Join our Community

Saplings Society is a homeschool education organization that offers in-person learning programs, enrichment classes and educational field trips for homeschooled children of all ages with a caregiver present. Siblings always welcome to attend! We’re so grateful to have such a vibrant and growing community in our homeschool co-op!

Here's How it Works

We’re so happy you’ve stumbled upon our little corner of community! Feel free to wander around the website at your own pace—there’s plenty to discover. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you’ll spot our upcoming events (a lovely way to see what’s brewing). You can also connect with our director, Jessica SJ, by clicking the 'contact' tab, or join us at one of our seasonal celebrations. These gatherings are always free to prospective members and are the perfect chance to meet new friends, soak in the atmosphere, and see if our co-op feels like home to you.

When you’re ready to officially join the family, here’s the path:

Scroll down and choose Your Membership – Pick the level that feels right for your household.
Create Your Account – Just click “Sign Up” in the top right corner of the page.
Welcome In! – Please allow 24 hours for your membership to be approved. After, you’ll unlock the ability to RSVP for events, join in activities, and become part of the heartbeat of our community.

It’s that simple. We can’t wait to welcome you—whether it’s at a celebration, in a class, or while sharing a cup of coffee and conversation. 🌼

Frequently asked questions

Families love that we’re flexible! You can choose the level that fits your season of homeschooling:

Forest Floor ($50/family per season): Field trips + community gatherings

Understory ($100/family per season): Everything in Forest Floor PLUS Nature Connections, farm education days & book club

Canopy ($180/family per season): Everything in Understory & Forest Floor PLUS Music in the Forest & Yoga in the Forest

Nope! Our membership pricing is per family, per season — because we believe your whole family is a package deal. Each season runs for 3 months.

For example:

Fall Season: September, October, and November.

Winter Season: December, January, February

Spring Season: March, April, May

Summer Season: June, July, August

That means one flat fee covers all your children, so you can enjoy programs together without worrying about extra costs per kiddo.

No formal requirement — but Saplings Society thrives on families being involved! While you’re not obligated to lead or run a program, we ask each family to pitch in where they can. This might look like: • Helping with set-up or clean-up • Bringing an activity or snack for a seasonal celebration • Sharing a skill or knowledge during an education day

Our co-op is all about collaboration and community, and when families contribute in ways that fit their current season of life, it makes our programs more magical and meaningful for everyone.

If you or your spouse have a skill or interest you’d like to share, reach out — we’d love to help weave that into a future program!

For example, this fall we’re really excited about our Nature Connections classes with themes like Fall Tree ID, Forest Survival Skills, and Tracks & Tales. We’ll also have field trips to the Delaware Agricultural Museum, Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge, and Historic Odessa. And of course, we’ll gather for farm education days, seasonal celebrations, and plenty of chances for kids (and parents!) to connect.

At Saplings Society, our programs follow a simple monthly flow — giving your family a sense of rhythm while still keeping things flexible.

Field Trips – Mondays & Wednesdays

Nature Connections-

Forest Friends (Ages 0–4): One Friday morning a month

Saplings (Ages 5–10): One Monday morning a month

Rising Pines (Ages 11+): One Friday afternoon a month

Farm Education Days – One Monday every other month

Seasonal Celebrations- 1 (usually) per season

Seasons of Growth: A Growing Into the Season Ceremony

Homeschool Trunk or Treat

Night Sky hike with Delaware Astronomical society

Art in the Park – One Wednesday every month

Book Club – 2 meetings on Wednesdays

Music in the Forest – 2nd Thursday of the month

Yoga in the Forest – last Tuesday of the month

Membership Plans

Pick the plan that works best for your family

Forest Floor
50$
All co-op social gatherings 🌳 Field trips (additional fee may apply for certain trips) 🌳 Strength in Motherhood Workout 🌳 Art in the Park 🌳 And more community events
Valid for 3 months
Understory
100$
Includes all from Forest Floor 🌳 Monthly Nature Connections (supplies included) 🌳 Farm Educations (supplies included) 🌳 Book Club (book included)
Valid for 3 months
Canopy
180$
Includes all from Understory & Forest Floor 🌳 Monthly Music in the Forest 🌳 Monthly Yoga in the Forest
Valid for 3 months

Wiley Family

The Saplings Society Co-op has been an absolute godsend for our family. Since joining, we've seen our son and daughter blossom in ways we never imagined possible. It's more than just a place for forest days and field trips—it's a vibrant community full of opportunities where we've built deep connections and made lifelong friends. The experiences and memories we've shared here are priceless, and we are so grateful to be a part of it!

Holubinka Family

I truly don’t know if we would be homeschooling today if it weren’t for Jess and her beautiful vision to create this co-op. Sapling Society has been a gift to our entire family—not just for my kiddos, but for me as a mom navigating this journey too.

The community here is something really special. We’ve loved every moment, from the incredible field trips to the peaceful mornings in the forest where we’re all learning and growing together. There’s so much intention, warmth, and wonder in everything Jess has built.

If you’re a homeschooling family looking for connection, inspiration, and meaningful learning, I can’t recommend Sapling Society enough.

Brown Family

Being part of Saplings Society has been such a blessing for our family. From the start, we felt so welcomed. My kids love having a place where they can just be themselves, make friends, and explore new interests, and I love having other parents to walk alongside in this homeschooling journey. There’s something really special about the way this community shows up for one another, it’s relaxed, supportive, and fun all at the same time.