Our Story

The Balsam School was never designed to be a kinder, gentler, smaller version of what is already available in our City. From the moment of initial inspiration, to the ongoing planning and the daily Being Balsam, to the future road map laying out the path forward of Becoming More Balsam, the vision has been to offer a unique and unparalleled learning experience. There are many wonderful schools in our City, and none of them are like The Balsam School.

The roots of The Balsam School are firmly planted in the Kurt Hahn tradition of experiential education. Kurt Hahn’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of well rounded people who were committed to pushing themselves to become their best in order to pursue lives of purpose, community service and the promotion of peace resonates as deeply today as it did when he opened his first school over one hundred years ago.

The Balsam School is very much part of the Danish educational tradition of Udeskole (“Out of School”) learning. In this tradition, the community and nature (and any other out of school experience) are utilized as integral learning spaces, where teachers plan and lead curriculum-based learning. Community and nature are as important ‘textbooks’ as any math curriculum we use.

At The Balsam School, we are deeply committed to nurturing curious, capable, and compassionate learners who understand their power to make a positive impact in the world. Our educational philosophy emphasizes global awareness, inquiry-based learning, and personal growth.

In September 2025, The Balsam School will enter a candidacy period which will lead to certification as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. IB World certification is a multi-year and rigorous process in which alignment is created between the values, philosophy and processes of The Balsam School and the International Baccalaureate program.