Goodbyes

Another year has flown by! As hard as it is to believe, Friday marked the last day of our 2025–26 academic year.

This weekly blog is where I reflect on our self-directed philosophy and how it comes to life here at the Center. Looking back over this past year, those core principles were more evident than ever. As I've said many times, we trust our students — across all ages — to follow their interests, stay true to themselves, and honor our one rule: Respect yourself, each other, and this place. With that foundation, it has been a privilege to witness remarkable growth this year — physical, emotional, and mental. There were challenging moments, more than a few, but I'm proud of how every student member met those experiences and came out stronger for them.
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At our year-end celebration, surrounded by all of our families, I shared how honored I was to watch those transformations. We also had to say some goodbyes — including two students completing their high school journeys.

Kathryn has been with us since September 2017. I've had the privilege of watching them grow from their preteen years into the remarkable young person they are today. Along the way, they deepened their commitment to their art and passion for all things superheroes. What I admire most is their unwavering sense of self — a quiet conviction that shapes not only who they are, but how they show up for the people around them. Kathryn's joyful laugh will echo here long after they're gone. We will miss them dearly.

Keeygan joined DRC in January 2022, and before long, his siblings followed — earning the crew the affectionate nickname "the Peet boys." From the moment he arrived, Keeygan knew exactly where he was headed. Studying trains and steam engines has been his enduring passion, with a spirited year-long detour into the world of muscle cars along the way. Keeygan is a true fixture of this place, and come September, there will be a very noticeable absence — a pink chair, an empty lap, and one very heartbroken Digby Doo. We will miss him enormously. 

The last goodbye is, perhaps, the hardest.

Chris Raymo has been part of DRC since 2015, with a brief pause during the pandemic before returning in November 2022. To call Chris my right-hand man doesn't begin to cover it. He has been a cornerstone of this community, and imagining this place without him is something I'm still getting used to. My heart is full of gratitude for everything he has given to me and to DRC.

We wish him every success in his exciting new chapter at The Melting Pot in Norwood. If you love live music, their open mics are worth checking out — and Chris will be offering guitar lessons there as well. He promises he'll be back to visit and get his DRC Crew fix. We're going to hold him to that.

To our whole Crew — we send you off with full hearts and warm wishes for a beautiful summer. See you on the other side. 🌻

DRC News

The Last Weekly Wrap-up of 25/26

We had a very chill Monday. 

On Tuesday, for over two hours, almost the entire crew played a game of their invention - hide & seek freeze tag. They took a few water breaks to cool their hot, sweaty bodies, but the game continued amicably and cooperatively, with only a couple of minor squabbles that they ironed out themselves. But most importantly, there was no adult intervention, except to say, "Please don't hide in the cellar." Free multi-age play is one of the cornerstones of self-directed learning. The list of benefits is long and varied. It includes many of the so-called "soft-skills," such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal relationships - figuring out how to get along with other folks who may be wildly different from ourselves. These skills are often overlooked or discounted in a typical school curriculum, but are absolutely critical for growth and learning. 

On Thursday, we prepped for our year-end celebration on Friday.  Outside, we cleaned out the garage, washed tables, and set up the fireplace. Inside, we made a cake for our birthday boy, EC, potato salad, and rhubarb crisp for our party. 

Thank you to all of our families for showing up for your kids on Friday. It was great to see everyone.

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Volunteer Opportunity

Looking toward the 26/27 academic year, we are seeking 8-10 volunteers who are excited to share their skills, talents, and knowledge with our student members for 2 days each month. This is an opportunity to build relationships with our youth and help them discover new ideas and fields of interest. If this is something you would like to explore, please get in touch to schedule a time to visit to discuss how you can help.
These are a few of the fields we would be keen to include in our programming:
Carpentry
​​Building repair and maintenance
Small engine repair
Science Classes and Labs - biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics
Computer repair
Computer programming
Game Design
D&D Dungeon Master
Magic: The Gathering Mentor
Digital art
Entrepreneurship
High Level Math - Algebra, Trig., Geometry
Social Studies - World History, US History, Medieval History, Social Justice
Baking - cakes and cake decorating
Arts & Crafts

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Open Enrollment for 26/27
If your child has been begging to homeschool, is shut down from the stress of school, or is looking for an educational environment where they can follow their interests and pursue their goals now, instead of later, please get in touch. We are here to help. We also offer consultation services for those who want to homeschool on their own. 

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Summer Hours - by appointment only. 
Maria will be in and out of the Center all summer. 
​Please contact her to schedule an appointment to talk by phone or meet at the Center. 315-323-1435 (text or call) or [email protected]