Dynamic learning adventures.
Vibrant citizenship.
A haven of joy and belonging.
“There is no such thing as neutral education.
Education either functions as an instrument to bring about conformity or freedom.”
— Paulo Freire
Wildhaven is proud to be entering our 5th year of innovative and alternative programming on Salt Spring Island. We are committed to providing rich learning adventures rooted in belonging.
We are…
a vibrant hub of “learners without borders.”
ambassadors for inclusion.
playful revolutionaries who keep joy at the centre of learning!
Homeschool-registered children age 6-12 will discover an intentional community of support where they can grow in agency, self-expression, and the art of citizenship.
Our Unique Approach…
We trust children.
we practice a living democracy model rooted in choice, responsibility, and compassion.
we hold a rhythmic container of song, story, circle, and somatic touchstones to ground in togetherness
our dynamic curriculum is enlivened with exciting props, artifacts, field trips, guests, and projects!
daily currents include Maker Space, Spanish Infusion, Masters of Communication, Deep Play and more…
individualized learning maps empower each child’s unique learning journey
we provide reports to homeschool facilitators
The teacher’s task is to keep alive the sacred spark of wonder and to fan the flame that already glows. His problem is to protect the spirit of inquiry, to keep it from being blase from overexcitement, wooden from routine, fossilized through dogmatic instruction or dissipated by random exercise upon trivial things.”
—John Dewey
What are days like at Wildhaven?
Warm welcomes from friends, lots of laughter and rapport with our devoted guides
Soft start with games, crafts, and conversation
Segue into somatics, check-in, and morning launch
At Circle Time we practice group dialogue, decision making, and encourage kids to take ownership for the evolution of our wild haven
Freedom to move and be; an intuitive balance of structure and flow, support and autonomy
Daily fascinations and prepared offerings serve up the spark of imagination
Thematic learning adventures are layered over the weeks and months
Multi-media learning logs are kept for the practice of expressing our thoughts and discoveries
Emergent clubs, unit studies, and special are born from the interests of the children
Creative skill-building sessions help develop the disciplines of communication
Our ramshackle adventure play yard and maker’s station provide daily deep play and creativity
Our unique “Passport to the World” curriculum invites us on a multi-cultural journey; anywhere the kids want to travel, we have over 50 bins to explore!
Earth stewardship is woven in as we pursue what it means to become indigenous to Salt Spring Island in practical and transformative ways
Elders, special guests and mentors are warmly received in ongoing perennial rounds of relationship, building a deep and wide attachment village
“All children are created whole, endowed with innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect.”
-Raffi
Acknowledgment
At Wildhaven, we recognize that our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Hul’q’umi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. We acknowledge the deep and enduring relationship these Nations have with this land, known as Tle’lhum and ĆUÁN, an island whose spirit has guided and nurtured its people for generations.
As we walk this land, we do so as guests, with gratitude and a commitment to learning and listening. We honour the wisdom and stories shared by the coast Salish peoples, recognizing that these teachings are not ours to claim but to respect and protect.
Our journey at Wildhaven is one of questioning, growth, and reconciliation. We strive to decolonize our minds and practices, understanding that true education includes recognizing and uplifting the knowledge systems that have thrived here long before us. In doing so, we hope to honor each child’s unique path while standing in solidarity with the Indigenous communities who continue to care for this land.
With this acknowledgment, we renew our commitment to actions that reflect our respect for the land and its original stewards. We seek to move beyond words, supporting the sovereignty and self-determination of the W̱SÁNEĆ in all that we do.
May we tread lightly, listen deeply, and contribute positively to the story of this land.
Statement of Faith
Emergence is how life swirls and unfurls into its best shapes.
It is how starlings and bees and ants and mycelium organize with dazzling communal brilliance.
At Wildhaven we trust this emergence.
The foundation of our haven is radical love without agenda. Deep trust without dogma.
We uphold the sanctity of the child's emergent self as worthy of protection and respect and so maintain an unbiased curriculum within a worldview of wonder.
We stand for reconciliation by refusing to colonize the mind or spirit of a child.
Our aspiration is to soar as a murmuration: in sync with each others’ subtle wing beats, weaving a balance of individuality and wholeness.
Welcome to the communal dance of imagination and surrender that is Wildhaven: a flight pattern of relentless love.