The 347-Acre Classroom in South Whidbey State Park
Calyx Community Arts School
Our Philosophy
Calyx holds a transformative vision that embeds learning in the natural world and grounds it in connection, service, creativity and advocacy. We help empower children to participate as active members of their communities, and help cultivate their powers of creative expression to have their voices heard.
Calyx’s philosophy is centered on the child, the community and the earth. We value children’s play as meaningful work. We believe that education is a process of drawing out the true self. We practice responsive education, and work to meet the needs of the body, mind and spirit of each child, as well as the needs of the community and the earth. We believe that the journey is the destination and that life and learning are in the questions. We strive to nurture life-long learners and engaged and empowered citizens.
Nurturing the Genius of Childhood
Just as the calyx of a flower supports the bud as it explodes into full blossom, Calyx supports the natural development of each child as he or she blossoms into full being. We work together – children and adults – with nature and in nature, through a dynamic creative process that is collaborative, at times messy, and always beautiful. In life and in learning, we believe that the journey is the destination.
Calyx honors and nurtures the whole child. Our emergent curriculum integrates the natural world and the arts in all aspects of learning. We are grounded in the local and embrace the global, while celebrating diversity in all its forms. We are inspired by and speak the many languages of children – the languages of the imagination, art, music, movement, drama, story, the natural world, among others – and use these languages to foster a love of learning through a truly multilingual education.
