The Free Range Learning Cooperative

The Free Range Learning Cooperative Mission: To provide students and families the opportunity to deepen their learning experiences through adventure, relationship and community building, environmental stewardship and a variety of enrichment classes.

 

We accomplish these goals by:

• Providing homeschooling students a chance to enjoy a welcoming social atmosphere.
• Organizing and leading educational adventures that focus on strengthening sense perception and  increasing cultural and environmental knowledge, awareness and sensitivity.
• Developing partnerships between homeschooling families and local experts in various fields of study through the appointment of a rotating board of advisers.
• Providing the opportunity for parents to share their passions and skills with other families through parent-taught classes.
• Offering workshops, training seminars and other educational experiences as desired and requested by the cooperative members.
• Participating in community service and environmental stewardship projects.
• Offering classes and projects centered around visual, audio and performing arts.
• Giving students the opportunity to exercise their skills as naturalists, scientists, authors, communicators and artists.

 

Our Philosophy: Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another .-Juvenal, Satires

• Honoring Nature’s Rhythms: Our Motto, Learning the Way Nature Intended,  is a good introduction to the philosophy upon which this community is built.  In designing the program, great care was taken to insure that the programs adhere to this simple idea.  For example, we enjoy having classes during the summer-time as there is much to be taken advantage of during this lush season, while the winter-time is a time of introversion and lower energy.  Therefore, a more extended break in the winter time is more in line with what we  can observe from nature’s rhythms and cycles than a large break during the summer.

 

• Building Community:An educational philosophy that harmonizes with nature’s rhythms is one that also focuses on expanding a child’s connection with ever growing circles of community.  Cooperative members are part of the cooperative community and as such we are able to learn from each other and model compassionate and self-disciplined behavior, presenting our children with the gift of a loving and thriving community from which to safely test their wings.  Of course, this cooperative community is a part of the general Bellingham community.  When we design our programs, we incorporate the greater Bellingham community whenever possible in order to expand the children’s idea of society.  For example, Ben Sholtz, owner of Mallard’s Ice Cream, recently hosted a class at his shop in which he demonstrated the difference between tap water and filtered water and he explained the solar water heater.  Now, these students weren’t at an age to completely understand the lesson, but it is obvious that these children will never see this local ice-cream shop in the same way.  Their sense of community is growing; their perspective is opening up, and so is ours.  This is why our classes often take place in the community, rather than in a classroom.   Bellingham is a gold-mine of scientists, artists, writers, performers and other experts just dying to share their passions with eager young minds.  Lets embrace these precious community resources and then gratefully give back to the community and the environment through service projects.

• Nature Awareness:  Similarly, when students learn about the amazing properties of plants that may have previously gone overlooked, students’ perspective on the world shifts and opens.  Some will look at a vacant lot with various plants growing wild and simply see weeds.  Now imagine viewing this same field and seeing edible greens and plants that sooth and heal.  Historically speaking, this kind of knowledge was common, as well as knowledge about the night sky and its many constellations and planets.  This knowledge is not so common anymore.  Lets change that.

• Educating the Senses: Another tenet of this philosophy is that our senses are the doorways to learning.  If we strengthen our senses, our learning will naturally and effortlessly deepen.  Therefore, sense education is a joyful focus of this program.  And that brings us to the “sense” of imagination.  Imaginative education involves sparking the imagination and following the child.  Engagement through imagination is another joyful path to authentic learning experiences.   Our imaginations are so important to our roles as humans and our place within the web of life.  They allow us to create a beautiful future.  Lets honor this gift, nurture it and cater to it.

We not only have the potential to give our children these beautiful gifts, but also the responsibility.  Lets do it together.

“Suppose you had the revolution you are talking and dreaming about. Suppose your side had won, and you had the kind of society that you wanted. How would you live, you personally, in that society? Start living that way now!”

Paul Goodman (1911–1972)
AUTHOR AND SOCIOLOGIST

 

Value Based Learning: We value:  Freedom, Independent Thinking, Alignment with Nature’s Rhythms, Honoring the Web of Life, Creative Expression, Tolerance, Compassion, Healthy Choices, Gratitude, Generosity and Curiosity.

 

Student Input: Thanks to a unique inquiry approach to learning, students will have plenty of opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat of their own learning experiences.  A unique quality that Crystal Scheer possesses as an educator and as a person, is her ability to “lead from behind”;  she is able to provide the banks of the river while her students enjoy paddling anywhere they desire within that flow.  Students thrive when they are able to enjoy flexibility within a malleable structure.  Crystal enjoys using Socratic questioning and dialogue to shepherd her students and herself towards deeper states of curiosity and understanding.  She learns just as much from her students as they learn from her as they come together to explore the world and delight in each other’s company.

Age Groups: Students are developmentally grouped.  The age groups listed below provide a rough guideline.  A student who is 5 might be ready for the June-bug group and a student who is 6 might still gravitate towards the Grasshoppers. Students are allowed to join the group that best suits their developmental needs.

Nymphs:  0-3

Grass Hoppers:  4-8

Dragon Flies:  9-13

Tuition for Fall: Students who are interested in attending classes in the Fall are encouraged to try out the program this summer at a reduced rate.  The Fall program schedule and tuition is as follows:

Our school offers a program for two different age groups:

Ages 4-8 attend on Tuesdays, Wednesdays  from 10-2pm

Ages 9-13 attend on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10-4pm

Students may choose to attend just one day if preferred.  If a parent is present, younger siblings may tag along at no extra charge.

Although we do not offer programming for students younger than 4, we do welcome parents with students in this age group to join us and participate as appropriate.  Families who choose to participate in this way pay a one-time supply fee of $200 for one year, and other than that, no tuition is required and families may drop in for any number of classes so long as notice is given.  This option is offered so that families with younger children can begin to build community and relationships with each other.

TUITION

Tuition adheres to a sliding scale based on financial circumstances and type of membership.  In addition there is a yearly materials fee of $200, payable in installments and a fundraising obligation of $500 per family with a buy-out option of 50% if fundraising goals are not met. Please note that enrollment in a school district sponsored homeschool partnership program will give you access to approximately $1,500 per year per school-age child that can be used for reimbursement for the Free Range Learning Cooperative.

Participating Members fulfill a role at the school, volunteer with fundraisers and occaisionally help with lessons and field trips.  To view the list of parental roles, please visit the FAQ page.

Non-participating members do not fulfill a role at the school, but may be asked to contribute in other ways depending on availability.

 

Because it helps tremendously with planning when families register early, we are offering a discount for those who register by July 16th.  Participating members pay the following tuition if registration is complete by July 16^th:

 Ages 4-8: Sliding Scale for one day a week for  $115-$192 per month, Two days a week= $230-$307 a month

Ages 9-13: Sliding Scale for one day a week for  $173-$288 per month, 2 days a week $344-$400, 3 days a week=$444-$500

Non-participating Members pay $14 per hour

Participating Members who register after July 16^th will be subject to the following sliding scale

Ages 4-8: Sliding Scale for one day a week for   $160-$260, Two days a week= $275-$375

Ages 9-13: Sliding Scale for one day a week for   $218-$333, 2 days a week=$389-$445, 3 days a week=$490-$590

Non-participating Members pay $15 per hour

 

Crystal Scheer , founder, facilitator and educator of The Free Range Learning Cooperative, is a graduate of WWU and a Washington State Certified teacher. She has seven years experience teaching in such alternative settings as a K-8th Montessori school and a parent-run co-operative school. Other than her teaching experience and formal education, Crystal has had a wide variety of life experiences. From living in a ti-pi as a toddler in the mystical southwest to studying creative writing in Sienna, Italy, Crystal has seen and lived a plethora of life-styles and thus truly believes that experience is the best teacher. Crystal envisions an edu-topia where students are no longer required to sit in over-crowded classrooms under fluorescent lighting and be force-fed lessons, but instead discover the secrets of the world through adventure and inspiration.

In her spare time, Crystal enjoys being outdoors with her husband, Jake, writing poetry and fairy-tales, and spending time with friends. She is honored to offer the Free Range School to Whatcom County families as a unique enrichment program.

The Board of Directors:

Amy Martin:  Amy is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for The Free Range School.  Amy is a fourth-generation Bellinghamster, one of the “originals,” she likes to say.

Amy is an explorer and adventurer who has savored a variety of outward and inward journeys.  Some of her memorable life experiences thus far include hiking through jungles and beaches in Kauai with her brother, touring Europe singing opera in German, joining a local 10-day silent meditation course, and organic farming in the French countryside whilst inhabiting 18th century chateaus.

Amy’s primary focus in life is…to live!  Being outdoors, being with friends, cooking, and learning are some of her favored activities.  Professionally, Amy has been singing opera and teaching voice lessons for 12+ years.  Other educational experience includes teaching English and German to 600+ students.  Amy is also a web designer:  She founded and serves as the Creative Director of local Bellingham web design firm, Nettle Tea Design.  Amy is excited to join The Free Range School.

Liz Stuart:Born and raised with three sisters in northern California, Liz came to Washington and began teaching Spanish at a local private high school, at an elementary school, and at Whatcom Community College in January of 2006.  Her life as an explorer and lover of learning and language, however, began many years before.  An interest in community health and service landed her a volunteer position digging holes for latrines and planting seeds in community gardens in the El Oro province of Ecuador, at the age of sixteen.  Since that trip, Liz has travelled throughout Europe, to Kenya, and Fiji, and refined her Spanish skills as she travelled to Spain, Honduras, Mexico, and Costa Rica.  She is working towards a masters’ degree, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society, with a minor in Spanish, from Purdue University in 2000.

Liz is interested in living her life in accordance to her values of peace, justice, and equality for all people and cultures.  Her favorite things include playing in the garden, yoga, camping, reuniting with her family on her grandfather’s walnut farm, music, watermelon, ice cream, and learning new things every day.

Liz is currently a director at a local social service organization and is excited to support the mission of Free Range School as a board member and by helping to facilitate Spanish classes with the students.

The Board of Advisers: The Board of Advisers is a group of local experts who have agreed to volunteer their time to help inform and advise the curriculum and programming for the Free Range Cooperative School.

Kym Fedale:

Environmental Education Coordinator, City of Bellingham Public Works kfedale@cob.org

B.S. in Environmental Education at Western Washington University.

Kym has been an environmental educator in Whatcom County for over 13 years. She began her career at the Tennant Lake Interpretive Center where she was able to share an amazing wetland environment with children and adults. After several years at the center Kym began working at the City of Bellingham in the Public Works department where her focus shifted from beavers, dragon flies and other wetland creatures to water resources and city infrastructure. Kym has the opportunity to educate the community about Bellingham’s water system, stormwater protection and Lake Whatcom stewardship.  In addition, she coordinates a city wide green team comprised of 26 city employees from all city departments. This group helps encourage co-workers to reduce office waste, purchase environmentally friendly products and use resources more efficiently.

Erin Isebrands Willison:

Founder of The Sense of Wonder Educational Consulting (www.thesenseofwonder.vpweb.com)

Erin has often described herself as “having a Master’s in Life.”  Before moving to Bellingham to raise her spirited son, she spent 4 years traveling around the world solo. She cooked on a cattle station in Australia’s Outback, taught Kindergarten to novice monks in Ranong, Thailand, was a roustabout on a sheep sheering station on D-Urville Island, New Zealand, and rode camels through the Thar desert in Rajastan, India. She also worked as a flight attendant for a decade, has a BA in Journalism, is a certified 2.5-6y/o Montessori teacher, an intergenerational facilitator, and a stay-at-home-mom. Erin believes that hands-on learning opportunities are all around us, and she is eager to offer her knowledge of early learning and her passion for building community, to the Free Range Cooperative.

Dominic Battistella

Local Outdoor Enthusiast and Local History Buff

Dominic has lived most of his adult life in Bellingham after graduating from WWU in 1997.  His passions include outdoor adventures as close to home as possible, be it by foot, bike or xc skis.  He has parallel careers in facilities maintenance and in recreation and leisure services.  He is an explorer at heart and has yet to exhaust the many opportunities Whatcom County presents for exploration and adventure.  He is glad to share his knowledge of local history and the hidden secrets he has discovered while adventuring throughout Whatcom County.

David Marshak is the author of The Common Vision: Parenting and Educating for Wholeness, an exploration of the nurture that children and teens need to grow up into the fullness of their potential. He is also the author of six other books and numerous articles. David is an emeritus professor in the College of Education at Seattle University and an adjunct lecturer in the WoodringCollege of Education at Western Washington University. He is a board member of Project Labyrinth, Explorations Academy, the SelfDesign Learning Foundation in Vancouver BC, and the Transition Whatcom initiating group.