Oglethorpe County's Homeschool Hangout Program at the local library provides a space for homeschooled kids to socialize and engage in activities, filling a gap that previously required families to travel.
For years, homeschool families in Oglethorpe County had to travel to neighboring counties for alternative schooling programs or enrichment activities.
Now, a short drive to the Oglethorpe County Library for the Homeschool Hangout Program gives them a chance to meet closer to home.
“We just come to the library all the time, so we’re just coming here when it happens,” said Crawford resident Erica Lillard, who attended on a recent Friday with her 4-year-old daughter, Clementine, and 1-year-old son, Caspian.
Georgia has one of the largest homeschooling populations in the country, according to the National Home Education Research Center, with 85,510 students. That accounts for about 4.6% of the state’s school-age children.
The library’s Homeschool Hangout, relaunched in August, is designed as a space for families to meet, share resources and give kids time to socialize. When the program began in August 2022, 10-12 children attended each week.
The program was suspended last year following the transition to public schools by several attendees and time conflicts for several regular participants. Attendance has yet to reach those numbers since returning, but organizers are hopeful.
“It gives the kids a chance to do something fun at the library,” branch manager Nicole Hensley said.
The program offers themed activities for younger kids, with games and computer-based learning available for older students from 3-4 p.m. the third Friday of the month. Past projects have ranged from library-tied crafts to Talk like a Pirate Day.
Families also have direct say in what those activities can look like, Hensley said.
“I think there was one time a family was doing a study on insects,” she said. “So we did a craft and activity with insects, and had a bunch of insect books available.”
The library staff, including children’s program specialist Beth Akins and young adult program specialist Cameron Shook, emphasized the hangout is open to suggestions.
“We want people to know that we can build a program around what they’re interested in,” Hensley said.
For families like the Lillards, the hangout has become a natural extension of their library visits. The program fits into their routine while giving the children a space to explore new ideas and activities with other homeschool students.
Lillard said “going through the books and being able to broaden their knowledge” was her favorite part of the program.