The Sacred Pursuit: My Journey with Alternative Education

I’ve spent more than 10 years inside traditional classrooms in Canada, and I’ve traveled to over 30 countries, teaching in three of them. Along the way I was immersed in various approaches to children and education. I even studied education systems across the globe, and followed a quiet, persistent question — a knowing that this isn’t it, but what is?

The search became a mission. For the past three years, I’ve been on and off Odysseys across North America and now Costa Rica — pursuing The Answer.

We explored living alternatives (read here), education choices and how to make all of this life stuff work in a way that feels like Truth.

I’ve found it by the way, tucked away in the jungle of Platanillo, Costa Rica.

But before I share it, let me take you through 15 years of free-flowing reflections — how the Question grew, and how the Answer revealed itself.

The Magic of The Journey

My journey has never been linear. Opportunities have arrived like interventions from Source itself — unexpected job offers, research positions, and chance encounters. Each one stretched my understanding and expanded my philosophy. In between travels, I’ve been paid to do academic research on child development, Indigenous ways of knowing, responsive education, STEM, arts, and global education approaches. It’s been feeling a lot like validating intuition and experience with data! I’ve learnt so much and have been humbled at how much I still don’t know.

I taught newcomers to Canada about the sacred view of the child, Forest School, and child-led learning — equipping them to become allies to children in their own communities. I didn’t chase these opportunities. They came in response to what I was already living and sharing: my passion for honoring children, for opening eyes and hearts.

Maybe it’s because magic comes when you align with your truth.

Looking back, perhaps it all began when I was four years old, pencil in hand, teaching my stuffed animals in pajamas. Or maybe at sixteen, when I taught English in Peru and felt the confirmation that I was meant to teach. But for this story, I’ll begin in 2008 — my first real day as a teacher. I remember my feet slipping in my heels, wet with anticipation and nerves. It wasn’t my dream assignment, but it was my First Day. Decades in the making and there I was.

An intrinsic knowing

Soon after, I landed my first classroom of my own in a small town of 500 people. My space became a sanctuary — intentional, nature-infused, filled with wonder. We ditched textbooks to hatch chicks. We released butterflies and ran barefoot through the grass. We became global citizens, baking cookies for Haiti. We curated an art show, created magic, danced into mornings with Mandisa’s “Good Morning.” On my classroom door, words greeted each child: In this room you are a scientist. An artist. An engineer. A musician. A writer.

Two years ago, I returned to that same community to deliver a speech at their grade 12 graduation ceremony. My views now merging with ways of the past as I reflect on those moments. You can read the speech here. My views and philosophy evolved, yet something always pulsed steady: a warmth, a nurturing, an intrinsic knowing of the sacredness of each child and the intentionality of the space I was creating.

Through ten years across Canada, Australia, and the UAE, my philosophy kept evolving. Systems didn’t always align, but try did I ever. Many of us carry this knowing, yet hands tied by ways that take rather than give Life.

Motherhood inviting deeper truths

Motherhood deepened that pulse. When I carried my son, I knew instantly he would not participate in the madness. My search for alternatives began — I began reading about Costa Rica schools with science in the jungle and phys-ed on the beach. I envisioned new ways and pondering which route we would take. Eventually, we tried a Montessori classrooms filled with choice yet world events prompting to found my own private school. The timing of said world events leading me to jump before ready and fall did I ever. Built on a dream with no time to make a foundation. My fall leading to a retreat and a shame that eventually gave birth to gold. The cocoon offered healing, grieving, and the beginnings of clarity.

The Pursuit Continues

Since then, I’ve opened my home to homeschool children, offering magic in small ways, while also exploring and gathering treasures from the world. From Salt Spring Island’s project-based schools to homeschool groups in BC, to Denman Island’s meetups—I sought the answer everywhere.

But homeschooling felt lonely, dull, like another thing I was sucking at. Days of “child led” often meaning forts, messes, and exhaustion. I wanted joy, but carrying the entire weight of education and enrichment alone drained me. The homeschool groups disjointed, differing approaches and beliefs never quite landing on a way that felt like harmony, enrichment for each child.

Costa Rica Life Experiment

So, we embarked on a 6 month journey to Costa Rica, experimenting.

We tried worldschooling, toured schools, joined a homeschool nature club, and dipped into an arts and cultural centers.

We lacked depth. Groundedness. Belonging.

We tried two private jungle schools that held children as sacred. Beautiful, but again—not quite it. These schools wonderful but paying for private education not cheap and I thought the name of the game here was work towards sovereignty.

Plus, I never wanted to send my children away to school. I value Family, learning together, experiencing life together. The best school in the world may give them experience, richness, friendship, but I wish I could do that at home, within a community. Guided by shared values.

I compared and contrasted and sifted and sorted, both real life experiences, tours, interviews combined with academic research that allowed me to refine my philosophy. Waldorf, Montessori, Forest School, pieces of our puzzle but not quite it.

There’s gotta be a different way. My being consumed with this mission. This quest.

And then, this latest ‘not quite it’ finally brought the pieces together. The Answer arriving from the empty space in where I thought the Answer would be found.

I have 200 pages of notes that can now be condensed into one simple and clear pathway. I’ve been testing it out on my kids.

It feels like I just cracked the code!!

I shouted fists in the air. My 8 year old son laughing at me after his second day of this new approach. Delighted and at ease knowing he’s trusted with his own reins.

He asked me if he could do his reading practice all morning last week. Typically a battle. Groans. and eventually bribes. Damaging our bond and creating frustration.

Today he is building a pulley system to transport oranges in the jungle for his new juicing business.

“When what you are looking for doesn’t exist—create it.”

The pieces have come together — not in another “almost” or “not quite,” but in the realization that when what you are searching for doesn’t exist, you must create it.

Endless conversations where I’d hear myself say,

I wish I could create my own way.

Not a way that fits into another way.
Not a way that mimics any other ways.
Not a way that feels like more to do and things to figure out.
A completely different way.

I came to Costa Rica to find the magical key and instead realized, it was within me the whole time.

I accepted my mission one afternoon in September overlooking the mountains in Platanillo. The pulse of peace offering me the space to receive. It only came when I was ready and I had to wait. Sit in the quiet. Empty and clear. And eventually, when I was ready, I declared my intent. Use me. I will do it.

And then, it’s almost as if Source replied with

“Buckle up, here is the way…”

Accepting the mission unleashing a mad rush of what can only be described as words flowing through me. Filling endless pages with a fire so bright, food and sleep an unnecessary distraction un-welcomed for 4 days.

A vision quest if you will. A sacred passage and a communion with Life itself.

Leading to a map.
A pathway.
Honouring the child.
Activating the parent.

Responsive to real life.
Answering the call of what is needed.
Creating a real life pathway for children.

Hands on, community based, project driven.

Inspiring connection, experimentation, creativity, purpose, passion, confidence.

This is about Sovereignty. Warriorship. Community.

Let’s do this!

Calling in what’s next

A team, partnership, collaboration, consultations, I need it all!

*Seeking collaborators and experts on: conscious parenting, polyvagal theory, rites of passage, bushcraft, ADHD, project based learning and more.