Colleen Hroncich
Montana mom Holly Long had no idea how motherhood would change her. “I loved my job. When I had my daughter, I thought I’d take my three months and go back to work just like all the other ladies that I worked with did,” she recalls. But, to her surprise, Holly didn’t want to send her daughter to someone else each day—she wanted to stay home with her.
As her daughter got older, Holly found herself saddened by the thought of sending her to school. When the pandemic brought about a new wave of homeschooling, Holly decided to give it a try. But she struggled to find a community that was a good fit. Her daughter loves to be outside in nature, and Holly wanted her to have that freedom. None of the homeschool groups around them offered that environment. The family moved to Missoula in search of more opportunities.
After some online searching, Holly and her husband discovered Zootown Homeschool Community, and it seemed to be exactly what they were seeking. The Zootown page was full of kids learning outdoors—at the river, exploring science, or in a weekly forest school that focuses on nature topics. One of the first activities Holly and her daughter participated in was a behind-the-scenes tour of the airport, and it was terrific.
Holly says Zootown is more of a support network for homeschooling families rather than a traditional co-op. With 65 member families representing about 146 kids this year, the group doesn’t teach each other’s children or maintain a physical location. Instead, they create opportunities for connection and learning throughout the community.
One of the best aspects has been the community’s warm welcome. It made Holly want to be more involved so she could help others feel the same way. After around six months of being in the group, she learned they needed a new treasurer. Holly decided that sounded like a good way for her to be more involved, so she volunteered. “Now I’m one of the behind-the-scenes people that actually help and seek out different places in the community, different learning opportunities, just welcoming people, having welcoming committee parties and things like that,” she says happily. And it’s a family affair—her daughter loves the community, and her husband has made new dad friends. “It has literally become like one of the biggest parts of our life now,” Holly adds.
The Zootown calendar is packed—some months feature activities every day. Any member can propose a field trip or learning opportunity. They bring their idea to the board, work with the volunteer coordinator, and make it happen. Age groups tend to organize naturally—there’s a large cohort of 5- to 7‑year-olds, plenty of preschoolers tagging along as younger siblings, and a growing tween group that meets for regular fencing classes and craft sessions. “It’s like field trips on steroids,” explains Holly.
Zootown Homeschooling Community started a few years ago when Katherine Porter, a homeschool mom who was new to Missoula, was searching for community. Finding only broken links and defunct groups online, she reached out through Facebook, asking if anyone wanted to get together. At first, Zootown was just a Facebook group of moms meeting during the day to let their kids play, but it evolved into something more structured. When Katherine moved to another town, the group transitioned to nonprofit status to access more opportunities.
Today, Zootown charges a $45 annual membership fee per family to cover insurance costs. The organization runs entirely on volunteers, with a board that includes a president, secretary, and treasurer, plus additional members.
Monthly “homeschool chats” at members’ homes give parents a chance to connect without kids present, sharing struggles and strategies. For Holly, these relationships matter as much as the field trips. “A big part of it for me is finding friends that are also moms that are homeschooling because this is the biggest part of my life right now,” she says.
Her six-and-a-half-year-old daughter—who overheard our conversation and added the half year when Holly said she was six—thrives on the constant activity. “Every day she’s like, ‘What do I have today?’” Holly says. Between choir, science programs at their award-winning library, and various field trips, there’s rarely a dull moment.
For Holly, Zootown is exactly what she was looking for to make homeschooling work for her family. “I felt so welcomed when I joined. I just couldn’t believe that it existed,” she says. “I feel so blessed and enriched with all these like-minded families.”