday Social Time

Wednesdays through June 5
12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Community event including dance, music, tea parties, crafts, building and active games.

Activity will change weekly, so please check our facebook group for each week's event.

Cost: $5-$10/members free

Mapping the World with Art
Thursdays (running through June)

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Using Ellen McHenry's "Mapping The World With Art" (not the similarly named David Smith's "Mapping the World By Heart!"), we will explore geography, history, cartography, and exploration.

Students will learn the geography of our world using activities and by drawing regional maps. The final project will be to complete a map of the world. The focus is more on physical geography rather than political boundaries.

This is ideal for kinetic and activity based learners.

Leader: Heather

Rating: Tangy

Ages: 11 and up

Class Fee: $10 per class free to supporting members

Material Fee $20

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

Board Meetings

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!

Third Monday of each month, 7pm.  Please email info@dlcsantacruz.org to confirm and let us know your are coming.

Learn in Community. Share Your Passion. 

If you feel a calling to learn along side your kids this school year, we invite you to organize a class at the DLC. We are accepting proposals for fall classes, activities, clubs, and events now.

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. 

Talk to your family. What do you want to explore together? What do you care about learning? What matters?

Submit your class, event, activity, or workshop proposal today!