Once Upon a Time: The Leelanau Story ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  Long, long ago, a small but mighty school was created along the sandy shores and great blue waters of Lake Michigan. Nestled among tall pines and sturdy oaks and hugging the banks of a Crystal-clear river, students traveled from near and far to this magical spot in search of new and creative ways of learning from teachers of great cheer and understanding… Opening up a young learner is much like turning to the first page of a new novel. You know there will be adventure. You expect there will be drama. Twists and turns will thicken the plot, and missteps complicate the situation. You begin to connect with the characters and grow with them throughout the chapters. You hope for an inspiring journey and applaud a satisfying ending. With a really good book, you can’t wait for the sequel.  The Leelanau School has been turning these pages for more than nine decades. Our main characters – faculty and students alike – are rich with intrigue, humor, complexity, and...

Sensory Memories: Pancakes, Syrup, Cedar, and Love ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  I stepped into Leelanau’s Student Center for the first time in 1988. I was a counselor at a neighboring school, and I had been invited to visit Leelanau by the admission director, my new friend, and a fellow member of our Midwest Boarding School organization. It was a toasted cheese Tuesday, and to this day, I can still remember the smell of warm, gooey sandwiches and the sound of laughter in the dining hall. I was struck by the comfortable, casual atmosphere and the mix of students and faculty at tables. The room felt like home and gave me an immediate feeling of community. What an honor to dine in this space today as a member of the Leelanau family. This sensory memory of mine popped up last month when Gretchen Knoblock ‘82 shared a reflection with Leelanau’s Board of Trustees and our Facebook followers. “I believe in the Leelanau School, what it stands for, and how it forever changes the lives of the students that pass through its portals. I want that to continue…...

From Acorn to Oaks: A Lesson in Gratitude and Growth ABOUT A 1 MINUTE READ –  It’s that time of year when the crimson and gold leaves of northern Michigan have danced to the ground and lie damp on our paths. Pine needles carpet the grass, trails, and boardwalks. As we stroll the campus, our feet crunch acorns because there are so many we simply can’t escape them. Many of these acorns will be devoured by chipmunks, blue jays, or squirrels. But don’t worry, those acorns left on the ground during the darkest months of winter will be busy with purpose and potential. Purpose and Potential… This fall, we rode mountain bikes, waded in the river, played with fire in metals class, created music, read books, and paddled upstream and down. We studied the stars, Spanish, read about the Trinity bomb testing, memorized mathematical equations, examined sustainable living practices, and so much more.  But what we gained this semester cannot simply be measured in activities and classwork. We learned plenty in and out of the classroom. Above all, we...

Learning to be Astonished: The ADHD Brain at The Leelanau School ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  “Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.” Mary Oliver penned these wise words in her poem, Messenger, but here at The Leelanau School, we watch them come alive. Many of our students come to us with wild and beautiful neurodivergent brains, including ADHD. So, our natural setting, caring faculty, and experiential learning make for the perfect recipe for these students to thrive.  For some of our teens, slowing down can feel pretty tough at times, though. As ADHD guru, Dr. Ed Hallowell says, “Telling someone with ADHD to slow down is like telling the sun not to shine and the tide not to rise. The love of speed is built into our DNA. If our bodies are not moving a mile a minute, our minds are, ideas popping up like popcorn at the movies.” So, yes, you’d be marveled by watching our students slow down enough to become mesmerized by the salmon swarming into the Crystal River each...