THE PHILOSOPHY
TRUST
Everything we do is grounded in trust: in students, in each other, in you.
LEARNING
Learning is natural. It is happening all the time.
SELF-DIRECTION
People learn best when they make their own decisions. Children are people.
EXPERIENCE
People learn more from their culture and environment than from the material they are taught.
SUCCESS
Accomplishment is achieved through cycles of intention, creation, reflection, and sharing.
We are not a traditional school. We are a multi-age learning community where kids, parents, and facilitators all grow together.
Learning Programs
Flexible pathways into self-directed education — from part-time to full-time, outdoors to indoors, for children, teens, and families.
Join our full-time program for a 5-day-a-week learning community. Students co-create curriculum with facilitators, combining Roots, Workshop, Drop-Ins, and Hybrid options into a rich daily rhythm of curiosity, reflection, and community.
Our outdoor program at Awbury Arboretum invites children ages 4 and up to explore woods, creeks, and meadows. Through play and discovery, they practice autonomy, collaboration, and connection with the natural world.
At our city hub, Roots learners (ages 4 and up) dive into imaginative play and creative exploration. Storytelling, building, and crafting unfold alongside Workshop youth, offering natural cross-age inspiration.
Workshop is for learners ready to design their own projects, set intentions, and reflect on their growth. With mentor guidance and peer collaboration, young people take ownership of their learning in meaningful, real-world ways.
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Every Friday at Natural Creativity Center, families can try self-directed education in a flexible format. Kids explore projects and games, while parents are welcome to use the shared coworking space.
