Mission
Reimagine learning with 2 to 5 year old children and their families.
Vision
Spark new patterns of social change through scalable learning ecosystems beyond the traditional schoolhouse.
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How do our micro-schools work?
Children learn in small multi-age classes, driven by personalized learning, play and outdoor experience. Each micro-school meets using accessible base camp classrooms and field locations that serve as learning launchpads to the extended community. Over 50% of all school days are outside with other learning experiences taking place at local libraries, museums, universities, businesses and Wildhood Base Camp classrooms. What is Wildhood? We are an independent social venture startup that is revolutionizing school and the future of how children naturally learn and grow. Wildhood was created in response to a growing need for a whole-child approach to schooling and more equitable learning experience. According to research studies, children become more healthy, resilient and intelligent when they spend less time indoors and more of their childhood outside in natural environments. |
At Wildhood:
Who we are: We are a small group of educators who are rethinking school and how children are connected to the broader community and natural world. We believe that learning and social capital increase when students interact with the world around them. Bellingham, Washington Lead Teachers Kelsey Maloney grew up in South Lake Tahoe, CA, tromping through streams and running in the woods. From an early age, she became enamored with the natural world, finding both adventure and refuge outside. Since graduating from the University of Arizona with a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, she worked on bird studies and taught kids of all ages in environmental education settings in the United States and Australia. In 2016, she co-designed and co-facilitated art and nature programs for young students at the Whidbey Island Waldorf School. She has worked with preschool aged children and enjoys their vivacious curiosity and wonder. She has traveled extensively, including two years of bicycle touring in Australia. When she isn’t outside hiking, biking, or birding, she loves writing and dancing. She is a certified movement teacher through Open Floor International. Something special happens when kids get to explore wild places and she is thrilled to be a returning member the Wildhood community. Hannah Rothermel Hannah is wildly in love with the sea and forests of the Pacific Northwest. She comes to Wildhood with experience in multi-generational early childhood education programs and environmental education. Hannah self-designed her university degree in Place-Based Education from Western Washington University's Fairhaven College. She is passionate about supporting the important development, discovery, and connections made in early childhood and believes that nature is the very best classroom in which young children can explore and fall in love with their world. Founders Benjamin Scherrer, Co-founder Ben grew up in the woods of the Pacific Northwest before teaching in places around the world. He has worked with international development organizations to design curriculum and other hands-on learning materials. He is completing his graduate studies in mobile and community-based school programs at Harvard University. ben@wildhood.us Mariam Rashid, Co-founder Mariam is a true global citizen, teaching and authoring curricula for international organizations in East Africa and United States. Her research interests include girl's and women's empowerment and community education through the process of co-creation. She is a University Instructor and facilitates programs in diversity and equity. At Wildhood, we use techniques from the Forest School movement, most popular in Europe, as seen in this feature. |
