Dreams & Observations
Reflections at Thoreau College
Inside The Emerging Microcollege Movement
By Kerry McDonald, Forbes Contributor. For Layla Coyne, choosing to attend a microcollege was a natural extension of her unconventional K-12 schooling experience. As a middle schooler, she left a traditional public school to attend Rock Tree Sky, a self-directed...
At Thoreau College, students raise chickens, go camping and limit use of tech
by Kelly MeyerhoferMilwaukee Journal Sentinel VIROQUA — It was a moonless night, perfect for stargazing. They moved some of their tents to a clearing in the woods for a better view.Waiting for darkness to settle over the Kickapoo Valley, they paid attention to...
A Day in the Life as a Thoreau College Fellow
by Elijah Greiner My day starts six-o-clock. Not because it has to (I could certainly sleep another hour) but I like to live deliberately. I’m used to bunkhouses and dorm rooms. Here I have a room all to myself to stretch and dress without concern of waking up my...
Meet the Microcolleges!
Thoreau College & the League of Nunnian Schools Present Meet the Microcolleges! Fri. January 16, 6:30-8:30 pm - Free and Open to the Public Arkadia (The Commons) - 401 E Jefferson St. Viroqua Email admin@thoreaucollege.org with questions Join us for an evening of...
Reflections on Thoreau College
As I prepare to leave Viroqua, I wanted to reflect on the past two years teaching at Thoreau College. Teaching at Thoreau College has been one of the most educationally invigorating experiences of my life. One of the most meaningful parts of teaching at Thoreau has...
A Report from the International Folkemøde for Educators
While the idea of a “microcollege” as modeled by Thoreau College and our peer organizations around North America is a relatively new one for most people, it has its precedents and analogues in other times and places. Prominent among these is the Scandinavian “folk...
Scenes from the Driftless Field School
The 2025 Driftless Field School brought new adventures, mindful connections, and sparks of creativity. This season was a tapestry of exploration and growth. But don’t just take our word for it—some of our students have opened their journals and hearts to share what...