Curiosity Untamed

Curiosity Untamed began its journey in 2007 under the original name of Frontier Girls, created by Kerry Cordy. It was envisioned as a scout-like program fostering patriotism, community service, life skills, and leadership, primarily aimed at girls. Due to growing interest from boys, the program expanded into Quest Clubs in 2010, becoming more inclusive and co-ed. By 2013, the homeschooling community started using the badges from these programs as part of their curriculum, marking the birth of Curiosity Untamed. This transition was significantly driven by the need to provide a flexible, engaging educational experience that was both fun and instructive, suitable for all ages​ (Curiosity Untamed)​​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Differentiation: Unique Aspects of Curiosity Untamed Curiosity Untamed stands out due to its badge-based learning system, which is reminiscent of traditional scouting but uniquely tailored for the modern educational landscape. The program offers a dynamic way of learning through "Areas of Discovery," covering a wide range of topics from art and science to character building and outdoor activities. This approach not only encourages skill development and community involvement but also supports self-directed learning and exploration, making it a versatile tool in a homeschooling environment​ (Curiosity Untamed)​​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Getting Started with Curiosity Untamed To begin with Curiosity Untamed, families can choose from various subscription models, starting at $9.99 per month for family access. This includes a plethora of resources such as badge requirements, a monthly newsletter, and a parent handbook. No physical components like handbooks are needed as everything is provided digitally, ensuring that the content is always up-to-date and accessible from anywhere​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Operational Mechanics: How It Works Curiosity Untamed is designed to be flexible and user-friendly, catering to individual needs and educational goals. Families can start by selecting badges from any of the nine discovery areas. Each badge has a set of core and optional requirements, allowing learners to focus on aspects that intrigue them the most. The program supports a mix of independent and parent-led activities, ranging from hands-on tasks and field trips to community service projects. It's structured to fit into various schedules, accommodating both short daily engagements and longer, project-based learning each week​ (Curiosity Untamed)​​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Educational Content and Languages The curriculum includes an expansive range of subjects within its badges, such as:

  • Art and Agriculture

  • Science and Technology

  • Health and Safety

  • Home Economics

  • History and Geography

  • Music and Community Service​ (Curiosity Untamed)​​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Strengths of the Program Users praise Curiosity Untamed for its flexibility, allowing children of different ages to learn together. The variety of badges and the ability to tailor the educational content to each child’s interests are highly valued. Many appreciate the program's support for hands-on learning and real-world application, which are seen as crucial for developing practical skills and a lifelong passion for learning​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Areas for Improvement While Curiosity Untamed offers extensive benefits, some users feel that more structured guidance in achieving certain complex badges could enhance the experience. Additionally, the digital-only format might be a limitation for those who prefer physical materials or live in areas with inconsistent internet access​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Parental Advice for Maximizing Benefits Parents recommend integrating Curiosity Untamed with other educational resources and real-world activities to fully leverage its potential. They suggest using the program’s flexibility to adapt to the child’s learning pace and interests, which significantly enhances engagement and educational outcomes​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Ideal and Non-Ideal Fit Curiosity Untamed is ideal for families seeking a comprehensive, customizable educational tool that promotes self-directed learning and practical skill development across a wide age range. It might not suit those looking for a highly structured or traditional curriculum without the flexibility of badge-driven learning​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Grades and Cost Curiosity Untamed is suitable for all ages, from preschool through adult learners. The cost ranges from $9.99 per month for a family subscription to $99.99 for an annual group subscription, making it an affordable option for most homeschooling budgets​ (Curiosity Untamed)​​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

Availability The program is accessible directly through the Curiosity Untamed website, where users can subscribe to different plans based on their needs, and physical badges can be purchased optionally​ (Curiosity Untamed)​.

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Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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