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FAQs



Q:

When and where does EarthSchool meet?

A:

EarthSchool gathers weekly on Thursdays from October to May in Gorham.

Additional Gatherings:

  • ES Summer outdoor adventure group: through the summer months explore beautiful Maine, build and maintain connections with other homeschoolers.
  • ES Community gatherings: rotating location monthly through the school year for all our members (part-time & full-time) to build and maintain connections and participate (or not) in seasonal celebrations.

Q:

What types of classes are offered?

A:

Class offerings are dependent on what parents (and teens!) have volunteered to teach. Each session has a variety of classes for all age groups. Past sessions have included art (painting, clay, sewing), theater, outdoor skills, cooking, math games, creative writing, entomology, and much more. 

NOTE: Our community has opted for a free-flowing open-ended structure to build our friendships and reduce stress as we collectively recover from the past 2 years of COVID. We are currently offering unstructured socialization, games, sports, crafts, and "pop-up" style classes.

Q:

What is the age range?

A:

EarthSchool usually has 45-50 member families, with children ranging from newborn to 18 years old.

Q:

What does a typical day at EarthSchool look like?

A:

EarthSchool members arrive at 9:30 am to help set up our rental building. Two classes are held from 10:00-11:00 and 11:00-12:00, then we break for lunch from 12:00-1:00. There are two more classes from 1:00-2:00 and 2:00-3:00, then members put away chairs and tables and clean up. EarthSchool does not have "drop-off" classes - all children must have their parent(s) or another responsible adult at the campus for the day.

Our community has opted for a free-flowing open-ended structure to build our friendships and reduce stress as we collectively recover from the past 3 years of COVID. We are currently offering unstructured socialization, games, sports, crafts, and "pop-up" style classes. Members arrive anytime they want! If you want to attend a particular pop-up class that someone is offering or you are offering a pop-up class, you'll need to arrive before the planned start time. Most families arrive around 10 am and stay until 2-ish.
 

Q:

What does it cost to join EarthSchool?

A:

We offer two membership tiers:

  • Tier 1: Attendance on campus in Gorham, plus all of Tier 2 benefits. | Cost: $200/year/family.
  • Tier 2: Access to our private online community and our community events (e.g. Annual camping, Summer Events, Tabletop Gaming events, Dances, Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine passes, access to our private Minecraft server, etc.) | Cost: $60/year/family. 

Payment plans and a sliding scale are available. Some teachers may also require a fee to cover the cost of supplies for a particular class.

Q:

How much of a time commitment should I expect as a member?

A:

EarthSchool runs on the energy of its members. Families have many volunteering options to choose from, so all members can contribute according to their strengths. All parent members are required to actively participate.

Q:

How do I get more information about EarthSchool of Southern Maine?

A:

If you have any more questions, please get in contact with us at membership@earthschoolmaine.org. If you would like to request membership for your family for the upcoming school year, please fill out our membership application.