HCECF - Homeschool Cooperative

STEM - IT is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics plus Information Technology. 

HCECF seeks to promote a high-quality, well-rounded activities based STEM - IT program among home educated students. In order to achieve this goal, HCECF offers several opportunities for scientific curiosity, exploration and experimentation in our on-going programs for HCECF students and their families.

BRICKschoolers - HCECF's LEGO® Program that allows students to participate in a variety of LEGO® related classes, competitions and camps.

Classes -  HCECF's  science classes meet weekly, using a combination of HCECF's own curriculum and AIMS materials,  with the additional benefit of adding in resources from other curriculums to each family's tastes. HCECF science classes provide a great opportunity to learn science with your friends.

Competitions - HCECF kids have made an impressive showing at several local competitions, be sure to check out the virtual trophy case for HCECF's latest achievements.

Coops - member led coops used to explore any number of science topics.

Cyberchase workshops - uses the popular kids' show as a springboard for engineering related activities, coops and workshops.

Demonstrations - each year HCECF invites guest speakers to perform various scientific demonstrations for our homeschooling community.

Design Squad workshops - working closely with local engineers, HCECF offers these engineering related projects

Discover! Engineering - HCECF attends this Girl Scouts event each year.

E-week - each year HCECF celebrates E-week by holding a series of engineering based coops and an Engineering Faire!

EARLY Robotics - robotics challenges and competition on a 3-D playing platform. 

Eco-Adventures - a short nature program and craft held monthly.

Edventures - online classes for HCECF students covering a variety of science, engineering and information technology topics.

Electricity and Magnetism Camp (coming July 2008) - workshops featuring Dr. Gallagher's video instruction and  hands-on labs, racing fun using HCECF's magnetic levitation track, and the ever popular snap-circuits brand toy.

Enchanted Walkabouts - join John Springer at HCECF events (and elsewhere in the community!) on a magical journey through nature.

Engineering Faire - this is the culmination of our E-week events (which last all month!). Similar to a science faire with an engineering bent.

Engineering Workshops - cultivating and maintaining strong ties with the local engineering community allows HCECF to offer engineering workshops hosted by some of the brightest talents and firms in the area. These strong ties also affords HCECF exclusive invites to certain events for which members may not have otherwise met the attendance requirements. HCECF's participation in the Train the Trainer course has led to homeschooling moms with a solid ability to present several engineering workshops.

ERC - Robotics challenges that occur 4x a year. 

Fieldtrips - science center, botanical gardens, zoo, worm farms, Audubon, space center, parks, mud walks, etc

FIRST LEGO® League - an exciting opportunity for HCECF members that started in 2005 for 9 -14 year olds. In our rookie year, an HCECF team won a Judges' Award at the state competition.

Internet Science and Technology Faire - grades 3rd through 12th experience the excitement of researching solutions to real world problems involving science, engineering, and other technological fields of study.

Junior Solar Sprint - design, build & race solar cars competition for logic staged kids - coming in 2009!

Junior FIRST LEGO® League - a companion to the FIRST LEGO® League program specifically designed for kids ages 9 and younger.

LEGO® Play Days - these give kids the chance to explore the numerous relationships and building principles you can create with popular toys - LEGO®, Duplos, K'nex, Fischertechnik, Rokenbok, Zome, Gears etc.

Math Counts Club - a new program for HCECF in 2008, designed to increase enthusiasm for and enhance achievement in mathematics among logic stages kids. We hope to field a Math Counts team in 2009!

Math Lab - explore a variety of mathematical concepts using a wide variety of manipulatives, games and other tools.

Mole Day - a chance to celebrate Chemistry with this fun annual event.

Nature Hikes - explore the local parks.

Nature Journals - a great way to preserve those memories

Odyssey of the Mind - creative problem solving challenges - coming in 2009!

Orienteering - watch for HCECF's gold PE shirts or the regular HCECF sapphire blue ones at these!

Sally Ride Festival - HCECF members plan a yearly trip to this exciting event.

Science Faires - annual HCECF science faire giving all children the opportunity to present their project to their peers.

Science Labs - hands on practice with science materials and tools.

Science Olympiad Team Competition - compete in a variety of scientific events new for 2008!  3rd, 4th & 5th graders (Division A2). In 2009, we'll also have a Division B team (6th - 8th graders).

SECME Team Competition - Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics Enrichment - events can include Brain Bowl, Mathematics Competition, Balsa Wood Bridges, Mouse Trap Cars, Egg Drop, Water Bottle Rockets, Web Design and more. HCECF competed in the 2006/2007 SECME  competition for the first time and ended up 1st place in solar cars, 2nd place in balsa wood bridges and an honorable mention in balsa wood bridges at the Elementary level. In 2007/2008 HCECF had both an Elementary and a Middle School team, we finished this season with a 3rd place in balsa wood bridges.

Train the Trainer Workshops - HCECF parents are often invited to these to learn new presentation techniques for engineering workshops. The April 2008 workshop was very informative, watch for future training oppurtunities.

Zoo Classes -  HCECF Zoo classes geared for preK-2nd graders and their families - older siblings are welcome! The HCECF classes are held same day as the Zoo's homeschool classes (alternating ages 6-8 and ages 9-12) in order to accommodate families with children in different age brackets.