“If you don’t know where you come from, how do you know who you really are?”
For over 40 years, SelfDesign® Learning Foundation has been redefining independent online learning, offering an approach that honours curiosity and autonomy. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of British Columbia’s largest online learning communities, SelfDesign’s story is one of innovation, resilience and a commitment to lifelong and personalized learning.
Now, for the first time, this history is captured in one place. The SelfDesign communications team has created a new commemorative book, “Stories of SelfDesign – 40 Years of Lifelong Learning.” It’s filled with stories, reflections, and first-person accounts of the learners, parents and educators who have helped shape SelfDesign.
“Putting SelfDesign’s history together was no small feat,” says the communications team. “Until now, our history was scattered across news articles, old broadcasts, Brent’s TEDx talk, and his PhD theses. Finding people who were part of SelfDesign and Wondertree in the early years was also a major challenge. The stories of the people who were there in the beginning had never been truly captured.”
At its heart, this book is a collection of lived experiences. What makes it special is that it’s told in the voices of the people who were there. The impact of SelfDesign is now multi-generational. One of the most significant measures of SelfDesign’s success is that many parents who had gone through SelfDesign themselves are now sending their kids.
“Everybody we’ve talked to—especially alumni—has said the experience of being part of SelfDesign was transformative in their lives. And it’s not just the learners; it’s the parents, too.”
The seed of an idea (1983-1984)
SelfDesign’s roots trace back to 1983 when educator Brent Cameron responded to his daughter Ilana’s request to learn outside of traditional school. Recognizing that learning could be self-directed and passion-driven, Brent launched Wondertree, a small learning community based on curiosity and mentorship. By 1984, the Wondertree Learning Society became an official independent school, setting the stage for a new education model.
“It was all for Ilana,” said the communications team. “SelfDesign wouldn’t exist without her. It was for her. The whole idea for what became Wondertree was that Brent and Ilana’s mom, Maureen, wanted to foster Ilana’s curiosity. Then, right when Ilana was getting to the point that she needed to go to high school, a light bulb went off—Brent started Virtual High. So, really, she was the linchpin of it all.”
Expanding possibilities (1988-1996)
Wondertree quickly evolved beyond its original small group. In 1988, learners presented the first Wondertree Learning Award to Jane Goodall, recognizing individuals making a positive impact on education. The program expanded again in 1989 with the Wondertree HomeLearners’ Network, supporting homeschooling families across British Columbia.
By 1993, the Wondertree approach extended to older learners with Virtual High, an alternative high school program. Originally envisioned as a remote learning program, Virtual High became an in-person hub for connection and collaboration, proving that community was at the heart of this learning model.
A new vision: the birth of SelfDesign Learning Community (2002-2009)
In 2002, SelfDesign® Learning Community was launched as a pilot program for distributed learning, bringing together years of experience from Wondertree and Virtual High. “SelfDesign Learning Community is sort of a culmination of all the different programs that went before,” said the communications team. “Each of them—Wondertree in the early years, Wondertree in the later years, Virtual High, SelfDesign High—were all necessary to make it what it is today.”
The program grew rapidly, surpassing 1,000 learners by 2010. In 2004, SelfDesign expanded to include inclusive education services, ensuring that learners with disabilities or diverse abilities could thrive within its model.
Annual in-person events called “Collaboratories” began in 2006, bringing together educators and contractors to refine and evolve SelfDesign’s approach and be in community with one another. These would later evolve into regional LocalLabs in 2018.
Strengthening the community (2009-2017)
A significant milestone came in 2009 when SelfDesign merged with the International School of the Kootenays, allowing it to offer grades 10-12 and grant high school diplomas. This period also saw the launch of the SelfDesign Graduate Institute in 2012, a training program for educators focused on SelfDesign’s philosophy, which ran until 2018.
One of the biggest transformations happened in 2017 when SelfDesign Learning Community fully integrated its programs across all grade levels. While this shift strengthened the program, it wasn’t without its challenges. “There were difficult years, moments of transition that were hard for some,” explains Nikki Kenyon, president and CEO of SelfDesign. “But the community’s loyalty to the vision remained strong.”
SelfDesign continues to evolve, always staying true to its core belief: learning is a personal and lifelong journey. In 2019, a Learner Council was established, giving students a greater voice in shaping their education. The organization went fully remote in 2021, and later that year, it launched the HomeLearners Network, an online learning activity platform for children that offers hands-on, science, technology, engineering and math STEAM-focused activities led by experienced educators.
Most recently, in 2023, SelfDesign became officially recognized as an independent provincial online learning school or iPOLS by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, marking a new chapter in its long history of learning innovation. “Throughout our history, Brent’s vision has remained alive,” says Kenyon. “That seed—it was there, and it grew and grew, branching into different offshoots. But that core foundation has never changed.”
Read it for yourself
One of the most rewarding parts about creating this book was learning firsthand the impact SelfDesign has had on the lives of so many learners, parents, families and contractors and how it shaped the way they approach learning then and now.
We invite you to explore this book, reflect on our shared journey, and celebrate 40 years of empowering learners to design their learning journey.
And to all of our community members who shared their memories—thank you. This book is a success because of you. We also wish to thank Monique Keiran, SelfDesign’s content writer at the time this book was created and Alexis Taschuk, the graphic designer of the book.
