The Intentional Summer: Highlights from the SEA Homeschoolers Conference

At the June 2026 SEA Homeschoolers Online Conference, Outschool parent and session host Elan Page of Homeschool Our Way, sat down with Felicia Woods Anderson, a homeschool parent, Outschool teacher, and organization leader of Montessori and More Online, to talk about what it actually looks like to make summer learning intentional. They covered everything from brain breaks to Outschool search tips to setting kids up for a strong fall. Here are the highlights.

What Does "Intentional Summer" Even Mean?

The first thing Elan and Felicia made clear is that intentional summer learning looks different for every family, and that's the point.

Elan's approach: her two daughters (ages nine and 12) wind down the heavier academics in May, but the family keeps a few things going through summer, including foreign language, math, and reading. Then they lean into interest-based learning and let curiosity lead.

Felicia's family spans a very different range: a 22-year-old college grad, a 16-year-old, and a one-year-old. For her, summer is about meeting each child where they are. "I look at each one of them differently because they're at different levels in life," she said. Travel, time together, and experiences that keep minds engaged are the anchors for her summer.

The throughline for both families: summer is not a break from learning. It's a shift in how learning happens.

What You Can Actually Let Go Of

Both speakers were honest about the exhaustion that hits at the end of the school year. Between wrapping up academics, end-of-year performances, and being an Uber driver for all of it, there's a lot. Summer is a chance to breathe.

Felicia's framework for summer academics: don't introduce new material. Instead, touch what's already been learned in low-pressure ways. A child who learned money math during the school year might practice it by budgeting for something they actually want to buy this summer. A reader who plowed through several books during the year might work through just one book, slowly, over the whole summer.

"We do absolutely nothing some days," Felicia said. "And I'm not afraid to say that, because some days it's necessary."

She also encouraged parents not to feel guilty about brain breaks. In her classes, she builds them in after every 15 minutes. In summer, brain breaks just last a little longer.

Experiential Learning: Free, Budget-Friendly, and Often Unforgettable

One of Felicia's favorite examples came from her son's experience riding in an 18-wheeler with a family member when he was eight years old. That trip taught him more about the road, decision-making, and the world than a textbook could. He's 16 now and still talks about it.

For families looking to build that kind of experience without a big budget, Felicia pointed to:

"Just see what's best for your family," she said. "And if you're capable of doing the travel part, look for things outside of your community too."

Using Outschool for the Niche, Specific Stuff

Elan was direct about why Outschool is her first stop for interest-led summer classes: "You don't just want some Joe Schmo who may or may not know what they're talking about." When her daughter got into K-pop and asked to learn Korean, when her younger daughter started asking about gaming, Outschool was where she searched first.

Felicia's daughter took a series of live cooking classes years ago and was still talking about that experience this past weekend. Her son took virtual stretching classes through Outschool during COVID to stay connected with coaches. These aren't supplemental classes for the sake of it. They're experiences kids remember.

For summer specifically, both speakers recommended searching for summer bridge programs and camps on Outschool. Elan's daughters take math from a teacher named Megan Layne, who offers a summer math bridge program. Elan mentioned she asked Megan whether missing a live session for travel would be a problem: "Absolutely not. The classes are recorded." That kind of flexibility matters in summer.

Felicia's daughter also took a one-week finger knitting camp, 90 minutes a day for five days. She started Monday with zero experience and finished Friday with a completed project she was proud of.

Looking for online academic summer camps for your kids? Outschool has a wide range of live, scheduled options across subjects and age groups.

How to Search Outschool Without Feeling Overwhelmed

A few attendees flagged that the sheer number of classes can feel daunting. Elan's approach:

1. Start with the topic, not the filters. Type exactly what you're looking for.
2. Then use the filter button (to the right of search results) to narrow by age, days and times, and teacher reviews.
3. Message the teacher before enrolling, especially if your child has specific needs. Elan said that, without exception, every teacher she has messaged has responded with the information she needed to make a confident decision.

Felicia added that reviews are worth reading carefully. Teachers who work well with neurodivergent learners or kids with learning differences often get mentioned in reviews by parents who've had those experiences, even if the teacher doesn't explicitly list it in their bio.

Setting Up for a Strong Fall, Starting Now

One of the most practical parts of the conversation was about how families use the back half of summer to prepare, without making it feel like school is already starting.

Felicia's advice: figure out what learning style or approach fits your child right now, and use that to guide fall class selection. If they're hands-on, look for interactive classes. If they do better with structure, look at semester-long options. And reach out to teachers, because many will add time slots if a parent requests it and they have availability.

Elan's approach has evolved over the years. Rather than planning everything herself, she now invites her girls into the process. Last summer, they booked a study room at the library, grabbed sticky notes and a dry-erase board, and had a goal-setting session. Not a scheduling session, but a "what do you actually want from this school year?" conversation. Her 12-year-old wants to study abroad. That's on the goals list now, even if the timing isn't certain.

Felicia added a small but useful habit: keep a notebook, dry-erase board, or scrolling calendar nearby, because kids mention the things they want at the most random times. Capture it when it comes up. Those offhand comments often turn into the most meaningful learning experiences.

If you want to get a head start on academics, Outschool has a collection of summer classes specifically designed to get kids ready for next year across grade levels and subjects.

A Few More Things Worth Knowing

On pricing: Outschool offers both a pay-per-class model and an optional subscription. Classes range widely in price. Semester courses let families join mid-way if a child already knows the earlier material, so you're not paying for content they don't need.

On async classes: The membership includes access to a library of asynchronous classes. A parent in the session shared that her daughter has used it for ukulele, drawing, and a marine mammal anatomy class that led to a long conversation with her older sister in vet school. For busy stretches when live classes aren't possible, the async library fills the gap.

On child safety: Teacher background checks on Outschool are annual, not one-time. The platform also monitors communications to prevent kids from sharing personal information in class chats. Parents can report any concerns directly through the help button on the site.

On becoming a teacher: Felicia applied before COVID, was approved within two or three days, and started with two classes a week. The application includes a short video of yourself doing an interactive activity. Background check information is collected after initial approval. If teaching is something you're passionate about, Felicia's advice was simple: try it.

Thank you to Elan and Felicia for a genuinely useful hour. If you'd like to explore what Outschool has to offer this summer, browse classes here.