Updated 2024-12-10

Wild Roots Collective & Learning Community

Wild Roots Learning Community is a self-directed learning community that provides a nurturing environment for meaningful education, for learners ages 4-18.
Sammi Flores, Danielle Hodges, Cassidy Younghans Co-Creators
Co-ops & Resource Centers
https://www.wildrootscollective.org
click to see email
Denton, TX  76201
United States
Dallas, Fort Worth, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, North Texas, University of North Texas

Description

Wild Roots Collective & Learning Community is a growing self-directed learning community and worker-owned cooperative organization in Denton, TX. We are grassroots funded and believe in being financially accessible to families interested in our community. Wild Roots currently meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and is a drop-off program that serves learners 4-18 (learners younger than 4 can come with a caregiver). We are cultivating a community of learners and their families where people can show up authentically and build genuine connections and relationships rooted in solidarity, empowerment, responsibility, and mutual aid. Our wider vision is to expand to a 5 day a week learning community and build out more community and family resources.

SDE Optimizing Conditions

ASDE surveys all SDE communities/programs about how they provide, enhance, or align with each of the Six Optimizing Conditions for young people to succeed in SDE.  Survey answers:
  1. Responsibility – At Wild Roots, the child is the curriculum. Each learner is responsible for deciding how they will spend their time at Wild Roots and what, if any, classes or learning opportunities they participate in.
  2. Youth Autonomy – Learners spend the majority of their time how they choose. Community Meeting, small group time, classes, and Contribution (clean up) are all components of a WR day. We request they attend Community Meeting & Contribution, but do not require it.
  3. Access to Tools and Technology – We have a variety of resources available for young people to engage and learn with. Our community creates certifications and expectations for use of various resources through our Community Meeting, which often includes demonstration of safe use.
  4. Adult Allies – Wild Roots facilitators work to make things possible for our learners, rather than "making sure". We give them support in their learning journey when requested, but do not measure through tests or grades or try to manage their learning experience.
  5. Free Age Mixing – Wild Roots provides a mixed-age environment where all ages share the space. Wild Roots offers small-group connection time based on learner needs, development, and interests. Some offered classes are geared towards a specific age range.
  6. Community – Wild Roots learners and facilitators create community practices and make decisions together through consent-based decision making at our daily Community Meeting. Facilitators and co-creators also share power using this process.

If any information about this resource is out of date, please let us know.