The Valley Co-Op was formed by a group of parents that have different homeschooling philosophies and methods, but who are all committed to giving our children the best education experience possible. We want our kids to succeed in all aspects of their life--academically, physically, emotionally, and socially.
We work to empower parents to provide educational and social opportunities to homeschool families in the Roaring Fork Valley. We believe in fostering a supportive and inquisitive community where all children can thrive. Our events are designed to cater to the diverse needs and interests of families from all backgrounds and circumstances, offering a spectrum of educational extracurricular activities that appeal to the wide age and interest range of our kids.
We hope to enhance the education parents are directing for their children in a way that compliments their lifestyle yet gives their children their best chance to succeed in and enjoy life. We also seek to connect parents with resources to do so outside of the Valley Co-Op Membership, primarily through our Resource Page.
Guided by Christian values, we seek to serve as a support system in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys for families engaging in alternative education by offering enriching extra-curricular opportunities suitable for a wide age and interest range of students, fostering a vibrant multi-age student community, and supporting students to succeed academically and socially on their education journey through practical experiences.
OUR MISSION
WHAT IS THE VALLEY CO-OP?
THE DETAILS
The Valley Co-Op meets twice a month from August to May in or around Carbondale, CO. At each meeting we have lunch together-picnic style-then an educational activity. All of our bi-monthly activities are sponsored by local organizations and are free to our Co-Op student members after their registration fee has been collected. Below you can see pictures from some of the activities we have done in the past. Our goal is to give our kids experience across a variety of extra-curricular disciplines while providing an opportunity to grow socially within a wide age range of students. We typically do not host activities relating to core curriculum, though we are happy to provide coordination for students seeking study groups or tutoring.
All students and parents must adhere to and sign our Code of Conduct. Parents must accompany their students to the Co-Op and a responsible party for each student must STAY for the duration of the event the student is participating in. Parents must also comply with and sign our Adult Code of Conduct to help ensure the safety of our students.
If you are interested in learning more about the Valley Co-Op, please read through this Overview. It gives a short summary of what the Co-Op entails, how it is funded, expected conduct, and structure. Our by-laws can be found here, and our Articles of Incorporation can be found here (link coming soon).
Student Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year will open on July 1, 2025; the registration fee is $200 per student.
The registration fee covers entry and supplies for all bi-monthly events from August through May (typically the first and third Tues of each month) as well as our Ice Caving Introduction Class (1 Saturday morning event in Jan or Feb, depending on weather), and a Valley Co-Op T-Shirt (this year's color is navy blue). A limited number of reduced fees/scholarships are available. Please click here for our financial assistance application. Click here for our 2025-2026 Tentative Schedule.