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 wide spectrum of educational extracurricular activities that appeal to the extensive age and interest range of our kids.
We strive 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. Our group employs a student mentorship philosophy. Older students are expected and coached on engaging with younger students within the Co-Op to form a positive peer relationship.
OUR MISSION
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.
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.
WHAT IS THE VALLEY CO-OP?
The Valley Co-Op is also now an HSLDA Discount Group! The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has been protecting homeschool freedom and helping families make homeschooling possible for over 40 years. Over 100,000 member families trust HSLDA's team of lawyers to answer questions and resolve problems in homeschooling. HSLDA works with the homeschool community from local and state levels and speaks up for homeschooling in the courts, legislatures, media, and public arena. To learn more, visit HSLDA.org. Valley Co-Op Members can access a group discount for $15 off their yearly HSLDA membership. For more information on our group-specific discount code, please email us.
*You must be an active member of the Valley Co-Op to qualify for this discount
THE CO-OP 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 as a non-profit corporation in the State of Colorado can be found here (link coming soon).
Student Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year is FULL; 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). Students and parents/teachers are also able to request a digital student or teacher ID card and qualify for HSLDA membership discounts (see below). A limited number of reduced fees/scholarships are available each year.
VALLEY CO-OP PAST ACTIVITIES
