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Winter 2023

Flying Squads focus on learning through playfulness but also address the topics of social justice and youth rights. We use the power of play to examine the serious issue of how society impacts young people and how youth can impact society. By experimenting with and testing the world through playing, the young people involved learn a bit about themselves while exploring their city with a group of other young adolescents.

Flying Squad Locations:

Canada: Montreal, QB  ||  Mexico: Puerto Escondido  ||  Romania: Cluj-Napoca  ||  USA: Austin, TX | Brooklyn, NY | Dallas, TX | Grand Rapids, MI | Greenville, SC | Key West, FL | Philadelphia, PA | Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | St. Louis, MO

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Montreal, QB, Canada

Facilitators: Racquel Smith
When: TBA
Ages: 6-9 (please be in touch about other ages)
Location: Parc Laurier, Montreal
Contact: montreal@flyingsquads.org

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Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Facilitators: Sari González
When: TBA
Ages: TBA
Location: Explora ALC Mexico

Cluj-Napoca Flying Squad is run as a part of Explora ALC, a self-directed independent school. Enrollment is handled by Explora.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Facilitators: Sonia Khost, Diane Ciuverca, Alexander Khost
When: Fridays 9am – 1pm(ish)
Ages: 7-13
Location: Green School Romania
Contact: cluj@flyingsquads.org

Cluj-Napoca Flying Squad is run as a part of Green School Romania, a self-directed independent school. Enrollment is handled by Green School.

Austin, TX, USA

Facilitators: Antonio Buehler, Ariel Marlowe
When: TBA
Ages: 5-18
Location: TBA
Contact: austin@flyingsquads.org

Austin Flying Squads are run as a part of Abrome ALC, a Self-Directed Education community that is an alternative to conventional schooling and dominant culture. Enrollment is done through Abrome’s application process.

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Facilitators: Noah Mayers, Isa Frost, and Seth Hawthorne
When: Wednesdays 9-2:45
Ages: 12-18
Location: Grand Army Plaza, Central Branch Library
Contact: brooklyn@flyingsquads.org

The Brooklyn Flying Squads are run as a part of Brooklyn Apple Academy, a homeschooling coop. And so, enrollment is done through the Brooklyn Apple Academy registration.

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Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, USA

Facilitators: Cassidy Younghans, Sam Flores
When: TBA (Starting September 2021)
Ages: 6-18, Younger Group: 6-9yrs old Older Group 10-18yrs old
Location: TBA- Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Contact: dallas@flyingsquads.org

Contact us or sign up on our website: http://wildrootscollective.org/

Grand Rapids Flying Squad

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Facilitators: Annie Friday
When: Wednesdays, 10am – 2pm
Ages: 11-16
Location: Downtown Grand Rapids, MI
Contact: grandrapids@flyingsquads.org

Admissions is run through Blue Bridge ALC, please visit their website to apply: bluebridgeschool.com

Greenville, SC, USA

Facilitators: Jeana Jones, John Zebell
When: Wednesdays, 10am – 2pm
Ages: 8+
Location: Unity Park and the Commons
Contact: info@syncupstate.org

The GVL Flying Squad is run as a part of the Synergy Collective of the Upstate. Our winter session started on January 18, but we are still accepting flyers. If you are interested in joining us, please have your interested flyer complete this form.

Key West, FL, USA

Facilitators: Rhonda Saunders
When: TBA
Ages: 10-17
Location: TBA
Contact: keywest@flyingsquads.org

Living on a small chain of islands poses some unique challenges, but like all Flying Squads, ours is fueled by fun, trust, and learning through freedom from excessive unsolicited adult intervention into our time together. Life, especially for tweens and teens, can feel painfully prescribed, so KWFS enjoys the simple but crucial freedom to hang out together–gaming, chatting, planning, eating, crafting, walking, swimming, fishing, naturally building our sense of community and responsibility to each other.

And with social justice (including youth rights) as a founding value of Flying Squads, we seek out local opportunities to support causes for justice. The island of Key West is well-known for its motto of “One Human Family,” but KWFS members know that many of our island and world neighbors still struggle mightily against discrimination. That means you might find us participating in peaceful protests, marches, and parades in Key West, or otherwise being visible in the Lower Keys community as youth who understand well that none of us are free until all of us are free.

By testing and experimenting with the world through a lens of playfulness and inclusivity, we learn about ourselves while further developing a sense of ownership and responsibility to care for our island community and our world.

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Facilitators: Jean Finlay, David O’Connor
When: Wednesdays, 10am – 2pm
Ages: 10-16
Location: Hawthorne Park
Contact: info@phillyalc.org

Philly Flying Squad is run as a part of Philly ALC, a self-directed independent school, serving full and part-time students. Enrollment is handled by Philly ALC.

Portland, OR, USA

Facilitators: Bria Bloom, Niall Giblin, David Jacobo

Monday Flying Squad
When: Mondays, 10am-3pm
Ages: 13-17 (please be in touch about other ages)
Location: Hollywood Library in Portland
Contact: portland@flyingsquads.org

Wednesday or Thursday Flying Squad
When: Wednesday or Thursday, 10am-3pm
Ages: 8-12 (please be in touch about other ages)
Location: Wilshire Park in NE Portland
Contact: portland@flyingsquads.org

Portland Pricing Information Please see this page to read about our pricing. Sign-up here.

For those interested, we will also have an optional 2-hour online session each week, during which we will be chatting and playing FairPlay, a fun, open-world role-playing game.

Seattle, WA, USA

Facilitator: Susan Milton
When: Monday 12:30-3:30pm and Thursday 4-7pm. Come to one day or both.
Ages: Around 12 to around 19
Location: Various locations
Contact: seattle@flyingsquads.org

St. Louis, MO, USA

Facilitator: Sarah Wallus Hancock (she/her)
When: Select Fridays from 10:30 to 3:30
Ages: Approximately 12 to approximately 18 (please reach out about your age and specific situation!)
Location: St. Louis city & inner-ring municipalities
Contact: stlouis@flyingsquads.org