North Shore Home-Learners Group
Lower Mainland, British Colombia, Canada
Nestled between the mountains and beaches of North and West Vancouver, our vibrant homeschool community brings together families from across the North Shore, including Lions Bay and neighbouring municipalities in British Columbia's Lower Mainland.As of Fall 2025, our group has grown to over 100 members, with children ranging from newborns to teenagers.
What We Are
• A parent-led community built on volunteer time and energy
• A space for social connection across a wide range of ages and family stages
• A network of families supporting each other through the homeschool journey
• A community that organizes gatherings, seasonal events, and thematic fairs for all ages
• A place where families can find like-minded people and spin off their own field trips, clubs, and activities based on shared interests
• An in-person monthly parent meeting to share resources, discuss curriculum approaches, and support each other through different stages of homeschooling
What We Are Not
• A service provider, alternative or micro school
• A source of structured classes or curriculum
• A drop-off activity provider — parents are expected to attend and participate alongside their children
• A preschool or early childhood program — families with children under school age are welcome, but will find fewer dedicated touchpoints within our group
What Our Community Looks Like
Our events are community gatherings, not classes. Some have a thematic focus; all are designed to bring together families and children across a wide range of ages — because those cross-age connections are part of what makes this community special. Here is an example of what we aim to achieve as a group:• Weekly beach and park meetups starting in June to the end of summer
• Not-Back-To-School Picnic (September)
• History Fair (October)
• Science Fair (February)
• Business Fair/Holiday Craft Fair for young entrepreneurs (November)
• Christmas Potluck + Talent
• Showcase (December) — typically 150+ attendees
• Square Dance (late April early May)
• Sports Day (May)Beyond group-wide events, families are encouraged to initiate their own field trips, clubs, and activities based on their children's ages and interests. If your family loves robotics, hiking, theatre, or chess — you're welcome to send out an invitation to our group via our emailing-list and see who wants to join. That's how most of our best spin-off activities are born.
Supporting Parents, Not Just Kids
A big part of what we do is support the parents in their homeschooling journey. We aim to hold monthly parent meetings covering topics like curriculum approaches, local resources, parenting through different stages, and event planning. These meetings are tailored to where our members are at, and they're often where the most meaningful connections happen.
How We Communicate as a Group
We deliberately keep our community off social media. You won't find us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Slack, Telegram, or any other platform. Instead, we use Groups.io — a good old-fashioned email list that is mobile-ready, privacy-focused, and ad-free. This is a conscious choice to protect the privacy of our families and keep our community intentional and close-knit.In the NSHLG’s Groups.io there is a resource library with information on online schools, member-recommended materials, and a community babysitter list. Members are encouraged to contribute their favourite resources to this growing collection.
Is NSHLG the Right Fit for Your Family?
This group is best suited for families with school-aged children (K–9) who are already homeschooling or seriously considering it.Ask yourself:• Am I ready and willing to be an active, participating parent — not just an observer?
• Am I looking for community and connection, rather than a structured environment for my child?
• Do I understand that homeschooling means: I am responsible for my child's education, and I'm looking for support alongside that and not a substitute for it?If you answered yes then you're probably in the right place!Homeschooling is a wonderful and intentional choice and it comes with the beautiful responsibility of owning your child's learning journey.Our role is to walk alongside you in that, connect you with like-minded families, and create spaces where your kids can grow and belong.The families who get the most out of this community are the ones who come with curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to contribute.The more we all bring to the table, the richer this experience becomes – for your family and for everyone here.
The Joining Process Looks Like This:
We like to keep our community intentional and close-knit, so here's what the process looks like:1. You reach out — by email, after reading this page. If you already know someone in our group, please let us know.2. We connect — we arrange a brief chat with one of our volunteer parents.3. You come out to a gathering — we personally invite you to an upcoming group event so you can meet families and get a feel for the community with no commitment4. You decide to join — if it feels like a good fit, you'll receive our group guidelines and a link to pay the annual $30 CAD family fee (per school year), which covers venue rentals and group insurance etc. You'll then be added to our Groups.io email list where all communication happens.5. We send you an invitation to join our email group via Groups.io - you accept and send the group an email to introduce yourselves, tell us about your family and interests and we go from there!
The Nuts and Bolts
The annual family fee for September 2025 – September 2026 is $30 CAD. This covers venue rentals (sometimes just partially) for larger events like the Christmas Party, Science and History Fairs, and Sports Day, as well as group insurance.
If you've read through everything and feel like this community might be a good fit for your family, we'd love to hear from you.We are entirely volunteer-run, so responses may take a few days. We appreciate your patience!
We are entirely volunteer-run, so responses may take a few days. We appreciate your patience!