by Maria Corse
 
In our world of privilege: strength, stamina, ultra-independence, and, let’s be brutally honest, the intent to win, no matter the collateral - are the ultimate goals.  If you do not subscribe to or possess these qualities, you are often perceived as weird, stupid, ignorant, lazy, or simply broken.  There is simply no room within this ideology to offer support, kindness, or anything that even closely resembles assistance.  The old adage “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” comes to mind as the perfect example of the rhetoric expressed by people who endorse this time-honored doctrine. 
 
What this whole overarching cultural philosophy forgets or fails to understand is that we are all human.  And, as humans we learn, gain significant knowledge, achieve our goals, and positively flourish when we are offered encouragement, affirmation, support, and constructive feedback.  This absolutely does not constitute coddling or spoiling.  I am not suggesting that rigor is a four-letter word or that people should not work hard, struggle, or even be disappointed. 
 
What I am alluding to is that we are better together.  You have fantastic skills and interests that most likely compliment my talents and passions, and, by working together, we can create something completely awesome.
 
This is the main philosophy behind the Liberated Learners organization, that DRC belongs to, and each of the fourteen self-directed learning centers that comprise the consortium.  Sharing, cooperation, collaboration, advocacy, encouragement, nurturing, and, above all, compassion and generosity are at the very heart of what we offer each other as staff members within the network, as well as, every single child who walks into each of our facilities.
 
These characteristics, I believe, are key to changing the basic tenets of our culture.  I like to imagine that cushion of support as a big trampoline that simply interrupts the free fall (jump) and allows us to bounce back into the game with new ideas and strategies. Not only will we survive the disheartening potentially catastrophic times – we ultimately thrive.
 
Thank you to every single Liberated Learner for providing that safe, soft - yet springy place for me to continuously rebound into this amazing journey of creating Deep Root Center with new/revised strategies and schemes.  I value your friendship, kindness, and your advice. 
 

by Maria Corse





The ultimate life goal – as many adults, in the professional world, see it – is a college education.  The stats are prominently recorded and touted, everyone has seen them; people with college degrees get better paying jobs. 
 
This dream does not seem attainable, or, for that matter is not even on the radar screen, for numerous young people here in the NoCo, because, for most kids, the downward spiral of apathy and disenfranchisement begins fairly early, when they are bullied, labeled, called out, bored to tears, or, even, ignored (by their peers and the system). As a result, they fall victim to inertia, anxiety, or anger, start skipping school at a comparatively young age, and, when legally able, quit.
 
At sixteen, they, consequently, become one of the dismal statistics commonly found here: pregnant, married early, unemployed, in abusive relationships, addicted to drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, or, have a low paying, dead-end job that barely pays enough to survive, let alone thrive, perpetuating the cycle of personal, economic, and societal depression, as well as ignorance.  It is not hyperbole to declare this a crisis of epidemic proportions affecting most of our region, which, despite legions of caring teachers, traditional, compulsory, coercive, state-run, curriculum driven schooling has not, and, will not be able to solve.
 
Imagine the possibilities if kids were able to make personal decisions about their life and education at a young age, were able to follow their personal interests, had mentors, in safe environments, who advocated for them and offered support, suggestions, and encouragement, and, in short, were able to choose their future instead of abdicating to the inevitable.
 
Free choice guided by self-direction or determination, in my view, is the one variable that should be added to this whole messy, intolerable equation that absolutely would make the difference between success and failure - happiness and despair, not only on a personal level, but for the whole community.
 
Quite simply, when kids are given the opportunity, and trusted from early on to make personal, relevant decisions, they will almost always choose what interests and motivates them; owing to the fact that they have  been given the space and time for personal growth and learning, as well as a chance to envision life-long aspirations, whether that includes college, starting a business, or becoming an artist.  Anything is possible with an open mind, enthusiastic support, and the innate desire to make a difference in the world.

DRC NEWS
 
Trish and I worked all week on laying the groundwork for the outdoor program.  We will unveil the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the name, next week! 

Become a Member of DRC
If your child has expressed dissatisfaction and dislike for their current educational environment, DRC is the option in the NoCo that provides a safe, dynamic, and nurturing space, where learning becomes enjoyable again.  At DRC the possibilities are endless, because there are no restrictions on what you can and can’t learn. Contact us today.
 
Summer Programs
We know how stressful the last three weeks of August can be for both parents and kids.  Let DRC handle the daily details. Register today!
 

by Maria Corse
 
I have great faith in the Universe.  I believe, wholeheartedly, that the seemingly random and serendipitous occurrences that make up our lives are in fact the result of a higher power – whoever(s) or whatever that may be – providing us the opportunities to make the choices that will determine our life journey.  In my case, the Universe, quite literally, throws amazingly talented, interesting, and generous people who are seeking an opportunity to share their passions and know-how directly into my path.
 
Serendipity is such an immense piece of my personal belief system that when thinking about today’s blog, I discovered that I had already written a piece about it last April, and, more than a year later, this still holds true.
 
Serendipity is simply one of my all-time favorite words, because it means that good and favorable events can happen, with no previous notice or announcement, at any time; new people will enter my life to share their talents, resources, and pure awesomeness, and, I can offer the same for others. It encompasses all that I hold dear: simplicity, kindness, magic, and wonder.
 
A few months ago, Trish called the Center.  She told me that she had picked up one of our rack (informational) cards at the Potsdam Food Co-op and was very interested in learning how she could help us.  I invited her to come in to visit the very next day.  After that initial meeting, which included several hours of intense, forthright, and authentic conversation, Trish decided that she would like to volunteer regularly. I can safely say, in my perspective, from that first meeting on, we immediately understood each other on a profoundly intuitive level.  
 
Over the next few weeks, Trish came in every Wednesday and stayed for the entire day.  She mainly spent time with the Seedlings, often in a “tent” or “clubhouse” under one of the tables completely immersed in one of their imaginary games, all the while comfortably conversing about any of the ideas or topics the kids brought up – from the wonders of birds to complex social issues.
 
As our first meeting foretold, she and I also had marathon conversations that centered on our mutual belief that all children are natural learners and we (adults and educators) can, absolutely, trust them to be in charge of their own education. 
 
A few weeks ago, during one of those chats, Trish mentioned that she has always had the dream of opening a facility where kids can immerse themselves in the wonders and beauty of nature. At the end of the day, I simply said, let’s do it.
 







These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of thinking about how to proceed and outlining our next steps. I am particularly excited about this project, which will be an, as yet to be named, program of DRC, because it adds an additional layer of possibilities to our already dynamic, self-directed educational environment. 
 
A lover of wild untamed weather and places, Trish not only brings an inherent affinity for the natural world, she also has extensive, professional experience working in the mental health community.  She has seen the direct and disturbing effects of what is now being called, Nature Deficit Disorder – the disconnection between people and their natural environment -  in many of the children and adults she has interacted with, over the years.  She is anxious to counter-act that growing phenomenon by providing children the opportunity to experience the wildness of the earth.   
 
Over the next month, Trish and I will be working hard to develop this innovative program.  As we bring the specifics into clearer focus, we will share it with you through this blog, and, of course, social media - check the DRC Facebook page for regular updates.
 
She and I will also be meeting with folks and organizations in the community who would be eager to collaborate with DRC and/or fund this effort.
 
If you know of folks who would be excited about investing time, energy, resources, and/or funds to this program, or, for that matter, in any of our work, please get in touch with us and pass this on.

DRC NEWS
 
Dairy Princess Parade
 
The DRC float won 3rd place for creativity and colorfulness.  I am so proud of all of our kids who worked hard to design, paint, and assemble the float.
 
Summer Intern
 
Margar will be at the Center all summer beginning this Monday.  He has been given the huge task of creating a data base and organizing the huge assortment of digital data that has been created and has accumulated over the past three years. 
 
Summer Program
 
We are your child’s safe, entertaining, and creative space for the last three weeks of August.  Register on line.
 
Membership
 
We are taking membership applications through the summer.  Please get in touch today, if your child is looking for a change.