About Wondertree Foundation for Natural Learning
* Our Mission - Who we are, What we do, What we value Wondertree Foundation for Natural Learning, incorporated as a not-for-profit society in British Columbia in 1984, exists to support and inspire enthusiasm-based, holistic learning of and by children. Presently, the organization directs the activities for - SelfDesign Learning Community (SDLC), a provincewide, Ministry-certified 'Distributed Learning' (online) program serving approximately 475 learners this year
- The Wondertree Learning Centre (WTLC), a Ministry-certified Group 1 Independent School based in Vancouver - Wondertree HomeLearners Network (HLN), a provincewide support network for Homelearning families Our unique and award-winning methodology, AKA "SelfDesigning", enfranchises learners young and old to design their own learning in powerful, authentic ways that often exceed the norms of conventional education. The art and science of SelfDesigning is aligned with many principles of Perennial Philosophy, Multiple Intelligences, Emotional Intelligence, Constructivist Learning, Positive Psychology and Neuro-Biological ("Brain-Based") Learning. * Our Vision - Our Commitments and Strategic Goals
Wondertree Foundation is committed to advancing SelfDesign methodology throughout North America to help meet the needs of all people seeking a learning methodology aligned with human sensibilities of fulfillment, self-responsibility and cooperation. We will achieve this by: i. sustaining our principal programs, ii. consulting to and with communities and educational programs, families and educators, business and community leaders
iii. expanding the outreach of our methodology to teenagers, interested adults and other groups through development of unique programs and internet-based approaches
* Development Goals
We are presently seeking partnerships to help enable and fund: – SDLC-WT core programming
– SelfDesign Webcourse development
– Teen Leadership Program ('SURPASS') development
* Organizational History
The Wondertree Foundation for Natural Learning has operated as a registered not-for-profit organization in good standing in British Columbia since 1984. Organizational milestones include the following: - 1985-2007: continuous operation of the Wondertree Learning Centre as a category 1 (secular) Independent school in Vancouver for children, 5-14 years - 1987-2007: continuous operation of the Wondertree Homelearners Network, reaching thousands of BC homelearning students - 1993-1997: launched and ran the award-winning 'Virtual High' Learning Community for teens, 14-18 years, in Vancouver - 1997-98: 'Natural Learning' courses on SelfDesign methodology provided through Simon Fraser University - 2002-2007: operation of SelfDesign Learning Community, a category 1 "Distributed Learning" (online) learning program, now (2006) serving 450 learners in British Columbia - 2005-2006: publication of 'SelfDesign: Nurturing Genius through Natural Learning' (Sentient Publishing, Boulder) Awards - 2007 (spring): Recipient, 'Certificate of Recognition' for contribution to public education, presented by BC Ministry of Education (SelfDesign Learning Community) - 2006 (December): Winner, 'Prime Ministers Award' for Education Innovation - (SelfDesign Learning Community) - 1996: VanCity award for educational excellence (VillageQuest project) - 1991: Marshall McLuhan award (Wondertree Learning Centre, PowerSmart project) - 1989, 1991 - Northern Telecom National Award for Educational Excellences (Wondertree Learning Centre) Additionally, our learning programs and SelfDesign methodology have been the subject of numerous positive media profiles and they have been endorsed by community, business and educational leaders, worldwide. Wondertree programs have also garnered * Organizational Governance & Financial Management
Wondertree Foundation and each of the learning programs it administers is guided by a Board of Directors and Executive Director as per statutes for not-for-profit organizations in British Columbia. The Board meets at various times each year for an Annual General Meeting and to review organizational business and address pertinent issues. Financial statements and budgets for each learning program are reviewed by our bookkeeper and Board of Directors and audited financial statements are also submitted each year to government as per our contract. * Key Personnel
Brent Cameron M.A. (Ph.D.) - Principal and Executive Director, SDLC experience developing award winning software programs and developer of the SelfDesign CD used as a master’s level course at SFU, Co-founder Wondertree, Virtual High and SelfDesign Learning Community (SDLC) and author of the SelfDesign book Kathleen Forsythe Ph.D. - Vice-Principal, SDLC, Co-founder of the SelfDesign Learning Community and Past President of the Wondertree Foundation (14 year duration); specialist, Knowledge Architecture Michael Maser M.A. B.A. B.Sc. B.Ed. - Program Director, SDLC (Co-founder, Virtual High and SDLC), Journalist, researcher, former geologist Barbara Meyer M.A. - Family Liaison SDLC, writer and editor, creative design and layout, SelfDesign book co-author and Family Liaison for SelfDesign Learning Community Darrell Letourneau M.Ed. - Learning Consultant Coordinator/Learning Consultant, SDLC, software consultant, Pucky Loucks - Information Technology Manager, SDLC, HLN, WT Learning Centre * Wondertree Foundation Board of Directors
- Dr. Pille Bunnell - Robert Ballantyne - Karen Cunningham (ex officio) - Parker Cook - Devon Girard - Ilana Cameron - Lisa Jones - Fitch Cady * The Wondertree Foundation Advisory Board 2007-08
- Sally Ranney - past Vice President of The Natural Step (Denver)
- Laddie Livingston - retired Superintendent, North Delta School District (Paonia, Colorado)
- Arnie Fullerton - retired architect (Mexico)
- Terry Williard Ph.D. - founder Wild Rose College (Calgary, Alberta)
* Project Streams and Needs
i. Core Programming - SelfDesign Learning Community, Wondertree Learning Centre SelfDesign Learning Community (SDLC) and Wondertree are both Ministry-certified Group 1 Independent Schools in the province of British Columbia. Both support and facilitate natural, enthusiasm-oriented learning based on 'SelfDesigning' methodology, rather than taught or imposed curriculum. In both programs learners receive individualized support from one of our trained Learning Consultants (all certified teachers) and access to our leading-edge, online 'Village of Conversations'. Both programs also offer some support for
special-needs learners. (more information is found at www.selfdesign.org)
What we are seeking - For what purpose, how donation to be used, why now? As BC-certified independent schools, both SDLC and WT programs receive only 50% of the funding allocated in BC for public schooling, from government. As a result, we are seeking additional funds to assist in core support to both SDLC and WT programs. Wondertree Learning Centre is also seeking funds to help provide it with a new location in the Vancouver area ii. Teen Leadership Program development, Phase I and II This year (2007-08) Wondertree Foundation launched the 'Beyond' and 'Praxis' programs to meet the learning needs of teens, 15-18 years, in the absense of support from the BC Ministry of Education. As well, we offered 'Learning Your Way' a leading-edge online course and 'Surpass', a week-long leadership training retreat for teens. Previously, Wondertree Foundation supported the award-winning 'Virtual High Learning Community' for teens in Vancouver, focusing on developing and inculcating process skills aligned with lifelong learning and attaining 'excellence'. Presently, the BC-based 'Graduation Program' does not meet the rising needs of youth looking for an alternate to conventional schooling, nor the needs of families and older learners enrolled in our SelfDesign program who have expressed much interest in such programs. What we are seeking - For what purpose, how donation to be used, why now?
We are seeking development funding for additional funding to assist in the continued expansion of our teens programs this coming year and beyond. We are additionally seeking funding to help subsidize and/or sponsor lower-income youth who wish to, and qualify for our programs. - END |