Philosophy

We’re founded on the premise that children thrive when they are free to chart their own course, in a safe and supportive container, grounded in responsibility to the self, the community, and the environment.

We trust young people. We trust that young people will follow their passions, push their limits, and seek the knowledge they will need to thrive in a changing world. We trust young people to set their own goals and create their own definition of success. We trust young people because trust demands empathy, personal responsibility, and true, deep learning. We place our trust in young people because we ask them to place their trust in us.

We understand that play “is the work of the child,” and that we all learn best when we play: “Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills. When play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.” – Pediatrics, January 2007, Volume 119 / Issue 1

Our community values equity. Gathering in circles big and small, we discuss and decide our future collectively. We are committed to restorative rather than punitive justice, rooted in anti-racism and anti-colonialism. We aim to represent the whole Santa Barbara County by implementing a scholarship program to reduce the financial barrier to attendance. We strive for total transparency of process, so that all members of the community are enfranchised.

We see risk-taking as essential to learning, to seeing and surpassing our own limits, and to achieving the extraordinary. It’s a real risk to step out of the family, out of the school, into the larger world– it’s a real risk to show the world your passion and try your best to succeed. The role of adults is to both model risk-taking and to create a container of safety for children to practice taking those risks.