Reading from Thoreau's Walden

Matt is the creator/founder of the Walden Project, an alternative public school model based out of Vergennes High School.
Basically the Walden Project is founded on the ideas of Thoreau- meaning land stewardship, a close appreciation and reverence for nature and living simply to minimize your impact on the natural world.
The Walden Project meets outdoors three days a week - two days on the land pictured here and one day near Lake Champlain - through snow, ice, wind freezing rain and sub zero temperatures. Students really learn how to dress for the weather. They also go on week long camping trips - one of them ending in a forty eight hour solo in the woods.
On Tuesdays they all go to Burlington and visit art shows, see plays, hear people speak about things they're passionate about or they all go to a cafe and write - it's a writing intensive program. And also very heavy on discussion - and debate.
They don't meet on Fridays - that day is left open for apprenticeships. Max apprenticed with an artisan blacksmith and made some beautiful things.
I can't begin to tell you all the reasons that I am so grateful to Matt and the other teachers for what they do and what they give, what they nurture and what they keep from getting destroyed.