Las Tortugas Curiosas

30/01/2023

Update January 2023:

I am writing to let you know that as of December 2022 we decided to bring the Las Tortugas Curiosas school project to a close.

I will write from my perspective but of course all who were involved in this beautiful (and at times challenging) project are very welcome to share their story too 🙂.

During the planning process Tessa, and later Emily, and I often felt like LTC had an energy of its own - like we were being guided in the creative process and our role was to do our best to let go of control as much as we could.

After all at the centre of the project was to create a space where each unique child could know themselves more and more each day. And it quite early on became clear that in order to be in integrity with that mission and message, we as adult custodians of the project, were being asked to walk our talk.

I personally found this much easier to do during the planning process than when we were up and running with a team of 5 acompañantes and 12 kids (later rising to 16) on site every day. And it became even harder for me to maintain this perspective and balance when I became one of the acompañantes and was on site 3 days each week.

I for one completely underestimated the amount of relationship navigation we would be doing as we grew our team from 3 founders to 8 founders and facilitators. I think I can safely say it was a huge learning curve for all of us as we learned how to work and make decisions together. I personally experienced so much growth in my emotional intelligence through this process - my heart was cracked open to a whole new level and my ego took quite a battering.

Personally I've been moving through cycles of grief and deep appreciation since the end of our first year of operation in June 2022 when Tessa and Emily decided to step away from the project. I was still keen to continue but by the end of the winter term we were not gaining momentum and I had to acknowledge that I was in that "grasping" energy, just trying to keep LTC alive.

It was time for me to accept that LTC was going to live on - perhaps not physically - but in all of those whose hearts it touched. And so it was time to let its physical presence go.

One of my main motivations for setting up LTC was because I wanted my children to experience an education that allowed them to thrive in their unique way - but it was always bigger than that - it was about having an impact on the way we see children and being part of a different educational paradigm for future generations.

I thought I needed to create a space where my kids would feel nourished (in mind, body and spirit), and ironically, what I realised in the process, was that first and foremost that nourishment needed to come from me and their Dad, at home.

For now we are home schooling Mia and Jack - Tom is doing the planning and I am doing most of the ground work. I learned so much from the incredible facilitators I worked with in this project, and now I've come back to my family as the first point of community - this little unit that we've created that needs my full and complete presence (as much as possible - always messy - always giving myself compassion and learning along the way). It might not be perfect, but this focus on family first feels so right - and that's where Las Tortugas Curiosas has ultimately led me to - back to my heart - back to my home - back to my family. And I will be forever grateful for this process.

With many thanks and lots of love to all who supported this project.
x

26/05/2022

Las Tortugas Curiosas is looking for someone to come and care for and take responsibility for regenerating the beautiful finca we are blessed to call home. 🐢

Our site is around 17,000 sq m, we have a small organic farm with avocado, mango, lemon, pomegranate trees and more, in a gorgeous predominantly green valley within 15 minutes drive of La Herradura village. 🥭

Most of the rest of the site is wooded with native pine trees and there is a small open flat area of around 1000 sqm where most of the day to day activities happen with the kids. 🌲

We are looking to connect with someone who has a real passion for working in harmony with the land, alongside a group of curious children. 🧑

Your main role and responsibility would be to work with the land - to attune to it - and to take the lead on regenerating, restoring and rewilding the land and soil. 🌎

As you do this, we believe that your passion will ignite a spark in the children at school who share this passion and they may wish to support you in some of the work that you are doing and observe and learn from you and your projects. ⚡️

We are flexible as to your involvements with the children and exact requirements of the role. We are open to this being shaped by the individual needs and desires of the person who joins us, as well as the needs of the project.

You would take responsibility for the regeneration process, including:

-Using permaculture methods
-Planting native trees 🌳
-Attracting native wildlife and creating new habitats. 🦎

If you feel drawn to this position, we would love to hear from you at [email protected].
🐢🐢🐢

26/09/2021

And we are off❤️❤️❤️
We are so happy to share with you all that Las Tortugas Curiosas opened its doors on Monday morning. We had an amazing day, despite a little wind and rain 🌧
We feel so lucky to be sharing this experience with our passionate team of facilitators and our first group of compassionate, wise and adventurous children.
We are excited to continue this journey, learning, growing and expanding together
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

02/03/2021

LAS TORTUGAS CURIOSAS - our new school in Southern Spain - is coming to life!!

And we are looking to connect with a facilitator to join us!

We are creating a new school with a groundbreaking curriculum in the South of Spain. For children aged 6-12 years.

Are you (or do you know) an experienced facilitator with a desire to make a new paradigm educational vision come to life?

Do you have a real passion to immerse yourself in a progressive vision with a team of skilled, motivated co-creators?

We are looking to connect with the right person that is willing and able to make an exciting jump now and come and join us.

There will initially be a small group of children but we envisage this growing quickly.

You will be rewarded with a salary that enables you to make the most of living in this beautiful area in Spain.

We would like our project’s first facilitator to have experience of or a willingness to explore, the following areas:

🌿 Image of the child similar to ours - more details on our Vision page of the website
🌿 Conflict mediation and non-violent communication
🌿 Sociocratic methods and circles
🌿 Eco building and permaculture
🌿 Sustainability / conservation
🌿 Human design
🌿 Art therapy / play therapy / psychomotricity or similar
🌿 Reggio Inspired learning i.e. preparing spaces with intention and formulating ways this can be extended for the older children.
🌿 Whole body listening
🌿 Willingness to embark on a non hierarchical, learning journey together

We imagine the facilitator will strive to amplify the children's natural gifts and capabilities, enabling the children to strengthen and solidify what’s already there.

It is important to us that you are actively pursuing your own interests and self-exploration, bringing playful curiosity to your own personal and spiritual development that will naturally ripple out into the lives of the children.

We see the school evolving in a dynamic way and we are always willing to explore new ideas if you have experience in other areas.
We see this as a collaborator position rather than an employee.

The children are going to be involved in the process of exploring whether we would be a good fit to work together, so if this opportunity is calling you, we invite you to get in touch and tell us about yourself in the way that you feel inspired to - whether it be in writing, a video or some other format.

Here is our website where you can find out more:
https://www.lastortugascuriosas.org/

Please share with those you feel would be a good fit - either prospective families or facilitators!

There’s no one like me.When I’m supported to become more of who I am, I trust myself to carve my own, unique path in this world. Learn more

11/08/2020

Please read and share our fundraising campaign, Helen and I are fully committing ourselves to making changes in education, starting with Las Tortugas Curiosas, we just need a little help to make sure nothing gets in the way

New School: Las Tortugas Curiosas (The Curious Turtles) Who we are We are… Helen Reid needs your support for Las Tortugas Curiosas: New Paradigm Education

22/07/2020

Principal educator post

Do you have amazing ideas and passion to create a child led learning paradise?
We have found the beautiful location close to the ocean and mountains, where there is a large community of like minded parents and two passionate creators who are looking to connect with you.
Imagine being able to run with your ideas with the full support of the creators, embarking on a learning journey with a group of imaginative 6-12 year olds
Do you have an interest and experience in alternative teaching methods, such as Reggio Emilia or Agile learning centres?
Do you imagine that you will be learning just as much from the kids each day as they will from you?
Our aim for the educators who join us at Las Tortugas Curiosas is that they act as facilitators, giving the children maximum support with a minimum amount of interference, and for them to understand the importance of using non violent communication when helping to resolve conflict.
If you would like to chat about our principal educator role please get in touch.

Tessa & Helen

13/07/2020

This is where we live, beautiful La Herradura

07/07/2020

Imagine a learning environment which is truly child led and which nourishes each child’s spirit, as well as their mind and body.

We want the children to leave with:

•a love of learning which continues throughout their lives;
•confidence in their own intuition and decision making;
•their creative gifts and talents intact (!) and evolving;
•permission to be who they are, and to know that that is enough;
•the emotional intelligence to move through life’s complications with grace;
•a deep connection with and respect for the Earth;
•the ability to operate in the context of a group of equals, where conflicts are resolved with love and understanding rather than judgement and fear.

Our collaborative learning centre is due to open in Southern Spain in early 2021

Drawing inspiration from both the Reggio Emilia approach and Agile Learning Centres, the environment is an integral part of the process. The carefully planned spaces support the children to follow their personal interests, deepen their learning and keep their passion for discovery alive. Our unique approach also draws upon the Human Design system so that we can fully understand and support the different learning styles of each child.

If this resonates with you, we are looking to connect with:

•Facilitators (English/Spanish speaking);
•Investors and volunteers, who are passionate about being a part of the changing landscape of education