Schoolhouse of Wonder was founded in 1989 as a natural history cooperative by Dave Cook and Wayne Poole. At this time Schoolhouse of Wonder offered half-day programs for homeschoolers in Durham, North Carolina.
In the summer of 1990 the first summer camp was held at West Point on the Eno Park. Natural history programs were developed and advertised in a brochure, including People of the River, Reading the Woods, and If Frogs had Wings and Snakes had Hair.
In 1991 summer day camps were again offered at West Point on the Eno Park. Camp activities included arrow making, native baskets, natural shelter, and nature walks. Group programs and weekend programs were developed for homeschoolers, including Basic Wood Craft and Woods Lore, The Night Hike, Tracking, The World of Birds, Foods from the Wild; Gathering and Cooking, The Winter Woods, and Sky Watch.
With the support of the Haw River Assembly, the Durham Parks and Recreation Department, and Camp Chestnut Ridge, Schoolhouse of Wonder offered six camps during the summer of 1992 in Durham, Orange and Chatham counties. Schoolhouse of Wonder began offering after-school programs in the Durham City Schools and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Special event programs were offered at Frank Porter Graham Elementary and Carrboro elementary schools. Rebecca Owens and Avery Henderson joined the SHW team.
In the summer of 1993 three summer camps took place at West Point on the Eno, and three summer camps took place at the Haw River. A new camp began that season, Living History Camp, in which campers experienced a blend of earth skills, folk crafts, music, games and other playful expressions from African, European and Native American traditions. Two brochures were developed this year: Classes in Environmental Education and To Tell a Story. After-school programs continued in Durham and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Special event programming occurred for Camp Kanata and for Raleigh Park and Recreation during the spring. Karen Kelley joined the Schoolhouse of Wonder team.
In 1994 seven camps were offered at West Point on the Eno, and three camps were offered in Bynum at the Haw River. A new camp, Quest Camp, was developed this year during which campers, ages 10-15, spent one overnight together and learned camping and living skills. Schoolhouse of Wonder began working closely with Durham County Community Education and the Durham Parks and Recreation Department on after-school and inter-session programs for students.
One Haw River Camp and five Eno River Camps took place in 1995. Work continued with the Durham County Community Education.
In 1996 the Durham Department of Parks and Recreation initiated a partnership with Schoolhouse of Wonder to create Nature School, a series of outdoor Environmental Education classes offered as field trips for area schools.
Since 1996 Schoolhouse of Wonder has continued to offer Nature School programs and summer camps, spring and fall intersession camps, and special events for area youth.
In the winter of 2003 Jessica Bunnel Sheffield was hired as Executive Director and Sarah Haggerty was hired as Program Director for Schoolhouse of Wonder. Schoolhouse was awarded $30,475 from the City of Durham through a Non-City Agency Grant award, and a $5,000 donation from the local branch of Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI), to support their educational programs.
In the fall of 2006 Dave Cook returned to the team as Program Director. Schoolhouse continues to be thankful for partnerships and grants from the City of Durham and REI. Nature School and year-round camps continue to run at West Point on the Eno City Park, in addition to Outdoor School - an outdoor skill and mentoring program for homeschooled students.
