The vision for The Compass Center Foundation was originally formed during the initial school lockdowns in 2020. The events of this year revealed that children and education are in crisis. Children are dealing with a chronic illness epidemic, mental health crisis, and weakening family and friend relationships. On top of this, the world economic and political scene has continued to grow more unpredictable. Our children need a different approach in their education – one that teaches them skills to adapt and thrive as they grow into adulthood.
The crises that our children face have been a long time coming – their roots go much deeper than the school lockdowns. We are at a turning point, where we as a society now recognize the causes for many of these struggles, and we can choose to create a different future for our children.
The Compass Center Foundation offers our small contribution to the future. We give children and their parents a wide range of learning and growth experiences all set within the enriching landscape of a farm and garden homestead.
At The Compass Center Foundation, we believe that humans are spiritual beings having a material experience. Looking at life’s challenges through this lens offers a hopeful perspective for growth and opportunity. We hold this belief in the forefront as we develop our programs and offerings.
As our dream for a healthier childhood educational experience grew, another idea blossomed. What if a school could support parents too, not just kids? What if the school could provide support, knowledge and community for the whole family? The Compass Center Foundation, as its fully realized self, will become a wellness and educational center offering families a progressive and accredited school as well as a place to learn, heal, and grow together.
We found common ground with the Henley family in Crozet, Virginia. With their support, we are now able to offer families an immersive and enriching experience on their land. We have been in operation since December of 2022.
Our goal is to find a farm to call our own sometime within the next 5 years.
The Compass Center Foundation’s purpose is to support families on their journey towards physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Our hope is that by offering an intentional childhood experience, we can be a part of a movement towards equipping the next generation to better thrive in our turbulent world.
We see a community of intentional families working together to raise vibrant, healthy and engaged children. Our long term vision includes a new campus to house an accredited school and all of our events, gardens, animals.
Our children are facing major social and economic crises including the breakdown of family and interpersonal relationships, economic instability, chronic illness epidemics, and rising mental health challenges.
We feel that schools are not taking the whole child into consideration in preparing them to face these challenges, and we recognize that the public school system is not able to. But, we are seeing the many consequences manifest, to the detriment of society and the economy.
We see a need for a new model in childhood education that offers more freedom for children and their parents to engage with learning experiences in a way that more closely aligns with the natural phases of childhood development and takes into consideration the unique challenges facing our future leaders.
At The Compass Center Foundation, we have four guiding principles. These principles speak to our everyday interactions and decisions, as well as long term goals.
The days at Compass Academy are filled with the opportunity, connection, purpose and peace that come naturally from being consistently immersed in the natural world.
We know that children are innate learners. We don’t worry about making sure that they learn, we worry about making sure that they are given the opportunity to learn at their pace, surrounded by adults and educators who model integrity, compassion, curiosity, and communication.
When children come to school at Compass Academy, they enter a diverse environment that exemplifies a holistic approach to learning, living, relating and earning.
We believe that when children grow up surrounded by adults who care deeply and live intentionally, they will thrive.