Please scroll down for completed stories (in order from most to least recent)
In an effort to balance reporting with actually experiencing, these stories are not quite up to date!
In an effort to balance reporting with actually experiencing, these stories are not quite up to date!
Gaia Democratic SchoolThe flavour and energy of each school differs - some seem chaotic, some are welcoming, some have a buzz of excitement and learning, in others it feels like nothing is going on. In some, the adults seem to me to be somewhat defensive, ready to argue that their school IS an authentic place of learning (no doubt from years of responding to naysayers), in others the staff are laid-back and welcoming. Some seem to ignore me, and I come to realize that I must make my own needs and desires known in order to get answers; as I do this, I realize that this IS part of the educational philosophy of self-directed learning...
FOR INFO AND STORY ON GAIA DEMOCRATIC SCHOOL CLICK HERE Anima LifewaysI headed out on a 45 minute walk down the canyon, fording the freezing cold creek SEVEN TIMES with my skirt hiked up around my thighs, a backpack on my back, and a bag in each hand. It was very quiet as I walked. The sun was getting close to setting, and it was becoming chilly. I walked barefoot, pushing my cold, wet feet back into my shoes when the burrs and spiny weeds...
FOR PHOTO ESSAY ABOUT MY VISIT TO ANIMA LIFEWAYS AND HERBAL SCHOOL, CLICK HERE Design39CampusSince I was already touring VIDA, I thought I'd see if I could tour the other design-thinking school I'd heard about in San Diego - Design39Campus. I managed to squeak into the last spot on a tour for San Diego educators, led by the principal Sonia Wrisley.
Arriving at Design39, you have to pinch yourself. You are not on the Google Campus, but you'd swear you were. Coloured glass, steel, large open spaces with child-sized office furniture that looks like it was designed in Sweden... FOR PICS OF DESIGN39, CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON DESIGN THINKING, CLICK HERE Celebration EducationCelebration Education was begun in order to provide group learning experiences for homeschoolers as well as an alternative learning environment for mainstream education families looking for something different. It is a theme-based program run on a weekly schedule...
FOR MORE ON CELEBRATION EDUCATION, CLICK HERE The Connect Group SchoolMy first experience with The Connect Group School was a warm and welcoming reception at a park in a suburb of Los Angeles. Several children were sitting at a picnic table when I arrived, working on a project with Wendy, a mother of one of the younger students. As I walked up, Wendy jumped up excitedly, said how glad she was that I was there, and called Dr.Gray and another parent over from the creek, where they had been listening intently to Dr.Gray's pre-teen daughter instruct several students...
FOR MORE ABOUT THE CONNECT GROUP SCHOOL, CLICK HERE Krishnamurti and the Hot Spring HuntNatural hot springs. They are supposed to be everywhere here. And do you think I have been able to sit in EVEN ONE yet??? Every attempt thwarted. Stormy weather. Lost. Four hours off my route. Closed. Bacteria ridden.
So I took matters in hand and struck off into the mountains following my trusty Google map. Who cares if it takes 2 hours to get there. I'm going to sit in a hot spring, damn it. After driving for several hours, I began to suspect that I was heading in the wrong direction. Some careful scrutiny of my AAA map and comparison with the tiny Google map I had copied onto my phone revealed to me that Google had sent me south instead of north. I was now four hours away from the hot springs, and dusk was approaching. I stopped at a ranger station, which was closed, and looked at the map of camping areas... FOR A SERENDIPITOUS EXPERIENCE AND MY ILLEGAL CAMPING ADVENTURES CLICK HERE Jerry SangerAfter Big Sur the highway headed more inland. I had no idea where to sleep. It was 4:30pm and dusk was rapidly approaching.
On a previous internet search I had come across a website called Boondockers Welcome. Boondocking refers to parking your RV somewhere and sleeping in it without having to pay anything. Boondocking frequently happens at rest stops, truck stops, Walmart parking lots, BLM land (Bureau of Land Management forests where you can camp for free if you can find an appropriate spot that fulfills their requirements), National Forests, and sometimes sidestreets if there’s a spot where an RV can park unobtrusively. The website, which is quite brilliant, is similar to couch surfing, except it refers to RV boondocker people saying ‘hey, I live in this city and you can come park and sleep in my driveway.’ Unfortunately, in order to post a reply, you must sign up and pay a yearly fee (everyone’s got to make money I guess). I had bookmarked the site, so, on a whim, started scrolling through the map. There was someone listed at a town nearby, and when I clicked on his profile, I discovered that he had also posted his phone number. Jerry Sanger, in Arroso Grande. Well, what did I have to lose? Using a coffee shop’s wifi and an internet free phone app, I called the number. After 2 rings, a voice said “Jerry Sanger”... FOR MORE ABOUT MY STAY WITH JERRY, CLICK HERE Brightworks SchoolThrough Michael, I had the opportunity to tour the amazing Brightworks School in San Francisco. Founded 4 years ago, Brightworks is an innovative hands-on approach to education which takes place in a re-created warehouse space. A wonderland of lofts, crawlspaces, tools, supplies, and fun, Brightworks sparks the imagination and allows kids the freedom to explore and create while supporting them as they delve into subjects and projects to learn in-depth.
TO SEE PHOTOS AND INFO ABOUT MY TIME AT BRIGHTWORKS, CLICK HERE Shaman Healing CircleWhile in Portland, OR, I spent an afternoon in a coffee shop, trying to think of things I could type into Google in order to find interesting people to connect with. I suddenly thought: "drumming circles"! That would be fun! So I typed it in, and came across….not a drumming circle, exactly, but a Shamanic Healing Circle...with drums. They were meeting Tuesday at a house just outside of Eugene, where I was going to be heading the next day. I emailed them on the off chance that they'd receive my email and respond before then. The next day I got back a note from Alida Birch, one of the founders of the group. She said they'd be happy for me to come observe.
So two days later I found myself winding through dark country roads (this time with a map and half an hour early) towards Alida and Reed's home on the outskirts of town… CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THE HEALING DRUMMING CIRCLE! How I Infiltrated a Health ClubFunny story about the lengths one can go to get a hot shower under desperate conditions.
CLICK HERE :) Village Free School...When students at VFS feel they are ready to graduate (usually between the ages of 15-17), they write a letter to the staff saying that they are ready to begin the process. The process (which is optional but almost all students choose to undergo) generally takes 1 to 1.5 years to complete. The student chooses a committee of adults and students who will help him/her through the process. Challenges are created by the student...
FOR MORE ON VILLAGE FREE SCHOOL CLICK HERE Songaia and Fox in the ForestSongaia is a suburban Cohousing Community in Bothell, Washington, a short drive from Seattle. Songaia consists of approximately 40 people living in 15 houses clustered around a common green space situated on 10.6 acres of forested hillside, organic gardens, orchards, and meadow...
...As I arrived, late and breathless due to a miscommunication which resulted in me sleeping in the YMCA parking lot in my van and then scrambling to find Songaia in time the next morning (what else is new?), Susie was frantically setting up the tools for apple pressing. A busload of preschoolers was due in 10 minutes... FOR THE REST OF THE STORY AND INFO ABOUT SONGAIA COHOUSING COMMUNITY, CLICK HERE Little Nest Forest PreschoolI had the pleasure of meeting Catherine Cummins in the Spring of this year. I had been googling 'alternative education vancouver island' and came across her website for Little Nest. The more I read about Catherine and her vision for starting this preschool in the fall, the more I experienced a strong gut feeling that I needed to meet her. Everything she stood for aligned with my own principles for learning...plus she just seemed really cool. I felt inspired to...
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON LITTLE NEST AND LINKS TO REGGIO EMILIA A Loving Path to WellnessI hadn't spoken much to the quiet young woman sitting next to me at the dinner table, chatting instead with her parents who were hosting me and feeding me for the evening. Conversation began to dissipate, so I turned to Christina and said, "So, what do you do in Victoria?"
"I'm starting up my own Reiki practice, which will also involve work with chakras, and healing work with drums that takes place in nature. I want to make Reiki accessible to people who are hospitalized or dying, for a lower cost." At least that's the gist of what she said...I was still reeling from the fact that learning more about holistic healing alternatives was on my list of goals for this trip, but I had not set anything up or lined up anyone to talk to... CLICK HERE FOR REST OF STORY ON CHRISTINA Anissa Reed Designs
I had the wonderful opportunity to work at Anissa Reed's gift shop in Sointula this year. Anissa is a self-taught artist who creates and designs in many mediums to celebrate the west coast where she lives.
To check out Anissa's work, go to www.anissareed.com, or www.facebook.com/AnissaReedDesigns.
Or donate money to my trip at http://www.gofundme.com/opentopossibility and have a chance to win clothing designed by Anissa! |
Sunny Hollow Montessori School...Each 6 year old that I talked to looked me in the eye, invited me to participate in what they were doing, and answered all my questions with assurance and interest. Some came over to invite me to see what they were doing. I found them to be engaged, friendly, and eloquent. Throughout it all, Joe was watching the students intently...
FOR MORE ON WHAT I LIKED ABOUT MONTESSORI AND SUNNY HOLLOW, CLICK HERE The Tire Saga, Part 2...The guy in Magdalena laughed when he saw my tire. “Never have that size in stock,” he said. “Try Socorro.” An hour later we pulled up in Socorro. The guy there had every used tire imaginable…just not the one I needed. “No one’s gonna have that,” he said, spitting chewing tobacco juice from between blackened teeth. “I kin sell you a used one but it’s the wrong size. Tread’s almost gone. Will git you on your way though, and you can buy a new one when you git to Albuquerque.”...
FOR MORE OF THE TIRE SAGA STORY, CLICK HERE Grant LichtmanLeeAnne Gray of The Connect Group School in LA said to me one day before I left, "You should connect with Grant Lichtman! He is a leader in educational change and wrote a book based on his travels to different schools." So I emailed Grant, who lives near San Diego. Grant, an incredibly busy and well-recognized leader and thinker in the future of education, was gracious enough to allow me to come on a tour of a design-thinking school near San Diego...
FOR MORE ON GRANT LICHTMAN, CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON DESIGN THINKING, CLICK HERE VIDA (Vista Innovation and Design Academy)Last year VIDA was a different school. Called Washington Middle School, it was a school with challenges: 99% hispanic, 30% homeless, 95% participating in free/reduced lunch program. There were gang issues, many suspensions and behavior problems, and police were frequently on-site. Over the summer, the school recreated itself as a design-based magnet school that has a dress code, and insists on hard work and commitment. The curriculum is more student-centred and interdisciplinary, with a focus on project-based learning. Students and staff had a choice last fall...
FOR MORE ON VIDA, CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON DESIGN THINKING, CLICK HERE The Twelve Tribes - cult or wisdom??My visit to the Twelve Tribes commune in Vista, California.
LINKS, ARTICLES, VIDEOS, AND INFO ABOUT TWELVE TRIBES The Guy from Hamilton, OntarioI was walking along a beach in LA, scanning for a free yoga meetup group that I had read about. Should be easy to spot...dreadlocks, yoga pants, and some mats? Ten minutes passed and I still hadn't seen a likely group. Except for the one girl with the large hair sitting down by the water, meditating. As I began to head that way I noticed a group of three strolling towards her. They looked like likely yoga candidates, and they had a purposeful direction. I followed them. Several other people also started to head toward big hair girl. My suspicions were confirmed as I approached and several people started unfolding towels or mats. The leader introduced herself personally to each person - as we shook hands, I mentioned where I was from and that I was on a road trip. "HEY!" said the guy from the original group of three I had spotted. "You're from Ontario? What part?"
I usually say Toronto. No one knows where Hamilton is, but MOST have a vague idea of Toronto's general direction. "Hamilton," I said. "It's near Toronto," I quickly added. "Ah," replied inquiring guy. "Hm. So you've taken the Barton bus before, probably..." TO READ MORE ABOUT SOME SURPRISING HOSPITALITY FROM A STRANGER, CLICK HERE To Un-school or to WaldorfIn mid-November I was blessed to be able to sit down with Diane Lasalle, director of Admissions and Enrollment at Pasadena Waldorf School in Los Angeles, for a lovely conversation about schools, education, Waldorf, technology, and life.
As someone who is attracted to the student-initiated learning of democratic schools and unschooling, I find the Waldorf system and philosophy somewhat more topdown and prescriptive than I prefer. And yet... There's something marvelous about the atmosphere in a Waldorf school. It's calm. And joyful. And grounded. Maybe it's the beauty that is woven into everything. Maybe it's the natural surroundings. Maybe it's the emphasis on seasons and repetition and celebrations and ritual. All I know is that, even though I balk at art projects where everyone does the same thing in the same way with the same materials, and at a method where students meticulously copy teachers' notes and drawings into books as a method of learning... FOR MORE ON WALDORF EDUCATION, CLICK HERE Solvang and The Horse WhispererI had spent the last couple hours driving through miles of large-scale fruit farming, arid hills, and sketchy looking industrial towns populated by migrant workers. The moon was rising, it was getting dark, and I was tired with no place to sleep. Instinct told me to keep driving to a place that seemed safer. I had read that the approaching town of Solvang was a quaint touristy town founded by the Danish 100 years previously, and I decided that seemed like a more likely place to find a quiet side street. The highway turned off and as I entered the downtown core of Solvang, my jaw dropped...
FOR MORE ABOUT HOW I CAME ACROSS THE HORSE WHISPERER'S RANCH, AND PICS, CLICK HERE Meeting MichaelI was touring Village Free School in Portland OR. As I sat chatting to Elliot, a volunteer who takes the kids to a farm once a week, she said, "Say, you know, there was this guy here last week who also used to teach in a more traditional school system. He decided he didn't like it, left, and is now spending a year roaddtripping through the US, touring alternative schools and writing a blog about it."
PING! SPROOING! went my mind, as I tried to wrap it around the fact that this dude is doing my trip…at the same time I am. Apparently visiting the same schools. Elliot found me his card with his contact information, and later that week I checked out his amazing blog, and then emailed him with my story. Since he was in Chicago, I thought maybe we could meet up when I headed out that way. But lo and behold, he was spending the next 2 weeks in San Francisco, which is where I was headed next. So we arranged to meet at a coffee shop… FOR MORE ON MEETING MICHAEL, AND TO SEE HIS AMAZING BLOG, CLICK HERE Gua Sha and ChiropracticA couple days before I hit Portland, OR, I sent a Facebook message to my cousin Eric's girlfriend, Jocelyn, whom I had never met or yet spoken to. Jocelyn is from Ontario but has been living in Portland for the past few years where she is pursuing studies to become a licensed chiropractor. Jocelyn was kind enough to not only suggest places I could park overnight in the city, but to invite me to come use her apartment as a home base while I was in the city.
What a wonderful time, getting to know the lovely Jocelyn, cooking and eating together, wandering around quaint neighborhoods and shopping area, sitting in coffee shops, and having great discussions about life. Alternative health practices is something that I find fascinating, due to my own health conditions, and we talked a lot about the mind-body-spirit connection, food, energy, and healing. I have always considered chiropractic to be something that is part-way between mainstream health practices and holistic alternatives… CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT CHIROPRACTIC, GUA SHA, and ROCK TAPE Windsor House SchoolWhile still in Sointula this past year, I spent a dreary winter day doing some research on alternative education on the west coast. One of the schools I came across was Windsor House, located in North Vancouver. Something about it sounded familiar, and as I did some more research I realized that I had read about this school back in Ontario, years ago, and wished I could visit it. Well what do you know! Now the opportunity had arisen!
Two weeks into my road trip I found myself in Vancouver. I had emailed earlier in the Spring about the possibility of visiting or volunteering, but had not followed up in awhile. No response to my last minute inquiries, so I called the main office and spoke to the secretary. Sam was more than obliging, and called me back later that afternoon to say that, not only could I have a tour the next day, but the founder of the school, Helen Hughes, was available to take me around... CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON MY EXPERIENCE AT WINDSOR HOUSE Karma Teachers YogaKarma Teachers began in 2011 and is the brainchild of Emerson Lim. Its mission is to offer free or by-donation yoga classes to promote the act of selfless giving and build community. They are currently working with Beauty Night Society for Impoverished Women and Kundalini for Mental Health and Addictions, and are launching new and expanded programs for Eating Disorders, At-risk Youth, LGBTQ, Aboriginal Youth, and more classes for the general public.
Emerson Lim is the creator of Ecstatic Yoga (a combination of yoga movements, powerful breathwork, and dance therapy), designed to engage homeless youth and meet them where they are... CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON KARMA TEACHERS New Sprout Farm and The Twelve Tribes CommuneI arrived at New Sprout Farm to pick up Elli, an Austrian farm volunteer I had met on Malcolm Island. As I pulled into a large complex of well-kept buildings and lush gardens surrounded by fields, a woman got out of a van with a stroller and started struggling, arms laden with shopping bags, into what turned out to be the main community kitchen building. I said I was looking for Elli and offered to help carry bags. As we walked into the kitchen I realized this wasn't just your average farm. It had the look of a camp kitchen. There were 3 women working at various cooking tasks, and several toddlers wandering....
CLICK HERE FOR REST OF STORY AND PICS! |