Rhiordan Bolduc and his sister, Elovie, live on 500 acres in Greenwood, where learning rarely stays inside four walls.

Like the other homeschoolers featured here, their education is hands-on and rooted in experience — often unfolding in the woods or in a basement woodshop — where curiosity leads the lesson. Here, learning bends to the child, not the other way around, moving at its own pace and often on the student’s own terms.

“We only get to educate our children once,” said homeschool parent Justin Thacker, of Andover.

“Doing fun things like mountain biking, snowboarding, playing soccer, and also trying new things like spelling words like ‘fragile,’ learning about plants and trees and how to tell which one is which, reading ‘100 Easy Lessons’ and that’s really it!” – Rhiordan Bolduc, 9, of Greenwood

 “Checking maple taps, how to evaporate the sap, how to tell the tree by its branches and bark, reading my favorite graphic novels, and taking my online class with John about storytelling — oh, and writing my own book!” – Elovie Bolduc, 10, of Greenwood

“I learn best when I can actually do it. When I don’t have to just think. This year, I designed and built things, like a bridge and a solar oven. I like when I can have time with my dad doing activities like boiling sap to make syrup, building our house, working on cars and other motors, butchering animals, and milling lumber.” – T.J. Coombs, 11, of Albany Township

“Over the years I’ve had as a homeschooler, I’ve been able to learn a lot of skills, like construction work, cooking, child care, farm animal care, butchering, hunting, fishing, and how to interact with and take care of the elderly. I also think I have learned a lot about time management and how to be responsible for my own workload. The life skills that I’ve gained and the good influences I’ve had have made a huge difference in my life. I feel like I know what I believe, and I am prepared to go out into the world.” – Annie Coombs, 13, of Albany Township

“I do school with an online program. I can easily take my classroom anywhere; vacation, anywhere in the house and trips to extracurricular activities. School is very flexible for me. I have no sick days or snow days.

“I take violin lessons every Friday. I also learn music theory. The first, third and fourth Friday, I take the lessons virtually. The second Friday I go to her studio. I mainly ride my horses at home, in the driveway or the arena, but occasionally I go to Norway for horse lessons with a lesson pony. I do my gym class at the Greater Rumford Community Center with Mr. Dawson Walton. I also work at the Andover library every Tuesday from 2–4. I also take music lessons from Mr. Pete Coolidge every Thursday.” – Hannah Thacker, 10, of Andover