Is Quest a school?

Quest is not a school in the traditional sense. There are no teachers, no tests, no grades (letter, numerical, or other), and no required curricula. We do not have grade divisions or use competitive frameworks.

We are a self-directed learning center and homeschool community. The learners are free to pursue their own interests and choose their own daily activities. We share resources and decision-making. Each member, regardless of age, has a voice in how Quest operates and what happens each day.

If no teachers, who is there with the children?

Our experienced guides will act as models, space-holders, and mentors of self-directed learning, and intentional culture creation. Guides will be grounded in the perspective of trusting children, partnership-based relationships, and personal responsibility. They put connection over control. They are not punitive or passive, but use the approach of setting limits and holding boundaries while being respectful, caring, and responsive.

A huge part of being a guide is getting to know the children, understanding their individual needs, and providing the necessary support and resources.  Guides will help them in setting intentions, offering lessons, making decisions, planning activities and projects, as well as reflecting upon and sharing their experiences.

Is the belief that children will pick up on everything naturally?

Children naturally learn by identifying patterns which are repeated as children make discoveries and share their learning with others. There is an intensely social nature to learning. Children are driven by curiosity to learn, and by providing the right environment for this curiosity, learning can flow.

Picking up things naturally from our environment is one way of learning. There are many other ways of learning. We offer opportunities for children to work with peers, mentors or experts in their areas of interest. All the basics like reading, writing, and math get covered in a diversity of ways, all specifically aligned with the children’s interests. The more specialized subjects become a focus for children when they experience a moment that inspires them, and they choose to pursue a subject in depth. There are a wide range of resources and tools available (books, worksheets, games, video platforms, podcasts, etc.) to support learning in whichever way they learn best.

Will children be motivated and learn to discipline themselves for hard work?

For an intentional life, there is planning, structure, routine, and discipline. Not as restrictive things, but as tools to discover more, to bring more control and more freedom. We help children understand the focus and discipline they’ll need, and that things don’t just happen by chance. To get better at something, sometimes they’ll need to have a plan, and add some structure. Sometimes they’ll have to give themselves some rules and guidelines to operate within to have the best chance of success. And more than sometimes, they will need to apply some discipline to get there. This is how we develop mastery in something – and once they reach this point, it is truly an amazing and empowering feeling. It can also feel just as great when you make small steps of progress at something challenging or something you want to get better at. It is highly motivating.

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It’s important to note that each child is unique, and motivation and self-discipline can vary from individual to individual. But by creating a supportive and nurturing environment, providing guidance/opportunities, and fostering intrinsic motivation, we help children develop the skills and mindset necessary to stay motivated and disciplined.