We all do it - wait until the last minute, or, as in my case, just a bit beyond before we charge into action.  We are culturally conditioned to respond only to crises. They are the instigators - the motivators.  Yes, absolutely, my life would be so much easier if I followed that antiquated but constructive adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."  

Nonetheless, the most common refrains (excuses) that run through my head constantly are: I don't have time. If I don't give it my attention, it will go away. I need to rest, now - before I fall over in my tracks.  It isn't that bad.  Or the classic, I don't want to know, exactly, how bad it is.  

My latest crisis involves allergy HELL.  Yes, I am allergic to my cats (two in the house and now one at the Canton Center), floral fragrances, dust, mold, mildew, and spores from edible fungi (my husband grows mushrooms), leaf mold (I live in a forest), and pollen (see previous note).  However, I can usually manage with minor-ish symptoms by taking a 24hr allergy med. But - it definitely wasn't cutting it this time around!

Then yesterday, I realized that I had not dusted or deep cleaned the bedroom - in a while (translated to a very, very long time). The main problem occurs in the summer. The heat and humidity cause the natural (not sealed or oiled) pine ship-lap to grow mildew.  Last evening I sprang into action with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and rosemary oil in a spray bottle and sprayed the heck out of the wooden bedroom walls, the yoga mat, and dusted the furniture with a cloth infused with the concoction.  It has an overwhelming scent that works and which DRC Peeps are now exceptionally familiar with.  I have used it this past year as a homemade antimicrobial spray, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, etc., at the Center.  Today, I will vacuum the floor and spray the bed and pillow with a peppermint oil concoction to kill the dust mites and then hang the things I can - outside.

A "clean" sleeping space, along with the addition of homeopathic allergy meds., will hopefully bring me back down to manageable-ish symptoms by Monday.  

In hindsight, I am (of course) kicking myself for ignoring the flashpoint until it was far too late.  At this point, I need more than a "pound of cure," and I will have lost an entire weekend to a snotty nose, post-nasal drip, scratchy throat, and itchy, watery eyes induced misery now compounded by allergic sinusitis and asthma cough.  Not to mention - very little sleep.  

Will I take this particular lesson into the future?  That long list of excuses, above, combined with my history, don't bode well...   

What are you ignoring?  What has a good chance of becoming your next "flash point?"  Will you do better than me at conquering the insidious cultural compulsion to wait for the crisis point before acting? 
​

​This semester we are deeply grateful to have twelve SLU Community Based Learning student volunteers join us virtually to facilitate classes and activities through our Discord Server. Those sessions have been added to the DRC schedule.  

As mentioned above, Digby, a lovable, big orange cat, has joined the DRC Canton Crew. He will live at the Center full time. Sending a huge shout of thanks out to Little River Community Cats for connecting us to his former owners. They loved him dearly but needed to find him a new home. So far, he has bonded with a couple of DRC Peeps, hangs out in the bathroom sink, and hides in a bottom kitchen cupboard when he feels overwhelmed. (We have emptied it out just for him).  
​

If I was to ask you right now, what would you say lights your fire?  What are the things that make you happy, just by thinking about them? What would you do if you had the time?  If given the opportunity, what would you explore deeply?  If making money and earning a living were not a consideration, how would you spend your days?  

Was it easy to answer those questions, or did you come up blank - no ideas - zilch, nada?   If the latter is the case, you are not alone.  

Every year, I ask these very same questions of all of our members - twice.  Once when I meet with them (this year it was by phone) to write their Individual Home Instruction Plans (IHIPs) and again when we are all together on our first day to brainstorm two lists - one of classes and the other of projects and activities they would like to add to the schedule.  

What I have discovered over the years is that, generally, the older the child is, the harder it is for them to answer these questions.  And every year, I am devastated to find that jadedness, indifference, and pure apathy are showing up in younger and younger kids.  

In my experience, every year a child is in the system - the longer it takes to deprogram them from their detachment to rediscover their love of learning.  

Again I ask, what lights your fire?  Think hard - then find a way to do that thing.  Step away from your busyness for a while to experience - joy, satisfaction, enthusiasm, and passion.  Your children are watching and learning from you.  Explore all the possibilities and have a blast!  
​

We spent our first week getting to know each other, both as a full DRC crew and within the two individual centers.
  
We will begin our classes and activities on Monday. Find the ideas our members generated here in the DRC Fall calendar.  To accommodate everyone who would like to join DRC, most of our sessions are hybrid - available to access in person or remotely through our Discord server.  

They had a few other suggestions not in this schedule because we need volunteers who have the knowledge and skill to facilitate them - specifically voice acting and architecture. Please get in touch if you are willing to spend an hour each week sharing your skills and talents with kiddos who are excited to learn from you.  

We are also looking for someone eager to teach/share Mohawk/Awkwesasne culture with several of our members. Ideally, the instructor is Mohawk for many reasons, but especially authenticity and representation.  

Twenty years ago, this past week, I embarked on an adventure that completely changed my life. These two decades have been packed with incredible joy and intense pain (2013 was one for the books), and an abundance of every possible emotion in between, as well as an enormous number of (on-going) learning opportunities - that have combined to create an entirely new, unrecognizable, and ever-evolving me.  

It all began in the summer of 2001 when I came to the abrupt and uncomfortable realization that Kenzie, my youngest, was headed off to Pre-K while their brother, Ian, began 2nd grade, and I would have no children at home.  My primary role for the previous seven years had been "at home, Mom." The questions started piling up. What was my assignment now?  How would I fill my mornings till Kenzie got home at noon?  (I knew boredom would drive me to make some pretty awful choices.) In essence, what did I want to do when I grew up? 

The dusty sixteen-year-old Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising Associate's degree laying at the bottom of my cedar chest was obviously not serving any purpose. So with all the accumulated wisdom of an almost 37-year-old, I decided to go back to college. 

It was surprisingly easy to enroll. I don't know the reasoning, but the SUNY Potsdam Office of Financial Aid guided me through all the paperwork for FAFSA, and I was able to matriculate without paying a dime.  I did get a loan my second semester to buy a new computer and my books. (I had been using a clunky, hand-me-down desktop with Windows 95 and dial-up that continuously crashed. The day it lost a ten-page paper while I tried to placate a fidgety, unhappy four-year-old was when I purchased the fancy new Dell.)  

Going in, I had no idea what to major in.  I like reading so I chose English Literature. Most of the credits I earned from my Cazenovia College degree transferred. However, my first semester still consisted of several 100 level classes required for a Liberal Arts degree - one being an anthropology class called Bones and Stones. Another of the five classes that Fall was within my chosen major.  It speaks volumes that I do not remember the exact name of that class - all I know is that I despised it.  The professor was a pompous A$$, and the material was beyond boring.  It really is any wonder that I continued after that first few months - because I also had a math class designed for those who needed it to graduate but suck at it. It was literal Hell.  

On the other end of the spectrum, I adored the Anthro class and the professor.  A few weeks into the Fall (right after 9/11 - yes, that happened that year too), I went to her office and asked if I could switch majors.  She was delighted to take me on as an advisee, and I was thrilled to discover my passion for studying people (past and present), solving problems, and writing.  

My point? (I have two.) 1) It is only when humans are truly interested in a topic, subject, or idea, that they engage, learn, and grow.  2) I was incredibly late to the game.  I drifted through my twenties, taking on meaningless jobs that in no way used my Fashion Design Degree, stayed home during my early and mid-thirties to raise my children (who, to be clear, are my heart), and then went back to school. Despite hitting a stone wall - hard(!) - (thank you, 2013) and changing direction a few times - I finally discovered my life's work.  

Yes, as the Steve Miller Band reminds us, "time keeps slipping, slipping, slipping...;" nonetheless, new beginnings and fresh perspectives can occur at any time. I am the perfect example - as long as you are breathing, are willing to work hard, and have an open mind - it is never too late to explore all the possibilities.  

Tuesday is our first day of the 21/22 academic year!  However, you can become a member at any time during the year.  Contact us to learn more. 

All the parents trying to make the best decisions for their children during a global pandemic.  Your greatest wish is for them to be safe.  Your anger, resentment, and fear are justified.

The caring and empathetic policymakers who are simply trying to do the right thing - but suffer ridicule if they do and are damned if they don't. Your frustration is palpable and justified.

But most especially the children who are the pawns in a game, which has no rules and no foreseeable conclusion. One that the bookies, even if they tried, cannot create a spreadsheet (or formula) to predict an outcome.  The mechanisms you employ to combat your anxiety, unease, inability to settle and concentrate are all justified.

I see you all, and I am here to listen.

​DRC has a COVID Safety Plan in place for our regular programs, as well as our Extended Afternoon Program for those kiddos who attend public or private school and need a safe place for the afternoon.

​Our first day is Tuesday, September 7th.  Both the Canton and Lawrenceville Peeps will gather as a community on my land in Pierrepont to play in the woods, brainstorm class and activities for our hybrid schedule, and get to know each other.  If you feel that DRC would be the best option for your child - we still have a few spaces open at each Center. Contact us today.

The Afternoon Program in Canton has available openings as well. Learn more and register here.
​

Oftentimes, as parents, we get so caught up in making sure all the pertinent, societally determined boxes get ticked off that we forget to, regularly, take our child's emotional temperature. Then we notice that behaviors seem to have cropped up out of nowhere. But then we step back and realize they have been festering for a while. 
 
We all understand that science has proven over and over that positive emotion is the best place to begin any new experience. And conversely, negative emotion shuts it down. Yet, we get busy and overwhelmed by daily life and forget that immersing ourselves in positive situations and environments allows our brains to generate compounds that stimulate the desire to explore, engage, be creative - and learn! 
 
All of this is not to say that we have to stifle those negative feelings in ourselves or our children when they pop up. I am referring to lengthy submersion in the chemical cocktails surrounding depression, sadness, anxiety, and fear. Or even long-term frustration and resentment.  
 
Many kids don't express their unhappiness with words; they may:

• Disconnect and stop talking to you about mundane everyday "stuff." (This does not necessarily happen, naturally, as they get older, as society has told us.)
• Have meltdowns frequently over seemingly inconsequential matters. 
• Become clingy (needy) or, on the opposite end, push you away.
• Lose interest in food or, seemingly, eat all the time.  
• Have changed sleep habits, including nightmares or bedwetting.
• Have dramatic personality changes. 

The above is an abbreviated list, and these signs don't always mean that your child is totally miserable or in trouble - they may simply be going through a growth spurt, are tackling another developmental milestone, or are having a problem with the school environment.   
 
In my direct experience, there is a rapid and intense change in demeanor when parents discover that their child's particular issue is directly related to something at school, and they seek out my help. Often by merely changing the conditions, along with the people who support and nurture them every day, they become happier and less stressed.  
 
However, if these behaviors are ongoing, and your child is not forthcoming when you try to engage them in a casual and non-intimidating manner, it may be time to talk to a professional who can determine if you need to address particular issues.  

Additional Reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573739/
https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/the-role-of-emotions-in-learning/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/202103/forced-schooling-anxiety-and-learning-disorders
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html
https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/signs-of-depression-in-children
https://www.thewholechild.org/parent-resources/age-6-12/child-depression-ages-6-12/

DRC News
The DRC Exploration Station Summer Program has a few spots left for these last two weeks.  Register here.                        

Every human is born with natural decision-making ability.  Unfortunately, some have lost their capacity through conditioning.  

I have always been decisive – I would say (as would those who know and love me) that determination (stubbornness) is a large part of my personality.  My husband, Mike, jokes that I can walk into a furniture store to shop for a couch and come out ten minutes later having made the purchase.  

I don’t waffle, and I don’t second guess; I quite, simply, jump in and go for it.  Yes!  I do my homework and make informed choices (measure twice – cut once).  I trust the experts and the process.  However, I have always understood that nothing is permanent and, in my mind, never totally finished – everything is a work in progress.   When you learn more – you merely adjust your original calculations (the simplest definition of science).  

When I make those inevitable mistakes or missteps, I work to own them and rectify them.  I also understand going in that some fixes will be more expensive than others.  Nevertheless, that doesn’t stop me.  

The thing is, failing to make a decision is a decision in itself.  One that can be (way more) harmful, painful, and costly than any other path you could have actively chosen. 

​The DRC Summer Programs, open to any family in the NoCo, begin tomorrow and run for three weeks. Register today.  

Afternoon Programs begin September 7th.  DRC is here for any family who needs a fun, creative, and safe space for their child to hang out during weekday afternoons.  Register here.

DRC regular programming also begins, September 7th.  If you (and your child) are ready to opt out of school - get in touch.  We are here for you and will walk you through the logistics.  

About a year ago, I watched a short YouTube video by Simon Sinek, the author of Start with Why. My interpretation of his thesis is that our "why" is the story behind our "what" and "how."  It is what people genuinely want to know about us, and consequently, it is what "sells" us.

This concept struck me hard, and for weeks (months) afterward, my subconscious was working on my personal "why," which, for many reasons (some more obvious than others), is inextricably tied to DRC's "why."

It remained buried inside my head until Liam Crossen, a videographer from Boston visited DRC in mid-November (the last three days before we went remote because of COVID) to produce marketing videos for us. He spent his time interviewing staff, parents, and our kiddos - as well as capturing the every day action. He saved my interview for the last day, right before he had to return home.

During the interview, I was finally able to articulate my (and DRC's) "why."  Maybe it was, at long last, fully formed and ready to come out, or possibly Liam was asking the right questions. In any case, It felt correct and authentic, and nine months later,it still does.

I think this statement, which continues: learning can only happen when kids intuitively understand that they are secure, accepted, and trusted to make decisions, make mistakes, and explore all their interests to achieve their ever-evolving aspirations thoroughly explains why Deep Root Center exists. It implicitly describes our philosophy and our innate trust in kids. It is why our "pay what you can" policy exists.  And it perfectly expresses why I am passionate about dedicating my time, skills, and energy to this organization. 

Summer Programs -  We have several openings for the first week. However, the last two weeks are nearly full - register soon if your child wants to participate.

Membership: The Canton Center has space for a few more kiddos this Fall.  Check us out before we are at capacity - with a waiting list.   

I will be in Chicago with family, celebrating my son, Ian's, wedding between the 4th -10th.  Therefore, I will not be checking or responding to messages as frequently as usual, and there will probably not be a Blog posting next Sunday.  

I firmly believe that each of us is born with an enormous capacity for creativity.  No, not all of us can be (nor want to be) fine artists.  Nonetheless, we all have the potential to be imaginative problem solvers. And, innate curiosity is the driver.  

Most of us (I am just assuming here) have sat and watched a newborn baby – stare at their own hands, reach for the light, and search the depths of the eyes looking into theirs.  There is a deep knowing, as well as a seemingly unquenchable wondering in their gaze.  

As they get older, that curiosity becomes a bit more “troublesome.”  They begin to physically explore their world – scooching on their bellies, crawling, then cruising, toddling, and eventually climbing and running.  With an honest intention of keeping children safe and “making sure," adults are culturally trained to control all that natural exploration and self-discovery. We give commands such as:  "Be careful!" “Pay attention and stop daydreaming!" Thereby stopping them from attempting “dangerous” activities, as well as eroding their confidence and desire to go within their quiet spaces - where inspiration is born and resides.
 
Sadly, kids lose most of their natural self assurance, curiosity, and motivation as an unintentional consequence of hyper-vigilance.

I have spoken of this concept many times before.  But lately, we have had several families with younger kids scope out DRC as a viable alternative.  Which has given me the opportunity to think about how much I adore the energy and lightness that emanates from the 5, 6, & 7-year-olds of the world. They have not yet learned to be afraid of asking big questions, experimenting, making mistakes, and being wrong. They are like puppies, following their noses and instincts and tripping over the feet they haven’t quite grown into.

Yet, within all that seeming chaos, they do not fear sitting still and going inside their own heads to explore the quiet spaces.  It is where the brilliant ideas pop in and where they may discover an interest they previously were unaware of.  

Traveling into this still place, within, is when each of us, no matter our age, quite literally, builds brain cells.  Some of us need more time for introspection than others.  But, no matter how much you, personally, require, it is a necessary component that is lacking from most of our lives.  

I believe we have seen an uptick in families with younger kids seek us out because many understand that traditional schools do not support or value natural creativity and the quiet spaces.  Therefore, they are adamant that they do not want that for their children. 

The DRC Exploration Station Suite of extended services include Summer programming as well as late Afternoon Programs for children who attend local schools.  Check it out here.

DRC is hiring a part-time position at the Canton facility to start Sept. 7th. No specific training is required. This exciting opportunity is for anyone who already embraces the self-directed educational philosophy or is ready to learn the principles of practicing it as a mentor and facilitator in our dynamic learning environment.

If you are excited about exploring the possibilities with us - DM or email our Executive Director - maria@deeprootcenter.org, to learn more.  Please share this opportunity widely.

We are thrilled that Nic Hayes is joining the team as our new apprentice at DRC-East.  You can read Nic's bio here.

Check out DRC Exploration Station Summer and Afternoon Extended Programming for kids who attend other schools in the community.

Believe it or not, we will be back in session in less than two months!  If your child is ready to explore the possibilities and take charge of their education - get in touch.

Exploration Station - Summer Programming

Register your child today for the last three weeks of summer break.  Learn more here.

Have you ever been so very tired of personal stagnation and the apathy (absurdity) that surrounds you that taking your next breath feels like it is likely to be a revolutionary act?  Yet, the intoxicating pull of change and creativity produces constant tension with the cosseting stability of the known.  

For some, the fear of the uncharted controls that impulse so thoroughly that they remain mired in the past.   

For others, it is only when the familiar becomes too tight, restricting, and uncomfortable before they can finally unlace the straitjacket - to embrace the fiery desire to rebel against the status quo.  

And then there are those of us who instigate a revolution every day by simply living authentically.

On an evolutionary level, we are all wired for mutation and transformation!  Take a deep breath and follow the exhalation to your next moment of rebellion - toward exploration - to the future. 

Happy Independence Day from the DRC Crew.

Summer Programming begins, August 16th.  Register today.

*Nod to Tracy Chapman for title inspiration.

 I will always respond to "Maria," "Mom," (even if they aren't technically my offspring) or even, occasionally, "hey you" - but not Mrs. Corse, Miss Maria (even though a little less proper), or any other formal descriptor.  I have always felt that using titles (prefixes) is a foundational component of an outdated patriarchal system that elevates adults above young people for no reason beyond the fact that they are older. (I think we can all recognize that wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age.)  The only exception to this, in my mind, is if someone has earned, through hard work and dedication, their title - Doctor (whether PhD., MD., etc.) or other professional monikers.  

Simply calling someone Mrs., Mr., Sir, or Madame, will not automatically generate a feeling of respect.  Yet - it does come through trust, admiration, shared adventures, and the mutual understanding that comes from those experiences.  

None of us can demand or even, honestly, expect to receive respect through the use of a title or any other power-grabbing methods.  In the same way, none of us can insist that someone earn our trust. 

However, each of us can dedicate ourselves to pronouncing people's names correctly (and within that, acknowledging that we may be having a difficult time getting it right - and promising to practice) and always asking for and using their preferred name and pronouns.  

And within that, building relationships through mutual trust and respect - then comprehending that we all, no matter our age, can contribute, is the key to moving our culture forward beyond hierarchy and artificial status to the common goal of solving societal problems and forging community. 

Years ago, when Kenzie, my second kiddo, was in Kindergarten, we proudly hung the holiday-specific artwork they brought home in the windows on the front porch.  However, when we looked across the road, we saw the very same picture hanging in the neighbor's front window - it just so happened that their child was in Kindergarten too.  And not, coincidentally, they were the same pieces that Ian, my first kiddo, brought home three years earlier.  Since then, it has served as the perfect example of what I refer to as canned creativity.

You may notice that the oxymoronic level is off the charts for that particular phrase.  Authentic artistry, ingenuity, imagination, and originality don't come prepackaged and contrived with lesson plans attached.  No one should ever provide you with pre-cut and pre-drawn components or step-by-step instructions.  Or get to tell you what color your pumpkin should be - and they are never (ever) allowed to scold you for coloring outside the lines.  

Creativity is born inside your vision, and it is yours - no one else's.  

Instead of squashing all that potential with tired canned projects - we can support it by providing the requested resources, materials and encouragement, and then standing back (and as I have said here more than once - get to hell out of the way) to watch the creativity flow.  The results may not be what we had in mind or even particularly beautiful - however, they certainly won't be tired, boring, soulless, or mind-numbingly predictable either.  

I firmly believe that those who dare to dream, invent, and, yes, even make mistakes - are the people who will think outside the box and consider all the angles to come up with fresh, inspired ideas to solve the problems we have been working on for a very long time.  

Head on over to the DRC website to register your child for Exploration Station Summer Programs. 

*This week's blog post was inspired by the below testimonial. It is my great honor and privilege to provide the space and environment where these kinds of transformations can occur.  Thank you to Danielle for sharing.

Have you noticed that it seems like our entire culture is hell-bent on toughening us up?  The "that which doesn't kill you will only make you stronger" mentality has infected every aspect of our lives.  Additionally, we are obsessed with pointing out flaws and negative characteristics.  We spend our lives judging (belittling) others - behavior, activities, appearance, skill levels, emotions, and beliefs.  
 
If we are totally honest with ourselves, we understand that none of the above judgments help anyone become a better version of themselves. However, our excuses sound like - "I survived all the crap, and I am fine."  "I am trying to toughen them up for the real world."   "No one is going to coddle them out there; they need build up some callouses to survive."  Or the ever-popular, "How are they going to improve if I don't point out what they are doing wrong?"  Come on! No one needs to hear what they suck at - they are already very aware of that very long list.

As a result, we have produced yet another generation of universally unhappy, damaged peeps who only know what is wrong with them.  And this is exactly why I meet kids who are anxious, depressed, unsure of what they are good at (or are interested in), disenfranchised, and plainly apathetic.   

What if, instead, we spent time observing the positives - and using those attributes to build up, affirm, and support?  Within all that, we can allow our kiddos to process and then detox from the trauma induced by a system designed to yield carbon copy, unimaginative, competitive robots.
 
I witness the transformations every day - when kids hear kindness - they open up.  When they receive grace and compassion - they can give it to themselves.  When they grasp that they - their ideas, interests, thoughts, plans, and aspirations - are consequential - they can focus on those. And when each of us is able to do all of that, the whole world of possibilities unfolds before our very eyes, and we discover our purpose.

We are working on reorganizing the entire Canton Center for better functionality.  The music room is now downstairs, the art room has moved to the largest room in the house, and the seedlings space is in the cozy room upstairs at the back.   If your child is interested in checking us out,  please schedule a time to visit. Our facility provides an air of hominess and comfort that goes a long way in generating an environment that supports a connected community. 

Thanks again to Coakley's Hardware for donating these items for our much needed exterior painting project.

How cool is it that DRC has its  very own Little Library?  A shout of thanks to Maria Morrison for delivering it!  Stay-tuned as it gets a paint job and we decide where to place it.

But the bigger question within that is - who, exactly, decides that for you?   Most adults will answer the latter query by responding, "why, I do, of course."  Why then does our culture believe it is OK to tell young people what, how, when, and where they need to learn (or do) to be a "successful," "productive," and "accepted" member of society?  

Children from a very young age know what they need.  And with very little guidance, they will seek it out.  Some little ones are attracted to nature - they pursue any animal they can find, including the creepy crawlies.  They will lay in the grass with their little faces upturned to the wide-open sky - keenly watching the wind-blown cloud patterns, migrational habits of the birds and butterflies, bugs buzzing by, the rain or snowdrops falling on their tongues, or even the shadows made by the sun shining through the leaves. Or they will stomp in every puddle, wade into the ponds, lakes, or streams to feel the ooze between their toes - no matter how cold, squishy, and uninviting it may seem to the rest of us.  These kids are so attuned to the seasons and all the living creatures - plants, animals, and fungi - that they can tell you anything you would like to know.  

Other kids will immerse themselves in music, art, dinosaurs, history, geology, languages, wordplay, cooking, gaming, number play, sports, or __.  All are valid pursuits.  Every single one of them!  

No one should ever have the authority to tell any child what they are passionately absorbed with, at the moment, is unimportant or useless.  But yet, that is what we do every day - even if it is an implicit message.  

You know the standard comments, "you can't make a living as an artist, writer, musician, or ... " Tell that to all of the people who are thriving in this world doing all those things.  

Or how about the ubiquitous, "how will you learn to read, write, and ... if you don't study them in separate and distinct classes."  As I mentioned two weeks ago, life is not separated into subjects - so why should we disconnect our learning experiences from each other?  

And lastly, the ever-popular "you are behind."  I have to ask, behind what - the predetermined, incongruous timetable set by the disassociated officialdom?  Sounds ridiculous when stated like that, right?

Within all that (the traditional education system), we are shutting down every child's innate curiosity and intense desire to explore, discover, and create - essentially destroying their natural love of learning.  

I want to live in a world where every single person is happily engaged in pursuing the things they love the most.  Imagine working together to fill all the niches within each community.  And, no one would be forced to do the thing they hated, simply to make a living.  Utopia(?) - maybe.  But, I am willing to do the work to get us closer - especially, if it means I can help one more child break free from the system and realize their dreams. 

Thank you to Coakley's Hardware for donating supplies to prep the exterior of our Canton facility to be painted.  (If you have seen it, you understand how badly it needs this facelift!)

Another academic year has come and gone - this one a hundred times stranger than any other that I have experienced.  Yet, with all the disruption, inconvenience, and frustrations of a world-wide pandemic, we somehow made it work.  The entire DRC crew endured an enormous test.  Our collective trust in each other, as well as our flexibility, creativity, and kindness - generated even stronger bonds of connection.  I am happy to say not only did our community survive, but we also thrived. 

Friday, a very chilly day in the neighborhood, we celebrated three young people who finished their high school careers, as well as all of our other accomplishments this year, with a cookout and graduation ceremony.  

Thank you to all of our kiddos, their families, our volunteers, and our staff for making it all possible during this stressful year.  I am eternally grateful to you all.

For those of you who enjoy numbers, we ended the year with forty-one members between our three programs (nearly double our membership this time last year). We had one graduate from each program.  We had a total of five staff people at the two physical facilities.  And, during the Fall and Spring semesters, we had a total of twenty St. Lawrence CBL (community-based learning) volunteers facilitating an average of thirty virtual sessions each week through Google Meet this fall and our Discord Server this spring.  Out of our nine month academic year, we were in person a total of three and a half months, and remote for five and one half months. 

Now, onward!  I am excited to discover what year number eight has in store for DRC!  As more folks discover the benefits of self-directed education - these numbers will only go up.  Stay-tuned!

You probably have not considered that much of our cultural experience is fear-based.  We live in a society hell-bent on "making sure" - it is so pervasive that many of us stifle any natural inclination that would lead us to appear weird, abnormal, or strange.  As a society, we are deathly afraid of failure and judgment.  Some may even buy into well-crafted conspiracy theories and pseudo-science (hook, line, and sinker) to explain away the science-based facts that don't fit their preconceived notions.  

Additionally, we send our kids to school to "make sure" they learn all they need to learn, are "successful," and can get a "good" job (in society's estimation).  We interfere in our children's play and creative endeavors because it may be "dangerous," and they may get hurt (or, our neighbors will report us for neglect).  Or maybe, it doesn't fit into our definition of "proper" play or our expectations for them.  

Most of us are, sadly, not even aware we are living in fear.

The opposite of all that anxiety and external stress is trust.  Trust - in your own instincts that guide you to explore all the possibilities, despite all of your worries and outside judgments, and in each child's innate ability to learn and grow.

At the end of the day, it is the stress and fear that will most likely harm you and the ones you love, not the things you worry about.

I fully believe that trust in ourselves and the scientific method will steer us all to the work we need to do, individually and as a culture, to develop the solutions required to build a safe and equitable society for everyone. 

What would happen if you trusted your instincts, jumped in, and did not let fear control your life?

This coming Friday is our last day until September.  We will have a cookout and "party" to celebrate our three members finishing their high school career and the end of this super strange year.  

We are sending out a shout of thanks to JVB, who donated a full-size drum set to the Canton Center.

Summer programs begin on August 16th for three weeks.  Register here.

Anyone interested in joining Deep Root Center in September can contact me here.

And finally, a community member has asked me to share this American RelayBall kid opportunity here.  You can contact him through the linked Facebook page.

How many times, in your lifetime, have the words "stop playing and focus" or "get your head out of the clouds and stop daydreaming" been directed at you? Once again, those phrases of rebuke that most of us have heard throughout our lives are misguided and outright flawed in our world of authority-driven, cut-throat competition. 

Researchers are discovering that our brains need downtime. They demand all those unfocused quiet moments to reach their maximum creative capacity. Think about the times in your life that your most exciting ideas have seemingly flown into your head. I would bet it is when you are engaged in the mundane - doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, when you are in a yoga pose repeating your mantra, trying to meditate, or as a child when you were doodling or building with Legos. These are what I call the in-between spaces where inspiration has explicit permission to bubble up from the depths into your conscious mind to be acted upon. We know that you cannot force creativity - no amount of punishment, reward, or other coercive methods can produce innovative thought. 

And as I wrote last week, innovation also requires allowing ourselves to play and "screw up" - once the imaginative process is engaged.

The great Sir Ken Robinson, who sadly passed away nine months ago, spent much of his career writing and speaking about the creativity gap. In his 2007 TED talk, Do Schools Kill Creativity, the most-watched TED ever, one of the ideas he brings forward is, "If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original. By the time they get to be adults, most children have lost that capacity. They have become afraid of being wrong. We are educating people out of their creative capacity."

So what is the ideal educational environment? I will argue that it is simply one that supports creativity instead of squashing it. As Peter Gray points out in his work, children learn through free play and independent investigation. Full stop.

However, most of us don't want to hear that adult intervention and curricula are irrelevant and meaningless. But, it is, in fact, true.  "But," you ask, "if I am not directing the process, where is my place in all of this?"  

While children require the space and time to dream, imagine, and play - they also need access to supportive adults who will foster those in-between spaces for deep thought and free play. These are mentors who will always be available with a listening ear and loving encouragement (be clear that they will always advocate for them). And then, when they are ready, the adults will supply the materials and resources, stand back, get to hell out of the way - watching and cheering from the sidelines as the magic unfolds.  

If your child is miserably unhappy - there is a reason, and it is not their fault.  DRC can help them find their happy place again.  Get in touch today.  We are currently enrolling for the 21/22 academic year. 

DRC Summer Programs - Registration is live.

Did you make a mistake today?  Or maybe I should rephrase that question and ask, how many mistakes did you make today?   On any given day, I can safely say my slip-ups, goofs, and outright disasters are often too numerous to count.  I can say this without (much) embarrassment - because I understand that every one of them has a direct line to a significant learning experience, and none of them come with ill intent attached.  

I am, by nature, an exceedingly curious person - I always want to grasp the "hows," "whys," and "whats" of everything I encounter.  And if that means experimenting and exploring the "ins" and "outs" to discover the answers - I will.  This entire process is what I often refer to as playing, and it includes all of the mistakes, bumbles, and missteps that are bound to happen along the way.   

This personal ideology is inextricably linked to the philosophy behind self-directed learning and my work at Deep Root Center - and is frequently counter to every formal educational experience the members of DRC have ever known. 

I expect, no, nix that, I actively encourage every single person at DRC to experiment, explore, make mistakes, get messy, and have fun every time they think to themselves, "I wonder why, how, or what if ..."

However, they often come to us with the ingrained message that making a mistake means you failed and, subliminally, they are not good enough.  This also means DRC kiddos will not jump into anything unfamiliar, won't investigate new ideas, and don't know how to play when they first arrive because they are deathly afraid of "screwing up,"  getting reprimanded, punished, and disappointing everyone around them.

I believe their innate curiosity, the very essence of their childhood, has been stolen from them.  Without natural inquiry, there is no driving interest - and no thirst for knowledge or understanding.  

I have said in the past that I always know when a kid (teen) is coming out of the deschooling process when they come to me and ask, "can I...?"   Yet, I have never linked these two things in my mind before - their lack of curiosity obviously connects directly to the apathy, indifference, passivity, and exhaustion we usually associate with the deschooling process.

Several folks researching and writing about self-directed education have asked me, "how do you measure success in this environment?"  My response is (and will always be) one word, "engagement!"  Any curious kid, deeply immersed in exploration and experimentation, is by very definition happy and flourishing simply because they are learning something new.

Membership for the 21/22 academic year is open. Learn more about all of our programs on our website. And remember, your financial situation does not impact your child's ability to be at DRC.

Love is Love has become one of the staple mantras used to support people who identify as LGBTQIA+.   It indicates that people are people, and romantic love is the same - no matter your sexual preferences and gender identity.   

Today, I am approaching this from the opposite direction to argue that, additionally, familial love is love and should not be dependent upon preconceived notions or cultural judgments.   

Love is unconditional.  You don't stop loving someone simply because they decided to get a tattoo or piercing or that they let you know that they identify differently than the label you or society has placed upon them. And specifically, not because they have grown and changed through the mistakes they learned from along the way.  In the same way, you don't stop loving someone because they became a vegetarian, colored their hair bright blue, or decided to move to New Zealand to pursue a career in film making or maybe even raise sheep.  

Learning to accept and honor our true selves and living authentically without our socially accepted mask in place is hard enough. Don't make it more difficult by presenting your love as conditional to your (and society's) biases and prejudices.  

Love is Love - a clear statement to sum up the boundless encouragement, advocacy, respect, trust, and generosity every person on this earth needs (and deserves) to not only survive but to thrive, discover, and live their purpose. 

If you have considered Deep Root Center, but have held back because of finances, we would like you to know that Deep Root Center has implemented a new "Pay What You Can" policy.  We have done this because, like we have explicit trust in all of our members, we also trust our families to talk openly with our staff about their budget, and what they can reasonably afford.  Get in touch today - we look forward to hearing your story.

Bottom line: We are here to support every child to be their awesomely authentic selves and your financial situation should have nothing to do with that.

For as long as I have been alive (or so it seems), I have never quite fit in - to people's expectations or, to be honest, the cultural norms of our society. Whenever there is a form or questionnaire to fill out, most of my responses are either the "other" box or "N/A." This issue has continued by natural extension to Deep Root Center, the organization I founded and lead, as the Executive Director.  And is the main reason I despise "officialdom."  

Besides, "Not-for-Profit," DRC doesn't often fit neatly into any of the categories provided.  And these forms issued by .gov organizations or financial institutions don't usually have "other" or "N/A" as options.  Which means, by design, they don't offer a space where I can explain what, why, & how.  And within that, the person on the other side processing the form has no latitude to make decisions on their own - based on what I would consider being common sense.  

This rigidity frequently means we (DRC) miss out on opportunities that other businesses have automatic inclusion simply because they can check off all the boxes.  

However, I believe that ultimately all the "officialdoms" and society, in general, will lose out because of their inherent inability to be flexible.

Diversity is the key to survival - diversity in not only appearance but thought, as well.  Anyone with a basic understanding of biology recognizes this truth. If everyone fits effortlessly into the boxes provided and no one challenges the norms - our culture is doomed.

Cultivating an appreciation for scientific methodology, including an open mind and willingness to experiment, make mistakes, get messy, be wrong, and ultimately prove a replicable hypothesis, is essential to our ultimate endurance on this planet. Flexibility and the ability to "think outside the box," for the good of all, are undervalued and crucial talents.

At this point in my life, I am proud to say, "I refuse to fit inside your box."  "I will be flexible, I will be creative, I will seek out new ideas, and I will lead by example."  My default mode will always be - "how can I help you and, by extension, our community?"

This past week, a colleague (close friend) and I were having a conversation, in person, something we had not done since Mid-November.  She told me about a program that she had discovered, through a friend, that would have been perfect for her. However, she did not pursue it because the application process was all digitized.  For many of us, that would not be the deciding factor to apply or not, but for her, it was.  She is completely overwhelmed by any form of technology.   

I encounter this type of story more than you can imagine.  Avoidance of the things we find hard comes into play for everyone.  As a society, we tend to separate into two categories: "abled" and disabled.  I believe that, even if we are considered "normal," we all have some form of "disability" simply because each of our brains works in unique ways. This means we are all avoiding and missing out on opportunities that would otherwise be perfectly suited to us.  

When my friend told me this story, I immediately said, "dang, if you had told me, I would have helped you fill out the application."  It breaks my heart that in so many cases, instead of seeking assistance, because we feel stupid or don't want to appear "helpless," "lazy," or like a "cheater," we give up on our dreams.  

I blame our reluctance to ask for help on our culture. 1) The very foundation of our educational system rests upon coercion and control, not trust.  2) We are a nation that touts independence, competitiveness, resilience, grit, and determination as positive character traits, despite the first point (more than a bit hypocritical in my thinking).  3) We view disability as something to "reform" to fit into the "normal" world.  4) When people use "hacks" or accomplish something in a way that is different from the "norm,"  we accuse them of cheating and laziness - which are bad(!) and to be avoided at all costs!  

What if, instead, we: 1) trust that everyone will accomplish what they need to do  2) expected people to ask for help when they require it 3) saw all humanity as simply differently-abled and adjusted our reality to accommodate everyone 4) normalized "hacks" and abolished the concept of cheating from our cultural understanding?  

I believe our world would be a different place, one filled with engaged, community-minded folks happily discovering and following their purpose.  Some would accuse me of aiding and abetting lazy, no-good cheaters or maybe even seeking utopia.  I still say, "So what, wouldn't it be worth it to try?" 

This video by Liam Crossem Films explains the DRC culture.