



South Branch Cooperative
- Join in Person
- SBC Online
- …
- Join in Person
- SBC Online



South Branch Cooperative
- Join in Person
- SBC Online
- …
- Join in Person
- SBC Online

What We Do
SBC meets year round with a variety of offerings. Locations, times, and days of the week are subject to change as the seasons change. While South Branch Cooperative meets year-round for enrichment adventures, community-building, family support, special events, and more, the class and specials schedules change season by season.
Classes and Camps
Thursdays, seasonally, there are curriculum days (classes) for age 5+, starting at 10am. Classes are connected across curriculum areas by a common theme, increasing knowledge retention. Curriculum day is open to sprouts and saplings (age 2-5, in their own program), maples (age 5-7) oaks (age 8-10), and sycamores (age 11-13). Special options are available for sequoias (age 14-18). Each summer, camp occurs twice a week, for a shorter duration of weeks, and includes a variety of camp activities.
Clubs
Clubs can develop organically between children or be developed specifically to suit their interests. All clubs require an adult as an advisor, who ensures safety measures are being followed, and who prepares and brings any necessary supplies. These clubs can be scheduled according to each advisor's individual schedule and meet on a regular basis. SBC has clubs geared towards common interests, community-building, age group-specific gatherings, and more.
Branching Out
On Tuesdays during certain seasons, SBC meets at various nature-centered locations at 10am. We root outselves in the wild, explore what the world has to offer, and enhance our primitive skills, learning bushcraft, safety, survival skills, and more, all while building relationships, discovering new things, and pushing our own boundaries. Branching Out is open to members 5+, and Branching out Jr. is open to members under 5. Families choose which type to attend based on their childrens' needs.
SproutLings
SBC has a program for children aged 2-5 years, where these children can build relationships and follow their drive to play, move their bodies, and more during class times. (Seeds, or siblings under age 2, must be accompanied by the caregiver at all times.) This program is divided into Sprouts and Saplings. This program also includes Branching Out Jr.
Tweens / Teens
SBC has a program for young adults aged 9-18 years, where these pre-teens and adolescents can build relationships and follow their drive to organize their schedules, socialize, and more. They can direct and organize outings and events, clubs, assistant teach, etc. This program is divided into Sycamores and Sequoias.
Mixed-Age Groupings
All age groups, flexibly divided into sprouts, saplings, maples, oaks, sycamores, and sequoias, are of mixed ages, in keeping with Montessori educational philosophy. This allows for differentiation of material during class times, while still allowing all members to interact with one another during other times. This format allows members to meet for age-appropriate activities or interact with members of all other ages.
Enrichment Adventures
Enrichment Adventures includes Field Trips, On Site Event Programming, Special Events, and more. These events are directly connected to curriculum day learning (cultural or otherwise) or to the curriculum in some way. All members are welcome to attend these outings, regardless of their enrollment in curriculum day.
Community-Building
This includes social get-togethers of all types. These events may be scheduled for any day of the week, and occur year-round. At least one is typically scheduled each week. Many of our clubs, as mentioned above, exist to build community within our member families.
Cooperative
All families with enrolled students are part of our volunteer rotation, making our program a true cooperative. Adults will have assigned shifts as class assistants, photographer, and other roles as needed and appropriate. Drop-offs are not available for this reason.
Supportive
Homeschooling is a journey, and we are on it together, as a community. We band together to support each other, communally support each other as we navigate the growth and development of our children, and more. We parent as a community, step in to help each other, and reject drama, cliques, and exclusion of any kind. SBC is a true, tight-knit community environment.
All-Inclusive App
In the BAND app, our members can connect, share ideas, upload pictures from co-op events, access shared documents, view the shared calendar, and more.
Additionally, our website has digital resources for all base members on a members-only page, in addition to a curriculum day members-only page, with resources, extensions, and more.
Levels
SBC offers a variety of levels to accommodate a variety of ages and academic abilities, to promote cooperative learning and interpersonal relationships in age-appropriate groups. The ages and grade levels are suggestions, and can be adjusted above or below by a year to accommodate neurodiversity and other differences.
Seeds
Age 0-1
(No programming offered, but seed siblings are welcome to attend, accompanied by their adult.)
Sprouts
Age 2-3 (preschool)
All programming available.
Saplings
Age 4-5
(Pre-K/K)
All programming available.
Maples
Age 5-7
(Grade K-2)
All programming available.
Oaks
Age 8-10
(Grade 3-5)
All programming available.
Sycamores
Age 11-13
(Grade 6-8)
All programming available.
Sequoias
Age 14-18 (Grade 9-12)
Clubs and outings only.
Classes coming soon!
South Branch Cooperative: A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation
A secular, inclusive, four-season homeschool co-op offering outings, support, clubs, classes and more.
The IRS has determined that South Branch Cooperative is a 501(a)(2) public charity and is qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under Section 2055, 2016, or 2522.