For many of our families, Park Day is the cornerstone of their homeschooling week. Our kids are provided an outdoor space for creative, self-organized, non-directed free play. And the parents get an opportunity to catch up with friends, share homeschooling ideas and resources, eat, enjoy the sunshine, or play with the kids. Children in the group range in age from infants to teens.
At Park Day, you will find people willing to answer any questions you have about homeschooling. Some in our group are new to homeschooling and others have been doing it for many years. Feel free to ask questions or initiate discussions.
Where
Our Park Day meetings are held at alternating parks throughout the Greater Sacramento area. Park Day locations are listed by date on our calendar. We choose parks that have play structures, public restrooms, and plenty of open space. During the hot summer months, we tend towards locations with shade and water features.
When
Park Days are scheduled every Tuesday. Official Park Day hours are “Afternoon to Dark.” Most people tend to arrive around 4pm and stay until dusk and beyond. Families come and go throughout the afternoon, so feel free to drop in at any time.
How to Find Us at the Park
When you arrive at the park, look for our group to be sitting in a circle in lawn chairs or on blankets, probably in the shade, somewhere near the playground structure. An aerial map of the meeting spot will be posted in advance on our Facebook group so that people can easily find each other. If you arrive early in the afternoon, there may be only one or two people (or you might be the first one). Whether there is just one of us, or a lot of us, please don’t be intimidated to join us; we always expand the circle as more people arrive. Although a group organizer may not always be present, our members are always happy to welcome newcomers and introduce you around. Or feel free to reach out via our Contact Us page to let us know you’re coming so someone can be there to officially greet you.
What to Bring
It’s helpful to bring a lawn chair or blanket, and something to eat and drink for your family. For parks with water features, you might want to bring sunscreen, bathing suits, towels, and a change of clothes. You are also welcome to bring fun group toys (balls, games, etc.) or crafts (for kids or adults!)
Weather
We rarely cancel park day, but attendance is always optional. Some families choose to go to the park in bad weather, others stay home. If the forecast predicts extremely harsh conditions, we may come up with an alternative meeting place, such as an indoor library space, or a member’s home, or we will cancel.