From Individuals to a Tribe: Discovery Studio’s First Week (Sep 2 - 5)
We're joining over 300 Acton studios around the world in the annual tradition of starting our year with the Build the Tribe Quest for Session 1. Learners are experiencing what it takes to grow from individuals into a cohesive team that works, plays, problem-solves, and performs together. What’s already unfolding in these first days has been remarkable.
“We are going to get a little quicker, slowly.” – Acton Lanark Hero
Diving into the Lip Dub Challenge
Learners jumped straight into the Lip Dub Mini-Quest.
The group voted on and selected a song—then rose to the challenge of memorizing all the lyrics! Choreography began to take shape, videography was orchestrated, and practice shots rolled into motion. The excitement has been contagious. As the week progressed, learners poured several hours each day into this challenge with focus and enthusiasm.
Their finished video will be entered into a worldwide contest, alongside entries from over 300 Acton studios across the globe.
Learning to Collaborate
It doesn’t take long for children to take the reigns of their work—if only they are given the chance. Early in the week, learners played Chocolate River, a team challenge that requires collaboration for every member to get across. Almost every learner rose to the occasion, becoming an equally contributing member who helped the group strategize and problem-solve.
Moments like these arise daily as learners encounter—and work through—real challenges. This week, guides observed learners grappling with many decisions and questions, including:
What do we prioritize as a group when we're short on time?
How do I protect time to work on what I care about most?
What do we do when one learner disagrees about costume colours?
What do I do when I notice a tribe member is upset?
How do we move forward when I’m feeling tired but we had plans that require energy?
Leaders Emerging
It’s amazing to witness what happens in the studio when adults step back. Even in this small group, natural leaders are already stepping up—we call them sheepdogs at Acton—they are heroes willing to sacrifice social capital for the good of the tribe.
During a group work session this week, most learners had drifted away from the task. After a little while of this, one sheepdog spoke up:
"Guys, this is turning into free-time. What should we do?"
That spark was enough. The group quickly found a solution and got back to work.
Taking Responsibility for Time
At Acton, there are no bells or reminders. Learners quickly realized that they are responsible for managing their own time. A few stepped up to set timers on their watches, helping the group transition between activities: quest time, reading, or even building the much-loved lunch fort.
From Asking Questions to Finding Answers
By the end of the week, learners were discovering that there are good—often better—alternatives to asking Guides for answers. They turned to one another, experimented, searched their environment, and reflected as a group.
The result? A dramatic reduction in questions directed at Guides—by our estimate, about 75% fewer than at the start of the week.
Creating Traditions and Owning their Space
Within the first few days the group decided the lunch fort will be a daily tradition. On Friday, they carved out time during their day to make this a reality. Prioritizing and time management keeps coming up and most members are rising to the challenges with gusto.
Our studio operates out of a shared space and we needed to move all of our equipment, tools and furniture by 3:30PM on Friday as another organization would be using the space. The guides had planned to do the bulk of this work, only inviting the heroes to pitch in during their daily studio maintenance time. However, the group banded together and achieved a total tear down during their usual studio maintenance time of 15 minutes, taking obvious pride and joy in doing so. When asked if they would prefer to come back to a studio that is already set up on Monday or put it back together themselves, there was a unanimous vote for doing it themselves.
Inspired by History
In Socratic discussions, learners reflected on the first moon landing—a tribe of people working together to accomplish what once seemed impossible. They began connecting this story to their own tribe at Acton Lanark, recognizing what motivates them to contribute.
What Motivates These Heroes?
At week’s end, learners reflected on what motivates them to be part of their tribe and contribute towards their group Quest. These are some of the things they shared:
“Inspiring others by the quality of what we create”
“Having fun in the process”
“Doing a good job”
“To be like other tribes achieving great things, like the Moon Landing”
The first week showed us that even a brand-new tribe can begin to move as one. When trusted, heroes quickly rise to the challenge of building a tribe and driving their own learning. With curiosity, courage, and ownership, our new studio is off to a strong start.
A Call to Parents
This weekend, we invite you to continue the reflection at home. Ask your learner:
In what ways were you challenged?
In which areas do you feel you shined?
Have you grown or changed in your first few days at Acton? How?
Your conversations help learners deepen their reflections and carry forward the spirit of tribe-building and growth we’ve begun together.
