Our Core

A secular, nature-based, human-centered microschool built on intentional unschooling with structured accountability.

• Inspired by Slanaitheoirism, a philosophy of nature connection, identity, and human creativity

• Focused on history, folklore, herbalism, self-discovery, and real-world learning

• Zero religious affiliation; fully secular, inclusive, and grounded in curiosity and ethics

• Child-led, adult-guided and supervised

• Zero misuse and abuse of AI (Such as AI generation or generating; ChatGPT and others)

• A mix of using a computer and nature, mainly making use of nature

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Our Style

• Unschooling framework (Child-led, adult-guided)

• Experiential/Place-based education (learning through real environments)

• Holistic education (mind, identity, emotional development)

• Traditional influence (story, philosophy, rhetoric, but without rigidity)

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Our Methods

1. Guided Unschooling (your backbone)

   • Students choose topics based on interest

   • Adults act as mentors, not lecturers

   • Learning is shaped, not controlled

2. Real-World Learning

   • Forest walks → biology, journaling, observation

   • Cooking → math, chemistry, life skills

   • Museums/libraries → history, research

3. Documentation-Based Accountability

   • Instead of tests:

     • Portfolios

     • Journals

     • Project logs

     • Presentations

4. Human-Centered Work

   • Handwritten assignments

   • Physical books

   • Art, crafts, building, experimentation

5. Identity & Self-Discovery Work

   • Guided reflection (journals, discussions)

   • Exploration of identity in a safe, non-prescriptive way

   • Emotional intelligence is treated as part of education, not separate from it

6. Interdisciplinary Learning

   • Subjects are not isolated like: "Now it's math time"

   • Instead:

     • Herbalism → science + history

     • Mythology → literature + cultural studies

     • Nature journaling → writing + biology + art

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Our Structure

• Adults ensure PA-required subjects are covered

• Regular check-ins and guidance

• Clear expectations for documentation

• Boundaries around safety and responsibility

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Our Environment

• Part classroom, part library

• Outdoor learning spaces (gardens, woods, fire circles)

• Cozy, lived-in, not institutional

• Materials over screens

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Our Philosophy

• "Perambula vitam cum scientia et cautione."
  (Translation: "Walk through life with knowledge and caution.")

• “Nature shapes us, identity defines us, and creativity is how we leave our mark upon the world.”

• "We don’t teach children what to think. We teach them how to wander wisely."

• "Children don't need rigid systems to learn, they need wonder, guidance, and freedom to grow into themselves."

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Influences

• Forest schools (but more academically structured)

• Unschooling communities (but less loose)

• Montessori (but less system-driven)

• Waldorf (but fully secular and less prescriptive)

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What is "Squonk Style" and the "Squonk"?

The Squonk is a creature from Pennsylvania lumberjack folklore, especially associated with the forests of Hemlock in Pennsylvania. We use folklore like the Squonk to connect children to place, emotion, and learning, turning stories into tools for understanding both the world and themselves.

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Description of the Squonk

• Said to have loose, ill-fitting skin covered in warts

• Moves slowly and avoids being seen

• Known for crying constantly due to its appearance

• Leaves behind tear tracks instead of footprints

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What it represents

•  Sensitivity and emotional depth

• Emotional intelligence

• Self-acceptance

• Compassion for others

• Safe exploration of difficult feelings 

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Squonk Philosophy

• "The Squonk shows us that it's okay to feel different, and that every feeling has a place in learning and growing."

• "To understand the Squonk is to learn kindness, for ourselves and for others."

• "In the story of the Squonk, we explore how feelings of difference can become pathways to empathy, self-acceptance, and personal growth."

• "The Squonk teaches that sensitivity is not weakness, but awareness, and that through understanding ourselves, we learn to treat others with care."

• "The Squonk reminds us that even those who feel unseen or different deserve compassion, understanding, and a place to belong."