Purpose, Learning, Access, Community, & Enrichment

At Stella Maris Explorers, we believe every young person deserves a PLACE. Regardless of their chosen educational modality, everyone should have access to a thriving community.

  • Purpose: resolutely anchored in beauty, truth, and goodness
  • Learning: pedagogy focused on hands-on and wonder-filled experiences
  • Access: providing otherwise unattainable resources for underserved children
  • Community: family-centered community developing life-long friendships and connections
  • Enrichment: helping children become creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, and innovators

Unlike other places across America, families in coastal Mississippi are often choosing between just two widely divergent educational options: conventional school or homeschooling. With our PLACE-making campaign, SME is diligently working to expand our “middle of the road” alternatives to support families, to see all children thrive, and to double or even triple our reach over the next 12-24 months. By 2030, we'd like to be able to serve, in some capacity, the entire projected 6,000-member homeschool community in the lower six coastal MS counties.

Our vision is growing beyond programs. We are seeking funding to create a non-profit Community Center to serve as a vibrant, welcoming home for our youth and other local nonprofit partners serving children through arts and science enrichment. With our annual drawdown fundraiser, planned for April 10th, 2026, we are hoping to raise funds to put toward our general building fund, the purchase of resources for our educators’ lending library, and this big vision Art and Science Community Center project. Consider joining us? Tickets and event sponsorship information can be found here. 

When you join us as a partner in PLACE-making, YOU help make sure every child on the MS Gulf Coast has a PLACE to grow.