Misty Meadows School

Misty Meadows - Creating A Learning Ecosystem For Children:

Misty Meadows School is an approach to education that draws from the principles of Biomimicry. The core idea is to enable natural self-directed learning by providing children with a highly-stimulating, continuously-evolving learning ecosystem. The aim is to support children to be their unique selves, whilst enabling them to develop the creative, intellectual, social and emotional skills to survive and thrive in the 21st Century. The school is based at the BiomimicrySA Centre for Regenerative Living in the KZN Midlands. There is a deep intention that connection with nature is a vital part of the learning ecosystem and it includes a rich diversity of natural ecosystems including old-growth forests, grasslands and wetlands; as well as wide range of natural farming activities. The school buildings also integrate sacred geometry inspiring a connection of nature’s fractal patterns within and without.

Misty Meadows School provides a group of children with the best possible conditions in which they can learn and grow. It is not prescriptive about exactly what and how children learn, but provides them with access to a rich diversity of curiosity catalysts, perspectives, experiences, learning resources, support, guidance, encouragement and opportunities for collaboration with their peers in a beautiful physical environment. This is what is called "an enabling learning ecosystem".   Just as all seeds have the capacity to become beautiful flowers, but only those that receive sufficient sunlight, water and nutrients actually do, so do all children have the capacity to thrive, but they need the most enabling learning conditions to do so.  Because each child needs something different from their learning ecosystem, the aim is not to build a school in the traditional sense of the word – with a fixed curriculum and focused on fixed results. Children need to customize their learning experience as they go along, so instead of focusing on what the school will teach children, the focus is on how the school will function, so that each child can customize their learning experience. This is how natural ecosystems operate.    The school’s operating principles are a pattern to follow so that children can customize their learning outcomes. In addition to the biomimicry approach to how children learn and thrive, biomimicry itself is offered as a curiosity catalyst. The Centre for Regenerative Living enables the children to explore and experience the kind of practical skills needed for humans and nature to thrive together.