Project-Based Enrichment

HMLC Project-Based Enrichment is a full-day Thursday program for learners ages 8 to 14, open to all homeschooling families. You do not need to be enrolled in our middle school program to participate. Rooted in the belief that young people learn best when they have genuine choice, real relationships, and meaningful work, this program brings together a mixed-age community of learners for sustained, theme-based project work.

Each year runs in three 12-week sessions. Each session has a distinct theme, and learners spend the trimester exploring that theme through hands-on projects, collaborative work, and creative problem solving. At the end of each session, families and friends are invited to join us for a Celebration of Learning. See tuition, trimester dates, and enrollment information.

No assignment or activity is ever required. If a learner chooses not to participate in a group activity, we encourage them to make a respectful choice, whether that means quietly reading, working on a personal project, or pursuing a question they are excited to explore.

Our community includes learners of all kinds, including many who have not thrived in traditional school settings. We are a neurodivergent-affirming and inclusive community that welcomes learners with ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, autism, and other learning differences.

2026 to 2027 Sessions

Session 1: The Great American Road Trip
August 31 through November 20, 2026

We’ll hit the road without leaving the room! Through research, math, and writing, learners will plan a road trip to destinations across America, working through budgets, mileage, travel time, and itineraries. Along the way there will be geography, persuasive writing, and plenty of problem solving. Every learner contributes something different: some will dig into the numbers, some will write, some will design, and some will do all three. At our Celebration of Learning, families will travel the route themselves, stopping at each destination to explore what learners discovered along the way.

Session 2: Readers’ Theater
November 30, 2026 through March 5, 2027

We’ll read scripts, dig into what makes a story come alive, and choose or write a production together. Learners will build their reading fluency and expression, practice writing, develop improv and performance skills, and bring a set and costumes to life. There is a meaningful role for every learner, on stage or off. Our Celebration of Learning is a live performance for family and friends.

Session 3: The Park Project
March 15 through May 28, 2027

What would you build with one million dollars and a blank piece of land? Learners will design a park from the ground up, working in committees to plan everything from hiking trails and gardens to playgrounds, gathering spaces, and water features. Through research, site visits, and conversations with local experts, we’ll explore landscape design, native plants, and what makes an outdoor space truly worth visiting. Learners who love to build can work on a scale model of the park; others will focus on research, writing, and planning. At our Celebration of Learning, families will hear learners make the case for their park in a community pitch presentation.