S The How, What, Where & Why of WYNNDEL WONDERTREE  SCHOOL "Where a child's enthusiasm can change the world"   How did Wondertree & SelfDesign come to the Creston Valley? A group of like minded parents came together looking for a different, more holistic way of educating their children. Recognizing that learning comes naturally, lends itself to enhancing both biological and social growth. After months of conversation & research with the SelfDesign/Wondertree Learning Center, it soon became apparent that its philosophies were a perfect fit, to help nurture authenticity and genius in our children.   What is Wondertree & SelfDesign? Wondertree & SelfDesign is a natural learning community developed in 1983 by Brent Cameron, PhD. The program was honored in 2006 with the “Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence’s Certificate of Achievement”. The basis of this philosophy is that all children are born with a natural desire to learn & inherently follow that desire when encouraged & supported. Wondertree is the name of the learning center classification. The Wondertree program has been running continuously since its conception 24 years ago. SelfDesign was born out of Wondertree as the methodology, & also defines the identity of the online learning portion, of the learning community. For further information on Wondertree & SelfDesign please visit your local library or bookstore, for a copy of the book SelfDesign: Nurturing Genius Through Natural Learning.   What is Wynndel Wondertree School? Wynndel Wondertree School is a child centered, educational home, where children learn how to learn & discover multiple intelligences by developing a life long love of learning. It is a place where the child is put in control of their own learning, guided by their Learning Consultant (BC-certified teacher). A learning consultant is familiar with holistic, child-centered learning, & they work with parents & students in creating an individualized learning plan. At Wynndel Wondertree it is believed that it takes a village to raise & educate a child & that children will be encourage as they participate in their Community. Mentors play a big role in offering guidance & support to learners. As a result, self-respect & a sense of pride in their community will follow. By having mentors come in from their community, children can tangibly realize the possibilities around them. Wynndel Wondertree School is working to educate the whole brain, the whole child, thus nurturing, the future leaders in our society.   Where is Wynndel Wondertree School? Wynndel Wondertree School is located at: 212 Stace Rd. (Between Creston and Wynndel). Why have a Wondertree School? Wynndel Wondertree School offers parents another option for their children's education. It provides parents the opportunity to participate in their children's learning process. The world is a changing place and Wondertree Learning Centers are designed to help develop children into responsible, self-motivated & productive adults. Thinking outside of the box is encouraged because life has no set curriculum. They learn there are no instruction books that provide all the “right answers”. Wynndel Wondertree School strives to show kids how to discover their own answers, so they can better tackle real-life’s challenges, to become productive members of society. Finding a place in the world becomes a natural transition since they have been preparing themselves for years with guidance from Wondertree/SelfDesign learning.   What is a Learning Consultant? A learning consultant is a BC-certified teacher who is given the opportunity to teach, learn & grow with the children. Teachers in this position are ones who have sought out this program as their preferred learning environment. For them this is more than a job, but rather a way to actively participate in the learning process. Special focus on individual attention is a priority. Learning Consultants want learners to feel challenged, enthusiastic and excited about learning. They take on the responsibility, in part, for ensuring this happens, by working closely with parents & learners, to develop a place where learning possibilities are plenty & achievable.   What is a Learning Plan? This process involves a meeting between the learning consultant, learner & parents to develop goals for future learning. These learning plan meetings are held two or three times per year. Based on these learning plans, the learning consultant finds appropriate mentors, designs outings and creates learning activities individual to each child’s needs. These plans are considered an ongoing creation and are used as a guide for the child’s learning. This allows for changes as they develop, while providing personal fulfillment & academic excellence, through academic design management.   What is a Mentor? At Wynndel Wondertree School it is believed that children are an important part of all communities. People who are passionate about education and value children as individuals, are found to mentor the children through the learning center. The best people to learn from are often, those who love the subject being taught. Mentors contribute by sharing their expertise, passion, and love of their “Thing”, whatever it maybe (art, science, or as simple as reading stories). Children are supported in choosing their own mentors. Then we watch as their interest and enthusiasm grows, as they discover the resources and possibilities in their own community and the world around them.   How is Wynndel Wondertree School Funded? The Wondertree Foundation for Natural Learning is a not-for-profit charitable organization. Wondertree Foundation for Natural Learning, incorporated as a not-for-profit society in British Columbia founded in 1984. It exists to support and inspire enthusiasm-based, holistic learning of and by children. The Wynndel Wondertree School is affiliated with this organization. Funding is provided 50% by the Ministry of Education through the foundations directors & 50% ($300.00 a month) coming from parents.