gazebo school

Learning in the Great Outdoors

An experimental school without walls and a roof in Mother Nature’s backyard, the Gazebo School reimagined what education could be — playful, relational, embodied.

Founded by educator Janet Lederman, Gazebo emerged from a radical yet grounded belief: that human potential unfolds not through rigid instruction, but through experience, curiosity, and connection. At a time when American education was becoming increasingly standardized and outcomes-driven, Gazebo offered a different proposition. Learning happened outdoors, shaped by weather, movement, conversation, and imagination. The curriculum was responsive rather than prescriptive. Play was not a break from learning, it was the work.

Janet was known for her insistence on using “and” rather than “or.” That translated as intellectual rigor and emotional intelligence, structure and freedom, individual expression and collective responsibility. When asked for definitive answers, she often replied with a phrase that became something of a Gazebo mantra: “It depends...” Context mattered. Development mattered. Relationships mattered. Rather than forcing premature certainty, Janet encouraged students and teachers alike to stay in inquiry, and to listen closely, observe carefully, and respond to what was actually happening.

This approach shaped a learning environment that was deeply relational and attuned. Teachers blended academics with creativity, emotional awareness, and physical expression. Children were encouraged to explore their inner lives as much as the natural world around them, learning to name feelings, negotiate conflict, collaborate, and imagine alternatives. Education was lived rather than lectured, grounded in presence and trust.

From its earliest days, Gazebo was held by a remarkable community of educators. Many of these humans continue to influence Esalen and the broader Big Sur educational ecosystem today. Faculty included Dorothy Charles, LaVerne McLeod, Peggy Horan, Penny Vieregge, and Sydelle Foreman. Penny Vieregge taught for 39 years and remains a respected elder in the Big Sur community. At 98 years old, she continues to teach, a bridge between generations, first at Gazebo, and now at the Big Sur Park School, its current incarnation.

Gazebo School began with an original cohort of six students, a small experimental circle that grew organically over time. Among them were Dick and Chris Price’s daughter Jenny Price, as well as Lucia and Jasmine Horan, daughters of Peggy and Dick Horan. Along with Rosie Chapman (daughter of Lois Chapman) and Ivy Mayer (daughter of Brita Ostrom), they became known collectively as the “Gazebo Kids” — children who grew up immersed in this unconventional model of learning.

Jasmine Horan embodies the continuity of the Gazebo lineage. She was both a student and an educator at the school with her daughter, N’Nady, as a second-generation Gazebo student. Jasmine is the author of The Gazebo Learning Project. Her book gathers memories, voices, and reflections from those who lived this educational experiment, preserving not only its methods but its spirit.

The original Gazebo School no longer exists in its initial form. It transitioned into what is now the Big Sur Park School. Nevertheless, the core philosophy endures, and the foundational belief remains: Learning is a whole-person experience, rooted in curiosity, creativity, context, and care.

The legacy of the Gazebo School lives on through its students, educators, and descendants who are artists, teachers, parents, and community builders. Whether Gazebo or Big Sur Park School, it was and remains a reminder that education at its best is not about answers alone, but about learning how to ask better questions, together.