Places with the most unschoolers/support groups?

[Yvelle]

I was wondering what states, provinces, cities, or towns in the Western hemisphere had high numbers of unschoolers or even ecovillages that are open to unschooling.

[Stacey B]

We live in Denver Colorado and we have a pretty active unschooling community. We're a big city so there is a lot of everything going on but I know that a lot of the homeschoolers we meet are unschooling. We are part of an unschooling community most of the kids are younger, 8 and under, but I know that there are other groups around here as well. The community itself is very supportive of what we are doing. I think some of that comes from how many charter schools and progressive private schools there are around, to the rest of the city we just seem like another choice from a long list of options you can choose.

It sounds like you may be looking for a smaller community to live in but if you did want a big city with lots of opportunities and community Denver is wonderful.

[mama_ness]

We have great unschooling support in Chicago and there is a Sudbury school in a nearby suburb. We have a lot of organized activities that families can choose from and a large annual homeschooling/ unschooling conference run by homeschoolers, not corporations/marketers. The laws here are also very liberal when it comes to "regulation." 

[zebra15]

I can tell you AZ is a yellow state but we function like a green state!

[tittipeitto]

Mama-ness can you tell more about organized activities in Chicago, are you talking about the suburbs or the city?

[4evermom]

I suspect the areas where there are minimal regulations are the ones with more unschooling support. I'm in PA which is high regulation and I think it scares people off the concept of unschooling. It seems that other unschoolers are far with few between. But the neighboring states (NJ and DE) seem to have big active groups.

[purslaine]

Ontario as a whole is excellent.

The only guideline is "children must receive a satisfactory education"  

[lurve]

Agree about AZ! you just have to submit an affidavit here.  Here in Phoenix we have a small but excellent group of unschoolers.  It sure is nice having some support! and right now the weather is magnificent!

[SundayCrepes]

We're in Tucson AZ. We submitted our affidavit of intent to homeschool our 6 year old. We are done with all requirements. There is a very active unschooling group here.

[wilmama]

BC, Canada. Home of Wondertree and SelfDesign. HUGE number of unschoolers, here!

The law states:

"Parents may educate their children at home, but they must provide each school-age child with an "educational program" "

"Educational program" ;)

[sk8boarder15]

Just moved to Portland and I'm amazed at the amount of homeschool (and unschool specific) groups here!!

[dogmom327]

Portland, OR. Tons of unschoolers, support groups, etc.

[Mamma Mia]

The Bay Area has a lot of unschooling families, but I've yet to find a community that isn't white, upper middle class hippies. :/ (trust fund hippies, if you will)

[pek64]

Originally Posted by 4evermom 

I suspect the areas where there are minimal regulations are the ones with more unschooling support. I'm in PA which is high regulation and I think it scares people off the concept of unschooling. It seems that other unschoolers are far with few between. But the neighboring states (NJ and DE) seem to have big active groups.

I agree. I'm also in PA, and though we unschool, I never found any unschooling groups. Most homeschool groups I found were religious.