About Page

The last few years have taught us that the people in our lives matter. Loneliness has been a painful reality among kids and adults alike. We hope this group can be an active step against that isolation, but not just in the sense that we are around other people. Many educational institutions bring people together, but have so much structure that there is no time to connect personally. We want to foster an environment where deep and lasting friendships grow. Because of this, we will choose to prioritize relationships in the activities we offer. Whatever activities we engage in, we will mindfully make space for kids and adults to have time and opportunities to connect socially and make real friends.

One of the challenges of traditional school is that all children learn the same thing at the same time and the same age. Curriculum is dictated by state and local standards, and teacher choices. Even in the best of circumstances, there is often little room for individual agency and freedom in what the child would like to learn. When people (including children) are able to choose what they learn, not only are they more likely to be engaged because they choose according to their interests, the mere act of choosing gives them a sense of empowerment and self-direction in their lives. This encourages their love of learning, as well as giving them a sense that they have the power to change things in their own life in the long run (self-efficacy).

A major source of confidence in children is the ability to do things for themselves. The limits of the traditional classroom often make it difficult to try things that are messy or have mild elements of risk. However, with the resources of this group, we can offer kids opportunities they may not have elsewhere. Also, we value play! A huge body of research shows that play is critical to learning, and many play opportunities help children grow in problem solving, turn-taking, and other social skills. We choose to include activities that may not have obvious academic value, but help children grow as humans in numerous other ways.