Know any tweens or teens who might enjoy a stimulating and enriching online program? One where they can thrive—intellectually, personally and socially—as part of a consistent group with a socially healthy culture?
Check out The Hub!
Our part-time micro-academy program can be viewed as the anchoring experience of a young person's weekdays, or as an extra that completes the picture for them.
(To learn more about what we do, and why, keep scrolling ...)
In The Hub's micro-academies, young people ages 9 to 16+ meet online in small groups (organized by age range and compatibility) two half-days a week. Together, they work on engaging, interdisciplinary activities and projects that everyone has a hand in choosing, based on their collective interests. The program's empowering format and intentional culture also create a community feel.
The facilitators get to know each and every individual, and challenge and support them to grow intellectually and personally. This includes developing vital "soft skills," such as communication, collaboration, and creativity.
The format also encourages participants to get to know each other, and to form friendships and enjoy regular communion with a consistent group of peers and adult mentors.
Being part of a vibrant and supportive learning community during this key time in adolescents' lives not only expands intellectual horizons and builds knowledge and skills; it also boosts well-being, and helps them become capable, confident, and well-rounded doers who can figure out what they want in life, and work effectively with others to make it happen.
In a nutshell, The Hub enables adolescents to go further than they could individually, while still retaining a lot of flexibility. (Outside of micro-academy sessions, participants may homeschool, unschool, worldschool, attend complementary in-person or online programs with a different focus, etc. We can help parents sort through the options.)
The practical benefits are numerous, but how does our program feel? This sums it up:
"You've created digital joy, which is very hard to find." — Parent
You can listen to what some parents have to say in the "What is a Micro-academy?" video above. Here's a representative sample of other feedback that's been shared over the years:
"[My daughter] loves being part of The Hub. She is super motivated and wakes up at 6 am to be able to join. I already see some effects: she is much more assertive and willing to have discussions on deep topics." — Parent
"[My son] is really enjoying The Hub!! I was worried it would be too much sitting for him, but he is super engaged." — Parent
"The facilitators have found the 'secret sauce.'" — Parent
"It’s so much more than I expected. My children have been able to engage in important, grown-up conversations, and their perspectives have been given weight and have been considered important. They continue to talk about these things and look for applications of them throughout the day. … I think about what different experiences they'll have as adults because of internalizing these experiences, and having opportunities to be leaders at these early ages.” — Parent
"The kids couldn't stop talking about the session today. They thoroughly enjoyed their time with you." — Parent
"So fun to hear them laughing and learning!!" — Parent
The facilitators "are so amazing with the kids. [My son] really enjoys The Hub. ... He is engaged and participating. ... I have heard him contribute many thoughts, ideas and opinions." — Parent
"I feel like I'm making connections at The Hub that I've never made in any other way." — Participant
"I can't wait until The Hub's next term starts." — Participant
If this resonates, we invite you to explore the site (especially the Program page), and then contact us to arrange for your child to visit part of a session or to schedule an individual meeting with a facilitator to gauge fit.
You can also ask us any questions you may have, and/or request to be added to our newsletter (which contains program updates as well as useful resources).
