How Do They Learn?

Human beings have an innate curiosity and drive to learn. You can witness these drives from birth, as our youngest humans engage, play, and experiment. Like all young mammals, kids learn through play for the majority of their young lives, and this play and exploration is fostered and supported at our school. As young people get older, there is a transition period where learning becomes less play-focused, but curiosity, passion, and the desire to learn the tools of the culture and, for many, to engage in social groups, still drives our learning and focus no matter the age. 

In our culture we often notice that play, curiosity, and engagement dampens as kids get older, which can make some people ask: but how does an environment free from coercion to learn even work?" However, it is conventional school that trains kids to listen and conform, and follow specific lessons and plans laid out for them by others, which stifles curiosity and confidence in self, and in our own innate capabilities to learn and explore. Without the constraints of school, most young people remain curious, engaged, and excited to pursue their interests, test things out, and even make mistakes. At our school, we are simply nurturing and supporting the natural drives and human tendencies that already exist, while recognizing that there are societal constraints that can get in the way of these drives, and it is important to offer a rich, vibrant environment full of opportunities, play, experiments, mentors, group offerings, and plenty of time to just hang out, get bored, discuss ideas, and engage in life.

To dig more into specific questions, such as  “How Do They Learn the Basics?” “What is a Day in the Life Like?” and “Can They Still Go To College?” See our FAQ section.