Greenwood Tree Educational Cooperative

Mission

"Creating community that honors the whole child and educates the heart, body and mind."

Description

Greenwood Tree Educational Cooperative (GWT) was founded in 2009 and it is unique as it is not a school but a cooperatively run education center. A group of parents came together who wanted an alternative education option for their children that was affordable. This group of parents was inspired by nature, Montessori and Waldorf education models. There were no education options like this available in Skagit County, so these parents created their own. Over the last decade we have grown into a successful, thriving and diverse community which serves many families throughout Skagit, Snohomish, and Island Counties.

GWT offers a curriculum based on educating the hands through doing, the head through idea and concept development and the heart through the arts and community. We regularly do things like paint, model with beeswax, sculpt with clay, knit, felt wool, woodworking, singing, hiking, gardening, bake bread or cook. We also offer outdoor education for ages 5-15 and have a rich festival life focused around the seasons of the year.

We rely on volunteers to run our cooperative. Each family volunteers 60-150 hours each year! Parents (and often aunts, uncles and grandparents) all volunteer their time to run the cooperative.

What began many years ago as a "homeschool group" has evolved into a vibrant community that is rich in compassionate and caring human beings who share similar values and have an interest in preserving and being a part of nature, agriculture, the arts, humanity and community. We are cooperatively working in community to raise and educate our children together.

Recognition

First, we want to thank our community members- who all do some part of what it takes to keep our cooperative running. We also want to specifically thank our working board members who contribute much of their personal time keeping our organization's foundation strong and stable, even as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you!
Board Chair: Conrad Kloc
Board Secretary: Gretchen Kyle
Board Treasurer: Simone White
Board Administrator: Shanna DeLeon
Board Trustee: Emily Schiff
Board Trustee: Brian Bundy