Neskowin Valley School

Neskowin Valley School is a circle
that invites you into its warm and
nourishing center.

~ Janet Rogers, former NVS
parent, trustee, and teacher

"I used to dream of what a perfect school might be like – a sylvan environment, an exuberant and uninhibited gathering of young people and their teachers, and the sheer fun of teaching.
In an unused Neskowin dairy barn we saw a schoolhouse. In Slab Creek and the two little streams that fed it on the property, we saw an extension of the classroom. The same held true
for the surrounding forest and the abundant meadows bordering the road that passed beside the barn. The barn was transformed into classrooms, lofts, a kitchen, a library and a central
fireplace for gatherings. With this transformation evolved a teaching philosophy: a reverence for the outdoors, physical contact with nature, sharing in common chores and the inventing
of solutions to novel circumstances and predicaments. In a burst of enthusiasm and conviction, Neskowin Valley School was born."

George Thompson, Co-Founder

The school is something you take
with you the rest of your life.

-Rhonda Brewer, former NVS parent

School location

"From the beginning, George and I knew that for Neskowin Valley School to succeed, many people had to be invited to join in its creation. In the same way that barns are raised and
quilts are made, Neskowin Valley School took many hands and many potlucks. It was hard work. It was fun. It was a giant piece of art. Building a school from scratch was exhilarating
and wonderful for each one of us. All of us learned, not just our children. Together, we believed we could make something beautiful and life-changing happen. Our children will always
need to see their parents in the grip of fine ideas, enthusiasm and the determination to work for the benefit of others."

Margot Voorhies Thompson, Co-Founder