The inspiration for Copper Learning Academy
Inspiration for great ideas can come in many forms, and really that is exactly what happened here. Inspiration from many directions culminated at just the right time to bring all of the pieces together.
I have a wonderful daughter who attended a nature-based preschool and she LOVED it. Seeing how great she did there, I began looking for similar K-12 educational opportunities in our area and I was unable to find anything that felt like a good fit for our family.
I then began researching homeschooling and I read “The Call of the Wild + Free”, which is a fantastic book by Ainsley Arment. I found that, as much as I loved the message in the book and the benefits of a homeschool lifestyle and education, I did not feel like it was a good fit for our family.
During the same time, I was watching a good friend of mine (and many other parents) struggle with the challenges that came along with pandemic school life. There are many, many good educators, administrators, and wonderful parents who all want the best for our children, but as I watched, I continued to feel that it just was not a good fit for our family.
That is the moment I began to wonder what starting an outdoor based elementary school would look like. I began researching and brainstorming. I talked my poor friend Brittany’s ear off. I put together a business plan and a rough draft for a family handbook. I started talking to other parents in the area, to gauge interest and found overwhelming support for the concept.
And now… here we are! Our family could not be more thrilled to connect with you and your family.
Here’s to educating our babies with a beautiful connection to nature – and to helping them find their individual ‘why’ as they develop a deep love for lifelong learning.
Audrey M Tipper, Founder
Why the Word Copper?
I was very lucky to have a fantastic grandmother. Her name was Marlene Curtis. I don’t remember all of the things that she taught me, but I do remember the most important thing … unconditional love. When she told me that she loved me, I could feel how much she meant it in her tone.
We had a fantastic relationship and did so many things together. We were both in Girl Scouts, I worked on her farm from a young age, we went family camping every summer, and I even lived with her a couple of times in my life. One of my favorite things that my grandmother taught me, that became very special for both of us, was how to backpack.
When I was about 25 years old, I decided I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, which is over 2,100 miles long. I went to my grandmother to tell her about the research I had done and how excited I was about the prospect. She was very supportive and listened intently. After I finished explaining how drop-off‘s worked and how much fun my best friend and I were going to have, she said to me, “ Audrey, you might want to TRY backpacking first.”
I was crushed. I knew she had a point, but I still felt crushed by the logic! She then told me that visiting Isle Royale National Park was on her bucket list. She invited me to join her and I readily agreed. She spent that summer teaching me how to pack my backpack, what was important to bring, how to find lighter solutions to different items, how to meal plan, and what to expect.
Eventually, the day came and we drove the 10 hours north from our home to Copper Harbor, Michigan where we spent the night and enjoyed a great local meal. I was so excited! The next day we took a 3-hour boat ride on the Isle Royale Queen IV to Rock Harbor and started our hike.
I hated it.
In that moment, I hadn’t hated any other experience more in my entire life. I didn’t want to ruin this trip for her, so I did my best to keep my complaints to myself. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and everything hurt.
I woke up the next morning ready to hike more miles. I still hated it. My back hurt, my feet hurt, I was tired, dirty, and just plain miserable.
The third day, I focused solely on putting one foot in front of the other. I knew the trip would end eventually, so it made sense that I just needed to get through the week.
What I didn’t realize was that somewhere along the way I was unplugging in a way that I had never done before. I was relaxed and thinking clearly. I filled pages and pages of a journal during those days, and by the end of the week… I was hooked!
I have my grandmother to thank for that experience. I never did hike the Appalachian Trail, and I am okay with that for now. I have been on sections of it and I know the rest of it is there waiting for my footsteps. There is still plenty of time to enjoy it.
Where did the “Copper” in Copper Learning Academy come from? I named the school after my relationship with my grandmother. We went to Isle Royale a few more times together. Copper Harbor was always the start of a beautiful journey. My grandmother inspired me to love nature in a way that I didn’t expect and to always find joy in learning.
That is what I want for our students. I want beautiful journeys. I want them to feel immersed in nature. I want unexpected learning experiences. I want them to try hard things and succeed. Most importantly, I want each student to know that we truly care for each and every one of them.
I cannot wait to meet all of you as we go on this beautiful journey together!
Audrey M Tipper, Founder