| The Blue Crane Centre was started to provide a exciting, safe, healthy and inspiring environment for over 15's and beyond who have been democratically homeschooled, unschooled or non-coercively educated.
A place to continue their interests into secondary, tertiary and lifelong learning, or simply to live in a democratic, self sustaining, ecologically aware, coeducational, multi-cultural residential community and enjoy life!
The centre is run on non hierarchical democratic principles with a broad based infrastructure. Based around a core of 20/25 resident students and up to 20 day students, the centre will remain a small unit, but one that is aimed at being replicable.
The Blue Crane centre will however serve as a social and training centre for the local population, so aspects of the centre will create a large temporary influx of visitors; parties, media events, cinema and a cafe are part of the centre's involvement with the community.
There is no fixed dogma or curricula attached to the Blue Crane.
It is a place where one can study areas for which there are no existing recognized qualifications (such as it was ICT 20 years ago), or where one can study for existing qualifications in any given subject.
Courses from Permaculture Farming/Gardening to motor mechanics can be arranged as required. On the question of physical activity, if you can think of it, you can do it here!
Extreme surfing, horse riding, trekking, bungy jumping, if you want it, here it is.
The Blue Crane will use state of the art communication systems to maintain and develop relationships with global academic and practical science institutions. It will also use "state of the art" social skills to maintain and develop relationships with the local communities.
It's that Back 2 School day...
On one side of the breakfast table...
Fed up with being coerced into learning subjects you have no interest in?
Tired of “adults” telling you what to do?
Bored with following a schedule that has no relevance to your life?
Annoyed that you can’t get “real” information, just propaganda?
Angry that people don’t take you seriously?
Confused that whenever you “experiment” you are in trouble?
Disillusioned with conforming to established “ideals” ?
Hate the idea that war or violence will solve any solution?
Distrust any “system” that says “We are the answer to every problem!”
...meanwhile on the other side of the table...
Fed up with your child being treated like a cog in a machine?
Tired of teachers complaints?
Bored with the “homework” game?
Annoyed your child lies to you, but why (I was a child too…) ?
Angry that you know your child is bright but doesn’t “try“?
Confused about the generation gap you swore would never happen?
Disillusioned with the goals that were set for you, when you were a child?
Hate the idea that your child grows up into cannon fodder?
Distrust the ghosts of “education“ policy?
There has to be another way…
… BLUE CRANE
EXTREME EDUCATION?
( "extreme" education is…)
taking a risk
a lot of "free fall"
doing it because you want to
getting good at it
just trying it out
just for fun
keeping yourself fit; mixed-media style
learning from other people's experience
best when you are exploring the uncharted
being social
going it alone
always someone there willing and able to help
the way you are doing it; whatever it is you are doing
real empowerment... | 
