Both, actually. Science with a Spark is taught by a degreed professional with a Master’s degree and is aligned with NGSS — the same standards used in traditional high schools. Each course runs two semesters, 12 weeks each, covering 3 units of study per semester plus a student research project and review. For homeschool families, you as the parent grant credit on your student’s transcript, and this course gives you every reason to do so confidently.

So yes, your kid will walk away with a real, legitimate credit — and probably a lot of unsolicited science facts at the dinner table. You’ve been warned.

If your student is working at a middle or high school level, then absolutely — we’d love to have them. Fair warning though: these classes aren’t designed to be a casual drop-in. They’re built to cover a full year of rigorous, hands-on science, so we’re looking for students who are ready to actually show up and dig in. If that sounds like your kid, we’re in. If you’re not sure, reach out and let’s talk — no commitment required.

Six. That’s it. That’s the whole class. No hiding in the back, no hoping the teacher forgets you exist, no forty-five minute wait to use the microscope. Six students means everyone participates, everyone gets their hands on the actual science, and everyone goes home knowing exactly what happened today — whether they wanted to or not.

About 90 minutes per session — give or take, because science doesn’t always follow a schedule. You’ll have just enough time to do absolutely nothing and feel slightly guilty about it before they’re back with new opinions about bacteria.

Done in February? We haven’t even gotten to the best stuff by February! Two full semesters, 12 weeks each, 24 classes total. By the time we’re done, your kid will be sad it’s over. You might be too — mostly because you’re really going to miss not having to work so hard to get your kid talking about anything other than a screen.

Fort Myers, Florida — a real, lived-in home with personality, good science equipment, and yes, cats. The cats are friendly. The dog is contained but has thoughts about that. Your kid will be completely fine. Probably better than fine, actually.

We did. Our cats roam freely throughout the space. Our dog is secured in another room, where he registers his complaints loudly and often. Please make sure your student is comfortable around animals before registering. Full details are in the waiver, which is slightly less fun than this page but equally important.

Both are totally valid options — we don’t judge. If you do come in, you may not have a seat at the lab table depending on group size, but there’s always a spot nearby. Fair warning though: you might learn something. We accept no responsibility for that, and we will not be issuing refunds for unsolicited science knowledge.

Just the guided notes spiral we provide — bring it back every single week, that’s the one non-negotiable. We’ll have everything else you need for class. That said, if your kid has strong feelings about their pencils, colored pencils, markers, scissors, or glue stick — and some kids absolutely do, no judgment — feel free to bring their favorites. But if it’s a hassle? Don’t stress it. We’ve got you covered.

Yes! Hippie Helper Creations is an approved Step Up for Students Direct Pay provider, which means families can pay directly through their EMA account — no out of pocket costs, no reimbursement hassle. Just indicate on your registration form that you’re a Step Up family and we’ll walk you through the rest.

At this time, tuition is non-refundable. If something truly unexpected comes up, reach out and we’ll do our best to work something out — but because we work with the state through EMA, we can’t make any promises. What we can promise is that we’re reasonable humans who will go to bat for you if we can.

Please tell us in the registration form. We use common household and commercially available materials in our labs and will do our best to accommodate. In an emergency we will contact your designated emergency contact and call 911 if needed. We take this seriously, even on this silly FAQ page.

Reach out via Facebook, Instagram, or email and let’s chat — you bring the group, we’ll figure out the rest together. Once we’ve connected and confirmed your spot, you’ll fill out the registration form and waiver. Then we do science. 🔬