Homeschool benefits and savings in Boulder

Boulder Parks and Recreation financial aid gives low-income City of Boulder residents free entry and memberships at all three recreation centers, the outdoor pools, and Boulder Reservoir, plus $500 a person each year toward 50% off eligible classes and programs. Homeschool families qualify the same way as other residents, by showing a current Boulder address and household income.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Boulder Parks and Recreation financial aid

Who qualifies

1. Lives in the City of Boulder

   Aid is for City of Boulder residents only, and your ID must show your newest address.

2. Has a low income

   Send current income proof for every adult. The city recommends your 2025 Form 1040 and accepts no W-2s after April 15, 2026.

3. Lists dependents

   Include information for each child you want covered, since the $500 scholarship is per person.

What it is worth

Boulder gives free recreation center entry and memberships, and each person's $500 yearly scholarship pays 50% of eligible program fees.

Recreation center entry and membership

Full cost

$80 class

$40

$300 camp week

$150

$1,000 of programs in a year

$500, the cap

Childcare at participating centers

Up to 2 hours

Boulder's separate EXPAND scholarship adds up to $500 a year, usually up to $100 a registration season, and asks families to pay at least half the cost if they can.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Gather documents

   Have proof of your current address, your dependents' information, and current income proof for all adults, ideally your 2025 Form 1040.

2. Next

   Apply online

   Complete the online application in English or Spanish. For privacy, the city does not accept documents by email.

3. After approval

   Register for programs

   Use your free membership at the recreation centers and apply the 50% scholarship when you register for eligible programs.

4. By December 31

   Use it before it ends

   Memberships and aid end December 31 of the year you applied, so you apply again each year.

What it pays for

Covered

• Outdoor pools and Boulder Reservoir entry
• Up to 2 hours of childcare

Not covered

• One-day workshops and classes
• Team leagues and group sports
• Private or semi-private swim lessons
• Contracted classes and camps
• Flatirons Golf Course and Boulder Reservoir boats

Contracted classes or camps are not covered, but the city notes those providers may offer their own financial aid.

Who to contact

The Registration Team answers financial aid and registration questions; press 1 and then 1, or 9 for Spanish.

parks-rec@bouldercolorado.gov 303-413-7200 Financial aid program

Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks homeschool programs

Who qualifies

1. Is a homeschool group

   OSMP lists homeschool groups among the groups that can request a free customized program, alongside scouts, clubs, and church groups.

2. Has 7 to 60 people

   Groups run from 7 to 60 people, depending on naturalist availability. Groups of 25 or more on open space without an OSMP guide may need a permit.

3. Includes preschoolers and up

   Programs are open to ages preschool and up.

4. Requests before the deadline

   Submit the group program request form before the deadline for the season you want.

Request windows

OSMP takes group requests in seasonal windows and runs programs every day except Monday, with April 1 to November 30 the best time.

Winter, December 1-March 31

November 2, 2026

Spring, April 1-May 31

January 4, 2027

Summer, June 1-August 31

May 3, 2027

Fall, September 1-November 30

May 29, 2026 (passed)

Cost per program

Free

Two White Rocks group hikes a year, August through October, are reserved separately by emailing Juanita Echeverri at echeverrij@bouldercolorado.gov.

How to book a program

1. Before you request

   Choose a topic

   Pick from Boulder's history and public lands, outdoor safety, nature connection, wildlife, plants, or arts and wellness. Most topics can be given in Spanish.

2. By the season deadline

   Submit the request

   Use the Request a Group Program form on the city website. The next deadline is November 2, 2026 for winter programs.

3. After you request

   Confirm with a naturalist

   OSMP schedules programs based on naturalist availability, on open space or in a classroom.

4. Each year

   Request again

   Each group may request one program per year.

What it includes

Included

• A naturalist-led program
• Customized nature or local history topics
• Outdoor or classroom settings
• Programs in Spanish for most topics

Not included

• Groups under 7 people
• More than one program per group each year
• Mondays

Who to contact about group programs

OSMP's education programs team answers questions about group program requests and scheduling.

eeprograms@bouldercolorado.gov Request a group program

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Colorado

Give written notice to a Colorado school district 14 days before starting and each year the program continues. Notice is not required before age 6; instruction need not begin until age 7 or continue after age 16.

Colorado sets these rules:

• Subjects: Provide at least 172 days of instruction averaging four instructional contact hours daily, covering reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science, and regular instruction in the U.S. Constitution.
• Testing: Academic evaluation in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11: standardized test or evaluation by a qualified person.
• Records: Permanently keep attendance, test or evaluation results, and required immunization records; produce them on 14 days’ written notice when the superintendent has probable cause to believe the program is noncompliant.
• Teachers: Instruction is provided by a parent or legal guardian, or an adult relative designated by the parent; no teaching license is required.

Read the Colorado homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Colorado

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