FAQs

Location & Logistics

Q:	Do I need to live in Cass County?
A:	NO! We have no residence requirements. Many of our members live in communities within 30 minutes or so of Cass County, as any of the events happen here, but we go all over the metro area for field trips. There are many advantages to membership in our group, and if you find those to be of value to your family, we would love to have you as part of our group.

Q:	Where do you meet?
A:	We do not have a specific meeting place, as we do not have an “official”, regularly-scheduled meeting. When you receive the list of events, locations are provided. Our park days tend to move around, as we are blessed with so many great parks in our area, as do our Moms’ night out venues.

Can I bring friends, grandparents, cousins with me on field trips?

Your family’s membership fee covers your own immediate family (mom, dad, and children in your home ages birth through senior in high school) and does not include any guests. We of course understand extinuating circumstances, though, so please reach out to the board with any questions. If you have friends interested in joining, they will need their own family membership, and can join here on the website. We would love for them to join our group! Again, if you have a unique situation, don't hesistate to reach out.

Who can attend a field trip- can all my children come, or do I need to get child care?

The answer to this question varies, depending on the event or field trip, and what the limitations are for attendance. We make every effort to allow siblings to attend age-specific groups, as we know sometimes child care for other siblings in other age groups is just not feasible. Each event’s details will be communicated on the event page where you sign up, so you will have all the details before deciding whether to sign up or not. If you have a unique situation, though, the event coordinator's email is also on the sign up page, and you are encouraged to contact them with questions.

Do you have monthly meetings?

Yes- have a monthly Moms-Only Activity. Each month’s location and date/time is different, but the intent is the same: to spend time with other homeschool moms, supporting one another in our homeschooling journeys. (if you are a dad and would like to tag along, you're welcome too) We have a Mentor Mom on our board who works hard to create community within the membership, and she plans at least one event each month based on suggestions and ideas of our members.

Where are events held?

Well, our seasonal events (holiday parties, etc) typically happen in Cass County, as well as our Park Days, but may also be in other places, if a coordinator would like to visit an park in another county in the metro area.

Field trips, however, go all over - even as far as St. Joseph, MO and Lexington, MO this year. We tend to view the entire metro area as fair game for our calendar, so take a look at the sneak peek on the home page for a list of where we're headed.

Is this a drop-off group, or do I need to stay?

No drop offs here- we are a group for families, run by families. You are responsible for your children on a field trip, with the exception of a few drop-off events for our teens that exclude younger siblings. Your presence with the group is so helpful to everyone in attendance, and we encourage you to get to know the other CCHE members at the events you attend. Many of us have made lasting friendships with other homeschooling families.

Events & Benefits

Q:	Do you have any social activities?
A:	Yes! We have all-family events (park days, holiday parties, field day), age-specific events (teen, pre-teen, older kids, and younger kids), and moms-only events (see above), along with lots of field trips and other benefits.

Q:	Do you have any more "educational" field trips?
A:	Absolutely! As homeschoolers, we understand the immense value in the museums, cultural centers, art museums, musical ensembles, theater programs, and other amazing educational resources in our community. Going as a group sometimes yields a significant discount as opposed to attending just as a family, and we pray this benefit can be used to great advantage by your family.

Q:	Can I just attend certain types of group activities? Just educational field trips or just holiday parties?
A:	Yes! We pray our group is a blessing to ALL families who choose to place membership with us. We have no minimum sign-up requirements, other than your pledge to pay for and attend the events for which you sign up. YOU choose what you’d like to attend with your family. This group is truly what you make it.

What other benefits do you offer, besides organized field trips and events?

We offer standardized testing, a CPR certification class to high schoolers, a private Facebook group, and a chance to engage with other homeschooling families.

We would be remiss in not mentioning here, however, the discounted rates at which we can obtain entrance to venues around the metro area. As a not-for-profit educational entity, the majority of our field trips cost less than $8 per attendee, when an entrance fee is charged.

Who runs the events and field trips?

Everyone!

Our group is only possible due to the participation of every member family, both in attending and coordinating our field trips.

It is a requirement of every family to volunteer in some way this year, but we understand some families are in VERY busy seasons of life. If reading this makes you nervous, don't worry- email us. If you desire to be part of our group, we would love to have you join us, and will work with you to find a bit of volunteering that fulfills the requirement but does not add to your burden.

The best part of volunteering, in our opinion, is getting to know the wonderful families serving alongside you. While our group is an incredible monetary value, we believe the biggest value lies in the chance to engage and connect with other homeschooling families.

How can I help out?

If you attend an event, you are in the ideal position to ensure the event runs smoothly. We always need someone to ensure everyone is present at an event, so you may be asked to check folks in, or be someone who speaks with the venue on our behalf, or some other small job. With our holiday events we often need helpers for only a small portion of the event, or for help before and after with setup and cleanup. Many hands make light work! There may be other opportunities for your help to benefit our group, and we look forward to visiting with you and working alongside you this year.

Q:	Can you tell me what events are happening this year, so I can see whether it will be a good value for my family?
A:	We limit our calendars to current members only, but you can take a look at our homepage for a sneak peek of where we're headed this year.

Faith

Guidelines & Communication

Do you have attendance requirements?

No. Well, yes, in a sense. We do not have a required number of events you need to attend: YOU choose the events and field trips that best fit your family’s schedule. If you sign up, though, please attend! If you find you cannot, please let us know as soon as you are aware of the conflict: it will give a family on a waitlist an opportunity to attend. Note: please see our policies and procedures for information about refunds or recouping costs in certain instances where prepayment is required.

Can grandparents join?

If you are the primary caregiver for your grandchild(ren), and are homeschooling them or thinking about doing so, we would be honored to walk alongside you in your journey. Likewise, if you are a parent who heavily relies on grandparents to care for your children, we may make an allowance for your family, but please reach out to the board before adding any non-parent to your family group. Please email us at ccheinformation@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

What happens if I sign up and pay for an event but cannot make it?

Our events requiring pre- payment are non-refundable. With popular events, though, we do employ waiting lists, and the board is happy to help in this process.

If you’ve already paid for entry and the event does not have a waitlist, we do not issue refunds. When you sign up for an event, you are paying for our group to purchase you a ticket(s). We will encourage you to reach out to our membership, though, and ask if there’s anyone who would like your spot and is willing to reimburse you for your entry fee.

Can my child attend age-specific events for another age group, even if I don't have a child in that age group?

If you want a quick answer: no, unless their older sibling is a member of that age-specific group, and siblings are allowed. Our groups are given operating budgets for field trips, events, etc. based on the answers you give on the membership sign-up form, and you must stick with the group you chose at the beginning of the year. However: if an age-specific field trip is not full and has ample room for more participation, the group coordinator may notify the group at large and invite whomever would like to join.

Q:	Who do I speak with about ideas for field trips?
A:	We LOVE new ideas and suggestions for field trips! Due to the size of our group, we often need to plan for the whole year before the school year starts, and our calendar is typically pretty full when we start in September. LIkely we will place your idea on a list for next year!

Q:	When is the deadline for application?
A:	Our membership typically opens August 1st for the current school year. We ask our members to have their dues for the year and application turned in by September 1st, so we can plan budgets and get our volunteer calendar finalized. But we accept applications all throughout the year, so if you are new to the KC area or just found us, you are welcome!

Q:	Are you a not-for-profit?
A:	Yes, we are a registered not-for-profit organization.

Q:	Are you affiliated with a denomination or local church?
A:	We are NOT affiliated with any specific church, nonprofit, educational organization, or other group. If you have any further questions, please feel free to email us.