Empowering Young People to Live a Joyful Life Full of Wonder
What is Ad Astra Agile Learning Center?
Ad Astra Agile Learning Center (ALC) was created to provide a dynamic learning environment where curiosity thrives, and individual strengths are celebrated. Serving children ages 10-18. Our team is a dedicated group of professionals committed to providing an enriching educational experience to homeschoolers. Ad Astra ALC extends beyond a traditional academic setting, allowing homeschool families to connect, share experiences, exchange resources, and forge lasting friendships. Join us at Ad Astra, where learning knows no bounds, and every day is an opportunity for discovery, growth, and excitement.
What is self-directed education?
The Alliance for Self-Directed Education defines education as “the sum of everything a person learns that supports them towards living a satisfying and meaningful life.” Education includes all of the life experiences that a person engages in throughout their life. These experiences include activities, actions, formal classes, books, videos, play, games, discussions, and trips.
It includes learning how to get along with others, knowledge of oneself, skills in directing your own activities and learning how to navigate the world effectively.
Self-directed education is all of the self-chosen experiences that a learner decides to participate in. It is the education of the whole person that comes out of that person’s innate ability to know what their needs and goals are. Given the space and support to pursue their interests and curiosities children are capable of leading their own education.
What we do..
At Ad Astra ALC, we value the interests of our learners, and promote exploration through collaborative efforts within our community.
Rather than imposing a rigid curriculum, we empower learners to make self-directed decisions, granting them the freedom to chart their educational path.
Our schedule includes offerings led by both adults and learners throughout the day.
Embracing a mixed-age community, we provide an atmosphere where children not only learn from professionals but also from one another.
Above all, we encourage young minds to become creators, nurturing innovation and independent thinking.
Agile Tools
Agile means being able to move quickly and easily. The tools that we use in our day to day practice help keep our community productive, vibrant, and healthy.
Each morning, we gather for a short meeting to "Set the Day" and set our intentions. In the afternoon, we meet again for reflection, ensuring we learn and grow from our experiences.
We use Kanban boards to make intentions visible and to track projects.
Our Community Mastery Board helps shape our culture by tracking community-wide challenges and the solutions we create together.
Collaborative Community
At Ad Astra, we love the dynamic community we’ve built—one that evolves to meet the needs of our group. Through weekly Change Up meetings and ongoing conversations between learners and facilitators, we continuously refine our environment and structure.
Join us and give your child the freedom to explore their interests while learning the value of community and caring for others.
The Agile Roots
The soil we grow from is trust—trust in our students, in each other, and in you.
Our four foundational roots ground us:
Learning: Learning is natural; it’s happening all the time.
Self-Direction: People learn best by making their own choices. Children are people.
Experience: Learning is shaped by culture and environment.
Success: Accomplishment comes through cycles of intention, creation, reflection, and sharing.
Supporting self-directed education for families
Ad Astra Agile Learning Center welcomes racial and ethnic diversity and families of every composition. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and other programs.