The purpose of the KCHA is to support and unite homeschooling and home-educating families in Kosciusko County and surrounding areas including but not limited to the following ways:

• promoting fellowship, friendships, and social interaction among students and parents;

• providing information and access to educational, recreational, and community resources; 

• offering opportunities for group activities, enrichment, and cooperative learning;

• and encouraging a supportive network that strengthens families engaged in home education.

KCHA is a registered non-profit in the state of Indiana, and has 501(c)3 status with the IRS.

KCHA is an inclusive organization that welcomes and values individuals and families of all faiths, beliefs, cultures, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. We are committed to fostering a respectful and supportive environment where diversity is acknowledged and appreciated.

KCHA does not restrict the acknowledgment, expression, or inclusion of various faiths, cultures, or traditions within activities intended to educate, celebrate, or build community. Opportunities may be offered that reflect a wide range of religious and cultural traditions.

Participation in any activity is always voluntary. Families and individuals may choose to participate in or refrain from events based on their personal beliefs or preferences. At the same time, all participants are expected to respect the rights of others and agree to KCHA’s policy supporting the inclusion of diverse religious and cultural expressions within the organization.
 

Membership in KCHA

According to the Articles of Incorporation, KCHA does not have any “members” as defined by state and federal statutes. All who join are considered participating families, or “Participants.” The terms "members" and "membership" may be used interchangeably with "participants" and should be understood to mean participating families.

Dues of $25 per family per year must be paid in full at the time of application.

The membership year begins on July 1st and goes through June 30th.  Membership renewal will begin in June of each year.

Families must have at least one school-aged child (K-12) in order to be considered a homeschooling family. If the oldest child is of preschool age but it is the family’s intention to homeschool when that child reaches kindergarten, they may be eligible to join.

Families who participate in Braintree Open-Ed, or other public schooling at home programs, or whose students are enrolled in a public school district, may still be eligible to join, provided that the student is being educated at home for some part of their education.

For liability and in fairness to families who have paid dues, all KCHA activities, events, parties, etc. are only open to paid KCHA families unless otherwise specified.

To maintain a safe and authentic community, KCHA membership is open only to real, living individuals. Automated accounts or bots are not permitted.

Loss of Participation Privileges

The KCHA board reserves the right to suspend or revoke participation privileges for individuals or families who repeatedly violate KCHA policies or engage in behavior that threatens the safety, well-being, or positive environment of the organization.

Such decisions will be made by the voting board members.

KCHA events are intended to be shared family experiences. A parent or legal guardian is required to attend with their children and remain on-site throughout the event. Drop-off is not permitted.

You, as the parent, are responsible for your child(ren) and their behavior. Children and parents are expected to be respectful to tour guides, venue employees, and other KCHA families at all KCHA field trips and events.

Please remember that we are all homeschoolers, so we have a wide range of children’s ages and parenting philosophies. When attending a field trip, you are representing KCHA and homeschoolers. We work very hard to establish and maintain a positive reputation for our organization which affords us great field trip opportunities. Please consider what is appropriate behavior in a group setting.

If you or your child have an interpersonal conflict with another KCHA family, please work it out respectfully between the parents. The KCHA board members will not be responsible for mediating interpersonal disputes.

All KCHA members will be expected to abide by the following guidelines while attending any KCHA event:

1. All members are to be courteous and respectful of everyone, regardless of differences.
2. Use calm, clear, and honest communication to resolve problems. 
3. Take care of your own property and respect others’ property.
4. Dress appropriately for all expected activities.
5. Parents will be responsible for and in control of their children at all times.
6. Parents will discuss appropriate behavior with their children prior to an event. Teach children appropriate boundaries and behavior respective to each unique setting e.g. Theatre Play, vs Speaker Presentation, vs Party, etc.
7. Families are to leave all events better than they found them. Offer to help clean-up and respect the home, premises and/or facility.  
8. Any music, magazines, books, art, or other materials should be "PG or G". Please be sensitive that what one family has chosen as acceptable may not be acceptable to others and vice versa. An exception may be made for Tween or Teen events if given approval by the Board in advance.
9. At least two responsible adults should be present during organized children’s activities whenever possible. If only one adult is present, the room door must remain open and accessible to others.
10. Refrain from engaging in any form of inappropriate behavior towards children or exposing them to any such behavior. 
11. Refrain from using alcohol, tobacco products, pornography, illegal drugs and weapons while participating in KCHA activities.
12. The following behaviors are strictly prohibited and may result in loss of membership privileges: Physical violence, bullying, predatory grooming, sexual misconduct, oppressive and/or discriminatory behavior.

KCHA is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all children. Any suspected abuse, neglect, predatory behavior, or unsafe conduct toward a minor should be reported immediately to a board member.

The board reserves the right to take appropriate action, which may include suspension or termination of participation in KCHA activities.

If required by law, reports may be made to appropriate authorities

KCHA is a volunteer-run organization that facilitates opportunities for families to gather for educational, social, and extracurricular activities. Participation in all KCHA events, field trips, and activities is voluntary.

KCHA does not own, operate, or control the majority of locations, facilities, or third-party providers used for activities and therefore cannot guarantee the safety, supervision, or conditions of any environment. By participating, families acknowledge that inherent risks exist in group activities, travel, and the use of third-party facilities.

Parents or guardians are solely responsible for the supervision, behavior, and well-being of their children at all times during KCHA-related activities. Families are expected to exercise their own judgment and due diligence in determining whether an activity, location, or provider is appropriate for their participation.

Any recommendations, shared resources, or organized opportunities provided by KCHA do not constitute endorsement, sponsorship, or formal affiliation with any individual, business, or facility unless explicitly stated.

By choosing to participate, families assume all risks associated with attendance and agree that KCHA, its board members, volunteers, and organizers shall not be held liable for any injuries, damages, losses, or disputes that may arise.

Any disputes, conflicts, or claims arising from participation in KCHA activities, including those involving other participants or third-party providers, shall be resolved directly between the involved parties. KCHA does not serve as a mediator, arbitrator, or responsible party in such matters.

Events listed on the KCHA calendar that link to external sites for registration or payment are not official KCHA-sponsored events unless explicitly identified as such.

Parents or guardians are responsible for the medical needs of their children during KCHA events. In the event of a medical emergency where a parent or guardian cannot immediately be reached, reasonable efforts will be made to obtain appropriate emergency care. Our preferred hospital system will be Parkview Health unless otherwise indicated by a parent/guardian.

Families are encouraged to provide emergency contact information when registering.

Payment Policy

For each event, there is a payment/R.S.V.P. date. For field trips requiring payment, your payment finalizes your RSVP. Payments can be made through the website directly, or as otherwise arranged by the Treasurer (not the Field Trip Organizer).

Only sign up for a field trip if you are committed to going. KCHA receives discounts and makes arrangements based on R.S.V.P. numbers. If an emergency arises, please notify the coordinator as soon as possible.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your reservation for an event after you have paid for it, your payment will not be refunded, whether or not the signup for that event is still open. You may find a replacement on your own and arrange for reimbursement with that individual, and the coordinator must be notified of the change in attendees.

If KCHA cancels or reschedules the field trip and you are unable to attend the makeup date, KCHA will put a credit on your account that you may use towards a future event.

Attendance Policy

ALL FIELD TRIPS WILL START PROMPTLY AT THE DESIGNATED TIME. 

Please allow for travel time and any other circumstances that might delay you. If you are late, you need to understand that the field trip will proceed on time without you and, in some circumstances, you may not be allowed to join the group. No refund will be given.
 

Social Media and Online Policy

KCHA online spaces, including social media groups and websites, are extensions of the organization. Participants are expected to communicate respectfully and refrain from harassment, bullying, or inflammatory behavior.

While participating in KCHA events, please do your best to refrain from including children other than your own within photos unless you have expressly asked the parent/guardian. Do NOT post any photos online of children other than your own without express permission from the parent/guardian OR by putting an emoji/smiley face over the other child’s face.

The board reserves the right to remove posts or restrict participation in online spaces if guidelines are not followed.Repeat offense may be subject to removal from KCHA membership.

Expectation of Privacy Policy

KCHA is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of all participating families. Members are expected to respect the confidentiality of information shared within the organization.

• Personal information shared within KCHA (including but not limited to names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, children’s information, and homeschooling choices) is to be used solely for KCHA-related communication and activities.
• Members may not use, share, distribute, or retain another family’s personal information for personal, professional, political, or financial gain.
• The selling, trading, or unauthorized distribution of member information in any form—whether digital or physical—is strictly prohibited.
• Members may not use KCHA directories, group communications, or event participation lists for solicitation purposes, including but not limited to:
  • Business promotion
  • Fundraising unrelated to KCHA
  • Recruiting for outside organizations, groups, or causes (unless explicitly approved by KCHA leadership)
• Photographs, videos, or other media that include KCHA families or children may not be shared publicly (including on social media) without the express permission of the individuals involved.
• Members should take reasonable care when discussing or sharing information about other families, ensuring that private matters are not disclosed without consent.
• Any concerns regarding misuse of personal information should be reported to KCHA leadership and will be reviewed promptly.

Failure to respect these privacy expectations may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from KCHA.