Part of creating a new world is resistance to the old one, including the ways we learn and relate to each other.

Join us for the 2026 Free Skool Santa Cruz Spring/Summer session by participating in a class or activity! 2026 Free Skool Santa Cruz Spring/Summer session

Class submission period for Spring/Summer is closed and we invite you to submit a class in late June for the Summer/Autumn session!

A radically different approach to living and learning, Free Skool Santa Cruz is a grassroots educational project beyond institutional control. It is an opportunity to learn from each other and share what we know, to foster communities based on mutual support and autonomy (do-it-yourself-together!).

What skills would you like to share? What types of classes would help grow more vibrant, self-reliant and mutually supportive communities?

This year we are changing things up a little! We will have 2 sessions, Spring/Summer AND Summer/Autumn – from May Day/Beltane on May 1st to July 15th. Then in late-June, we put out the submission form again for classes for the Summer/Autumn session, from July 16 to the Autumn Equinox on September 22nd. 

Class submission period for Spring/Summer is closed and we invite you to submit a class in late June for the Summer/Autumn session!

What is Free Skool Santa Cruz?

Free Skool Santa Cruz is a grassroots educational project that provides an opportunity for us all to learn from each other and share what we know, to foster communities of mutual support and autonomy (do-it-yourself-together). The project first existed year-round from 2005 – 2014. In 2021, Free Skool Santa Cruz was brought back by members of the SubRosa collective to be a seasonal project. And now here we are in 2026!

What does the “free” in Free Skool mean? 

Free as in free expression, free thought, and liberation. We try to keep Free Skool firmly fixed in a gift economy and outside the stream of commerce. While some teachers may ask for a donation to cover materials, no one is turned away for lack of funds. 

More about Free Skool Santa Cruz!

We see Free Skool Santa Cruz as a direct challenge to dominant institutions and hierarchical relationships. The project strives to blur the lines between teacher, learner, and organizer. Free Skool is decentralized, with classes held in social spaces and parks.

Part of creating a new world is resistance to the old one. Through this project, we want to contribute to changing the ways we learn and the ways we relate to each other.

In late June we will request class submissions for the Summer/Autumn session from July 16th to the Autumn Equinox on September 22nd. You can check out Spring/Summer classes here – 2026 Free Skool Santa Cruz Spring/Summer session

Please email questions to: freeskoolsantacruz@gmail.com and more info about Free Skool Santa Cruz is at https://freeskoolsantacruz.wordpress.com/ 

We look forward to enjoying and learning/experiencing together in the time to come.

     -Free Skool Santa Cruz collective members 

Information for Teachers

Scheduling & Commitment: You choose how often you want to teach your classes and what days fit your schedule. If you schedule a class, we ask you to commit to it. While we very much appreciate your excitement to offer a class, perhaps multiple class sessions, we highly discourage weekly classes for a variety of reasons. Contact us if you would like to discuss this more. 

And in late June we will request class submissions for the Summer/Autumn session from Thursday July 16th to the Autumn Equinox on Tuesday September 22nd. 

If you wish to schedule a class at SubRosa Community Space, we encourage you to work directly with a member of the SubRosa collective to host your class there if possible. We can help with communication.

Teacher Responsibilities:  Free Skool is a decentralized, non-institutional project.  In other words, you and I make it happen. Therefore, you have certain responsibilities as a teacher including considering accessibility needs of people that come to your class.  Also, promote your class through word-of-mouth, fliering, community outreach, and online.  Work with other Free Skoolers to post calendars and fliers and share about each other’s classes.  Be prompt and reliable. Take good care of the spaces who graciously host your class. Help create a culture of greater caring, sharing, and balance with the earth without money and hierarchy. And let’s enjoy each other’s company and the spring and summer!

Please email questions to: freeskoolsantacruz@gmail.com  

Share or follow on social media! https://instagram.com/freeskoolsantacruz and https://m.facebook.com/freeskoolsantacruz/

***Members of the SubRosa collective are involved in this revived and not entirely new, not all too different version of Free Skool Santa Cruz  – a project in mutual aid learning and sharing. And SubRosa/the Hub Community Center is a site of a significant amount of classes (although not all!). More info about SubRosa at http://www.subrosaproject.org/ and the Hub at http://www.santacruzhub.org/ 

SubRosa is fiscally sponsored by the Hub. The Santa Cruz Hub for Sustainable Living is a nonprofit charitable corporation under 501(c)3 of the IRS tax code. Employer Identification Number:  31-1748056