Volo, an alternative school for children 7 to 12 years old, is redefining what it means to learn.
The name itself, drawn from the Latin words “velle” (to will) and “volare” (to fly), evokes a vision-driven ethos that encourages every student to soar toward their full potential.
This isn’t your typical classroom experience. At Volo, learning isn’t just structured around math problems and grammar lessons in a typical classroom — it’s built around the young learners themselves.
“In our early discussions, we talked about what we felt kids really needed. I have been teaching for over 30 years, and I just realized that the agency of the young people really matters,” said Arthur Morris, the director. “Learning toward a goal is always a choice. We learn all the time. Real teaching means someone is really learning something, and they have to choose. They are working with native curiosity.”
Volo programs offer an adaptive, student-centered learning approach. The curriculum aligns with each child’s interests and abilities, weaving together essential subjects like math, reading and science with movement, art and music. The aim is for students develop their skills not through busywork or standardized benchmarks, but with engaging and personalized goals.
On any given day, you might find the children outdoors immersed in hands-on science experiments, community projects or even storytelling under the trees. With 60% of the school day spent outdoors, students learn and experience the natural world as an integral part of their education.
“Our base camp is 40 acres owned by Garff Ranch,” said Morris. “We also have outposts in Oakley and Midway. We chartered as a home school cooperative, and that reduces some of the restrictions a designated school has. We are drawing conceptually from Scandinavian schools.”
The school takes a human-centric approach to assessments, incorporating regular observations, creative inquiries and portfolio-based reviews instead of standardized testing.
Volo also emphasizes leadership and collaboration skills through developmentally sensitive governance programs. Kids take ownership of aspects of their education, encouraging growth in decision-making and community involvement while instilling a sense of responsibility often reserved for older students, school leaders said.
The integration of movement, collaboration and experiential learning aims to make education an exciting, joyful process grounded in real-world relevance, they said.
“Honestly, it’s just such a happy and supportive environment,” said Kylie Noriega, whose daughters are students. “They recently went ice fishing as part of a learning experience, which was a favorite for our girls. I love that they come home smelling like a campfire on cold days, and the personalized academics keep the kids in that sweet spot of being challenged academically in a way that’s both motivating and confidence-building.”
Beyond academics, Volo focuses on developing personal agency to assist in fostering leadership.
“Volo is an amazing organization with a unique ability to connect with children where they are in their individual development and help them excel in the fundamentals of education while also stirring and awakening their creativity and empowering their use of agency to productive and empowering ends,” said board member Dan Jensen.
For more information, visit yovolo.org/home-page.