Find your Village, Become a Member
Imagine spending the day wildcrafting and drinking wild foraged tea in the woods and gardens of Bluestone, with other parents who feel like family while your children play with their children.
Envision your family following a string light-lined trail to the annual Bluestone Thanksgiving in the Woods, your warm potluck meal in hand, and being greeted by the families you’ve come to know and love.
Bluestone Village gives families a place to be, a place to grow, and a place to embrace the benefits of a childhood (and adulthood!) immersed in nature. Bluestone Village: A Nature-Based Community Initiative is bringing back the village, outside.
What is Village Membership?
Becoming a member of Bluestone Village gives you the benefit of communal-style living (think eco-village) without having to move. Bluestone Village offers membership to 15 families each year in an effort to cultivate a tight-knit, supportive community. Being a Bluestone Village member means that you benefit from the collective knowledge of the Bluestone community, receive high quality nature-based education for your child, and have a village of other parents, Elders, and like-minded Earth stewards for support.
Why Become a Member?
There are many reasons to become a member of Bluestone Village! So many of us are raising children in the digital age with little to no support, or have family support but lack a deeply connected community. Bluestone Village members get to be part of a community that values time outside, welcomes ALL people, and takes an active role in bettering ourselves and our community.
Bluestone Village members contribute to the greater good of Bluestone Village, and in return, benefit from access to:
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Village Days
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Parent circles that bring parents together in a safe space to share vulnerabilities, lean on each other, and discuss meaningful parenting topics (*parent circles may occasionally have additional, minimal fees)
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Socials Circles (*Village socials may occasionally have additional, minimal fees)
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Seasonal community events such as a Winter Solstice celebration, Thanksgiving in the Woods, and more Bonus: invite a family member or close friend for a small fee!
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The Bluestone Village sustainable living lending library. Member families can borrow books, supplies, and materials to benefit their own homestead and sustainable living projects. COMING SOON!
In addition, Bluestone Village members receive:
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Discounted eggs, meat, and produce from Bluestone gardens and humanely raised livestock. COMING SOON!
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Affordable parenting workshops from expert guest speakers on topics that are helpful to YOU.
How Do I Become a Member?
*We just found our home! Become part of our founding membership and help shape Bluestone Village, as a physical space and a community.
Bluestone Village is welcoming of ALL people: our Village is a safe space for BIPOC individuals, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and families of any makeup. Though we are inclusive, we strive for a small membership in an effort to foster close and lasting relationships between members. Bluestone Village can only accommodate 15 member families per year, though there are always ways to get involved beyond membership! Curious about membership? Here is how to apply:
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Carefully read our Community Agreements and Membership Qualifications
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Submit the membership application. After submitting, someone from our Membership Committee will reach out to set up a brief virtual interview.
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After the virtual interview, if it is a good fit, you’ll be invited to a Village play day to meet our Board and other members.
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Following the play day, if it is a good fit, our Board will reach out to invite you to join Bluestone Village.
If at any point in the process it feels like Bluestone Village is not a good fit, please know that there are many other ways to get involved with our community. You can attend Bluestone Nature Programs offerings and public events. Families are welcome to apply for membership every year and may be placed on a waiting list to be considered for an open spot.
Financial Commitment
Bluestone Village is a non-profit organization that relies on membership to support our nature-based efforts. We believe that nature and community should never be cost prohibitive, but we also believe that building a true village requires commitment to and endorsement of our organization. To that end, we offer membership tiers to create an inclusive pay structure.
Part of the Community
This membership is for families who are looking for their Village. They want to show up, play, learn, and feel nourished by our gatherings. Community members attend gatherings and events for $12 per person.
Lend a Hand
Do you feel nourished by helping? The Lend a Hand membership is for families who want to provide support at events, serve as facilitators, or provide support in other ways. Lend a Hand members attend gatherings and events for $10 per person.
Keystone
Like a Keystone species in an ecosystem, keystone members fulfill an important role at Bluestone Village. Keystone members have a skill to share - woodworking to help furnish our outdoor classroom, cooking to feed our community, etc. Keystone membership rates are determined on a case-by-case basis.