Overview

Launch Pad is a recreation club serving homeschool students in grades 2-12 in the Santa Maria region. Students meet on Friday afternoons from 12:00-3:30pm, rotating through four hands-on courses on a two-week cycle.

Our focus is on real-world skills and experiences that prepare students for life after graduation. Not credits, not curriculum, just meaningful learning through doing.

We believe homeschool families are doing something remarkable, and we want to be part of it. Launch Pad exists to bolster your efforts in successfully launching your child into the world.

Cost

Monthly tuition: $240

Registration and materials fee: $65 (one time per semester)

We accept Heartland School Funds and direct payment by cash, check, or online.

Enrollment is month to month, so there’s no annual contract. That said, we encourage families to commit to a full semester. It gives students time to settle in, build friendships, and get the most out of each course cycle. Once enrolled, your student’s spot is automatically reserved each month as long as enrollment is maintained.

How It Works:

Each Friday, students attend two of our four courses. Students are grouped by age across four groups, and each group alternates each week so that by the end of every two weeks, every student has attended all four courses. Then the cycle repeats with new lessons each time.

Weekly Schedule

12:00-12:30: Drop-off, lunch, and hang time
12:30-12:45: Weekly Kick-off
12:50-2:00: First period
2:00-2:15: Break
2:20-3:30: Second period
3:30-3:45: Pick-up

Courses

Creative Endeavors

Participants will discover their creative gifts, individuality and unique styles as they draw, paint, craft, build and even cook. There will be no limits placed on creativity in this course. We will provide everything needed for each project. No prep or clean-up required by you!

Examples of activities in this course:

Learn about famous artists of the past
Be exposed to a variety of art forms
Practice new art techniques
Kitchen creative process making food
Work alongside peers in a creative and encouraging environment

Collaboration Station

Collaboration will flourish as participants experience team challenges and hands-on projects that are based in inquiry, problem-solving and curiosity-based learning. We are strategically picking memorable projects that are best done in groups. Breathe deeply knowing you won’t have to clean up the mess or spend hours trying to find the supplies you need in your garage.

Examples of activities in this course:

Learn to work well in a group
Take part in hands-on challenges
Conduct messy experiments
Build cool stuff
Participate in friendly competitions

Challenge Accepted!

Participants will strengthen social-emotional skills, develop broad range of skills, practice the art of clear communication and develop a desire to serve their community. The skills learned during this wild card course will be useful for a lifetime.

Examples of activities in this course:

Life Skills: hand tools, finance, career building, project management, leadership, cooking, health/fitness, etc.
Group challenges
Guest speakers and demonstrations
Learn tools that build more connection and improve confidence
Have opportunities to sharpen public speaking skills through games, skits and improv
Get comfortable stepping outside of their comfort zone
Participate in community service projects