They say it takes a village to raise a child, and yet, in our modern world, that village often feels out of reach—especially for homeschoolers and children with disabilities. At Big Tree Hangout, we aim to build that village.

 

There are approximately 3.1 million homeschooled children in the United States. Nearly one-third of those children have a disability. Families choose homeschooling for a variety of reasons. Some view it as a natural and instinctive decision, while others find it to be their only option when traditional schools don’t meet the needs of their children.

 

A shared concern among many homeschool families is the ability to find a true community of peers and a safe space where kids can hang out. Add a disability into the mix, and the options are almost nonexistent.

 

That’s where Big Tree Hangout comes in.

 

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For those of us who grew up in the dawn of the internet and in the time before smartphones, our childhoods looked a bit different than they do today. We didn’t communicate with our friends through abbreviated texts or a curated collection of reels, and our lives weren’t as overscheduled and on the go as so many are today. Knowledge and experiences weren’t always at our fingertips, so much of what we learned about the world and relationships just came from hanging out.

 

That’s the sentiment behind Big Tree Hangout. It’s a place where kids can show up, spend time together, and let the day’s adventures unfold however they choose.

 

Those adventures may come as spontaneous activities or structured learning sessions. Kids lead the way at Big Tree and are free to:

 

 

 

While the primary market is homeschoolers, children who attend traditional public or private schools are also welcome to meet and hang out at Big Tree.