by Jessica Ciszewski, YourPace Student Writer

CARIBOU, Maine — “I just always wanted to be a part of a co-op,” said Abigail Barnet, who founded the Northern Christian Co-op. “Having enough friends who were doing it told me that no matter what, we could go for it.”
What began as a small gathering of five families has grown into a weekly meeting of about 80 children, with a waiting list for more. The co-op meets on Wednesdays from September through May at Calvary Baptist Church in Caribou, and offers classes ranging from high school logic and history to early reading, crafts, and science. Barnet, who was homeschooled as a child and has homeschooled her own children from the start, said she missed the variety of group activities she experienced growing up in Oregon — choir, theater, Latin, and swim lessons. With fewer families in northern Maine, those opportunities were more challenging to find. Children at the homeschool co-op enjoy the 
opportunity to play and learn together.
“When another local homeschool group ended, I invited its families to join us,” Barnet said. 
Parents teach all classes, which are organized into four class blocks, so every age group has options. Community members sometimes volunteer in the nursery so mothers can teach or help in other ways.
“The huge range of classes is amazing,” Barnet said. “Kids get to learn from different adults, learn how to interact with kids and people they find difficult, and learn patience. Not everyone is interested in what they have to say.”
Jessica Smith, who joined the co-op in its first year,  brings her three boys each week and often teaches elementary-level science.
“There are certain things my kids learn to do through co-op that I can’t simulate at home,” Smith said. “They all  behave better when they’re with someone they’re not 
related to.”
Smith emphasized that the co-op helps teach independence in a safe environment. “I’m there for a good time. I want my kids to socialize. I want the things I can’t do at home,” she said. “I think that’s really powerful — if someone who really likes something can teach it to my kid, rather than someone who is just getting it done because they  have to get it done.”
Renee Ouellette, who began homeschooling after the COVID-19 pandemic, helps Barnet with scheduling and behind-the-scenes work. She drives 40 minutes from Westfield each week.
“It’s more of a family. It’s more of a support system,” Ouellette said. “Even if we might have different teaching styles or religious beliefs, overall, we have the same goal in mind, the same interests, the same desires.”
Ouellette said the co-op allows newer homeschool families to see a range of teaching styles and approaches. “It’s helpful to get feedback from other moms and hear what they do. The moms who have been doing this for years seem more laid back.”
“The social aspect is a factor,” she added. “My youngest two are extroverts and need to be around people. They’ve made friendships and get to talk to like-minded individuals. It takes the entire group. Every mother makes a difference; every family makes a difference.”
Despite challenges with space — the lunchroom seats only 40, forcing some to eat in classrooms or hallways — and the complexity of scheduling for a growing group, the mothers agreed the co-op has become essential for homeschooling families in the region.
“I love it,” Barnet said. “It’s not just a co-op; it’s a community. Every mom, every child, every family matters. And that makes all the difference.”