Live your life by a compass, not a clock.

Experience the benefits of belonging to a supportive community of self-directed learners.

Is True North right for your family?

WHO WE ARE

True North is a secular, play-based, self-directed learning community, agile learning center & nature-based program that centers on care for self, care for each other and care for the environment.

WHO YOU ARE

You are a parent looking for a supportive community for your whole family that intentionally nurtures your child’s natural desire to learn — even if it takes you off the beaten path.

Play-Based, Self-Directed Education


Humans are natural learners. Children engage with the world deeply and whole-heartedly, and when allowed to follow their interests, they learn quickly and thoroughly.

Nature-based

Place-based learning in nature deeply roots our learning community in the foothills of Santa Barbara, California.

Community Support for the Whole Family

Our approach intentionally centers the entire family as the primary relationship in a child’s life.

How to Join

  • Community memberships are open to families with children of all ages, however drop off programming is only available for children ages 4-12.

    As a Community Member, you are invited to:

    -one community day per week (Sundays) including a facilitated community wisdom circle for adults and free play for kids

    -seasonal festivals

    -bi-annual campouts

    -special events as planned by families.

    As True North members, families commit to the values and principles of self-directed education (SDE), and commit to attending at least one of our weekly Community Wisdom Circles (CWCs) per month, and commit to our compassionate communication approach to conflict resolution.

    Families pay a sliding scale membership fee of $25-$250 per month. Our sliding scale is sustainable by all families paying what they are able.

    Families wanting to access the drop-off programming must become members of the community and will pay a monthly materials and location rental fee of $25 per child in lieu of the monthly membership dues.

    Interested in a monthly membership but not ready to commit? Enjoy access to our community free for one month.

    Fill out the application and immerse yourself in the True North community to see if it’s the right fit for your family.

  • For children ages 4.5 to 12, True North offers a drop-off program on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm. Weekly offerings include animal husbandry, horsemanship, arts and crafts, culinary pursuits, reading and writing, and more.

    Drop-off programming is tuition-based; please see below for daily offerings and payment information.

    Families wanting to access the drop-off programming must become members of the community and will pay a monthly materials and location rental fee of $25 per child in lieu of the monthly membership dues.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

― Howard Thurman

Praised by Parents & Children

  • "True North is a place children can find their centers. They experiment, take risks and learn from each other and nature. It is a beautiful program which brings children and their families into greater harmony with each other and the world."

    TRUE NORTH PARENT

  • "Most days I run around fast.. I sing and I play... but today I decided to be quiet and still. It was pretty cool because I was so peaceful that I could actually hear my own thoughts in my head."

    SIX-YEAR-OLD LEARNER

  • "It makes me so happy to think about my child outside, running, playing, exploring, learning, discovering, experimenting, laughing and building community!"

    TRUE NORTH PARENT

Enroll Now

Interested in becoming part of the True North Community?

True North offers drop-off programming for children ages 4.5-12 and community for the whole family. We operate on a rolling admissions schedule.