The Northeast Unschooling Conference is both an event for unschoolers and a community of like-minded people who value learner-led education. Each year we meet for several days at Camp Winadu in Western Massachusetts to reconnect, make new friends, support one another, and learn more about this educational journey.

Unschoolers are a small minority in an overwhelmingly schooled society. For many, that can create a sense of isolation. That’s part of why the Northeast Unschooling Conference exists: to foster community and draw strength from one another.

Sometimes, families who have the ability for one or more parents to be at home can do so because they are in a higher income bracket. In our experience, however, that stereotype doesn’t hold true for all. Many middle- or lower-income families choose to make sacrifices or find creative solutions to unschool their children. They may not be able to afford the travel and fees associated with conferences or other opportunities to connect with the community.

That’s why we want to make this conference financially accessible to as many people as possible. We see the smiles of gratitude on the faces of parents every year as they connect with others who share their values. We hear the laughter of children who make new friends and play with the un-self-conscious freedom we’ve come to associate with unschooling. We know how very much those who have come in the past hope to come again - if they can afford it.

We are a volunteer-run organization, operating on a tight budget. We’re actively fundraising, and our goal is to raise $10,000 to meet our financial aid goals for the conference.