Our acronym says it all. This group is COOL, a secular, inclusive support and activity group for unschoolers and relaxed homeschoolers in Central Oregon, specifically in Bend and the surrounding areas.

We have weekly park or play days, a monthly Mom's night out, family potlucks, field trips and hands-on activities. We encourage new members to make suggestions and organize outings. We are a cooperative support group, meaning that all members must contribute to the group in order for it to thrive.

This list is not a discussion list open to the public, it is for communication between COOL members. This list is not for discussion of homeschool methods, but to organize gatherings. While we do not discuss our methods on line, we can use the list to post resources that we have found helpful. If you wish to discuss methods, we will gladly do so in person. New members are required to come to a gathering within the first month of joining. Those who are moving to the area are exempt from this rule, but should come to a gathering as soon as they are settled in.

New members should realize that this is mainly a group of unschoolers and comments will be based on those beliefs. We feel it is important to make this list a safe place for those of us following this method. Flaming will not be tolerated and members who do so will be deleted from the group.

Our group is non-discriminatory on the basis of race, religion, ethnic background, political or sexual orientation. We have formed for the sole purpose of establishing a community of local unschooling families.