A Day at CEC
CEC is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
Here’s a look at a member’s potential schedule during a week at the Center:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
8:30-9:00 - We’ll gather together in a casual circle in our shared space.
9:00-12:00 - Head out to the skate park for a Practical Physics class, hang with other students in the lounge, read a book in the cozy quiet room, go online and research your Rabbit Hole topic, meet up with your Mentor, head out to a favorite local business to shadow and see BTS.
12:00-1:00 - Lunch (note, your actual lunch time is not set… you can eat whenever you’re hungry!). Head out to one of the restaurants right in Ambler downtown or prepare your lunch just like you’re at home in the Center’s kitchen.
1:00-3:00 - Spend your afternoon watching and discussing a movie over popcorn in the lounge for the US History through Film course.
3-3:30 - Hang with friends before heading out for the day.
Free Choice Fridays
Each month, we pick a topic to take a deep dive into as a group. On Fridays, we will sometimes have guest speakers, work on group projects, or take field trips related to our monthly topic.
For example, if our topic were Marine Biology,
1st Friday we’d break into teams and decide what aspect of marine biology your group wants to learn about. Share what you already know and what we’re curious to learn more about.
2nd Friday we’d have a guest speaker from LifeSensors in Great Valley come to the Center for a Q&A session, followed by time at the library to research your team’s marine biology topic.
3rd Friday we’d take a group field trip to Adventure Aquarium for their “From Endangered to Extinct” program. (Note students and staff would have also researched and planned the field trip, including transportation, fees, business hours, etc.)
4th Friday you’d have an opportunity to share what your group learned, open mic style. This could include artwork, poetry, group presentations, scientific papers, board games, and more.
Sample Courses
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US History Through Film
Watch and discuss film clips and short films through the lens of US History, from Alice Guy-Blaché and the Solax Studios, to the Maysles Brothers, to the Coen Brothers we will explore how Hollywood has influenced the United States’ identity.
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Down the Rabbit Hole
How far can you go exploring a subject that interests you? Part philosophy, part research, part literature, you never know what twists and turns might happen.
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Practical Physics
Whether you realize it or not, you use physics in everyday life. We’ll explore motion, matter, force, and more with a mix of hands-on experiments and deep discussions.
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Botany Through Plant Identification
Take weekly nature hikes and learn to identify the native and invasive plants growing along the Wissahickon.
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Geography of Geocaching
Explore lands near and far, as well as virtual caches, while participating in the world’s largest treasure hunt: Geocaching!
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TBD! Members Decide
Every semester, students gets to decide what topics they want to dive into next. What are you curious about?
Direct Your Learning
Current Education Center is a noncoercive environment where members “opt in” to classes and studies according to the personalized, mentor-supported plans they create.
CEC offers many opportunities for interactive peer activities, but lets the member choose their level of engagement. Many members choose to build quiet time for themselves in their day, opting to pursue interests in one of our restful spaces.
In addition to classes offered by adult volunteers, CEC encourages members to propose and organize classes and activities collaboratively.
A weekly community meeting, led by members, gives everyone a voice and creates a safe, inclusive peer environment where their ideas matter. Members bond and respect each other’s opinions, and they leave the meeting able to make an informed choice on what their day will look like.
Some classes have been proposed for Spring 2025 (see above). Other classes will be created according to member interests.
