One of the most unique aspects of life at Alpine Valley School is our open campus for students 9 years and older. In this episode we outline the Open Campus policy, talk about how it actually works, and hear stories from a panel of graduates about their experiences leaving school in the middle of the day. Hear firsthand what these former students learned by experiencing a free range childhood!

Show notes:

• Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy: Book | Blog
• Lenore Skenazy on Free Range Kids (video)
• AVS Podcast EP01: 20th Anniversary w/ Gina Mancuso
• AVS Podcast EP02: The Importance of Video Games w/ Josh Mann
• AVS Podcast EP14: Raising Entrepreneurs w/ Aubrey Suter

Email the show at: [email protected]

When students are free to pursue their interests and choose how they spend their day, there is often a feeling of empowerment. However, beyond that there can also be a feeling of comfort and control that is out of reach for many students in traditional school settings. In this episode we explore the idea of safety at school with Alpine Valley School graduate Jaime McNear. She shares stories of her transition to AVS from a school for the gifted (where she experienced bullying), and learning to feel safe around people again. Jaime opens up about the power of Judicial Committee and how the ability to write up everyone (students and staff alike) helped her relate better to adults, which set her up for success when she eventually moved on to college.

Show notes for this episode available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep21

On the 20th episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we depart from life on our own campus and explore how things are done at the Circle School, a fellow democratic school in Harrisburg, PA. Guest Jim Rietmulder is both a founder and a staff member at the Circle School and he talks extensively about the philosophical tenets of the school. In addition, he shares how their graduates go on to successful college careers and tells a story about the day where the Circle School had no rules at all! Jim is an inspiration to many in the democratic schooling community, and after hearing this episode you will definitely know why!

Show notes available at alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep20

How do students at an alternative school with no classes get exposed to new information? How do they find out what they're truly interested in with no adults in the role of teacher? Find out on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast! Guest Andreas Suter talks about his experience trying on many different activities at school and adjusting to a social environment after being unschooled at home for many years. We also answer a listener question regarding classes themselves. We're all about dabbling on episode 19, so tune in and find out more!

Show notes for this episode available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep19

Storytelling is a powerful tool we use often in our adult lives. Students at Alpine Valley School tell stories through games, role-playing, and creative works on a daily basis and it has a strong impact on their lives. AVS Graduate, Bronwen Abbatista, shares how her love for art and passion for storytelling helped start her on a path to design work. She talks about how the wide variety of activities she undertook as a student helped her find fulfillment and connection with others during her time at our school.

Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep18

Determined, passionate, self-directed - these are all terms that have been used to describe Alpine Valley School students and graduates. But how are these traits realized during a student's time at school? And how do they benefit the student even after they've moved on to other pursuits? Guest Hannah Williamson, one of the first AVS students, shares her answers to these questions and much more on episode 17 of the AVS Podcast. In particular, Hannah addresses one often-asked question about how AVS students transition to college life - and you may be surprised by the answer!

Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep17

What does it mean to place radical trust in your children, supporting their independent decisions even if they don't always seem ideal? How do parents best support their children who enrolled in an alternative school like Alpine Valley School? We tackle these questions and more on episode 16 of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Guest Connie Cook talks about raising her three children (all AVS grads) and how she handled her own worries when they arose. She also talks about strategies for dealing with the rocky transitional period that can sometimes happen as newer students adjust to our radical model of education. Connie has been a staff member at AVS for many years, and she has a wealth of valuable information to share on this episode!

In addition, we're rolling out a new feature and we want to hear from you! Leave us a message at the Podcast Hotline with your question or comment and it may be featured in an upcoming episode.

Five current AVS students of varying ages share their perspectives on life at school - the good, the bad, and the Taco Bell. Hear directly from kids that attend Alpine Valley School about their lives before enrolling and what activities they get up to every day in this alternative environment. Also, giggling. So much giggling.

Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep15

Individuals who are driven to follow their passions do extremely well in our model of education; they can spend all of their time involved in their interests with a supportive crew of adults waiting in the wings. Aubrey Suter, alumni and software developer, was one of the original AVS entrepreneurs. While enrolled, Aubrey started many businesses, founded corporations, and held nearly every official position available in our school - she even created marketing materials that are still used today! Tune in to this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast to hear how being respected from a young age helped shape Aubrey into the motivated, curious, and successful person she is today.

Often, students and parents at places like Alpine Valley School are concerned that kids will not know how to function in the "real world" without participating in classroom learning. AVS graduate and salesman Brandon Murphy was one of those students, and so he took a year off from AVS and transferred to a traditional public high school. He wanted to prove to himself that he could come up to speed with mainstream students and successfully complete the required coursework. As he shares with host Missa Gallivan, not only did Brandon meet the standards of public high school, he excelled. He also learned that the monotony of traditional schooling was not for him, and returned to AVS to earn his diploma. Hear all about how he transitioned from democratic education to public school, and back again, on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast!