Local Support Groups

Local Support Groups

Herewith, a (partial) list of support groups throughout the state. Many of these groups have regular gatherings and activities; some publish newsletters, and some have websites and e-lists. If you live near any of the surrounding states, be sure to look for support across the border. Find support groups in VA at http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/support/ and in other states at http://www.nhen.org/support/groups/browse.asp or http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/weblinks/support.htm.

If your support group is not listed here, please email your information to info@wvhea.org or call 800-736-9843. Thanks!

Eastern Panhandle

Charles Town Christian Home Educators. http://www.geocities.com/jcchswv/CharlesTown.htm Leaders:Sherie Main the_mains@adelphia.net and Giordana Baker kgbajb5@yahoo.com

Hampshire County Homeschoolers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hampshire_county_homeschoolers/. Contact Kim Rosen kim.a.rosen@gmail.com or 822-5571

Covenant Homeschool Group. http://www.geocities.com/jcchswv/Covenant.htm Donna Bent mailto:msbackhoe@frontiernet.net 876-8535

Fellowship Bible Church Homeschool Group. Colleen Uhlenhoppf 725-1478

Jefferson County Christian Homeschools. http://www.geocities.com/JCCHWV/

Mineral County. Laura Custer mailto:custer2@charter.net 726-4662

Morgan County Homeschoolers. http://www.geocities.com/morgancohs/. Morgan County Homeschoolers come in many different shapes and sizes. This group is for everyone, regardless of reasons for homeschooling, religious affiliation or homeschooling style. All are welcome. Pam Mann 258-5189; Cindy Smalley 258-9599.

Mountain Homeschoolers. http://www.geocities.com/jcchswv/Mountain.htm Helen Lafferty mailto:helencandr@netscape.net 728-4715; Kathie Pierce mailto:tavnkate@myfam.com 728-2574; Pam Jones mailto:Joneshome@ix.netcom.com

Panhandle Family Schools. Ted and Lena Browne 264-8271; Rusty and Cindy Biedler 229-3640; Scott and Sharon Wolford 263-2284

Potomac Valley Christian Home Educators http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pvche/ is a small local co-op that meets every Monday for various activities and field trips. We have families from Hardy, Grant and Pendleton Counties. "We hope to meet more homeschoolers in our area." Email amy@maher.org for more information.

St. James T.O.R.C.H. www.TORCHWV.org A Catholic homeschool group for WV’s Eastern Panhandle. We meet every 3^rd Thursday at 7:00 pm at the St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Charles Town, WV. If you would like information, please email Jessica Stroz jessica@boyzoid.com or (304) 724-2188.

Shepherdstown Support Group. Lise Sade 876-1023

North Central

Christian Association Taylor County Homeschoolers (CATCH). Paula Poling 265-0540 mailto:wpoling@earthlink.net

Covered Bridge Christian Home Educators. (Barbour County) Teresa Ward jrward3@citynet.net 457-4084

Fairmont Area Home Schoolers Together (FAHST). The FAHST Support Group currently has member families from Marion, Taylor , and Mon Counties. We meet together for cooperative learning activities, Club Days, Field Trips, Mom's Night Out, Couples Nights, Spelling Bee, Learning Fairs, Seasonal Parties, Testing Center, and more. We have serious textbook curriculum followers and unschoolers too. The group's leaders are welcoming and inclusive Christians. Most group members are Christians-- some are not-- and we get along really well-- and like each other! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FAHSTmemberfamilies/ Betsy Batson bpaigebatson@yahoo.com

Families Realizing Excellence in Education (FREE) (Upshur County and surrounding area) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FREE_WV_/ Nancy Bevins CelticFrau@aol.com; April Keating apkeating@hotmail.com

Homeschool LIFE (Learning, Information, Fellowship, Encouragement) -- Lewis and surrounding counties -- A cooperative effort coordinated by 3 homeschool moms - Susan Patterson, Jeannette Schoonover and Melody Sheppard. Our first meeting will be January 26, at 1:00 p.m. If you are interested in attending or have any questions, please contact Melody (d3msrsheppard@yahoo.com) for further information as to the exact building - we have not determined that yet, it will depend upon the response. This group will mainly be a play group, however fun activities throughout the year will be welcome!

Learning Out Loud. A co-op under the auspices of Learning Options, Inc. Meets weekly in the Fairmont area September - May. Mary Ellen Sullivan mary.ellen@frontiernet.net 795-4388

Monongalia Area Homeschoolers Assn (MAHA). http://home.adelphia.net/~kimjacks/homeschool.html An organization of homeschooling families in Monongalia County, West Virginia, and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to serving the needs of homeschoolers in our area, and providing information to all those interested in homeschooling. Services we provide: newsletters, field trips, monthly meetings, playgroup, special events and activities, annual testing, portfolio evaluators. MAHA is open to any homeschoolers or those interested in homeschooling in our area. Our purpose is to provide support to all families involved in home education regardless of educational philosophies and approaches. We welcome people of all races, religions, lifestyles, and approaches to homeschooling. We also welcome homeschoolers who live outside Monongalia County. Our current membership includes families from surrounding areas, including Preston, Marion, and Harrison Counties. E-list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monongaliahomeschoolers/; Janine Breyel mailto:jbreyel@excite.com 379-8984

Mothers Encouraging Christian Home Education (MECHE). We meet the first Thursday of the month at Shoney's in Star City at 7 p.m. Andrea Knudsen 292-1237; Beth Welsh 296.3926

Preston/Taylor counties: Homeschoolers from Preston and Taylor County get connected! Make friends, schedule playgroups, study buddies and more. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PrestonTaylorCountyHomeschoolers/

Southern Area Learning Time (SALT). (Harrison, Lewis & surrounding counties) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-A-L-T_Group/ A homeschool group that meets once a week in Jane Lew, WV. We are a bunch of families that come from many counties to bring our kids together to play games, learn from each other and have fun. Weather permitting, we usually have a soccer game going, or basketball, playground fun for the younger kids, and bike/walking trails for everyone. We try to have bowling each month, and at least once a year the older kids have a dress-up formal dinner with an activity afterward. Our kids have formed very strong friendships, but are extremely friendly with new kids (as are the parents). We have a few veteran/long time homeschool families that are more than happy to answer questions for those considering homeschooling their children. Please join us! Linda Brodwater 884-6406

Trinity Home Educators Supporting In Service (THESIS). The group meets at Trinity Assembly of God, 70 Maranatha Dr, Fairmont, WV 26554. Hector & Ileana Martinez 842-4293; Matt & Heather Sprenger 363-8174; Brad & Liz DeRoos 534-5822

Christian Home Educators of Jackson County. Allen and Barbie Null 372-8100 or email Andrya McDonald mmcdonald@citynet.net

Jackson County Homeschool Support Group. http://www.creations4christ.com/jcwvhomeschoolers.html A group of homeschooling families from Jackson Co., WV, and the surrounding counties who want the very best for our children. This is not a "formal group" to join, and no fee is involved. Our goal is to interact with other homeschoolers for field trips, games, parental support, etc. E-list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JCWVHSchoolers/?yguid=123760976; Sherri Stahlman 372-8721

Love Invested in Godly Home Teaching (LIGHT). (Wirt and surrounding counties) Jo Ann Duffield -- 275-8937 -- jduffield@myfam.com

Ohio Valley Christian Home Educators (OVCHE). We serve home educating families in Ohio and West Virginia in the Northern Panhandle region. Contact Judi Meyer at cmeyerj@juno.com

Parkersburg Area Teaching cooperative Homes (PATcH) http://patchwv.com/ is a co-op, offering classes for art, homemaker skills like sewing and cooking, science and foreign language. The co-op is open to anyone who would like to enroll for a year ($6). Class enrollments are made a month in advance, and sometimes have a materials fee. We also set up field trips as a group and open the opportunity to the other homeschool groups in the area. De Hoover jdhoover@suddenlink.net; Mary Beth Monroe mommymonroe_wv@wv.net

Ritchie County Home Educators http://www.rche.org/ A great resource for homeschool information. We are a very diverse group. Our members include families large and small, new to homeschooling and old pros. We are blessed to have a few teachers and other former professionals in our group, as well as many different religions and educational philosophies. We are a support group designed for parents or grandparents who homeschool their own children or grandchildren. mailto:rche123@hotmail.com

Society of Home Learners for Independent and Natural Education (SHINE) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOVFL/ A collection of families that have chosen a lifestyle outside of school. We are an open door for current and potential home educators, regardless of religious conviction or method of "schooling." SHINE serves families in the Parkersburg-Marietta area of the Mid-Ohio Valley. Rachel Hyde 424-5250 rrhyde@hotmail.com; Elizabeth McClung 424-6602 emcclung2000@charter.net

Wood County Christian Homeschoolers. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WCCH/ A group of homeschooling families that support and encourage one another in our God-given ministry of teaching our children at home. This group is open to anyone who is presently homeschooling or is interested in learning more about it. Barb Holbert 295-5750

Cabell County Home School List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CabellCoHS/. For ANYONE who learns at home in the Cabell Co. area and wants to converse, make friends and share information and experience. Of course everyone is welcome to join and please do! But please understand that our conversations will probably remain geared towards our local area.

Kanawha-Putnam Home Educators. http://www.kphe.net/ Christian support group for the greater Charleston area. Academic and social events including chess club, horsemanship, crafts, keepers of the faith clubs, chemistry labs, and art classes. Bob & Karen Richardson 759-0279

Tri-State Homeschoolers. We are an inclusive group in the Cabell and Wayne County area. We welcome people of all faiths and homeschooling styles. We have no membership fees. Some of our activities include monthly skating, project day, homeschool band, teen activities and mom's night out. All homeschoolers are welcome to join in our activities. Web address: http://tristatehomeschoolers.com Email: tshomeschoolnews@homtail.com or phone Melinda Vance at 304-521-9752.

Greenbrier Area Homeschoolers' Network (Greenbrier County) Jan Layfield 536-3379

Greenbrier Homeschool Co-op Martha Snider 536-2183 (if you get call interrupt, use code 5674) SndHomer@aol.com

McDowell County Christian Home Educators Assn (MCCHEA). Karen Wilson kwotr@aol.com; Pat Barker 436-5023

Raleigh Educational Assn of Christian Homeschoolers (REACH) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/R_E_A_C_H/ A group for homeschoolers in Raleigh County WV and the surrounding areas.

Southern WV Homeschoolers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWVH An inclusive support group for homeschooling families in the southern counties of West Virgina, particularly Fayette, Nicholas and Raleigh. Members are accepted regardless of their personal beliefs. If you are a homeschooler who is interested in forming friendships with other homeschoolers in the area, and would like to join us for park days, field trips, and other gatherings, then this is the place for you. Teresa Fox Workman 465-0369 tfworkman@charter.net

WVHEA_Announce. The official West Virginia Home Educators Association announce group for testing, workshops, special updates, news, headlines, invitations and various other postings: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WVHEA_Announce/

Eastern Panhandle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arc-homeschool/ An inclusive group of homeschoolers in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. We welcome anyone interested in group activities for all ages. The group is open to all homeschooling philosophies, including self-directed and unschooling. We encourage everyone to plan an activity that is open to group members. Information on our annual conference and monthly newsletters can be found at http://www.homeschoolers.freeservers.com/.

Legislative: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WVHsing-legislative/ A forum for discussing legislative topics that affect homeschoolers and homeschooling in WV, including news about media articles and programs, proposed legislation, research, and other information of interest to WV homeschoolers. All interested homeschoolers are welcome to this electronic community.