CONNECTING KIDS TO PLACE
LEARN LOCAL
ACADEMY
Looking to enhance your child's learning this semester?
Learn Local Academy is a 3-level program designed
with care for kids enrolled in online/home schooling.
In-person learners can also participate.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING • SELF-PACED • FUN
STANDARDS-ALIGNED • INTERDISCIPLINARY
Level Up Your Learning!
KIDS PRE K - 8TH GRADES
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Designed with care to combat boredom, get kids off their devices and connect more deeply with their community, our innovative 3-level format opens the door to
3D Learning: Dynamic Deeper, and Different ©
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Kids are engaged and empowered to own their learning with our proven Arc of Action ©
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Flexible scheduling easily coordinates with time requirements for online/homeschooling.
A combination of self-guided experiences and staff-guided sessions at each level so your family will have support and flexibility every step of the way.
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All experiences are interdisciplinary (STEAM, English Language Arts, Social Studies),
standards-aligned and scaled for grades PreK-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th.
BRINGING BACK WONDER AND "WHOA!"
COVID-Smart
We keep the safety of learners, families, TOPOnexus facilitators and our community as first priority. We are responsive to evolving guidelines put forth by the state of MI, CDC, local health department and local school districts and adjust our practices accordingly to reduce risk. See FAQs below for more COVID-Smart details.
Why Learn Local Academy ?
Our 3-level format provides a structured, but unscripted, way to:
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Go outside and get offline
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Use your sense of wonder
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Connect with community
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Learn about where you live
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Build real-world skills
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Develop citizenship and a civic mindset
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Apply classroom knowledge
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Discover your interests
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Tap your talents
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Do something to make a difference
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Own your learning!
Bringing back Wonder and Whoa!
Tuition assistance is available with partial scholarships and/or payment plans.
LEVEL 1: BACKYARD ADVENTURES
Grades PreK - 8
$210; ENROLLMENT IS ONGOING
Suggested pacing: Start anytime after Sept 21 with 1 Quest and 1 StoryMapping session each week (4 weeks)
Experience includes:
• Learn Local Academy Gear Bag (reusable drawstring bag with water bottle, journal, pencil and compass)
• 4 Quests* (self-guided) with Field Guides and Quest Maps plus supplies
• 4 StoryMapping** sessions (staff-guided by TOPOnexus) plus supplies
• 4 Bonus Bags with activities to extend your learning
• Level 1 Handbook for parents/caregivers
Choose your 4 Quests from the following locations:
Harbor Springs - All Around Town; Springs of Harbor Springs; LTC Offield Viewlands; Petoskey State Park; Petsokey - All Around Town; Petoskey Waterfront; Bear River Recreation Area; North Central Michigan College campus
* Quests are not traditional walking tours but rather interactive experiences in a place around Little Traverse Bay area. You will have fun discovering this place in a whole new way. Your quests can last anywhere from 1-3 hours (or more) depending on your age and how much you slow down to enjoy. You can always return to the site to use the "Discover More" prompts.
** StoryMapping is an interactive way to capture your learning from the Quests by combining drawings, diagrams, words, text and/or data. Kids create their own StoryMap, share their discoveries, and identify ways to keep exploring.
Our process is unique to TOPOnexus and based on Esri’s ArcGIS online platform.
LEVEL 2: LOCAL LABS • DEEP DIVE
Grades PreK - 8
$180; ENROLL BY OCT 25; Must complete Level 1 to participate
Suggested pacing: Start Oct 26 with 1 staff-guided Local Lab every week and self-guided Deep Dive
Experience includes:
• 4 Local Labs* (staff-guided by a community expert) plus supplies including Create! Write! Build! Present!
• 1 Deep Dive (self-guided) using your Deep Dive Field Guide
• 1 StoryMapping session (staff-guided by TOPOnexus) plus supplies
LEVEL 3: A2A AWARENESS TO ACTION
Grades 3 - 8
$90; ENROLL BY NOV 29; Must complete Level 1 and 2 to participate
Suggested pacing: Starting Nov 30 with suggested 3-week pacing
Experience includes:
• 1 Check-In session (staff-guided by TOPOnexus)
• 1 A2A Project (self-guided) using your A2A Field Guide
• 1 StoryMapping session (staff-guided by TOPOnexus) plus supplies
All You Need To Know
WPA Membership
How can I become a member of WPA?
There are two main types of membership at WPA; society membership or individual membership.
Click here to find the type of membership to apply for.
If you are a psychiatrist and already a member of one of WPA’s member societies, you are automatically considered a regular individual member of WPA.
Click here to see if your national psychiatric association is a WPA member society.
I’d like to join one of WPA’s Sections; how do I proceed and what are the basic requirements?
You need to be a member of WPA to join one of its Sections.
Click here to see the request form and to review the requirements for membership. Forms may be submitted online and applicants can expect to hear from the relevant Section within two weeks of submission.
WPA Congresses
Where can I view the calendar of the future WPA congresses?
Click here to find information about WPA's forthcoming congresses
I want to attend a WPA meeting or congress; how do I register?
Click here to find out more about forthcoming WPA congresses and meetings.
You will find links to the relevant meeting website where you will be able to register online, or find out more about how to register offline.
I participated in a WPA Congress and would like to obtain my CME certificate; how do I proceed?
You will find details of how to obtain your CME certificate through the official organiser of the Congress you attended. We recommend you visit the relevant Congress website for more information. You should be able to find details of the website or official organiser in your registration documents.
What's At The Heart
of Learn Local Academy?
BUILDING SKILLSETS, MINDSETS AND HEARSETS
FOR DOING COMMUNITY BETTER
At every level, kids practice relevant skills in a real-world setting including:
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Making firsthand observations and theories
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Exploring their local community
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Recording wonders and asking questions to go deeper
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Researching topics of interest using local, national and global sources
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Navigating the real world (literally with a map) and solving problems in real time
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Determining how to use their talents to take action in their own community
Go Explore! Discover More! Do It Better!
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"I highly recommend this daily self-paced adventure around our great town! My kids and I got a whole new view of some very special places around Harbor Springs."
- Molly Hoggard, Mother and MI Certified Teacher
"The adventures were varied and the content was integrated (social studies, english language arts, science, etc. all incorporated in each mission). It was differentiated to meet the needs and interests of all types of learners.” - Katie Lapham, Mother and ESL teacher
"It gives you a chance to show who you are and it’s more unique than other projects. You really hold the reins. It’s different from other projects where you have to do exactly what the teachers tell you." - 8th grader
