Homeschool Alumni Website Much More Than Socialization
By Melissa McClimans Ross
Homeschoolalumni.org was started in 2005 by two brothers of a large family from the Branson, Missouri area, Camden Spiller and Riley Spiller. The goal was to meet and connect with other alumni, share ideas and encourage each other to lead lives of purpose through Jesus Christ. Today, that goal has been met and surpassed as membership has grown to thousands of members world wide. It was very popular before Facebook became mainstream and while there is a HSA group page on Facebook, the HSA website has profile pages, forums, groups, event pages, blogs, job networks, an online shop and a radio show which continue to make it a favorite place for alumni to hang out. Camden and Riley have been interviewed by a number of homeschool organizations, including Michael Farris of Homeschool Legal Defense Association and Practical Homeschooling magazine.
Summer 2010 will be the 5th Annual National Homeschool Reunion HSA will host, again with special speakers and activities spread out over about a three day period. There is a funny YouTube video of Israel Wayne, of Homeschool Digest Magazine, singing the 'Socialization Blues' at the first reunion in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. Other reunions have been held at camps and conference centers in SE Missouri, Colorado and Kentucky. The location for the 2010 reunion has not been announced yet. HSA has also sponsored alumni trips abroad to Europe, the Holy Land and Prince Edward Island and many alumni from SW Missouri have attended. Local HSA members plan events in their area such as English Country Dances, bowling, hiking, ice skating, pizza parties and such. HSA also has an outreach program and locally has helped Camp David of the Ozarks (campdavidozarks.org), a camp for children of prisoners and run by a homeschool alumni family and their children, Ben and Grace Smith. Homeschool teens are welcome to join HSA if they are 15 years of age or older and intend to graduate as a homeschooler.