The Hunter School is a private, non-profit co-educational school located on Stinson Lake, surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest. Our 137 acre campus offers a wide range of strength based programming opportunities to address the educational, emotional and physical needs of children experiencing ADHD, academic underachievement, Aspergers, oppositional behaviors, anxiety, depression, impulsivity and social problems.
Founded by Thom Hartmann, the author of numerous books on ADHD and radio talk show host, the Hunter School follows Thom’s philosophy that basing the educational methods on a child’s unique way of experiencing and perceiving the world, will allow the child to flourish in academics and behavior. Hunter gives students an opportunity to experience “hands on learning” in areas of special interest. Some examples of programming we have offered include:
• A strength based landscaping project for a student who had interests in landscaping that included him developing a proposal and presenting it to the appropriate people before completing the project.
• A strength based “work study program” that gave a student an opportunity to spend Friday afternoons at the local science center and return to class to share with other students, through pictures and writing, her first hand experience with animals of the central New Hampshire region.
• A strength based business model that has a student developing an automobile detailing business and set up a working model of that business. The 2007 school year saw Hunter students conduct a “straw poll” for local residents at the Plymouth Senior Citizen Center. Students researched the 2008 presidential candidates and presented a speech on their selected candidate before conducting the “straw poll”. This project was featured in local and regional newspapers. A quote in the newspaper; Deb Reynolds, District 2 Senator and resident of Plymouth, was at the Senior Center to support the children of the Hunter School and cast her vote. She was thoroughly impressed by the work of the students and the Hunter School Staff, calling it a special institution. “I am thrilled and so proud of everyone at the Hunter School”, said Reynolds. “This is a great way to get children engaged in the political world. ”During the “Straw Vote Activity” one student best summed up what Hunter is. “The Hunter School is a great place for children. They take good care of us here.”
Hunter provides a wonderful rural setting for its student body. Hunter offers an average class size of 1:4-6 teacher to student ratio. Boarding students live in a family style home with 6-7 other students and two child development counselors. All students have private bedrooms. Hunter offers a non-violent vegetarian program for all of its students. |
