A New Way to

School

The Field School of Hvar is a community of parents, children, and educators reimagining education to serve our world. Our goal is to equip young people with the skills and grounding to lead lives of purpose - enriching the landscape and culture of Hvar in the process. Our pedagogy is grounded in experiential, individualized education and place-based learning. Our neighborhood of families share a commitment to free play and minimal screens.

2026-27 PROGRAM

The 2026-27 academic year will be The Field School’s first! Following a chronological progression through the humanities, we will begin in the prehistoric and ancient world for this first year. In the sciences, we will study biology, classification, and anatomy. Hvar is a superb place to explore these topics, with ten thousand years of human history and a beautifully diverse ecosystem.

Fall | September 7 through November 28

  • Humanities: Prehistory and Greek colonization from hunter-gatherers and paleolithic sailors of the Hvar Culture to the first farmers of the neolithic Illyrian tribes up to the Greek foundation of Pharos, now called Stari Grad, the oldest city in Europe.

  • Science: Biology and taxonomy. Biology is in some ways the first science, closest to the lives of our ancient ancestors. What makes science different from magic or religion? Learners will explore ecosystems, cycles, and where they fit within the web of life, through gardening and encounters with Hvar’s wild flora and fauna.

  • Local Culture: Fall is the busy harvest period for grapes and olives, as well as Hallowtide.

  • Outdoor Athletics: The warm sea and rising winds are perfect conditions for sailing.

Spring | March 13 - June 5

  • Humanities: Did you know that the last Roman Emperor ruled from Split, the mainland city nearest Hvar on the Croatian coast? Dalmatia was a vibrant, turbulent frontier of the Roman empire, offering a fascinating vantage point on Rome’s rise and fall.

  • Science: Spring is the season of planting and a profusion of wild plants. Learners will study the parts of plants and other living things as a lens to anatomy.

  • Local Culture: The spring session begins shortly before Easter, which is the occasion of a UNESCO Heritage on Hvar: the Procession of the Cross.

  • Outdoor Athletics: As the sun warms the earth, our learners will build their climbing and mountaineering skills.

Ages and Groups

We will serve a maximum of 56 children ages 2 through 15. Groups are as follows:

  • Early Years: 6 children ages 2 and 3

  • Kinder: 6 children ages 4 and 5

  • Lower Primary: 8 children ages 6 and 7

  • Upper Primary: 10 children ages 8 and 9

  • Middle: 12 children ages 10 through 12

  • Secondary: 14 children ages 13 through 15

Groupings are done by age rather than any personal characteristics of each child. Groups may change slightly based on enrollment. In other words, if there are many 5-year-olds enrolled, the oldest child might join Lower Primary. For math and literacy activities, children may be re-grouped based on learning level. For example, early readers will practice skills together, while children learning to read will work on a different set of skills. Finally, older learners will sometimes select their own groups for projects and activities.

Each group is led by a childcare professional - either a certified teacher with experience in progressive learning settings or an educator with specific skills in outdoor learning or artisanship.

CURRICULA

In history, Field faculty will use The Story of the World, a popular and activity-rich spine with an extensive reading list that brings together myth, biography, art, and science. As a vibrant node in the ancient world, Hvar is dense with fascinating episodes and characters.. We will be localizing this global history with visits to relevant historical sites on Hvar, such as neolithic caves, Illyrian fortresses, the Greek ruins of Pharos, and Roman mosaics.

In science, Guides will use the respected, inquiry-based curriculum Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding to study biology, classification, and anatomy. Once again, Hvar is a vivid laboratory for hands-on observation and experiments. While this is a fully contemporary, stand-alone science curriculum, we will explore connections with the history of ancient scientific discovery and practice when there is opportunity.

Math and literacy are a daily practice. For these topics, educators will use Wild Wonder and Wild Learning in conjunction with service projects, manipulatives, games, and other hands-on activities that integrate these core skills with holistic learning.

TYPICAL DAY

A typical day begins at 9am in an all-school circle. We practice Croatian songs and basic vocabulary before breaking into skill-based sections of ten students or fewer for math and language learning, which is the focus of the morning. Numbers and letters are the language of thought. We teach both disciplines as integrated subjects, emphasizing the real world application and conceptual underpinning that make practice and memorization rewarding.

At noon, students pause for a simple, healthy lunch and additional Croatian language practice, either in our learning center or outdoors.

The afternoon is dedicated to service projects. Learners form groups of 3 to 5, and work over the course of several weeks to develop a solution to a prompt. Educators will support students with lessons in humanities, science, and project leadership, including trips to cultural sites and opportunities to dive deeper into topics of personal interest.

Two afternoons each week have a science focus. Two afternoons each week are centered on humanities. One afternoon per week is dedicated to outdoor athletics. Fridays end in a school assembly. The final Friday of each session is a full-day celebration for parents and children.

In the evening, learners may participate in clubs or extracurriculars, hosted by Field School parents, the School itself, or in the local community. These could include rowing, theater, dance, judo, piano, or other activities.

In the Mediterranean, every herb has a story. Every rock has lived a hundred lives. By approaching the world as a classroom, our students unlock a lifetime appreciation for the wondrous intellectual content of life itself, from a walk in the woods to a meal shared with friends.

Community Life

A family coliving village

Sociable, gorgeous, and interesting, our little village on the Adriatic Sea offers a new kind of community, reviving the Mediterranean lifestyle at its bucolic best. Balancing stability with travel and adventure, we are here together to have fun and live life with curiosity. Parents and kids contribute to the vitality of our culture by sharing their passions and talents. Kids learn outdoor skills to make the most of the island’s incredible cliffs, sea, fields, and trails. Joy and reverence inspired by this beautiful setting give us energy to take on ambitious goals. Memories are made in nature and with friends without the distraction of screens.

CULTURE

Family life as it should be

At The Field School of Hvar, we all “work” in the same building: parents in the coworking lounge; kids in the learning center. We run into each other on walks to town or the beach. A balance of privacy and proximity transforms strangers into friends, and friends into an extended support network for life’s big and little moments. Field is not an intentional community. It doesn’t need to be. It’s a village.

Much of Field’s culture emerges from the hobbies, skills, and traditions that our families bring to it. The Field School breaks the ice by organizing welcome events, followed by free or inexpensive get-togethers: a hike, an apertivo, a simple workshop. In addition, families have hosted a pasta-making workshop, an afternoon crochet, a lantern walk, and a variety of wellness activities, from yoga to acupuncture. One set of parents dedicated significant time to building a wooden kayak together, creating a carefully thought-out series of opportunities for learners of all ages to contribute.

As a community and an education provider, The Field School of Hvar mostly steers clear of consumer technology. There are almost no screens in our academic program. In our community contract, parents agree not to allow children access to phones, games, or internet-connected devices outside of school. This ensures that children won’t be ostracized for not having social media or video games, and that kids will always find other kids ready to play.

ISLAND HOME

Hvar is a special place. Nearly two hundred families have now participated in The Field School of Hvar, and nearly all have left changed by the magic of the island. The air is clearer. The sea bluer. There is a feeling that comes with adding your story to millennia of history.

Hvar is also quite livable. The Field School is centered in Jelsa, which is surrounded by a cluster of smaller villages, including the historic town of Stari Grad. Strollers are ubiquitous. Playgrounds are full of kids. The island is home to ten thousand year-round residents, including many artists, academics, and outdoor enthusiasts. With that being the case, all of the normal services and amenities needed for daily life are here on the island: dentists, furniture stores, mechanics, and so on. For more selection, there are daily one-hour ferries to Split, a small city of about half a million people with an international airport.

Croatia is a member of the European Union and uses the euro as currency. It is fully democratic and has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Almost every adult under the age of forty speaks English. Prices have increased in recent years, but private healthcare remains inexpensive and overall cost of living is still quite affordable compared to North American and northern Europe. Croatia also offers one of the most attractive digital nomad residencies in Europe, offering up to two years of tax-free stay for remote workers and their dependents.

Hvar is a jewel of the Mediterranean. It boasts the most UNESCO Heritages of any island in Europe, numerous well-curated museums, cultural events, and active archaeological sites. Outdoor recreation options are endless. And, despite its high quality of life, it retains a pristine, undiscovered feel.

Drop-off and Locations

Drop off is at the Field School’s Learning Center in the Fontana Resort (see more about accommodations). It is a 220sm classroom with a wraparound terrace overlooking the sea. There is a coworking space for parents adjacent to the Learning Center.

The Field School mostly takes place outside on beaches, forests, orchards, and in our local villages. It is important that both children and parents are comfortable with natural environments, including insects, water, rocks, and occasional rain.

Field trips take place in beaches, farms, and historical sites that are not within walking distance of the Fontana. Water and ground transportation, as well as all other excursion costs, are included in tuition.

ATHLETICS, ARTS, & MORE

Outdoor recreation is a major focus at The Field School of Hvar, taking the place of conventional school sports. The island is so abundant in opportunities to climb, sail, paddle, and hike, and these sports naturally support our broader mission of inspiring a deep sense of love for the natural world. All children spend an afternoon each week building skills in a specific outdoor sport: sailing, climbing, hiking, or rowing.

Craft and arts, as well as other activities that translate into traditional extracurriculars, such as drama, debate, and creative writing are also routine parts of everyday learning at Field. With that said, we don’t offer focused instruction within specific disciplines like music, dance, or team sports.

There are three main options for extracurriculars on Hvar: clubs led by parent volunteers, by faculty, or by local providers. To participate in local extracurriculars, such as rowing, dance, mountaineering school, judo, theater, football, and folk dancing, children may need to speak conversational Croatian. The Field School will provide a modest amount of Croatian language practice per day. Participation in local clubs will greatly help children acquire the language.

Parents and faculty may also choose to host clubs or workshops. The Field School is very ready to support these initiatives, especially if an effort is made to include Croatian children.

Fees &

Discounts

Session Tuition: €3,600 per child. A session is either the fall session or the spring session. Each session is 12 weeks long.

Annual Tuition: An annual enrollment is enrollment in both fall and spring sessions in an academic year. Families are welcome to store belongings in our facilities over the winter break.

  • €3,600 per child with 50% discount for fourth and subsequent children.

  • Annual books fee of €1,500 per child

  • One-time enrollment fee of €1,000 per family

Accommodations from €1,120/month. Details on our accommodations page.

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