Kul School

The Green School (www.greenschool.org) in Bali is remarkable--a sustainable, environmentally friendly international school set amidst coconut palms on either side of the rocky Ayung River. All of the buildings on-site are constructed out of bamboo, and the classrooms, or learning villages, are open air. I gave myself a whirlwind tour of the grounds on my way to the airport before leaving Bali. A woman I had met the day before invited me for a visit; intrigued, I went.

The captivating bridge, pictured above, is the centerpiece of the Kul Kul school campus, connecting either side of the river, and bridging the school community with that of the locals--both of whom use it daily. It was built entirely out of bamboo by the 30-something designer Aldo Landwehr.

The school is scheduled to open next month. Here's what they say:

We are an international group of educators, environmentalists, and business professionals who have combined our expertise to create a school that will educate a new generation of children. Our students will be inspired thinkers and creative problem solvers, knowledgeable about all aspects of life, and capable of leading a changing and challenging world. They will know about everything from organic gardening to website design, from running a small business to offsetting carbon emissions. They will be people to be proud of, people we can trust to manage and live well in an increasingly complex world.

I spoke to the Head of Admissions who said that they plan to engage the local farmers in bamboo microfinance. They also have plans to build a chocolate factory. While my elementary school was exemplary, I must admit I feel very disappointed that we did not have one of these.

The school is rather expensive--about $10,000 a year--but intended for high-flying expat children, whose parents either have a conscience or were once hippies who have done something right. The idea for the school was initiated by John Hardy, the hippy-cum-jewelry designer-cum-multi-millionaire who funded the school with $5 million last year after he sold off the company.

The property is gorgeous, and one can't help but wonder what kind of creative, interesting, innovative minds might be cultivated here.