How a Boarding Experience at Hershey Montessori School Transforms Adolescents
A Living Environment Designed for Adolescent Growth
The teenage years are a powerful stage of development. Adolescents are searching for identity, belonging, and meaningful work. Montessori education recognizes this phase, known as the “third plane of development,” as a time when teens need real responsibility, trust, and connection.
The boarding community at Hershey is structured to meet those needs. Students live together in a warm, supportive environment where they learn to collaborate, manage daily responsibilities, and care for both themselves and the community. This intentional setting mirrors adult life in all the right ways—while still offering the mentorship and guidance adolescents need.
Independence With Purpose
Unlike traditional residential programs, Hershey’s boarding experience isn’t simply a dorm attached to a school. It is a fully integrated part of the adolescent curriculum.
- Students share real community responsibilities
- Manage household routines
- Participate in cooking and meal planning
- Care for the property and farm
- Collaborate on microeconomy projects
- Develop practical, leadership, and social skills
Through these experiences, teens grow into young adults who understand how to manage time, solve problems, and contribute positively to a community. They don’t just learn independence—they live it.
A Working Farm That Builds Competence and Confidence
The Huntsburg Campus includes a working farm where students engage in purposeful work connected to nature. Whether caring for animals or tending crops, adolescents engage in work that is tangible and deeply meaningful.
This environment cultivates perseverance, environmental stewardship, and a sense of responsibility—helping teens understand the real impact of their efforts.
Strong Relationships and Deep Community
One of the most transformative aspects of boarding at Hershey is the strength of the relationships students build. Living in community teaches communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, and trust. These skills emerge naturally through shared daily life and become essential foundations for adulthood.
Guided Mentorship and Support
Hershey’s adolescent guides mentor students academically and personally. They create a safe, structured environment where teens can explore independence while receiving the support and guidance they need during this critical phase of development.
A Pathway to Meaningful Adulthood
Families often share that the growth they witness in their children is remarkable. Boarding students return home with increased maturity, independence, confidence, emotional resilience, and improved communication skills.
Hershey Montessori’s boarding experience prepares adolescents not just for college, but for life—giving them the tools they need to navigate adulthood with purpose and clarity.
More Than School. More Than Boarding.
Boarding is not just a housing option at Hershey Montessori School. It is a transformational experience rooted in Montessori principles and designed specifically for the needs of developing teens. For adolescents seeking independence, deeper learning, and meaningful work, the boarding environment at Hershey offers an unparalleled opportunity to grow into capable, confident young adults.
