Episode #44: Dev Carey - High Desert Center, Paonia, Colorado

MICROCOLLEGE: The Thoreau College Podcast

The High Desert Center runs gap year programs for adventurous spirits from their home base in Paonia, Colorado, and extending out into Mexico, India, and other environs around the world.

High Desert students learn to grow and prepare their own food, explore mindfulness practices practical folk arts, crafts and skills, all while living communally and engaging with rural and traditional lifeways and communities from Colorado to India.

Dev Carey is a lover of adventure and the kind of learning that changes who we are and how we see the world. Dev earned a Ph.D. in ecology and later discovered that while chasing butterflies made him happy, education made him passionate. He’s been sharing adventures with young people ever since. In the late 90’s he became an advocate for students and families learning outside of the classroom, and started The Vision Program, which utilizes public funds to support over 600 students in learning however and wherever they want while still earning a diploma. Dev has worked for Sterling College, with inner city youth as a VISTA Volunteer, as a counselor at Not Back to School Camp, and as a river guide. He is most fulfilled when working outside of traditional classrooms, mentoring students to figure out how to lead a life full of meaningful, wonderful moments.

High Desert Center: https://highdesertcenter.org/

Learn more about Thoreau College and the microcollege movement at https://www.thoreaucollege.org

Driftless Folk School: https://www.driftlessfolkschool.org

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