CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Charlotte Mason Inspired Co-Ops
Avonlea Nature School is a homeschool co-op in Monroe County, Illinois serving families who are seeking a Christian nature study community. Originally founded as a Christian forest kindergarten co-op, we are excited to expand our community offerings.
Starting in Autumn '23, we will have Nature School programs for PreK through 6th Grade, and Cottage School programs for all ages.
WE ARE...
CHARLOTTE MASON INSPIRED
CHRIST CENTERED
CLASSICALLY ALIGNED
Why "Avonlea"?
Avonlea is the tight-knit, idyllic small town in the fictional Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. When choosing a name for our co-op, Avonlea felt like the natural name for a safe space for gentle learning and growing, for a caring and trustworthy community, and for a tribute to excellent literature.
The word avonlea comes from Old English roots meaning "meadow near a river." This brings to mind all sorts biblical references about good soil, living water, etc. and specifically Psalm 1:1-3:
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
This passage, for many Christians, describes a major reason for choosing homeschooling. We want to shield our children from the counsel of the wicked, and teach them to meditate on the law of the Lord. And of course we desire for them to prosper - most of all in their walks with the Lord.
So for the vision behind our co-ops, the vision of Christian families walking together in our homeschooling journey, guiding our children in an education filled with beauty, truth, and goodness, Avonlea just fits.
OUR TEAM
DR. SHANNON BULLA, PHARM.D.
Founder & Director
Shannon is a homeschool mother of three young children, and is passionate about ensuring they receive an education filled with beauty, truth, and goodness. Avonlea Nature School was born from her desire to share the forest school model and Charlotte Mason's ideals with other local homeschooling families. As a licensed pharmacist, she was professionally trained in the higher sciences, but finds that she still has much to learn about the natural world around her!
