Seeds of Stewardship Co-op
Spearheaded by homeschooling families in the Atlanta area, Seeds of Stewardship provides outdoor, place-based, experiential programs for homeschoolers in a public nature area, with a special focus on character education and multicultural understanding. Amid the growing challenges of our world, we aim to nourish our children’s values through an ethic of stewardship, kindness, and resilience, and help prepare children to become environmental stewards and responsible citizens. Curricula are aligned with children's interests and inquiries.
Learning Pod
Seeds of Stewardship Learning Pod
Join a collaborative project of homeschooling parents and a professional teacher, Michelle Griffin, as we spend the 2024-2025 school year exploring our connection with the living world through a multicultural lens. In this drop-off program, which follows an emergent curriculum, children will engage with folktales rooted in world traditions, participate in earthcare projects, strengthen literacy, social studies, STEM, and critical thinking skills, and spend lots of time exploring a natural environment. This program begins August 20th, 2024 at Mason Mill Park in Decatur, GA. If you have any questions, please email Oak Leaf founder Liana Grey: liana@oakleafcooperativeschools.org
Age: 5-8 years old
Dates/Times: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 am - 1 pm (start time may vary depending on the season)​​​
Location: Mason Mill Park in Decatur
Registration Process: Please click here to fill out our registration and payment form.
Enrichment Class
Nature Explorations Enrichment Class at Morningside Presbyterian Preschool
In this mixed-age class, children will explore the wildlife habitats on Morningside Presbyterian Preschool's wooded campus. Through imaginative play, story time featuring high-quality picture books, and sensory exploration in the forest and fields, children will develop respect for nature, strengthen fine and gross motor skills, participate in earthcare projects, and problem-solve with their peers. This class will set the foundation for children to become environmental stewards and responsible citizens. Classes take place outdoors rain or shine; please send weather-appropriate footwear and clothing with your child. In the event of severe weather, classes will take place inside Morningside Presbyterian Preschool.
Dates/Times: Fridays 1-2 pm
Ages: 2-5
Cost: $280 per semester
Location: Morningside Presbyterian Preschool, 1411 N Morningside Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Registration Process: Please click here to fill out our registration and payment form.
Co-op Leadership
Michelle Griffin, Teacher
My passion in life is connecting people of all ages with their natural world leading
to a world of humans living harmoniously and sustainably.
Field work in Alaska and Glacier National Park set me on a path to begin my
adult career in environmental policy and communication. I was instrumental in
creating and passing the Georgia Coastal Management Program at the state
level as well as the Conservation and Reinvestment Act at the federal level. I
also contributed to Right Whale, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, and Western Manatee
research along the coast of Georgia.
After starting a family I made the transition from educating politicians to guiding
young minds from Kindergarten to 8th grade. My environmental policy work
combined with a Master of Arts in Education led me to the role of Environmental
Educator for High Meadows School; a 42-acre independent school in Roswell,
Georgia serving Preschool-8th grade.
During my tenure at High Meadows I not only taught an emergent, cross-
curricular IB curriculum to all grade levels, but also provided professional
development to IB classroom teachers helping them to use the forest, meadows,
and gardens to teach all subject areas.
Being a huge advocate of Place-Based and Service learning, many of my
students’ learning experiences include giving back to the local community, as
well as seeking ways to connect with communities across the globe.
My additional experience as a facilitator in diversity, inclusion, and acceptance
training led me to a new passion…incorporating traditions from different cultures
to teach the common interest of connecting and respecting the natural world.
Michelle’s family includes her spouse, Mark; daughter, Katie (21); and son, Jack
(19). The whole family loves to hike, camp, travel, and (the latest adventure) dog
sledding together! The next planned family adventure is scuba diving and
exploring the islands of Hawaii!
