Homeschool Support Groups in Ontario

Family Village Homeschooling Association
Contacts: Kristina Garswood or Diane Pepin
Phone: 519-966-8036 or 519-256-3541
Email: FVHA@ (add familyvillage.ca to complete the email address)
Message Board: www.familyvillage.ca
Area Served: Message Board open internationally. Local focus group serving Windsor and Essex County
Description: A loosely affiliated group meeting monthly in members' homes in Windsor or Essex County. Approximately 25 people in the group at this point in time (fall 2007), with parents of children from preschool age to early high school. Day-to-day support takes place on the Family Village messageboard which is open to people around the world who are interested in Natural and Attachment Parenting. A large component of Family Village is the homeschooling.
Activities: field trips, both as a group and in conjunction with other local support groups.
Membership Fees/Requirements: There are no membership fees; donations are accepted at the meetings to purchase books or materials for our lending library. Field trips are funded cooperatively on an as-we-go basis.

Mothers Supporting Mothers in Home Education
Contact: Richard and Betsey Palmer
Phone: (519) 254-4032
2355 Gladstone, Windsor, Ontario, N8W 2N9.

Open Arms Homeschooling Group
Contact: Susan Brian or Susan Corchis
Phone: (519) 736-8164 or (519) 728-9704
Area Served: Windsor
Description: A non-sectarian organization for home schooling parents and children to gather for support, resource-sharing, friendship and fun.
Activities: Our learning-based activities have included: field trips, sports, yoga, theatre, science experiments, outdoor adventures, book circle, celebrations, cooking, crafts, overnight camping and singing. Each family contributes to the group such as organizing outings, activities for older/younger children, community outreach, set-up and clean-up, etc.

South Shore Christian Homeschool Association
Contact: Glenda Willemsma
Phone: 519-733-9616
Email: glenda.willemsma@ (add 3web.net to complete the email address)
Web Site: n/a
Area Served: Essex County
Description: Christian based but open to all homeschooling families
Activities: Support meetings, mom's breakfasts, newsletter, track & field, graduation, talent night etc
Membership Fees/Requirements: $25/year

Villa Villekula
Contact: Monica Reid
Phone: (519) 254-3593

The Chatham-Kent Ontario Homeschooling Support Group
Contact: Charlene Markovic
Email: charliehorse123@ (add hotmail.com to complete the email address)
Web site: http://chathamhomeschooling.bravehost.com/
Other Links: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chathamkentontariohomeschooling/
Message Board: http://chathamhomeschooling.proboards.com/index.cgi
Area Served: Chatham-Kent and surrounding areas

A Different Drum Sarnia Lambton (sister group to A Different Drum London)
Contact: Join the yahoo group and ask questions... someone will answer
Email: A_Different_Drum_Sarnia_Lambton@ (add yahoogroups.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: www.adifferentdrum.org
Other Links: yahoogroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A_Different_Drum_Sarnia_Lambton
and message board: www.adifferentdrum.org/phpBB2/
Area Served: Sarnia/Lambton and more
Description: respectfully open to all
Activities: member driven
Membership Fees/Requirements: none

Lambton Homeschool Support Group
Contact: Greg Mentley
Phone: (519) 882-1719
Email: im_atombi@ (add yahoo.com to complete the email address)
Web Site www.sarnialambtonhomeschoolers.com
Area Served: mainly Sarnia, Lambton, but also has members from Strathroy, Wallaceburg and Chatham
Description: Christian group run by a seven-member elected executive. Membership in LHSG includes membership in Ontario Christian Home Educating Connection (OCHEC) with access to quarterly OCHEC newsletter.
Activities: meetings and gatherings, planned field trips, semi-annual newsletter, lending library. The website includes a members-only section with
a "Members Chat" area, Photogallery Page, and a Calendar page of upcoming events.
Membership Fees: yearly membership fee of $15 CDN to help cover the costs of the newsletter and website.
Membership Requirements: agree to the group's protocols and policies, which include a Statement of Faith, Mandate, Responsibilities of Membership, Field Trip Code of Conduct, etc.

A Different Drum: Homeschoolers of London, Ontario
Contact: Donna or Teresa
Phone: (519) 457-7090 or (519) 680-1699
Email: differentdrum1984@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Message Board: www.adifferentdrum.org/forum3/
Yahoogroup: groups.yahoo.com/group/A_Different_Drum/
Area Served: London and surrounding area
Description: Our Goal, as a network of homeschooling parents, is to create a welcoming environment for ALL homeschoolers, fostering the development of friendships and community through participation in various activities and events.
Activities: see the website.

The Home Learning Connection
Contact: Rhonda
Phone: 519-868-6794
Email: homelearningconnection@ (add bell.net to complete the email address)
Web Site: . None at the moment
Area Served: Most activities take place in London and surrounding areas.
Description: We are a group of Christian Homeschoolers who get together for both social events and academics. Our goal is to support each other on our journey towards creating a homeschooling community that starts together, learns together, grows together, and stays together. Our intention is to keep the membership consistent so the kids can grow and learn together as a group. We communicate via email to plan social events, structured learning activities, parent meetings, and more!
Activities: Our social events include park days, swimming, bowling, sports, hiking, and library days, etc. If there is interest, we would like to organize interest clubs such as a lego club, scrapbooking club, etc., and also put together a science club and art club, in which the students can work towards participation in an end of year science fair and art exhibit. Our structured learning activities include occasional project clubs, cooperative unit studies, and also parent taught programs. Our activities are geared to children between the ages of 8-15, and most activities can be split into senior elementary and junior high. Ideally we meet once a week at minimum. Parent meetings are held once a month at select locations, usually during an evening. The meetings are for parents only. Our meetings begin with introductions, then we all have the opportunity to share resources we have discovered that we feel would benefit others. If there is a speaker, they would speak next, and finally we have a social spot which allows for questions and answers, as well as addressing individuals who are in need of support in a specific area. Homeschool related resources and items for sale (i.e. used curriculum, books, manipulatives, games) can be brought to each meeting and displayed for the members to purchase if they wish. We are currently working on a Monthly Awareness Theme Program to begin in the 2010-2011 homeschool year, and there will be field trips associated with the monthly theme. We do not continue school or parent meetings throughout the summer, but we continue our social events for those who are interested in keeping connected over the holidays.
Membership Fees/Requirements: There is no membership fee to join. Most of the activities we plan are free of charge or inexpensive. Anyone is welcome to organize events. We keep our costs down by meeting at locations that do not charge for use of space or require group insurance, and making use of public facilities such as libraries, parks, etc. We do ask that all parents commit to organizing events on occasion, and also do a little legwork to bring forward ideas for activities and spaces we may use for our group events. I will work along with any parent to ease the burden. There is also an option to participate in a group rate membership at certain local clubs so that we can plan regular academic and sports activities there. Plans are also underway to explore fundraising ideas to help reduce the costs of activities and community programs that will offer incentives to our homeschooled kids. Please contact Rhonda for further details on membership, activities, etc.

Elgin County Home Learners
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/elgincountyhomelearners/

Woodstock Home Learners
Contact: Contact person has moved. Looking for a new contact person / list owner - Please email WoodstockHL-owner @ yahoogroups.com for details
Web Site: n/a
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/group/WoodstockHL
Subscribe: WoodstockHL-subscribe@ (add yahoogroups.com to complete the email address)
Area Served: Woodstock, Oxford County and surrounding areas.
Description: Intended to be an all inclusive group for homeschoolers in the area, for open discussion, to plan events, activities, and play dates.

Brant - Norfolk Homeschool Connection
(previously Grand River Homeschool Network)
Contact: Karen
Phone: 519-484-2333
Email: secondchancekaren@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Website: n/a
Other links: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/brantfordhsconnection/
Area Served: Brant/Norfolk
Description: a group of unschooling homeschoolers who gather for field trips, concerts, hikes, activities and opportunities to make new friends.
Membership fees: No fee charged for group membership. The participating families will split the cost of workshops, field trips or the rental of recreation centres.

T.E.A.C.H. (To Educate A Child's Heart)
Contact: Lori
Phone: (519) 759-7605
Email:
Area Served: Brantford
Description: a Christian homeschooling support group

Caledonia
Contact: L. Bresnahan
Phone: (905) 304-5866
Email: lindiny@ (add aol.com to complete the email address)
Description: interested in starting a support group; can provide support and information to individuals interested in homeschooling.

Brant - Norfolk Homeschool Connection
(previously Grand River Homeschool Network)
Contact: Karen
Phone: 519-484-2333
Email: secondchancekaren@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Website: n/a
Other links: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/brantfordhsconnection/
Area Served: Brant/Norfolk
Description: a group of unschooling homeschoolers who gather for field trips, concerts, hikes, activities and opportunities to make new friends.
Membership fees: No fee charged for group membership. The participating families will split the cost of workshops, field trips or the rental of recreation centres.

Niagara Area Homeschool Group
Email: NiagaraAreaHomeschoolGroup-owner@ (add yahoogroups.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: n/a
Other links: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NiagaraAreaHomeschoolGroup/
Area Served: All Niagara Region
Description: An inclusive, informally structured group of home educating parents, interested in supporting all home educating parents. Group members include those who use traditional methods, Charlotte Mason, classical, unschooling and those who are seriously considering home educating. Everyone is welcome and group moderators encourage all persons posting to be kind, sensitive, thoughtful and inclusive with regards to their postings.
Activities: Parents are welcome to use this forum for announcing and extending invitations to various homeschool events, thus making field trips and other socially enriching activities open to many.

Hamilton Homeschool Association
Email: homeschool@ (add hwcn.org to complete the email address).
Web Site: penny.ca/homeschool
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/group/HamiltonHomeschool
Area Served: Hamilton Wentworth, Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Stoney Creek, Caledonia, Waterdown, Halton, and surrounding areas
Description: A network of homeschooling families and support groups. Offers local resources, activities, and support for homeschoolers.
Activities: Members arrange group events such as choir, field trips, sports and educational classes.
Membership fees/Requirements: Membership is free.

The Learning Community (TLC)
Email: 4trins@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Website: www.tlchomeschooling.com
Area Served: Primarily in the Burlington, Hamilton, Waterdown, Dundas and Ancaster Region - but all homeschooling families are welcome.
Description: TLC, The Learning Community is an inclusive organization of homeschooling families who come together on a regular basis to share our life and learnng experiences.

Catholic Home Schoolers of Halton
Contact: Catherine
Phone: 905-275-8446
Email: hscatholics@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: http://hscatholics.tripod.com
Area Served: Halton, Peel, Hamilton
Description: A group of Catholic home schooling families from the Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton area
Activities: Monthly children's meeting in Burlington, monthly moms' meeting in Burlington, field trips, Play Day in June
Membership Fees/Requirements: $5/month

The Homeschool Network
Contact:
Burlington and Waterdown: Deborah Smith, 905-681-2383, smith.deejay@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Oakville: 905-271-1732
Website: www.thnonline.ca
Other links: members only group e-mail list
Areas Served: Burlington, Waterdown, Oakville
Description: Secular homeschoolers, deschoolers and unschoolers - but all welcome.
Activities: THN has monthly family gatherings with 4 formal meetings a year. Weekly drop-in (Wednesdays) and drop-in swimming lessons twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday). Members only website and group e-mail list.
Membership fees/requirements: $15 annual membership fee.

TLC - The Learning Community
Email: tlc@ (add thelearningcommunity-online.com to complete the email address)
Website: www.thelearningcommunity-online.com
Area Served: Primarily in the Burlington, Hamilton, Waterdown, Dundas and Ancaster Region - but all homeschooling families are welcome.
Description: TLC, The Learning Community is an inclusive organization of homeschooling families who come together on a regular basis to share our life and learnng experiences.

Guelph Homeschool Group
Email Address: outreach@ (add guelphhomeschoolgroup.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: www.guelphhomeschoolgroup.com
Area Served: Guelph and area
Description: Offers support for new and established homeschoolers. The Guelph Homeschool Group is proud of its diversity and welcomes all varieties of homeschooling.
Activities: regular meetings, an extensive lending library, discovery kits, a wide variety of field trips and group learning activities, children and family social events, organized sports and lessons and an online support group.
Membership Fees: $25/year. Memberships run from September to September the following year.

Cambridge Area Home Learners
Contact: Brenda (general enquiries and activities for children age 10 and up) or Jen (activities for younger children)
Phone: (Brenda) 519-620-1016
E-mail: Brenda or Jen
Area served: Cambridge and surrounding area
Description: We are a small, diverse group of families committed to child-led learning and attachment parenting. Our goal is to promote friendships among our children and teens and to provide support for parents.
Activities: Member-directed events including co-op activities such as drama and crafts, as well as street hockey and martial arts for younger children.
Membership fees: No formal structure. Expenses for (and organization of) activities are shared among participating members.

Kitchener-Waterloo Christian Home Educator's Association
Contact: Donna Burkholder
Email: info@ (add kwchea.ca to complete the email address)
Web Site: www.kwchea.ca
Area Served: Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira, and surrounding areas (New Hamburg, Baden, Mannheim, St. Clements, Heidelburg, etc.)
Description: We are a Christian group, but are willing to have any join us that would feel comfortable in our group. KWCHEA does not require that all members agree with our Statement Purpose or our Statement of Faith. We do require that members accept that this is the policy of our group, and that all our support group activities will be conducted in a manner that is in line with our policy. This information is listed on our website. Our group is designed for families with children of all ages.
Activities: We meet together as parents one evening a month with the exception of July and August. Our monthly newsletter is picked up at the meeting or mailed to all those not at the meeting. We also have weekly activities, swim lessons, some group classes, and many field trips for our children. For more information, see our web page.
Membership Fees/Requirements: Registration for the first year is $35. Registration for second year and on is $25 a year.

Kitchener-Waterloo Home Learning Support Group
Contact: Donna & Paul Psutka
Phone: 519-664-2256
Email: dpsutka@ (add uwaterloo.ca to complete the email address)

Kitchener Waterloo Secular Community & Home Oriented Learners Activities, Recreation, & Support (KW SCHOLARS)
Contact: Joyce Crandell
Phone: 519-578-5488
Email: kwscholars@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Web Site: n/a
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/group/kwscholars
Area Served: Kitchener, Waterloo, and surrounding areas
Description: KW SCHOLARS is a network of people dedicated to the education of children without the use of public, separate, or private schools. It is a new, inclusive, member-operated secular network for home educators and those interested in home education.
Activities: This group is meant to bring together home educators, and those interested in home education for social and learning opportunities within Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas. Field trips, social groups, learning co-ops and other member-initiated activities will be available for all interested members.
Membership Fees/Requirements: Membership is free, however there may be fees to cover costs associated with some activities. Membership is open to all who are interested in home or community oriented learning for children of all ages, and who can commit to organizing one or more gatherings (learning activity, recreational event, or support meeting) per year.

A Sense of Wonder
Contact: Jennifer or Samantha
Phone: 519-275-3516 (J) or 519-273-4912 (S)
Email: jennifer_kipp@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Area Served: Perth County
Description: a new [December 2005] homeschool group in Perth County offering encouragement, friendship and support for families choosing to learn together at home.

H.O.P.E. (Homes of Priority Education)
Contact: Jewel Cressman
Phone: 519-662-3104
Email: bjcressman@ (add alumni.uwaterloo.ca to complete the email address)
Web Site: http://hope.myhomebase.org/
Other Links: YAHOO Group: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/hope_stratford/ (must be a member to join Yahoo group)
Area Served: Stratford, Ontario and surrounding region
Description: We are a non-denominational Christian group. Members must sign our statement of faith. The group averages around 40-45 families each year.
Activities: We hold Support Meetings on the fourth Monday of the month (September, October, November, January, February, March, and April). These meetings are open to all and have a wide range of topics. A small library with support materials (no curriculum) is available for members at these meetings. Topics for support meetings are published in advance in our newsletter, The Hope Herald. It is published monthly from August through May and is the main means of communication for our group. We provide H.O.P.E. Days, which is a cooperative teaching opportunity. These occur on six Friday mornings, from 9:00 - 11:30, in the fall and in the spring to provide interaction, fun, and learning in a group setting. There is a nursery provided for the younger children and activity classes for the older children. There is a cost for H.O.P.E. Days above the H.O.P.E. registration fee, and parental involvement is expected. We plan many field trips and activities throughout the year. Members are encouraged to be involved and to contribute to the group by organizing, volunteering, and participating in events. Some activities include our Track and Field Day, skating and hockey on Fridays through the winter, Science, Geography and Biography fairs, Lego Contest, Talent Night, and many interesting and educational field trips.
Membership Fees/Requirements: annual membership fees are approx. $45/family. Members must sign our statement of faith.

Huron Homeschoolers
Website: http://huronhomeschoolers.synthasite.com
A new (as of Fall 2008) group of homeschoolers meeting regularly in the Goderich area. Monthly meetings at Heartland Missionary Church at 1:30pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month for a time of sharing and gym for the kids. For other activities, see the website for a calendar of events.

The Grey Bruce Homeschool Association
PO Box 718, Port Elgin ON N0H 2C0
Contact: Victoria Serda
Phone: 519.389.5779
Email: vserda@ (add animail.net to complete the email address)
Activities: organizes many regular activities and special events throughout the year. The group has an email list to connect families.

- map - county numbers - city and county names - support group names - main menu - top -

AIM HIGH (Homeschoolers in God's Hands)
Contact: AIMHIGHatCalvary@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Description: We are a group of Christian homeschool families but all are welcome.
Activities: We meet every other Monday in Owen Sound for a time of teaching our JK-high school students and for fellowship.

Dufferin Area Homeschoolers
Contact: Marni Walsh
Phone: 519-923-9998
Email: steve@ (add bakermagicshows.com to complete the email address)

The Headwaters Homeschooling Network
Contact: Amanda Philip
Email: thhn_info@yahoo.ca
Other Links: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheHeadwatersHomeschoolingNetwork
Area Served: Towns in the Hills of Headwaters, including Amaranth, Caledon, East Garafraxa, East Luther-Grand Valley, Erin/Hillsburgh, Melancthon, Mono, Mulmur, Orangeville and Shelburne.
Description: The Headwaters Homeschooling Network is a way to connect with homeschooling families living in the towns of the Hills of Headwaters. It's an informal way to make friends, find support, share ideas and have fun, for both kids and parents. All ages and methods of homeschooling welcome. New as of summer 2009.
Activities: Park days, field trips, get-togethers, picnics, holiday events and more. The group is new, and activities can be changed and added as members wish. Some ideas for the future might be book clubs, craft groups, support or information meetings for parents, etc, all organized by parents/members of the group. Parents may also want to arrange special ongoing activities (eg. swimming or dance lessons) or provide music or language lessons in their homes, if there is interest among the group.
Membership Fees: None

Barrie Secular Homeschoolers
Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/BarrieSecularHomeschoolers/
Area Served: Barrie and surrounding Simcoe County area
Description: Secular homeschoolers living in Barrie or the Simcoe County area. A place for families that are homeschooling for reasons other than religion to come together and support each other.
Membership Fees/Requirements: None

Barrie Support Group
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/group/barrie_homeschoolers/
Area Served: Barrie and area
Description: for local homeschoolers to exchange information about events, meetings, outings, also to meet newcomers to Barrie and to connect homeschoolers throughout the area.

Home Educators' Area Resource Team (HEART)
Contact: Michelle Houghton
Phone: (705) 445-3638
Email: psalm127@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: n/a
Area Served: Collingwood, Stayner, Wasaga Beach and area
Description: Christian-based group but open to any who will adhere to our Protocol statement. Currently consists of 25 families.
Activities: Meetings for teaching parent on 3rd Saturday of the month, children's activities on Thursday afternoons October to May.
Membership Fees/Requirements: $10 and signing Protocol Statement.

S.C.H.I.L. (Simcoe County Homeschool Info Link)
Contact: Henry Kiezebrink - editor
Phone: 705-737-3135
Email: s.c.h.i.l@ (add hotmail.com to complete the email address)
Website: www.parentsguideconf.org (see link to SCHIL)
Area Served: Simcoe County/Barrie, Ontario area
Description: Christian, monthly newsletter published every month from September to June. Fee $22.00 before July 31st ($30.00 after July 31st). Subscription rate includes chapter membership to OCHEC (Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection). Newsletter is the information source for the activities of our homeschooling network of families which include: swimming, group french lessons, choir, drop-in, community centre, world view course, drama, teen group, field trips etc...
Membership fees/Requirements: Some activities require having a SCHIL membership/subscription AND some activities have additional fees for participation in those activities.

BCEN (Brampton Christian Educators Network)
Leadership Team: Cindy Stewart, Wendy Sutherland, Helve Young
Contact: Helve Young
Phone: (905) 494-0219
Email: bcen2008 (add @yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Area served: Brampton, and surrounding areas (primarily within a 30 minute drive)
Description: A Christian support group, run as a cooperative effort whereby everyone benefits from the strengths of each individual member. Founded in 1990 out of a desire to provide compassion, wisdom, love and support to each other on the homeschooling journey, the group's vision is "Families Caring for Families".
Activities: Monthly support-group meetings are held at a member's home or outside facility, focusing on relevant issues with homeschoolers, and may include a guest speaker. Weekly emails keep everyone informed of all upcoming activities, and announcements. Monthly mail-outs to every family include Scholastic Flyers. A free lending library, open weekly, is offered for both parents and children, with a growing collection of material. Swim lessons are coordinated through the YMCA and/or Brampton Recreation Centre. A weekly gym program is provided through the YMCA. Field trips are planned by individual members. Coops provide opportunities for the children to get together with other homeschoolers, through educational and just-for-fun activities. A yearly project night gives the children an opportunity to showcase their interests and projects they've worked on through the year. A yearly Christmas activity is planned for the whole family, as well as a year-end BBQ. Other activities are offered as they are planned by individual members.
Membership Fees and Requirements: $30/year (includes OCHEC membership). Membership is open to all homeschooling families who are in agreement with the group's Constitution both in theory and practice.

Catholic Home Schoolers of Halton
Contact: Catherine
Phone: 905-275-8446
Email: hscatholics@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: http://hscatholics.tripod.com
Area Served: Halton, Peel, Hamilton
Description: A group of Catholic home schooling families from the Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton area
Activities: Monthly children's meeting in Burlington, monthly moms' meeting in Burlington, field trips, Play Day in June
Membership Fees/Requirements: $5/month

Al-Manar Homeschoolers Foundation
Email: almanar@ (add sympatico.ca to complete the email address),
Web Site: www.alarqam.com/almanar
Description: a homeschool support group for Muslims in the Mississauga area.

Home Educators of Brampton
Contact: Pamela
Phone: 905-488-9081
Email: h.e.b.1@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Website: N/A
Area Served: Brampton and surrounding areas
Description: This is a support group for home schooling families in Brampton. We offer home based meetings where parents and children are welcome. We are a culturally diverse group and respect all teaching philosophies. In the summer months we plan outdoor meetings as well. Children in our group range from JK to High School in ages and we organize activities for the various age groups.
Activities: Some of our activities include play dates, holiday events, book clubs, arts & crafts and field trips. These activities are both fun and educational, while providing socializing opportunities for children.
Membership Fees/ Requirements: None
Other: Whether you are home schooling or just considering it, please feel free to contact us.

Mississauga Home Schoolers
Contact: Sheila
Phone: 905 274-3395
Email: hs-sheila@ (add gyges.org to complete the e-mail address)
Web Site: www.mhs.gyges.org
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/group/mississaugahomeschoolers/ (our mailing list and discussion forum)
www.betzybooks.com
Area Served: Mississauga and surrounding areas
Description: about 50 families with children from preschool to high school age. We are a family oriented group and welcome all home schoolers, regardless of ethnic backgrounds, religion or style of home schooling.
Activities: drop-ins at Trinity Anglican Church, Port Credit from October to April. We sometimes hold meetings at the Kidsports on Dixie instead of the Church. Some families also meet at the Oakville YMCA for gym classes (requires YMCA membership). Individual parents frequently organize field trips and other activities open to all those who wish participate.
Membership Fees/Requirements: currently people only pay for the costs involved activities in which they participate. The group is very open ended and has no formal requirements other than an interest in home schooling.

The Home Educated Muslims -
Email: Thehomeeducatedmuslims@ (add islamonline.net to complete the email address)
Web Site: Thehomeeducatedmuslims.tk
Area Served: Mississauga
Description: Muslim Home School support group
Activities: We meet on the second Monday of each month to discuss teaching strategies and curriculum, as well as to plan and implement social and educational activities for children.

CHEN (Christian Home Educators Network)
Contact: Candis Babcock
Phone: 905-473-9620
Email: chennewmarket@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Website: chen-site.blogspot.com
Area Served: Newmarket
Description: Christian based but open to all faiths

Chrysalis Home Learning Resource Centre
Area Served: Scarborough
Contact: Lynn or Allison
Phone: (416) 529-4519 or (416) 287-3580

Home Educators of York Region
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HEYR/
An e-list to facilitate discussion and get-togethers amongst York Region homeschooling parents.

Homeschooling in Toronto
Contact: Sarah Feuerstein
Phone: (416) 461-8668
Email: hschool@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: hsintoronto.topcities.com for all Toronto support groups
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/Torhschool
Description: Homeschooling in Toronto is not itself a support group per se, but a website with all sorts information on homeschooling matters, news, events, support groups in the GTA, as well as access to the Toronto homeschoolers' email list, Torhschool.

Markham Support Group
Contact: Cynthia Meek
Phone: (905) 947-9845
Email: clacroix@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Area Served: Markham
Description: Open to new members.
Activities: Meets on the 3rd Sunday of each month at Chapters in Markham (Woodbine Avenue and Hwy. #7) inside Starbucks.

TORCH of the GTA (Traditions of Roman Catholic Homes)
Contact: Brenda
Email: torchofthegta@ (add hotmail.com to complete the email address)
Web site: Parent chapter www.catholic-homeschool.com
Area Served: Greater Toronto Area
Description: Traditions of Catholic Homes is a group which offers: both Academic and Faith building activities; resources; and support to homeshoolers.
Activities: Academic Enrichment Day tutorials, Virtue Building Boys and Girls Clubs, Book club, public speaking opportunities, moms night out, picnics and more
Membership fees or Requirements: Fees vary according to programs offered. Liability waiver and code of conduct forms to sign.

Toronto Alliance of Parent Educators T.A.P.E.
Contact: Andrea
Email: andrea@ (add stauber-nichols.ca to complete the email address)
Web Site: www.tapetoronto.net
Other Links: None that are available to the public.
Area Served: Toronto and surrounding.
Description: TAPE is open to all homeschooling families regardless of race, religion, financial background or educational philosophy. Our purpose is to share resources, ideas, and information, to encourage social activities for homeschooling parents and children, to organize field trips and to plan events. We encourage active participation from all of our members. Meetings, field trips, events, and instructional classes are organized and facilitated by any member of the group.
Activities: We have a weekly drop-in, in a community centre from fall to spring, and we meet at a large park during the summer. Various people organize field trips of all kinds throughout the year, i.e. Stratford plays, group camping trips, Renaissance Festivals, plays, art classes, book club, Milk Festival, history, drama, and music classes, and many more.
Membership Fees/Requirements: We charge $10 per year per family, and this goes towards administration costs and we use it to subsidize various events throughout the year. (If joining after April, then we ask for $5 for the 2nd half of the year.)

Toronto Christian Homeschoolers
Email: torontochristianhomeschoolers@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Website or other link: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/TorontoChristianHomeschoolers
Area Served: Toronto / GTA
Description: information and support group for Christian Homeschoolers in the Toronto/GTA.

Toronto East Enders Homeschoolers
Contact: Andrea
Email: irismooninthecity@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Web site: n/a
Area Served: Toronto and surrounding areas; everyone is welcome regardless of where they live.
Description: An inclusive group of several families who meet weekly from September to June. We meet every Monday afternoon from noon until 3:30pm at the Ralph Thornton Centre (765 Queen St E, just east of Broadview Ave.). Following this, we often head over to the playground at Jimmie Simpson Park (870 Queen St E) for outdoor play. Typically, the children who attend are from 2-12 years old, but families with older and younger children are always welcome.
Activities: Weekly get-together for games and activities.
Membership Fees/Requirements: None.

Toronto Home Educators (THE)
Contact: Monique Schwarz
Phone: 416-588-4974
Email: info@ (add torontohomeeducators.org to complete the email address)
Website: www.torontohomeeducators.org
Area Served: mainly Greater Toronto and surrounding area
Description: an inclusive group, run by volunteers, welcoming all styles and philosophies of homeschooling, as well as potential homeschoolers. The purpose of the group is to bring together homeschoolers to socialize and support each other, and to provide a way for each family to find other families doing the same things they are. The main difference between this group and other support groups is that the membership list is divided up by ridings, or electoral districts, so as to make it easier to find those homeschooling families who live closest to you.
Activities: All field trips, clubs, activities, and meetings are initiated and organized by THE members.
Membership Fees/Requirements: none.

Toronto Jewish Homeschoolers
Contact: Ellie Bass
Web Site:
Other Links: http://groups.google.ca/group/toronto-jewish-homeschoolers-group/
Area Served: Toronto, Thornhill, and other areas in and around the GTA
Description: This is a group for families in the Toronto Jewish Community who wish to homeschool or are already homeschooling their children. We would like to have a place for discourse, resources, and a broad exchange of ideas.
Activities: discussion, support, co-op planned
Membership Fees/Requirements: none so far

Toronto Muslim Homeschoolers
Contact: Atyah Khan
Email: atyah_k@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Website: none
Area Served: Toronto, GTA and Surrounding Areas
Description: To build a support network for present and future Muslim homeschoolers. To enrich each mother's unique homeschooling program through the continuous exchange of ideas and resources.
Activities: Monthly mothers' meeting. Members organize activities, events and field trips.
Membership Fees/Requirements: No membership fee. Members must attend monthly meeting.

Durham Parent Teachers
Contact: Janet David
Phone: (905) 683-5687
Email: janetdavid@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: n/a
Area Served: Serving a broad area--includes people from Courtice to Pickering, Scarborough and Bowmanville areas.
Description:All welcome no matter your style of homeschooling.
Activities: Many field trips and events. Monthly parent meetings -- call for meeting times and location.

Scarborough ~ Chrysalis Home Learning Resource Centre
Contact: Lynn or Allison
Phone: (416) 529-4519 or (416) 287-3580

Bridgenorth:
Contact: Marilyn & John Wilson
Phone: (705) 292-0266
Email: ics@ (add sympatico.ca to complete the email address)

Lakefield:
Contact: Judy & Dave Hyland
Phone: (705) 652-8473
Email: jdhyland@ (add nexicom.net to complete the email address)

Peterborough:
Contact: Bronwyn & Derek Perks
Phone: (705) 741-4955
Email: bperks@ (add pipcom.com to complete the email address)

Cobourg Encouraging Words Home Education Network
Contact: Judy Tait
Phone: 905-344-7093
Email: k.w.tait@ (add sympatico.ca to complete the address)

Quinte Christian Homeschoolers
Contact: Michelle Doyle
Phone: (613) 967-0386

Napanee and Area Home Educators Association
Contact: Angi Bodzasy
Phone: (613) 379-2873
Email: lilalo@ (add kingston.net to complete the email address)

Kingston Home Educators
Contact: Betty Marshall
Phone: (613) 384-7122,
Email: bettyamarshall@ (add hotmail.com to complete the address)
Web Site: none
Other Links: none
Area Served: Kingston, east to Gananoque, northeast to Westport, North to Sharbot Lake, and west to Napanee.
Description: Parents (grandparents too) meet in a Christian support group one evening a month at member's homes or Chapters Book Store. Occasionally, field trips and get-togethers are planned. Prayer support is ongoing for members.
Activities: Science Club takes place one afternoon a month. Group swimming lessons take place in September and March for 10 week sessions in Amherstview including free swim for $34.
Membership Fees/Requirements: none
Other: You can receive more information by asking to be put on an emailing list. Call Brenda Schell at 613-384-0113 or email her at schells@ (add larkson.net to complete the address).

Kingston Home Learners
Contact: Christine
Phone: (613) 384-7872
Email: kingstonhomelearners@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Website: http://kingstonhomelearners.wordpress.com/
Area Served: Kingston and area (Primarily within a one hour drive)
Description: We are an inclusive group open to ALL interested homeschooling families. Most activities are geared for the whole family, but a few are tailored for parents or a specific age group. New families are always welcome!
Activities: KHL offers a smorgasbord of activities to choose from throughout the year (fewer during the summer). Regular activities include; field trip co-op adventures, learning co-ops, clubs, special occasion activities, special interest activities, guest speakers, workshops… and more. We invite our members to join our Members Corner yahoo group where we keep our calendar of events and helpful databases, Field Trip Co-op yahoo group for those who wish to join the Field Trip Co-op, and/or our Off Topic Discussion yahoo group for those who are interested in more casual chats and support.
Membership Fees/Requirements: We don't have membership fees, but we do ask members to fill in an annual registration form and "contribute back" to the group on an annual basis. This helps us work together to spread out the workload, while ensuring activities are planned to meet the diverse interests of our membership. (There may be fees associated with participation in a particular activity, but we strive to keep costs minimal.)
Other: Families enjoy several discounts at area businesses with proof of membership. We also offer a free lending library, which is supported through our Scholastic Book Club orders, donations and fundraising.

Kingston Homeschool Connection
Contact: Crystal Lehtimaki, (613)530-3815, crystalize.musicstudio@ (add sympatico.ca to complete the email address)
Contact: Samantha Knapp, (613)634-8402
Contact: Gael Young, (613) 546-0120, gaelyoung@ (add infowest.ca to complete the email address)
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KingstonHomeschoolConnection/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=49622568864&ref=ts
Area served: Kingston and area
Description: active, inclusive homelearning group with a wide range of homelearning styles. All are welcome.
Activities: a wide range of activities including bowling, swimming, library programs, field trips, social evenings and more. We also hope to continuously build a directory of homelearners in the area so that homelearners are able to find other homelearners.
Membership Fees/Requirements: none

Brockville Home Learners
Contact: Carol Hardy
Phone: (613) 342-2410
Email: caroline@ (add northnetmedia.com to complete the email address)
Website: www.brockvillehomelearners.com
Area Served: Brockville
Membership Fees/Requirements: We do not have membership fees but our group depends on everyones willingness to work together and help plan activities.

Oxford Home Learning Association
Contact: The Grahams
Email: grahams@ (add tdgraham.com to complete the email address)
Area served: Kemptville/North Grenville

Hawkesbury & Area Home Educators' Association
Contact: in transition as of summer 2004

HomeSchoolChat.org
An online bulletin board at www.homeschoolchat.org (new as of April 2005) for homeschoolers in Ottawa and surrounding areas (and "The World") for the following:

• Post/answer questions and share experiences
• Buy or Sell your used curriculum or other teaching materials
• Discover/promote your home-school business
• Post/find free trips, events, etc.
• Search old postings
• Find new friends and other homeschoolers

Osgoode District Home Educators
Contact: Shelley Barnes
Email: osgoodedistricthomeeducators@ (add gmail.com to complete the address)
Web Site: none
Other Links: groups.yahoo.com/group/osgoodedistricthomeeducators/
Area Served: Rural communities on the south side of Ottawa (Metcalfe, Greely, Osgoode, Winchester, Chesterville, Kemptville, Russell)
Description: We are an inclusive group open to all homeschooling families in the rural communities on the south side of Ottawa. We have a yahoo group that provides us with a central location for everyone to post events, activities, classes, gatherings and information of interest to the group. Everyone is encouraged to plan activities. This spreads the workload and gives us a more diverse selection of activities. We welcome new members of all ages.
Activities: We have field trips, classes, picnics, clubs, and get togethers. Some of our activities happen on a regular basis while others happen only once. The frequency of our events depends on the number of people willing to plan activities.
Membership Fees/Requirements: We do not have membership fees but our group depends on everyone willingness to work together and help plan activities.

Ottawa Homeschool
Contact: Carrie Meigh
Email: caree_me@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the email address)
Web Site: n/a
Other Links: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/OttawaHomeschool/
Area Served: Ottawa & surrounding areas
Description: Ottawa Homeschool yahoo group is a very informal group of local home schooling families in the Ottawa area. It is open to everyone interested in homeschooling, and becoming part of a supportive network for each other in the dailies of homeschooling life, as well as even getting together for outings, trips, playdates.
Membership Fees/Requirements: Absolutely nothing - just an interest in home schooling.

Home Based Learning Network (HBLN)
Contact: Shelley Welchner
Phone: (613) 821-5599
Email: hbln_info@ (add yahoo.ca to complete the address)
Web Site: http://sites.google.com/site/ottawahbln/
Area Served: The National Capital Region
Description: We are a totally inclusive group. Families of any homeschooling philosophy or cultural or religious background are welcome to join us. We do not endorse any specific philosophy of education or parenting except to promote awareness of educational alternatives. We have over 370 families and operate mainly through an email/phone tree through which different activities are announced by members.
Activities: All types of activities are organized. We have study groups, weekly academic gatherings (ie. book clubs, science class), sports activities, single day excursions, picnics, special interest clubs, and many other activities too numberous to name. In early September we have a Not Going Back to School Picnic. Later in September we have our annual meeting. We have organized a large Homeschooling Conference more or less yearly since 1999.
Membership Fees/Requirements: Free

Rideau Valley Home Educators Association
PO Box 72168
Kanata ON K2K 2P4
Contact: see the RVHEA website for current contact info
Web Site: www.rvhea.org
Area Served: Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec
Description: RVHEA is a Christian, volunteer, non-profit organization. We welcome as members anyone interested in the education of children at home. Our purpose is to offer support to home schooling families as well as to increase awareness and acceptance of alternative education by the community and school boards. The current membership is made up of families from the Eastern Ontario & Western Quebec region.
Activities: Whatever activities parents volunteer to arrange. Some examples include swimming lessons, gymnastics, track & field, museum trips, NAC, teaching co-ops, teen groups, meetings, annual conference, used book sales, newsletter, Upper Canada Village, phone/email tree, C.T.B.S. testing, graduation, etc.
Membership Fees/Requirements: One-year membership from September to August is $40.00 if paid before September and $50.00 after September 1.

Sa-voir
Web site or other link:http://cf.groups.yahoo.com/group/sa-voir/
Area Served: Ottawa and area
Description: Groupe francophone de discussions pour les familles qui enseignent à leurs enfants.

The Doorstep Alliance
Email: thedoorstepalliance@ (add hotmail.com to complete the email address)
Areas Served: Areas west and south of Ottawa including Almonte, Carleton Place, Kanata, Arnprior, Pakenham, Perth and Smith Falls;

The Doorstep Alliance
Email: thedoorstepalliance@ (add hotmail.com to complete the email address)
Area Served: areas west and south of Ottawa including Almonte, Carleton Place, Kanata, Arnprior, Pakenham, Perth and Smith Falls.

Christian Homeschoolers Adventuring Together (CHAT)
Contact: Stephanie Bergsma
Phone: 613-582-3530
Email: stephanie.bergsma@ (add hotmail.com to complete the email address)
Web Site: www.chathomeschool.webs.com
Area Served: Pembroke/Beachburg/Westmeath/Renfrew/Cobden
Description: our mission is to provide affordable, quality and fun-filled learning experiences to children in the homeschooling community.  We exist to encourage, support and build-up a community of Christian homeschool families.
Activities: twice each month for 2-3 hours; each session is chosen, planned and organized by a different family in the group, dividing the responsibilities equally among everyone
Membership fees/requirements: to be determined.
Other: We're just a new group so I'm first looking for Christian families to contact me so we can set up a planning/information session.

Muskoka HomeSchoolers Linked
Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mhsl/
Description: MHSL e-group's goal is to establish an on-line community for the ever-growing number of Homeschooling families living full or part-time in the Muskoka, Parry Sound and Almaguin Areas. Its purpose is to give homeschoolers a place to share field trip ideas, fun outings or educational events, dates and times, curriculum ideas or questions, group meeting dates and time reminders, craft ideas, book recommendations, educational websites, used curriculum, local curriculum sales, as well as additional daily support and a discussion place for homeschooling families. It is open to individuals of all faiths and educational philosophies.
Membership requirements: The only requirement is respect for the sincere opinions of others. Religious debating and Flaming are prohibited. Merchant/Vendor Advertising is not allowed without moderator approval. Used curriculum for sale may be posted at any time.

Whitepine Homeschooling Network
Contact: Julie Hill
Phone: (705) 789-1842
Email: sjhill@ (add vianet.on.ca to complete the email address)

- map - county numbers - city and county names - support group names - main menu - top -

Sault Area Homeschool Association
www.saulthomeschool.com

Sault Home Learners message board
Online community for homeschoolers in the Sault area
http://69.93.149.226/users5/saulthomelearners/index.cgi

Temiskaming Shores Homeschooling
Contact: Nathan
Email: home4learning@ (add gmail.com to complete the email address)
Area Served: New Liskeard and surrounding towns and areas.
Description: Looking to start a group.

Thunder Bay Christian Homeschoolers
Contact: Carla Harbron
Email: charbron@ (add tbaytel.net to complete the email address)

Cochrane District Home Schooling
Contact: Wendy Cole
Phone: 705-236-4123
Email: dwcole@ (add hughes.net to complete the email address)
Web site: n/a
Other links: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hs-cd/
Area Served: Cochrane District
including * Timmins * Cochrane * Hearst * Iroquois Falls * Kapuskasing * Moosonee * Smooth Rock Falls * Black River-Matheson * Ramore * Fauquier-Strickland * Mattice-Val * Moonbeam * Opasatika * Val Rita-Harty * Abitibi * Constance Lake * Factory Island * Flying Post * Fort Albany * Moose Factory
Description: Created in January 2008, the goal is to become a network of homeschooling parents, to create a welcoming environment for ALL homeschoolers, fostering the development of friendships and community through participation in various activities and events.
Activities: Requesting all home educators in the area pop in, introduce themselves, plan a play date, event, field trip or activity. To provide our kids with the best network of social, educational, and fitness opportunities.