“Sending our son to Outside Now is one of the best things we’ve ever done as parents. The teachers are compassionate and highly skilled. The curricula is meaningful, interesting, and thought-provoking. Not once has he said about an assignment, “What’s the point? Why do we have to learn this?” He’s so much more relaxed and self-confident that friends and relatives who haven’t seen him in a while immediately remark on the changes in him. And because this school is really a community of families, we’ve made new friends, all of whom share our belief that school should be challenging and joyful.”
~ Jean and Matt Moelter, Nature Academy Parents
“Our experience with Outside Now has been amazing not only for our son who loves to go to school everyday and radiates when he arrives home but also for our entire family who has been touched by a greater sense of community, of teamwork and an awareness of appreciation. It is a true pleasure as a parent to see your teenage child enthusiastic about a mushroom, a snake he found that day or harvesting a radish that he grew. This is place where kids get to be who they really are and are appreciated for what they have to offer the group as well as being given the space and direction they need to develop who they will become. Brian has an amazing gift with teenagers, his ability to bring differing ages and personalities together as a cohesive, productive and downright happy group is astounding! His passion is infectious and that is how he inspires. Susan has the gift of written language and has an amazing ability to make a language assignment the highlight of the day, how do they do this??!!! I am in awe of the whole team and am eternally grateful that my son gets to have this experience.”
~ Lorna and Paul Teixeira, Nature Academy Parents
“I am 15 years old and am fairly smart so I have had a difficult time finding the right fit in my academic life. I tried both traditional and home schooling, both of which have presented some positives, but equally hard challenges. I started Cuesta at 13 and while that seems phenomenal, and is on a certain level, this too has brought with it the loss of a crucial part of my childhood. Along the way I was lucky enough to attend a nature based learning program called Outside Now.
Outside Now isn’t a place for lessons taught solely from books so much as they are lessons taught from, and about, people. It has the personal touch that so many schools lack. They teach you how to be with others in a cohesive and productive fashion. They teach you how to find, and then be yourself. In my mind, the most important thing they teach you is how to learn. They provide you with a curiosity you never knew you had, as well as a knack for turning that curiosity into your life’s passions. They give you a fire you never thought was there. They want you not to hold back and they don’t hold back on you. They find your comfort zone and then they push you to go a little bit farther. They encourage you to find yourself and then be a better version of that. I feel as though I am growing as a person because of my recent enrollment in Outside Now. I have seen many of my friends attend that have come out for the better: they gained self-confidence, endurance complemented by a strong work ethic, and a passion for life that will not be quelled.”
~ Jack Harmon, Nature Academy Student
“I suppose it is possible that these young people have come from remarkable families and are remarkable in their own right, but I suspect that all the activities are building in them a strong sense of self worth and confidence. I am also thinking about the role of being outside and connecting to nature. I suspect that doing so returns us to a lost part of ourselves.
~ Linda Vanasupa, Materials Engineering Professor,Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
