7 DAY TRAINING FOR PARENTS
AND ADULTS SUPPORTING YOUTH
Come join us in May in Boriké (Puerto Rico) for The Shift:
a bilingual (English/Spanish) 7 day long Deschooling Intensive for parents, adults supporting youth, facilitators and folks who want to transform how to think about education, parenting & community.
If you want to gain more freedom in life and build equitable & consent-based relationships with others and with yourself - this training is for you!
This is a unique opportunity where Radical Learning is collaborating with our friends at My Reflection Matters & Cocos De Oro!
Can you relate?
”I dislike society’s norms, but I don’t know how to step away from that kind of life.”
”I’m so done with arguing and fighting. I want to learn other ways.”
”Sometimes I feel like such a crappy partner/friend/parent.”
”I really want to offer my kids the freedom to learn, but I keep falling back into wanting to control them.”
”I feel that my kids and I are living a limited life. We should be free, but how do we get there?”
“I want to support self-directed learners, but I lack the confidence.”
“I feel lonely on the unconventional path I’ve chosen.”
We hear these things all the time! (We’ve even said them ourselves…)
We want to shift things in our life but feel stuck and disempowered, slipping into confusion, fear and control.
What you really need is a shift in perspective, tools and support.
We are here to help you.
What is deschooling?
When we use the word deschooling, we’re referring to the process of change that comes from walking away from systems that are limiting and harmful.
Why is it important?
As our world changes, we are being asked to change with it. It can feel difficult to move away from societal systems that are limiting and harmful, especially if it feels like you’re doing that work alone.
We believe that such change can be internalized more easily with practice and support. We created this training to allow participants and facilitators to work together to look within and clarify our beliefs, values, and purpose and how our behaviors can better align with them.
By questioning the limitations of our society and fear-based beliefs and developing tools to reclaim our innate potential, we can build relationships based on equity, authenticity and choice and in doing so we set out on a new path towards radical learning and freedom.
THIS TRAINING IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO:
- End power struggles and transform your relationships (kids & adults alike).
- Understand how oppression shows up in your life and develop tools to live more freely.
- Learn to build consent-based, trusting and authentic relationships.
- Release fear of what others think of your parenting and/or beliefs & way of life.
- Develop communication & conflict resolution tools.
- Step away from conventional systems (i.e. school) with more confidence and ease.
- Truly understand how we learn & how to support self-direct learning for yourself and for others.
- Learn through play.
- Get clarity on what deschooling is and/or how to deepen & have more confidence in your practice.
- Experience agile tools & practices used to co-create intentional community & culture.
- Be part of an emerging & awesome community.
Now, slow your scroll for a second!
Imagine what it would be like to finally:
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Understand where your limiting beliefs & programmings come from and why it’s been so hard to change.
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Center relationship, share power, communicate clearly & navigate conflicts with more ease.
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Feel more confident in your non-conventional path.
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Have more joy in your life & deepen your connection to the people around you (kids & adults alike).
Sounds too good to be true?… It’s not!
We know because we’ve done it and because we’ve had the privilege to support so many more to initiate this process.
All it takes is openness, willingness and commitment to the process.
Are you ready?
We can’t wait to meet you!
But wait! Have we met yet?
Hi! We’re Becka Koritz and Sari González, unschooling moms, parent coaches, leaders in the self-directed education movement & founders of Radical Learning where we support unschooling families in moving from control & fear based systems to those of trust & freedom.
Together we have 30+ years of experience working with kids, coaching parents and training adults supporting youth.
We provide support at the intersection of unschooling, parenting, relationship & community building through various kinds of unschooling tools and resources for self-directed learning families and communities.
We also run Explora ALC, an Agile Learning Community in Puerto Escondido, advocating for children’s rights & freedom.
During The Shift we work together with our awesome friend Madi Zins, an experienced education specialist, facilitator and trainer that brings in play, creativity and badass energy.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHEN
May 25th - June 1 (rest day on the 28th): 10am – 4pm
WHERE
Rincón, Boriké (Puerto Rico)
CONTENT (including but not limited to…)
Self-Directed Education - Building equitable relationships - Non-Violent Communication - Authentic Dialouge - Emotional Intelligence - Learning through play - Trust building - Setting boundaries - Radical self-acceptance - Nature connection - Learning how to listen - Conflict resolution - How to support natural learning - Holding space - Agile Learning Tools for intentional culture creation - Embracing and fostering the choice and autonomy of all people
EXTENDED ACTIVITIES (am & pm)
Horseback riding on the beach; Surf lessons; Sailing lessons or Tour; Bioluminescent bay kayak tour; Yoga/Massage/Wellness; Trampoline park; Skate park/lessons
COST
Sliding Scale (per person)
Economies of the Global North: $500 - $2,000 (USD)
Economies of the Global South: $300 - $1,200 (USD)
Kid's Camp (during The Shift): $175 - $350 (USD)
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY & EQUITY
Thanks to a Vela Grant, Radical Learning has a scholarship fund available to those in need of financial support. There is room on the registration form to make a financial proposal and/or request assistance.
in collaboration with our friends and partners:
They have been operating since January 2019, and currently organize group activities and workshops around the island.
What do particpants say?
”In the process of challenging my own views and my own set ways that have been conditioned, along with the tools we are given to work on these shifts, came out huge compassion and empathy. For myself, my journey, for everybody around me, for my relationships with my children. It was the medicin that was needed.
Also the shift in perspective that we’re not alone in this journey! There’s a beautiful global community ready and committed on this path. For all of us to meet in one space and know that we’re in it together, ready to grow together all over the world, was really, really beautiful.”
What do particpants say?
"The Shift represents a before and after in my life. I wholeheartedly recommend it because it is taking me to places and heights that I never imagined I could reach.
Like everything in life, I know that one must be open to receive all of the lessons that life gives us on our journey and we receive these lessons when we are ready. More than one month after taking this training, I continue to process, receive lessons and experience moments of deep realization. This week has definitely been the beginning of a marvelous adventure."
“The Shift was an opportunity for me to find myself, know myself and understand myself. It has personally helped me to confront my childhood traumas, and I have been able to accept and forgive myself. I feel more free and authentic. What has surprised me most is that I have been able to change. The Shift has been liberating and magical.”
”I feel so incredibly grateful for all of the things I've learned from you during The Shift and all the support I've gotten. It has been tremendously helpful.
I can see where I used to be, and where I am now, and it's such a different place.
The deschooling work is so radical and requires so much courage that if I hadn't had all that support, I wouldn't have been in a good place right now. But I am because of everything I've learned!
Thank you so much!”
Becka Koritz (she/her)
Superpowers: A Master at connecting the dots and sharing bounds of knowledge in impactful and meaningful ways that are changing the very fabric of the world we live in: she’s a catalyst. Her unique commitment and determination to advocate for youth liberation while supporting parents and facilitators in evolving their conscious communication is a fountain of inspiration.
Becka is an experienced teacher with an extensive and unique path within alternative education: having grown up in Montessori, founded two Waldorf initiatives and Explora, Mexico’s first Agile Learning Center.
Becka dedicates most of her time training parents, teachers and facilitators, and creating content for SDE-parents. She has a neurodivergent teenage unschooler son.
Superpowers: Badass Communicator and great at both conflict resolution and setting firm yet loving boundaries. Sari is a true defender of kids’ freedom, and always finds ways of advocating for their autonomy and independence. She has an amazing gift in creating intentional & conscious cultures.
Having directed and facilitated two Agile Learning Communities (Cottonwood in NYC and Explora in Puerto Escondido, Mexico), Sari is passionate about social justice, community building, conscious parenting & equitable relationships, and works towards creating impactful and long lasting social change. She is an experienced parent coach and trainer sought out and appreciated for her clear and practical focus. She's the mom of an 8 year old neurodivergent unschooler son.
Madi Zins (she/her)
Superpowers: Queen of Consent and an infinite source of play, creativity and genuine connection. Has a unique ability to relate to and support young people while building trustful and equitable relationships with them.
Madi is an education specialist working with youth and adults alike. She has run and facilitated at different ALCs, taught at a democatic school, tutored literacy in a child-led approach, and coached artists in creating experiential online courses. Madi has worked with clients in New York City, Los Angeles, Helena MT, Portland OR, Puerto Escondido OAX, and now, New Orleans where she currently lives.
Read more about her offering at The Shift below!
She started Cocos de Oro, an evolving unschooling community in Boriké in 2019 and bought land where they now host unschooling camp outs and events on. She is a radical birthkeeper, alchemist and works with women, to support their spiritual journey by combining traditional dollmaking with inner child healing and re-parenting work.
Along with her family they host Ecstatica, a monthly family ecstatic dance event in their town of Rincon.
Read more about her offering at The Shift below!
Chemay's offering at The Shift:
HEALING FROM INTERNALIZED WHITE SUPREMACY
An important practice in raising healthy, socially conscious, free people is reflecting on your own behaviors and beliefs around race and identifying those that may impede on children's psychological and emotional growth. In order to do this, this requires all of us to seriously examine the foundation from which our conscious and subconscious attitudes and actions stem from. Once we can name those roots, we can begin to heal from the harm they have caused us for years, if not all of our lives.
Unlike most conventional books, trainings, and workshops discussing racial equity, the approach taken in this offering is not intended to shame or guilt white folx into becoming racially conscious nor is it my aim to force BIPOC people to become deeply in touch with their racial pain or anger. This popular method is dangerous as it can often create a deeper divide between white and BIPOC individuals or create a dynamic that is emotionally unhealthy between both groups. In the words of a mentor I look up to, Niyonu Spann, anti-racist work is "heart work". Heart work requires us to dig deep within our intuitive hearts and allow ourselves to be led from there rather than our overthinking minds. Tapping into our hearts opens us up to truth telling and "unrelenting heart connection" (Spann) with others. It is at this intersection where our individual and collective healing begins to take off. When we choose to intentionally heal ourselves, our children and community also benefit from that healing. When you heal yourself, you heal the collective.
Choosing to divest from traditional education requires us to also examine how we are intentionally divesting from the racist, colonial roots that uphold the current system of schooling. If we choose to ignore this step, we risk perpetuating the same harm produced by racist systems under a different name and practice. This offering is intended to push participants to dive deep and reflect on the ways they have internalized white superiority or inferiority, how it subtly or abruptly shows up in their daily interactions with young people, and ways they can begin to live more fully in their true (anti-racist) spirit.
Lauralina's offering at The Shift:
INNER CHILD HEALING THROUGH DOLLMAKING
Lauralina is our point person. She lives in Rincon and can offer support with any travel dynamics, island questions, kids camp etc. She will also be offering a reparenting workshop where participants will have the opportunity to symbolically honor, re-connect and heal with their inner child thru dollmaking.
The ancient art of dollmaking is a practice that has, since the beginning of time, connected us with our humanity. In this workshop we will all remember and amplify our power, together.
FAQ's
- What does the training look like?
During The Shift, the group looks at many systems, not just schools, so that we can see how we have each internalized them and begin to reprogram our thinking and communication. We practice tools to help us move into independence, interdependence, and equitable relationships within the community we create among participants and facilitators. This ends up looking like lots of gameplay, discussions, roleplay, skillshares, roundtables, group dynamics, and really anything the group dreams up!
- Can my kid attend The Shift Training with me?
The Shift training is for parents/ adults only as the content of the training is directed towards adults. For those needing support with childcare during the training we offer Kids' Camp option with trusted care facilitators at a nearby space during the training.
- How does the sliding scale work?
Equity, which is built upon both inclusion and fairness, is a concept close to our hearts. To help support equity and in an effort to balance accessibility with the financial sustainability of the program, we are offering a sliding scale payment plan. In assessing your place on the sliding scale we first need to know where you reside and where your economy is based (Global North or Global South). Global North economies include the US, Canada, Europe, etc. Global South Economies include Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Pacific Islands, and the developing countries in Asia, including the Middle East. Once you recognize where your global economy lies you can see the sliding scale rates in the charts above and see what rate best suits your financial position. There is space on the registration form to share your proposal for your participation based on the sliding scale. Remember, by being generous you are supporting other families that may need more support and increasing access to this opportunity and sustainability for our program. We trust you!
- What is included in the costs? Will there be food? Housing?
The sliding scale rates include: participation in The Shift, Radical Learning First Aid Communication Kit, additional curated resources, lots of sharpie markers and sticky notes, new friends and a safe and inspiring place for your deschooling and self-directed learning process. The sliding scale options do not include: airfare, housing, food or excursions or Kids' Camp.
- What airport should I fly into?
The closest airport is Rafael Hernandez International Airport (BQN) wich is about 45 min away.
The second closest is Luis Muños Marin International Airport in San Juan which is about 2.5 hours away.
- Do I need a car to get around?
Most likely, yes you will want a car to get around. There is no Uber and only very few taxis in the west side of the island.
- Will you provide tips and local info to help us enjoy our visit/stay?
You bet! Once you register we will send you a guide book with local tips and info including suggestions on airlines. housing suggestions, important medical/ emergency info, food/ grocery/ shopping/ laundry/ options, etc.
- What if I register and need to cancel my participation?
To secure your spot we require a 50% non-refundable deposit and final payment is due two weeks before the program start. However, if you need to cancel for any reason and we are able to fill your spot we are absolutely happy to refund your payment. Again, trust is a big theme here if you haven't noticed :-)