Canoe Valley School Project Launches Community Engagement Effort
Public Meeting Scheduled, Online Survey Opens to Gather Input on New Non-Traditional Secondary School
A group of local parents and educators, in partnership with ReRooted Connections, is launching a community-wide conversation about the future of alternative education in Winneshiek County. The Canoe Valley School Project is exploring the feasibility of creating a new secondary school that blends experiential learning, nature connection, and whole-person development.
To kick off this initiative, the Project Committee is inviting the public to attend a community meeting to learn more, share ideas, and help shape the vision.
Date: Saturday, September 27
Time: 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall (701 Iowa Ave, Decorah)
This meeting marks the beginning of a feasibility study aimed at assessing community interest, exploring educational models, and evaluating operational possibilities. The proposed school would build on Decorah’s rich tradition of alternative education, filling a gap in non-traditional secondary-level options and potentially transforming the rural ReRooted Connections property—formerly known as the Pepperfield Project—into a vibrant learning campus.
In addition to the public meeting, the Project Committee has launched an online survey to gather broader input from families, educators, and community members.
To learn more and take the survey, visit:
https://www.rerootedconnections.org/projects/canoe-valley-school-project
The feasibility study will explore potential school formats—including homeschool cooperative and independently accredited nonpublic school—as well as pedagogy and curriculum, financial sustainability, and community partnerships. If the study affirms the viability of the project, the Project Committee will move toward implementation, inviting the community to help bring the vision to life.
ReRooted Connections, a nonprofit dedicated to regenerative practices and nature-based learning, is supporting the project and offering its property as a potential site.
For more information, updates, and opportunities to get involved, please attend the public meeting and participate in the survey. A page with more information about the Project is also available on the ReRooted Connections website [link].
Media Contact:
info@rerootedconnections.org