Commons Work
Learning Through Responsibility, Connection, and Care
At the Mountain School, we believe that taking care of a place—and each other—is essential to true learning. The Commons Work Program teaches students to engage deeply with the land, their peers, and the daily rhythms that sustain community life.
Through shared responsibility and hands-on experience, students learn what it takes to keep a small, interdependent community running—one that values stewardship, sustainability, and collaboration.
What Is the Commons?
The “Commons” represents both our shared physical environment and our collective responsibility for maintaining it.
It is:
A collective resource — natural, cultural, and communal, used and cared for by many people.
A living agreement, our community’s set of values and practices for how we use and sustain this shared space.
The Philosophy Behind Commons Work
We ask big questions every day:
What does it mean to take care?
Who decides how that care is shared?
What skills and habits sustain a community?
At the Mountain School, we reject the idea that maintenance and care are tasks for “someone else.” Instead, work is a learning experience that builds empathy, resilience, and purpose.
By participating in Commons Work, every student and every faculty member contributes to the collective work that keeps our community warm, clean, nourished, and thriving.
Daily Commons Work
Each student rotates through essential responsibilities, including:
Chores: Maintaining shared spaces, tending to the greenhouse, or caring for campus animals.
Dish Crew: Cleaning up after meals, resetting the kitchen, and keeping the heart of campus humming.
Farm & Woods Crews: Supporting the farm and forestry teams through seasonal projects.
Sunday Meals: Preparing and serving Sunday brunch and dinner.
These daily rhythms cultivate a sense of ownership, connection, and pride. Over time, students begin to see how even the smallest tasks strengthen the fabric of the community.
Why Commons Work Matters
The Commons Work Program isn’t just about chores—it’s about building character and connection. Students learn to:
Collaborate and communicate effectively.
Balance personal needs with community responsibilities.
Understand systems of labor, equity, and sustainability.
Reflect on their own role in the greater whole.
By the end of the semester, “work” takes on new meaning. Students often describe Commons Work as one of the most transformative parts of their Mountain School experience—where learning, leadership, and community truly meet.
Ready to Join a Community That Works Together?
At the Mountain School, the Commons Work Program is more than a set of chores — it’s a daily practice in leadership, empathy, and sustainability. Students learn that caring for a community means contributing to it: cooking meals, tending gardens, splitting wood, cleaning shared spaces, and supporting one another through the rhythms of everyday life.
Discover the Power of Shared Work