Nonprofit Bucks Learning Cooperative empowers teens through community service

As more families encounter challenges with traditional schooling—ranging from anxiety and burnout to a lack of engagement—the question arises: what alternatives exist when school isn't working? 

Bucks Learning Cooperative (BLC) is a full-time educational program for teens ages 13-18 who want to re-engage with learning on their own terms. Many arrive after feeling frustrated or disconnected from school and find relief, encouragement, and a fresh start. Fueled by curiosity and supported by experienced mentors and a caring peer community, teens design their own educational paths. At BLC, teens take classes and join workshops in subjects that interest them, go on excursions into the wider world and participate in internships that connect learning to life. With support from staff and their families, alumni have gone on to colleges like Temple, Penn State, and Bard, while others launch businesses, learn trades, or enter professions like aviation and medicine. 

Community engagement is a cornerstone of BLC’s model. Students participate in monthly service projects, such as volunteering at the United Way Help Center in Bristol, creating care packages at the Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia, and helping preserve local landmarks like Historic Fallsington and Slate Hill Cemetery. 

For the past 10 years, local therapists and educational experts have recommended BLC as a place for teens who may be frustrated with traditional school, including the bright but bored, the school avoidant, kids who may be socially isolated, and more. Such kids have found that BLC’s personalized education plans let them thrive. 

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BLC is committed to access and equity. Financial assistance is available, and families are encouraged to schedule a visit or trial day to see the model in action. 

Learn more at www.buckslearningcooperative.org.