About Visionary Village Santa Cruz
Visionary Village Santa Cruz is a not-for-profit private member community that provides a sanctuary for freedom oriented individuals and families that nourishes healthy physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and educational growth and development. We provide a range of dynamic educational opportunities and experiences with a flexible schedule, so that together we can customize your families learning adventure based on individual needs, learning styles and educational choices. It is our mission to foster each child’s innate gifts to flourish and expose them to a plethora of offerings to facilitate their growth and unfolding. Many of our options are nature based, as we believe that nature is one of the best teachers and classrooms. We do offer traditional academic subjects and do our very best to make the learning experience as applicable to real life and the child’s experience of the world as we can.
Visionary Village Santa Cruz class offerings are based on the university model, where members can choose and design their learning experience with as many or few classes and activities as they want. You can attend classes part-time, choose only one class, attend all day – five days a week, or join just for the community activities and events.
It is important to know that Visionary Village Santa Cruz is not a school in the traditional sense. School-aged members (age 6-18) must still be enrolled in either a homeschool PSA, homeschool PSP, public or charter independent study program, or be tutored by a credentialed teacher three hours a day, 175 days a year. If you’d like to do research on your own, more information about these options can be found here: https://www.californiahomeschool.net/how-to-homeschool/legal-options/
One of our consultants, Shawna Reisewitz, is also the director of a local PSP, Pacific Sands Academy, that offers enrollment to meet the California compulsory education requirement, handles all paperwork and filing, and provides guidance and mentoring for homeschool families. If you are new to homeschooling, want extra guidance along the way, or want someone to handle all the paperwork for you, this is a great option. She also offers as-needed homeschooling consultation.
https://pacificsandsacademy.com/
It is also important to know what it means to be a private-member association. A private education association is a type of Private Member Association or PMA. A PMA is a legal entity created for the purposes of protecting its members’ 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendment rights to association, privacy, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, and freedom of speech. As a private association that does not operate in the public domain, we are free from the restraints of most government oversight, rules, and regulations, and can therefore offer our members the ability to associate and learn in community, while still maintaining medical freedom, bodily autonomy, and educational choice. Any person attending any events, classes, clubs, etc. must become a member to participate.
Visionary Village Santa Cruz operates year round with activities, community events, gatherings, camps, and clubs. Our classes are offered from September to June.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Visionary Village Santa Cruz a School?
It is important to know that Visionary Village Santa Cruz is not a school in the traditional sense. School-aged members (age 6-18) must still be enrolled in either a homeschool PSA, homeschool PSP, public or charter independent study program, or be tutored by a credentialed teacher three hours a day, 175 days a year. More information about these options can be found here: https://www.californiahomeschool.net/how-to-homeschool/legal-options/
Are the mentors who teach Visionary Village Santa Cruz classes credentialed?
Some of our tutors hold teaching credentials and some do not. Our mentors are specialized in the areas they teach, either through experience or certification. Our tutors bring their passion and expertise to each subject and class they teach, and inspire students to learn in creative and engaging ways, tying in the intelligence of the natural world and real life application wherever they can. Every mentor at Visionary Village Santa Cruz also goes through an in depth application process and background check, and is trained in First Aid and CPR.
How do we pay for classes?
Class fees are paid through the Visionary Village Santa Cruz website, cash or check. You will need to pay for each class session separately at the beginning of the program year or at whatever point you choose to join the village. Monthly auto-debit payment plan options are available. There is a 10% discount for paying upfront in full.
Do students need to be vaccinated in order to attend classes and events?
No. Since Visionary Village Santa Cruz is an educational enrichment program and not a school, and your child will be enrolled in one of the above mentioned required options, the vaccine requirements do not pertain to our members. The “school” vaccine requirements pertain to enrollment in a public or private school with in-person classroom based instruction.
What is your COVID-19 policy?
Please speak with the Visionary Village Santa Cruz membership coordinator during your scheduled phone appointment about our COVID-19 policy and procedures.
Does Visionary Village Santa Cruz offer scholarships?
Visionary Villages has a limited number of scholarships for families in financial need. There is a $50 OFF Scholarship available as needed for the Registration Fee. Please let us know if you are requesting the $50 OFF Registration fee scholarship. If you are in need of a Scholarship toward the Membership dues, please let us know. We are not able to discount the membership in full, as we are a membership based organization and all members must pay dues in order to be part of the Private Education Association.
Can we try it out before we become a member?
Yes we offer tours and class visits. The first step is to fill out a “potential member application”, once received we will reach out to you to schedule a potential new family interview. On this call you will have the opportunity to schedule a tour and/or to attend a trial class.
What are your monthly membership fees?
We have multiple membership offers to best meet the needs of your family.
Please see the list of options below:
- Basic Membership (Parents + 1 Child) - $35/month
- Family Membership (Parents + 2+ children) - $45/month
Is there a fee to sign up?
Yes, we have a registration fee of $150 to onboard new families into the program. We have a 30 day trial period window once you register and begin to attend classes. If for any reason, the program is not a good fit, we will refund $50 of the registration fee back to the family and unenroll any students. Class fees are separate from the monthly membership fee and are generally $15/hour.
$150 Registration Fee
+Monthly Membership Fees
$50 Refund of Registration fee if canceled for any reason within 30 days