At the heart of The Little Pawpaw Micro-School is a commitment to nurturing the magic that every child brings into the world.

Our learning community moves with the rhythms of nature — never rushed and always intentional. With an approach that fosters whole-child development, we seek as many opportunities as possible to spend time in the great outdoors.

TLP’s approach is inspired by the forest school model as well as the deschooling movement.

At TLP, children take part in an immersive learning experience rooted in what is local. This includes the knowledge, histories, skills, people and landscapes of our microcosm.

We spend ample time together in our neighborhood park, learning about and freely exploring the ecosystem of our unique bioregion. You will find us foraging native pawpaws in late summer, making persimmon fruit leathers in fall, and tapping maple trees in early spring. 

Self-guided learning is central to how we spend our time together at TLP. Children fully direct their play & projects, ensuring that learning is always meaningful, relevant, and empowering.