Ola Nani Coop

We started a new Coop this week: The Ola Nani Academy. This is the most formal co-op that weve ever been a part of, but I think it will be great for us this year.The kids will each be taking three classes this semester:
Lydia has Cooking, Color Theory, & Crochet. Austin has Math in Art, Board Game Deisgn, and Kiwi STEM. Caleb has Math in Art, Animals, & cooking. Lucy does storybook, preschool, and kitchen exploration.

I am teaching Digital Art, Kiwi STEM, and helping in the kitchen exploration or animals classes.


Ola Nani means 'beautiful life' in Hawaiian which I love because that's exactly what I am trying to create for my children.

I had been thinking a lot about the upcoming school year and looking into a lot of different coops or things that we could be involved in. I just feel like this is the year for us to reach out a little more. I think that Lydia is ready for more. It's pushing us out there a little bit, but it's going to be a really good thing and I think that this coop will be a really good fit for us. There were some changes in the leadership of the coop right before the classes were arranged and because of my willingness to help, I've somehow become one of the leadership members of the coop. I'm a co-director with Dani Martin, who is wonderful. So I really really hope that everything works out here because we are definitely invested. 

The building is amazing. It's only minutes from our house in one of the business buildings by the freeway. It's on the fourth floor and it's an incredible space. There are 4-5 classrooms, a large gathering area, an art room, and a kitchen. 

One of the things that I've been so impressed with is that the building we meet in is funded through the entrepreneurial efforts of a local family, the Wilkinson Family, who has created space for a homeschool community and opportunities for homeschooled teens to get experience with entrepreneurship. They have a vision of creating a sustainable model for the homeschool community to be completely self reliant by teens gain entrepreneurial experience in a teen-led company that will make enough money to cover the rent for the space. It's really really cool. 

Here are some pictures from our first couple of weeks: 

Kiwi Crate + Board Game Design & Play

Animals + future Kiwi Crates

Preschool Kitchen Exploration + Color Theory

We are loving it so far. I want my kids to be in ALL of the classes, but we are really happy with the ones that they are in. I'm also really enjoying being in a teaching capacity with the coop. It's been a good thing all around. Yay Ola Nani.