Ak Luum International School in Playa del Carmen Opens Their Jungle Campus! Registration is now open for the 2008-2009 school year.

Ak Lu’um (Mayan for “Our Earth”) International School has just finished up their second school year, and they are moving to their new, and permanent, jungle campus for the 2008-2009 year.

Ak Lu’um International School is a Waldorf based learning program , but also has an extensive global vision in their teaching philosophy. In the 2 short years they have been open they have accomplished and reached their goals beyond expectation. They closed out the 2007-2008 school year with 28 students, and with the opening of their new campus, they will be able to accommodate up to 80 students while still keeping teacher to student ratio low.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Athe k Lu’um International School it was first opened in September, 2006, and is a synthesis of Waldorf education and the Learning Through the Arts method of education.  The school also addresses the growing need in our community for an integrated program; integration of special needs children into mainstream education as well as social integration of underprivileged children on scholarships. Ak Lu'um International School, is a non-profit educational community and also offers courses for parents regarding; community, health and educational issues.

The focus at Ak Lu’um International School is towards artistic expression, development of physical skills and nurturing of reverence for the world around us. Fairy tales, creative movement, modeling, bread-baking, gardening, music, nature walks, seasonal celebrations and exploring materials are all integrated into the curriculum. The program is truly bilingual with half of the school day being taught in English and half of the day being taught in Spanish.

This year Ak Lu'um International School opens its doors to students from 2 to 10 in their new jungle campus! Self-sustainability in terms of electricity, water, sewage treatment and waste recycling is the aim as well as learning in a non-invasive, natural environment. The campus was built with ecology and conservation, as well as safety and comfort, in mind. Bamboo is being used throughout the campus as it is a durable, natural and sustainable crop. They used traditional Mayan materials, building techniques and design but avoided unnecessary use of hardwoods. The organic nature of their project is reflected in a main school building and independent spaces that blend into the surrounding jungle without losing sight of usability and practicality. This type of “green” campus not only leaves less of a carbon foot print, but it also teaches our children alternative living skills that are invaluable, which in turn puts responsible globally conscious people into our communities.

As a non-profit venture, Ak Lu'um International School is continually seeking donations for development and sponsorship for underprivileged children. If you are interested in sponsoring, or co-sponsoring a child, please This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it them, and they can give you further detailed information. It is their belief that integration is the solution to many problems the world is experiencing; racism, lack of tolerance, ignorance and religious conflict. The humanistic essence of Waldorf schooling is their inspiration while the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmed guides their methodology. They aim to lead by example and encourage their students to be open-minded, highly skilled, decision-makers who act with compassion and enthusiasm in the world around them who are not afraid to change their future for the better.

A special thank you to Calica, A & G, and the Ejidos of Playa del Carmen; they are helping to make it happen!!!

For more information please visit their website  If you would like to check out their new campus they will be holding an open house on August 18^th, 2008 see the map for directions and location. CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW

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