Setting up a co-op
Who is in charge?
The person(s) who creates and/or leads the co-op in question is "in charge".
It is the co-op leaders' right and responsibility to
determine the purpose of the co-op
determine age requirements of participants
determine club size limit, if necessary (you can start with 5 kids - it doesn't have to be 40!)
set up meeting frequency, time and place (this can be your home)
maintain a relationship with the owners/operators of meeting place
determine and plan the content of the co-op
determine the requirements for the co-op participants and their parents
set and publish rules
enlist assistance if needed
provide the news coordinator with these details in a timely manner so they can be advertised and included on
the group calendar.
Let me know (jeri@checnews.org) if you would like to offer a co-op for next year. Just to be clear: I do not
"approve" co-ops; I provide information to prospective co-op leaders regarding the current schedule of ongoing
co-ops to try to minimize conflicts, advertise them on the website, and schedule them on the group calendar.
Scheduling conflicts will at times, however, arise and thus members will need to choose what works best for their
own families.
Examples of past and ongoing co-ops:
High School Biology. Purpose: cooperating to meet experiment requirements of the course & to share expense of
equipment. Met: in a home at irregular intervals according to the schedule for field trips or experiments.
Leadership: 1 parent "facilitator" provided supplies, direction, and oversight - students were expected to work
cooperatively, without undue help from facilitator, and to come to class prepared. Annual fee charged to cover
supplies, Size: 5 students, Length: one school year (has been offered from time to time by different moms facing
high school biology).
Beautiful Girlhood Club - Purpose: a history club for girls grades K5-5th, educational, but not curricula-specific,
crafts, and fellowship. Meeting: monthly at a church. Leadership: 1 coordinator, 4 station leaders with
parent-helpers scheduled each month. Size: +/-35 students, Annual fee charged to cover supplies and gift to
church. Length: has been annual, leadership has changed as students of leaders have "outgrown" the group.
Lego Club - Purpose: fellowship and early speech-giving skills for elementary aged children; met: monthly. 2
leaders, parent-helpers scheduled each month, no fee, Size not limited, Length: school year, has recurred,
leadership has changed as students of leaders have "outgrown" the group.
.
Knitting Club - purpose: learn skill and fellowship for middle and high school girls, Met: at regular intervals in
leader's home. Leader one skilled mom. Size: +/-8 students, No fee, but cost in supplies provided by student's
family, length: one school year.
Note: Several DADs have offered co-ops - Boys' Club (K-5), Aeronautics (6th-8th), upper level Science courses
(9th+), Geography (6th+), and Science & Technology (6th-8th). We find they receive a wonderful response,
especially from boys. The Dad-led co-ops have most often been offered as a monthly afternoon co-op, requiring
Dad to be away from work only one afternoon a month (supportive spouses & parents appreciated!).