Homeschool Activities for Sarasota, Florida

Academic Activities

• Many homeschool families supplement their lessons at home with regular attendance at an academic co-op. In the Sarasota area, the Learning and Families Christian Homeschool support group meets once a week for elementary and middle school students, and twice a week for high school students. The group also sponsors other academic activities, such as a history fair, spelling bee and science celebration.

  Sarasota homeschoolers can also participate in academic activities at area museums and nature centers. The Mote Marine Laboratory holds "Homeschool Days" that let students study ocean-themed subjects with marine science educators. Mote's "Behind the Science" program gives homeschoolers classroom and hands-on experience in subjects, such as rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sea creatures.

  Mote Marine Laboratory
  1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy.
  Sarasota, FL 34236
  941-388-4441
  mote.org

Social Activities

• Just because homeschool kids do most of their learning at home doesn't mean they don't get to socialize with other children. Most of Sarasota's homeschool groups offer a variety of social activities. Suncoast Homeschoolers is a member-led group of approximately 120 families that meet in local parks once a week, hold a game night once a month and go camping every other month from October through April.

  SHARE, a homeschool support group with approximately 800 families, hosts a prom for students who are at least 14-years-old and in the ninth grade. The evening includes dinner and dancing, and kids can bring friends who are not homeschooled.

Athletic Activities

• Homeschoolers in Sarasota can also find opportunities for athletics. The Manatee Heat was formed in 1999 to give homeschooled athletes in the Bradenton and Sarasota area the chance to play competitive sports. The group offers middle school and high school programs in baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, softball and wrestling.

  Less competitive athletic activities include swimming lessons for homeschoolers at the Sarasota Family YMCA. The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. branch offers several levels of swimming instruction for homeschooled children starting at age three.

  Manatee Heat
  7803 Manatee Ave. West
  Bradenton, FL 34209
  941-794-1960
  manateeheat.org

  Sarasota Family YMCA-Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Branch
  1075 S. Euclid Ave.
  Sarasota, FL 34237
  941-955-8194
  Sarasota-ymca.org