FAQ | Thirsty Deer Homeschool Community

Absolutely not! Thirsty Deer Homeschool Community strives for inclusivity. That being said, we believe wholeheartedly in Charlotte Mason's philosophy that there is no knowledge apart from God. God will be central in our time together at Thirsty Deer, so each individual family can assess their own comfort level.

Are you affiliated with a church/denomination?

No. Thirsty Deer is run by a church attending family, in the protestant faith tradition, but it is not affiliated with any church or denomination.

Do I have to use Charlotte Mason's methodology in my homeschool to participate in the community?

Nope!

Is there a cost?

There is a cost. We have striven to keep costs as affordable as possible. No one is making a profit, all funds are used to directly improve your child's experience at the community. See price breakdown under the Investment page.

Can I get a receipt?

Sure can :)

Do I need to volunteer?

There is a volunteer component in order to have this community be a success. At each gathering there is a small snack break where parents will rotate through bringing a bit of fruit to share. Any support with helping is welcome, although we do not require you to volunteer each week. Once a term there is an elective/science experiment day and we will have parents sign up for sharing a skill/passion of theirs. Depending on how many families there are this may just be something you would need to do once in the whole year.

Is this a drop-off group?

If you are not signed up for volunteering that week, and your child is of the age and maturity that they do not need your redirection, then you are welcome to drop off. We strongly encourage parents to stay and visit, help and engage though, as my experience has been that unless parents are part of the community, relationships struggle to go deeper. One of the most beautiful things about homeschooling is the chance to traverse life together. We also want this to be a community for parents as well as the children.

Can I back out? Refund policy?

Deep meaningful relationships hinge on connection. It's for this reason that we sincerely hope to see folks stay for the entire year, and come week after week as opposed to a drop in situation. That being said, we understand life circumstances change and we want to be accommodating. We ask for a commitment for each term. If you register and pull out before the term ends, we ask that you honour your commitment in paying out the term. That way supplies that were already purchased and funds relied on will not be disrupted.

Are your sports professional level?

Haha, no. The goal is fun, exercise, character development and teamwork. If you are particularly passionate in any sport and would like to help make our offerings more legit, we welcome all help!

What should I wear?

Please wear what you're comfortable in with sufficiently appropriate clothing for being outside in all sorts of different weather conditions. If weather is particularly horrendous or unsafe we will stay inside, otherwise there will be parts that take place outside each week.

Are there highschoolers?

Yes! We have some already signed up and would love more! We will aim to meet the needs of each age group and the teens have their own time biweekly, and will have breakout groups during the main gathering. We will have a special celebration for families with grads at the end of the year also.

Do you take donations?

Donations are welcome, although we are not a set up non-profit, so cannot issue tax receipts. All donations will be used to improve Thirsty Deer Homeschool Community. If you have sports equipment, snowshoes, hockey skates and helmets, etc. that you are no longer using, that would be a blessing.

What if I have an idea for a project/sport etc?

We welcome all ideas, feedback, and volunteering to better the community!

What does "Thirsty Deer" mean?

Psalm 42:1 says "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God." (ESV) This beautiful picture is our heart here, that we would yearn for God the way a thirsty deer yearns for water; that He is necessary for our survival. So our highest goal here is that we become "thirsty deer."

Do you accommodate special needs?

Inclusivity is really important to us here at Thirsty Deer, as we acknowledge that each child is a born person, an image bearer of God, and that Jesus died as an offering for everyone. I would love to start a conversation about your child's needs and see if that is something we can accommodate. I have navigated this in different ways in the past, either able to support them myself, have a parent stay, or have a support teacher (provided by parent) join. As we are a small operation out of a home, there are limitations, but we would do our best.

Where are you located?

We are located between Spruce Grove and Onoway, a bit closer to Onoway. Around Highway 37 and Range Road 13. It is a private residence so please reach out for more exact location.

Will my husband get a chance to connect?

Yes!!! We have lots of family events that run through the whole year, and if any dads are around in the day times they are most welcome to join and volunteer.

What if I have food restrictions?

During the main gathering time, there will be a small snack (mostly fruit) provided, and parents are welcome to tea. Whole family gatherings usually have a food component. If there are restrictions we are happy to accommodate. There are some allergies already in the house here, so the preference is to avoid food coming in and we're happy to provide for everyone. If for some reason this is not a good fit, let's chat to make sure that we're keeping everyone safe.