FAQs
FAQs about the OC Community
Who are the OC families?
OC families include most of the full economic spectrum of families in our society today: two-parent, two-income couples; single parents, most of whom are employed part time; upper, middle and modest income families; and families with a home business. OC includes a similar variety of occupations, religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Many parents from OC participate in the OC program in one way or another. This includes volunteering, bartering, sharing talents, offering their expertise in programs and helping out with Community Days and special projects. There is a rich cooperative and collaborative environment at OC.
OC is not for every family, however. The OC environment is designed specifically for those who want to provide for their young person's special interests and for their own desire to be directly involved in shaping their youth's educational experience.
All FAQs
How does Open Connections support homeshooling/unschooling families?
In addition to the Open Connections Village, where young people can participate in day-long programs, Open Connections offers numerous resources to enrolled families (such as our lending library), multiple events (such as potluck suppers, a dance & game party, discussion groups, parents’ meetings, evening and summer workshops, etc.).
Non-enrolled families may benefit from presentations such as an Introduction to Homeschooling & Unschooling, consultations, and summer and evening workshops.
"OC is very different from traditional schools in many ways…OC focuses not just [primarily] on mathematical/logical and linguistics intelligences, but on all of the nine multiple intelligences. [The staff] encourage us to understand, not to memorize…we have input into what goes on…we can be ourselves without conforming to what anyone else wants/expects of us…OC is a very encouraging and positive environment. We are not separated by “grade levels.” OC encourages flexible thinking and cooperation. Everyone here is open to new ideas and full of suggestions of their own."
- OC Teen