Classes and Activities

English Workshop

This workshop gives students the freedom to take charge of their own learning by working independently through their English curriculum at their own pace.

Whether you’re diving into reading, writing, grammar, or literature, you’re in the driver’s seat! Along the way, guided instructional support is always available to help you stay on track, tackle challenges, and reach your full potential. It’s learning your way, with the help you need, right when you need it!

Math Workshop

This workshop empowers students to take ownership of their learning by working independently through their math curriculum at their own pace.

Whether you’re solving equations, exploring geometry, or tackling algebra, you have the freedom to focus on what matters most to you. And don’t worry — guided instructional support is always on hand to help you work through tricky problems, build confidence, and level up your math skills. It’s your math journey, and we’re here every step of the way!

Devotional

Devotional Time is a special part of our school day dedicated to growing in faith together!

Students dive into the Word of God and explore how it connects to the real-life struggles and challenges of middle and high school. Throughout the year, we are joined by guest speakers who share inspiring testimonies and devotionals, and we love encouraging our own students to step up and lead. It’s a powerful time to come together, support one another, and grow closer to God and His Word.

High School Biology

This course takes students on an exciting journey through the living world, exploring everything from the smallest cells to complex ecosystems.

Students will dive into key topics such as cell structure, genetics, evolution, human body systems, and the environment, gaining a deeper understanding of how life works at every level. Through engaging labs, hands-on experiments, and real-world connections, students will develop critical thinking and scientific skills that go far beyond the classroom.

High School Government & Economics

In this class you will NOT memorize dates or facts…unless you want to.

Instead, we will look at the good, the bad, the ugly, the shocking, gross, hilarious, fascinating, and controversial parts of U.S. History that textbooks misrepresent or leave out. We will examine our nation’s history through class discussions, debates, primary sources, artifacts, videos, and field trips. Along the way, students will decide the topics that they want to dive deeper into.

Middle School Zoology

Where we take flight and explore God’s incredible flying creatures!

Using the Apologia curriculum, students will journey through the fascinating world of creatures that soar, glide, and flutter through the skies. From birds and bats to insects and beyond, students will discover the unique characteristics, habitats, and behaviors of flying creatures, all while developing a deeper appreciation for the wonders of God’s design. Get ready to spread your wings and explore His creation like never before!

Life Skills

This course is designed to equip students with the practical knowledge and tools needed to navigate everyday life with confidence and independence.

From financial literacy and communication skills to problem-solving and personal responsibility, students will explore the essential skills needed every single day. Through hands-on activities and real-world scenarios, students will develop the habits and mindset needed to thrive as responsible, contributing members of their community. Because success starts with knowing how to live well!

Home Economics

This course is designed to empower students to become confident, independent, and self-sufficient individuals who are ready to take on the real world.

Through fun and practical self-management activities, students will discover more about themselves and develop the skills needed to become active, contributing members of their community. From mastering the art of sewing and knitting to whipping up delicious meals, students will explore the exciting world of food and nutrition, food preparation and handling, and the proper use of kitchen tools and equipment.

Outdoor Survival Skills

Develop a plan and skillset for the zombie apocalypse as you learn how to:

build good fires and start them without a lighter; shoot a bow and arrow; navigate by the sun; tie knots for all kinds of purposes; make your own rope; grow good food out of limited soil and more! Along the way we will develop a connection with nature, discover where the things we need really come from, and learn the importance of self reliance.

Physical Educational

This is not your typical school gym class. Physical Education is about more than sports.

In this class we explore a variety of ways to be active from games, hiking, cycling, and exercise. We will learn about how our bodies work, learn to read nutrition labels, make delicious recipes, and set individual fitness and nutrition goals.

Tinker Shop

Do you like to build and create or take things apart to see how they work?

Tinker Time gives you the opportunity to take things apart and build something new. You can bring in your own projects from your own car to a broken toy or you can work with wood, electronics, or other items to create a remote controlled mop, an automatic dog feeder, or anything else you dream up.

Board Games

Where having fun and learning go hand in hand!

Students have the opportunity to explore a variety of board games while developing critical thinking, strategy, and problem-solving skills along the way. Through gameplay, students will learn how to think ahead, make decisions under pressure, work collaboratively, and adapt when things don’t go as planned — all valuable skills that extend far beyond the game board. Get ready to roll the dice and level up your thinking!

Classes meet for about 1 hour, once or twice a week for up to 18 weeks

These classes are subject to change based on the interest of students.
If you dream it up, we’ll try to find someone to teach it.

For information on enrollment, click "Join"

At Mariner we work with each member as an individual, building on strengths to create a meaningful and positive experience while also preparing for each person’s next steps. Members work closely with their mentors to determine their own ideal schedule, creating a combination of group classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions.

Many Mariner members will work with tutors individually to study a topic. Members who wish to study math and writing often do so with a tutor, who can tailor the study to that particular person’s needs.

The format of individual classes can vary significantly, depending on the vision of the leader as well as the input of the participants. Some classes will ask for and expect a considerable amount of work to happen outside of class time while others will be more limited. This is made clear in the class description and by the teacher and should be taken into consideration by the student deciding to join the group.

We encourage all Mariner members to learn about and try as many classes as they can. Once a member decides to be a regular participant of a class, we expect commitment. There are no grades or punishments, but we expect class participants to communicate with the teacher regarding attendance and other issues and to fulfill any requirements such as readings, research, or other assignments.

Members may also choose to participate in dual credit courses through Florence-Darlington Technical College or Francis Marion University or take on an internship, volunteer work, or paid work as part of their learning experience.

At Mariner, we recognize that most of our learning happens OUTSIDE of a classroom setting. To that end, we will venture out on many local field trips throughout the year: Lynches River County Park, Local Museums, Businesses, Farms, and more.