Busy Bears Homeschool Social Community

Community Without the Coordination

BBHSC is a membership-based program that provides homeschooling families with a built-in community. Each week, Busy Bears members gather at the Elmira YWCA for one or two fun-filled days of intentional social enrichment. These days feature both structured group activities and unstructured play opportunities for the children, with their caregivers present and fully involved at all times.
Gatherings run September-June barring closures as we follow the ECSD calendar. 
5 & under gatherings, “The Cubs Class” 🧸, are Wednesday (classroom day) and Thursday (gym day) 10am-12pm.
 6-8 age group gatherings, “The Pandas Class” 🐼, are Wednesday (gym day) and Thursday (classroom day) 12:15pm-2:15pm. 
Our gatherings start again on September 9th for the 2026-2027 school year!

About Us

Busy Bears started in October 2024 as a free playgroup in an empty room at our local library. Since our start, that playgroup has grown to be so much more! In September 2025 BBHSC proudly started hosting our gatherings inside of the Elmira YWCA, giving us the ability to have a private, consistent, and safe-space full of opportunities for homeschooling families to build community. 
Our mission is to provide homeschooling children with a consistent social group and community-building experiences similar to those traditionally found in public school- while still allowing them to stay closely connected to their home educator and to maintain personalized, family-led curriculum at home. 
Check out the Membership Levels and Information page to learn more about our membership levels and features!

Testimonials

See more on the “About” page 

“Daisy is a wonderful teacher and leader, I am so glad we found this program! Everyone is so kind and welcoming! We have only been in the program for a month and my 2 1/2 year old has already come out of his shell a lot. It has been a blessing to join this group!” 

-Sydney M.

“Busy Bears provides a lovely, supportive environment for young children to develop social skills as well as some basic pre-academic skills. Everyone at Busy Bears is supportive and my granddaughter had so much fun that she never wanted to leave at closing time!”

-Cathleen D.

“Busy Bears has helped my daughter tremendously! Instant changes we saw were that she started talking more and she had an overall confidence boost. She loved the structured classroom time Miss. Daisy provided and the unstructured playtime that was provided as well.”

-Kara E.

BBHSC CORE VALUES

ENRICHMENT

It is assumed that core subjects are taught at home, so we focus solely on activities and experiences that go beyond the standard curriculum. We provide learners with resources to explore their interests, old and new, through hands-on experiences.

CONNECTION

We provide a welcoming space where homeschooling children can build friendships and connect through group experiences- while their caregivers engage with a community of like-minded home educators.

CONSISTENCY

When a child can anticipate their structured time and place for social interactions with peers, it gives them the security to feel confident in socializing. At BBHSC, your child has a consistent peer group to engage with weekly that will allow them to grow truer, deeper friendships.

SUPPORT

Fundamentally supporting families in their homeschooling journey starts with supporting the home educator. When surrounded by a supportive community, caregivers can put their best foot forward when providing their child with the individualized education they deserve. After all, "it takes a village," right?

Interested in Joining?

Community Without The Coordination