In our very first episode, we step outside into the late-September sun, pull up one microphone, and start talking about why we built the Four Winds Learning Collective in the first place.

Jen, Kyle, and Stuart share the story of how our paths crossed, what pushed us to imagine something new after our former school closed, and why belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity sit at the heart of our work.

This conversation is messy, a little windy, and completely honest, the way real learning always is. Join us as we open the circle and begin exploring what it means to create more humane, purposeful, community-rooted paths for young people.

Resources Mentioned

Knowing What Works: Creating Circles of Courage
By Steve Van Bockern, Larry K. Brendtro, & Martin Brokenleg
International Journal for Talent Development and Creativity, 2022

Early attempts to help children experiencing academic or behavorial problems were based on an eclectic mix of inconsistent and sometimes harsh and punitive strategies. Drawing from Indigenous cultures, the Circle of Courage embodies four key growth needs that are essential to human wellbeing in any culture: Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity. This paper analyzes some of the diverse interventions that would support these four components.

Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Futures of Promise
By Larry K. Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, and Steve Van Bockern
Solution Tree, 2019

This fully updated edition merges Native American knowledge and Western science to create a unique alternative for reaching disconnected or troubled youth. New neuroscience research, insights, and examples to help educators establish positive relationships,foster social learning and emotional development, and inspire every young person to thrive and overcome.

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
By Jonathan Haidt
Penguin Press, 2024

The Anxious Generation delves into the mental health crisis among young people, examining the roles of social media, parenting styles, and cultural changes, while offering thoughtful solutions to foster
resilience and emotional well-being.

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
By Jonathan Haidt & Greg Lukianoff
Penguin Books, 2019

The Coddling of the American Mind explores how changes in childhood — the rise of fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised, child-directed play, and the dominance of social media — have engulfed teenagers and increased the inability of Americans to live, work, and cooperate across party lines.