History of Our Approach

Susan Shilcock and Peter Bergson

Open Connections was born of the marriage of two growing bodies of knowledge, each shared by co-founders Susan Shilcock and Peter Bergson.

One reflected the world of "alternative" or "progressive" education, as it was known in the 1960s, where experiential learning and individual development were advanced over rote memorization, and where self-motivation was based on individual passion rather than a fear of failure.

The other body of knowledge was that of the creative group process known as Synectics®, where adults in the corporate world were learning how to recover the skills of Flexible Thinking and collaboration, which had been lost initially during years adapting to a "teach 'em/test 'em" school environment.

Ashley Montagu said that "the trick in life is to die young - as late as possible." We then asked, "how could Open Connections foster the retention of our most positive childlike qualities into adulthood" and mixed in John Holt’s notion that "the true test of intelligence is not how much we know how to do but how we behave when we don't know what to do"

In 1978, after three years of conducting workshops and consultations, Open Connections opened a preschool/kindergarten program in Bryn Mawr for three to five year olds. In 1980, Peter and Susan began to codify key aspects of the OC philosophy by publishing their book, titled Open Connections: The OTHER Basics.

Open Connections Village

In 1983, Open Connections began its transformation to its current format, which provides weekly programs for homeschoolers, unschoolers and other families seeking a more open and natural form of education. In June of 2000, Open Connections underwent a major expansion. Working with the Willistown Conservation Trust, with neighbors and township officials, OC moved to its current location: a 28-acre historic farm/estate in Edgmont Township, Delaware County. We call our new home the Open Connections Village. Due to the enactment of conservation easements, the OC property, along with four adjoining residential parcels totalling an additional 50 acres, will remain largely open space.

Looking Forward

As we prepare for the coming 2007-2008 program year - our seventh at this location - we continue to grow in numbers. In 2006-2007, OC served over 140 youth representing more than 100 families. This coming year, with parent and staff development fueling our drive toward permanent self-sustainability, both participation and facilities will continue to expand. We purchased an 1840s timber frame barn which has been erected on site and converted for our program purposes. This will allow for a further extension for all age levels, including a new Early Connections program for parents and toddlers, plus more complete program space for the full range of young people in both buildings.

What Are We Striving For?