WELCOME TO PONO
NEW YORK CITY’S ONLY DEMOCRATIC URBAN OUTDOOR Learning Center.
Pono Offers full-time, Part-time, extracurricular programs, and Camps for ages 6 to 16.
Children and the world connect
At Pono all children go on over 100 trips a year to destinations in and around New York City. Older children go on an additional 4 daylong trips to neighboring states and one international trip a year, allowing experiential, immersive, and authentic learning not available inside the classroom.
CHILDREN AND NATURE CONNECT
Pono’s children visit regularly our partner sanctuary in Westchester County where they explore, discover, and engage with nature in 640 acres of a wildlife preserve. Since 2020, Pono’s outdoor environmental education program is offered through City to Sanctuary as an extracurricular program for NYC children.
CHILDREN AND KNOWLEDGE CONNECT
In addition to our experienced faculty, Pono offers over 150 lessons a year taught by visiting teachers. Our visiting teachers have included award-winning authors, engineers, artists, college professors, dancers, paleontologists, mime artists, sports coaches, historians, activists, inventors, and many more.
CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE CONNECT
At Pono, children have the time and space to play, think, and dream. They pursue their interests and projects at their own pace, and for as long as they want and need. For example, children as young as 7 to 10 years old designed and executed a long-term project that encouraged people to consider children’s political voice.
OUR MISSION
To nurture Children’s intrinsic humanity and wisdom on a journey to become life-long learners and balanced human beings.
AT Pono, each child’s innate desire to learn is cherished as the children are immersed in a loving, harmonious learning community and authentic world learning environment.
What do people say?
“Pono is more than a school, it’s a community where children clearly feel loved. At Pono, children are happy. They spend their time smiling, laughing, engaged, and excited.” -Julietta Eisenberg (Pono literacy specialist)
Apply
Pono’s admissions process does not include aptitude tests, interviews, or other intrusive requirements. The process is designed to allow applicants to experience Pono firsthand to find out whether our learning environment is a good fit.
Events
To support parents who believe in the value of democratic education, our faculty is offering free consultation sessions on how to collaborate with your children to create a healthy, loving, and harmonious environment at home.
AT PONO EVERY CHILD HAS A VOICE.
Pono in Photos
