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The Lodge is our space for home educated young people aged 10-16.
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The Lodge has an 'open door' approach where we see our community space as both our building, and the landscape of the town and everything it has to offer. Each person's experience of the day is unique to them, depending on how they choose to use their time.
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Frame for the Day
We have a 'frame for the day', which you can see laid out below. Everyone comes together for those times. The rest of the day is free for young people to practice consent-based self-direction in the way that is right for them.
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10-10.15am: Arrive and settle in.
10.15-10.30: Opening meeting
10.30-12: Practicing consent-based self-direction including the Plans for the Day, plus access to the Lodge resources and the town.
12-1pm: Lunch (packed lunch or go into town to buy lunch)
1-2.30: Practicing consent-based self-direction including the Plans for the Day, plus access to the Lodge resources and the town.
2.30-2.45: Pack up time
2.45-3pm: Reflection and Closing meeting.
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Plans for the Day: Activities proposed in the closing meeting form the plans for next week. These plans can be put forward by anyone, and are open to everyone. Participation in the Plans for the Day is optional - young people can choose to be entirely independent in what they do, and not participate in any of the Plans for the Day, and/or instigate their own activities.
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Trainings and Community Hygiene: Young people at the Lodge receive Internet Safety Training, as well as Offsite Independence Training. They can also choose to do Chair Training if they want to chair the opening and closing meetings. Occasionally there are also Principles in Practice and Community Hygiene sessions, where we brush up on the Guiding Principles and address whole community issues.
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Regular Offerings at the Lodge:
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1:1s
Termly 1:1s to check in on how things are going, current interests and aims for the term ahead, and any support or training needs.
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Wild Time
Time out in nature! We have the Audley End estate on our doorstep. Pack a tarp and blanket, hot chocolate, and head out to the trees!
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Community Lunch
Suggestions are made for a VIP guest, who is then invited for lunch. We choose what to cook, do the shopping, then make a delicious lunch to share with a special guest invited from the local community. Our guests so far have included the Mayor of Saffron Walden, Boo the Barber, John, the Minister at the Baptist Church, Jenny the Collections Officer at the Museum, Sarah who looks after the Gibson Library, Martin the Company Director of Hamilton, a group of young people visiting from a democratic school in Germany, and more...
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Community Building
Communities that play together, stay together - community building days are a chance for everyone to come together in a shared creative endeavour. Community building days at the Lodge have included Bake Offs, Dragon's Dens, escape rooms, sports days, board game cafes... Young people and facilitators decide together what the theme should be, and then get building!
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Work Towards Projects
Work towards projects taking place in the community where an interest, theme or objective is explored over time. We recently installed a special exhibition called Hidden Histories in Saffron Walden Museum as a result of one of our work towards projects.
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Expos
Every term we have Expos. These are a chance for people to share to everyone something they have been exploring, have created, or are working on. Expos regularly feature musical performances, presentations, and experiential opportunities.
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Resources:
The Lodge has a range of resources that is constantly evolving based on the interests and endeavours of young people and Facilitators. There is a resources budget, and new resources can be requested in the closing meetings.
Going offsite:
The town offers loads of options including two playgrounds, the market, a labyrinth, maze, and beautiful public gardens, a library, castle ruins, museum, weekly market and all types of shops. When young people join the Lodge they can access these resources by going offsite with a Facilitator. Once they've been at the Lodge for half a term they have the option to do Offsite Training and can increase their level of offsite independence.
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Staying connected: Discord
We have Discord server set up so we can stay in touch between sessions, share the plans for the week ahead, store photos, and track projects.
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To enquire about a place at the Lodge, please email us at: hello@downatthecabin.com
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