Back to Our Roots: The Next Chapter for Community Learning

When I started Community Learning more than 20 years ago, the idea was pretty simple: create hands-on learning that gets kids excited about problem-solving and working together.

Over the years, Community Learning grew in ways I never expected. We created our own curriculum and science kits, partnered with schools and community groups nationwide, connected with national education resellers, and expanded our online store to offer products from other educational companies.

As we look to the future, I’ve decided it’s time to reconnect with our roots; to simplify, refocus, and return to what sparked Community Learning in the first place.

Returning to Our Own Curriculum

In the next few months, we’ll offer fewer products on our website and, as part of this transition, end our wholesale relationships with other retailers. We’ll stop selling most third-party resale and drop-ship items by the end of September.

Some items we have in stock will still be available until they sell out, but from now on, we’ll focus on Community Learning’s own curriculum and learning experiences. Importantly, all current customers—whether organizations or families—will continue to receive our full support.

This is an important distinction.

I’ve always believed our real strength isn’t just putting educational materials in a box. It’s about the experience that happens when someone opens that box.

Programs such as The Cookie Jar Mystery, Missing Money Mystery, Rogue Rodent Mystery, and Science Fair Mystery were designed to make students active participants in their learning. They don't just read about science. They become investigators. They examine evidence, conduct experiments, make observations, draw conclusions, and ultimately use science to solve a mystery.

Our original curriculum goes beyond science and forensics. For example, Being a Screenwriter: The Art of Writing a Screenplay shows how we’ve built courses around subjects that can be tough for educators to teach without a clear structure. This program helps students create characters, build stories, write dialogue, and finally write their own screenplay. Since courses like Screenwriting are based on curriculum rather than special materials, they also show where we’re headed: creating engaging courses that can be delivered digitally and used in classrooms, community programs, or at home.

We also plan to bring back our Being an Artist series, which is part of Community Learning’s original curriculum. These courses introduce young people to different artists, styles, and creative techniques, and give them chances to make their own art. Like Screenwriting, the Being an Artist series fits well with our new direction: original, engaging curriculum that can be delivered digitally and used in many learning settings. Revisiting these programs also lets us update our earlier work for today’s learners while keeping the hands-on, creative approach that’s always been central to Community Learning.

This renewed focus is about returning to the hands-on, creative learning that has always defined us—and making it more accessible than ever before.

Making Our Classroom Curriculum More Flexible

We're also rethinking how our curriculum reaches schools, libraries, after-school programs, and other organizations.

Historically, many of our courses have been sold as complete physical kits containing both the curriculum and the materials needed to conduct the activities.

Going forward, we'll be expanding our digital options. Educators will be able to access our curriculum and student materials electronically and, where practical, source common activity supplies themselves.

For larger organizations that still need physical materials, we expect to offer custom kitting for larger projects rather than managing the extensive inventory required to build every kit on demand.

This approach gives educators more choices while allowing us to spend more time on what we do best: developing great learning experiences. Our customer portal will remain available for all customers to access resources, manage orders, and get help as needed.

Bringing Learning and Mystery Home

One of the changes I’m most excited about is our renewed commitment to home learning—something we’ve wanted to explore for years.

We're starting with our longtime bestseller, The Cookie Jar Mystery.

We're not simply taking the existing classroom program and putting a new label on it. We're redesigning the experience for a young investigator working from home.

The new Cookie Jar Mystery Homeschool Edition is being developed as a five-day forensic science adventure. Young investigators will conduct hands-on activities, examine evidence, and gradually work their way toward solving the mystery.

We're also redesigning activities around materials families may already have at home whenever possible, keeping preparation simple without sacrificing the hands-on science that makes the experience special.

Cookie Jar is just the beginning. What we learn from it will shape how we adapt more of our curriculum for families and home-based learners, making hands-on discovery possible anywhere.

What’s Next

After more than two decades, Community Learning has seen enormous change. Schools have evolved, we endured COVID, technology has advanced, but one thing holds true: learning by doing is still one of the most effective ways to learn, and by the way, it's fun! 

That’s why we’re embracing these changes with intention and excitement, refocusing on what makes our programs meaningful and relevant for today’s learners.

Yet, the heart of Community Learning remains the same: fostering hands-on exploration and discovery.

Mike

Founder, Community Learning