--- title: "Beyond the Classroom: Introducing the Lorien Wood Guilds" description: Introducing Guilds at Lorien Wood School, a k-12 private school in Vienna VA. image: https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Fall%20learning%202026.jpeg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#main-content) - [APPLY](https://lw-va.client.renweb.com/oa/index.cfm?memberid=782) - [VISIT](https://www.lorienwood.org/school-tours) - [FAMILY PORTAL](https://sis.factsmgt.com/family-portal?DistrictCode=LW-VA) - [GIVE](https://www.lorienwood.org/giving) [![Lorien Wood School\_Reverse Horizontal](https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Lorien%20Wood%20School_Reverse%20Horizontal.svg "Lorien Wood School_Reverse Horizontal")](https://www.lorienwood.org/) [![Lorien Wood School\_Reverse Horizontal](https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Lorien%20Wood%20School_Reverse%20Horizontal.svg "Lorien Wood School_Reverse Horizontal")](https://www.lorienwood.org/) - 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[TRIP](https://www.lorienwood.org/trip) - [Uniforms](https://www.lorienwood.org/parents#uniforms) - [Family Portal](https://sis.factsmgt.com/accounts/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Faccounts%2Fconnect%2Fauthorize%2Fcallback%3Fclient_id%3DidsrvCode%26response_type%3Dcode%26scope%3Dopenid%2520profile%26redirect_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fsis.factsmgt.com%252Faccounts%252Fdashboard%252Fcallback%26state%3DztBQXdsyN_H1zTJ2FXNjiH6IZ6yg2A0XjAqlfkXJ_z8%26nonce%3DEtDDEDRjzyCOE1tnRLIYqWVzdh_PYdfKsPW8Bl7AbJw%26response_mode%3Dform_post%26code_challenge%3Dp247BKfCnPnJxw2txWmZt4e8pynTIox1yv2mpzgdaEI%253D%26code_challenge_method%3DS256) - [School Forms](https://www.lorienwood.org/parents#School_Forms) - [Parent Reading List](https://www.lorienwood.org/parents#Parent_Reading_List) - GIVING - [How to Give](https://www.lorienwood.org/giving) [Facebook](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#0) [Instagram](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#0) [Linkedin](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#0) [X](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#0) [YouTube](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#0) [Medium](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds#0) 3 min read # Beyond the Classroom: Introducing the Lorien Wood Guilds [![Picture of Theresa Willen](https://www.lorienwood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TWillen-2.png?width=30&height=30&name=TWillen-2.png) Theresa Willen](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/author/theresa-willen) : Published November 2, 2026 [Charlotte Mason](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/charlotte-mason) [Integral Learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/integral-learning) [experiential learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/experiential-learning) [Biblical Worldview](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/biblical-worldview) ![Beyond the Classroom: Introducing the Lorien Wood Guilds](https://www.lorienwood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Fall%20learning%202026.jpeg?width=3024&height=4032&name=Fall%20learning%202026.jpeg) **What does education look like when the goal is not simply what a child knows, but who that child is becoming—and what he or she will do with what has been given?** At Lorien Wood, we believe education is formation. Knowledge matters deeply, but education should also form young people who can take what they are learning, cultivate the gifts God has given them, and put both to work in service of others. That conviction is behind one of our newest initiatives: the **Lorien Wood Guilds**. Through the Guilds, students gather in multi-age communities centered around practical skills, creativity, leadership, service, and stewardship. They have opportunities not only to learn, but to **make, communicate, create, steward, and give**—to discover that their growing knowledge and abilities can become part of God's redemptive work in the world. The idea behind the Guilds is both old and new. Historically, a guild was a community in which people learned alongside one another. Skills were practiced rather than merely discussed. Experienced members taught those who were just beginning. Work had a purpose, and learning was connected to the good of the wider community. That is the spirit we hope to cultivate at Lorien Wood. **Learning by Doing** Our students spend their days encountering rich ideas through literature, history, mathematics, science, languages, the arts, Scripture, and the natural world. The Guilds give them another kind of opportunity: the chance to ask, **“What can I do with what I am learning?”** Students began the year with a Guild Faire, where they explored the possibilities, met the adults who would guide them, and considered where their own interests and abilities might lead. From there, five Guilds began meeting throughout the week: **Creation & Innovation** invites students to design, build, experiment, solve problems, and practice the kind of craftsmanship that turns an idea into something useful. **Rhetoric & Civic Leadership** develops the habits of thoughtful speech, careful listening, persuasive communication, debate, and responsible participation in community life. **Sacred Arts** explores the ways beauty and creativity can become acts of worship, bringing together artistic skill, imagination, and the Christian story. **Missions: Cultures & Civilizations** helps students look beyond themselves as they learn about peoples, cultures, service, and the call to love our neighbors both near and far. **Athletics & Wellness** encourages students to understand physical strength, movement, teamwork, discipline, and care for the bodies God has given them. The activities will vary throughout the year because the Guilds are intended to grow with the students themselves. A project may begin with a problem that needs solving on our campus, a skill someone in our community can teach, an opportunity to serve, or simply a student asking, “Could we learn how to do that?” That question is exactly the kind of curiosity we want to encourage. **A Community of Learners** One of the distinctive features of the Guilds is that they are not simply another set of classes. Students of different ages have opportunities to work alongside one another. Adults serve not only as instructors but also as mentors. Parents and members of the wider community can bring their own knowledge and experience into the life of the school. A student who begins as a learner may eventually become capable of helping someone younger. A project that starts as an experiment may become something useful to the school. A developing interest may reveal a gift a student did not yet know he or she possessed. This is education as formation: growing not only in what we **know**, but also in what we can **make, communicate, create, steward, and give**. **Abiding and Bearing Fruit** Our theme for the 2026–27 school year comes from Jesus' words in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” The Guilds offer one more place for that fruit to become visible. We want our students to become people who recognize that their gifts are not merely possessions. They are things to cultivate and ultimately to offer—to God and to their neighbors. A well-made object matters. A carefully reasoned argument matters. A beautiful work of art matters. A willing act of service matters. Learning to persevere, cooperate, lead, follow, solve a problem, and do worthwhile work well matters. And perhaps, somewhere along the way, a child will discover, **“I can do this. I can make something. I can solve something. I can serve someone. I have something to contribute.”** That is what we hope will happen in the Lorien Wood Guilds. Because education should do more than prepare children for the next assignment. It should help prepare them for a life of faithful, fruitful work. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Stepping Back in Time: The Lorien Wood Historic Ball](https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/IMG_6547%20(1)-min.jpg)](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/stepping-back-in-time-the-lorien-wood-historic-ball) #### [Stepping Back in Time: The Lorien Wood Historic Ball](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/stepping-back-in-time-the-lorien-wood-historic-ball) [![Picture of Tacye Clarke](https://www.lorienwood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Faculty%20Photos/Tacye%20Clarke.jpg?width=30&name=Tacye%20Clarke.jpg) Tacye Clarke](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/author/tacye-clarke) : Apr 18, 2024, 11:15:03 AM Experiential learning at Lorien wood school, private school in Vienna, VA. Classical school northern va. [Charlotte Mason](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/charlotte-mason) [Integral Learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/integral-learning) [hands on learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/hands-on-learning) [experiential learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/experiential-learning) [Read More](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/stepping-back-in-time-the-lorien-wood-historic-ball) [![The Lorien Wood Emblem](https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Logos/Lorien%20Wood%20School_Green%20Seal%20(1).svg)](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/the-lorien-wood-emblem) #### [The Lorien Wood Emblem](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/the-lorien-wood-emblem) [![Picture of Amy Butcher](https://www.lorienwood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Faculty%20Photos/Amy%20Butcher.jpg?width=30&name=Amy%20Butcher.jpg) Amy Butcher](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/author/amy-butcher) : Mar 27, 2025, 8:52:11 AM Learn about the emblem of Lorien Wood school, a private school in Northern Virginia. [Charlotte Mason](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/charlotte-mason) [Integral Learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/integral-learning) [Classical Education](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/classical-education) [Read More](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/the-lorien-wood-emblem) [![10 Exciting Field Trip Destinations: Exploring Beyond the Classroom at Lorien Wood](https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/2024-04-11_RVP_LW_Art_Museum_Field_Trip_smaller-013%20(1).jpg)](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/10-exciting-field-trip-destinations-exploring-beyond-the-classroom-at-lorien-wood) #### [10 Exciting Field Trip Destinations: Exploring Beyond the Classroom at Lorien Wood](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/10-exciting-field-trip-destinations-exploring-beyond-the-classroom-at-lorien-wood) [![Picture of Lynnette Fields](https://www.lorienwood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Faculty%20Photos/Lynnette%20Fields.jpg?width=30&name=Lynnette%20Fields.jpg) Lynnette Fields](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/author/lynnette-fields) : Apr 18, 2024, 12:59:55 PM Field Trips in Washington D.C., Experiential learning at Lorien Wood School, a Christian private school in northern Virginia. [Outdoor education](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/outdoor-education) [Integral Learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/integral-learning) [experiential learning](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/tag/experiential-learning) [Read More](https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/10-exciting-field-trip-destinations-exploring-beyond-the-classroom-at-lorien-wood) Academics Academics - [Form System & Curriculum](https://www.lorienwood.org/form-system-curriculum) - [Educational Philosophy](https://www.lorienwood.org/educational-philosophy) - [Our Distinctives](https://www.lorienwood.org/distinctives) - [FAQs](https://www.lorienwood.org/faqs) Admissions Admissions - [Admissions](https://www.lorienwood.org/admissions) - [Visit Campus](https://www.lorienwood.org/school-tours) - [Request Information](https://www.lorienwood.org/request-information) Parents Parents - [Family Portal](https://accounts.renweb.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fconnect%2Fauthorize%2Fcallback%3Fclient_id%3DfamilyPortalCode%26redirect_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ffamilyportal.renweb.com%252Fsignin-oidc%26response_type%3Dcode%26scope%3Dopenid%2520profile%2520familyPortalUserInfo%2520familyPortalUserConfig%2520offline_access%2520ftApi%26code_challenge%3DfnBfdIahTVR_0kwVd14HGUyCla7gZGS7CPhlAsBMJiY%26code_challenge_method%3DS256%26response_mode%3Dform_post%26nonce%3D638840530982090322.YWM2MmYxZDItNGM2Zi00NmU2LWFiNTgtYWQzN2VhYTQyN2E0ZWY3MDg5ZmUtOWIwMy00ZDM5LTg5NzYtOWQ3MGFjZTg3Yzhh%26state%3DCfDJ8Lq1N5Cgm6tFnilnlNGlkcE7HJ57Gygpa_t0OWRxS-BY16zFQI_OAbOEMIc0RPWq5dm9R5xMPhYBc8n5G_SMGJsHahfCCI71fw35TiNrR8WazTSFierSIZFJghgb0HURKY2tSHoVC-ubSb5tvJa7THTgSkJAZjF29F36mE_-TW_ZLdyVY3VdvEMmHJ8Sxhm1ED7I-ijzI22mmCXC0dRiYzqwmsLIxZ2sWtuoGBnrp-B7z1m9JAYro4FoHSdEFzvxrLczMd2qDnRTgPq4svmpG5ozn0Qn6s9sORMzrF6QB59icabDyMPB3ViYZfhX5w6s0AhNGuI5_pRyxAf2Vbd9_YVXidDYL7i0j4MdgQZJZVtJnYzPyzSksemLtqMccSBNVJh9rfRJrnBwzdmWjG9ed9-sNDuub-JIh_Xffp7DoCfZEHS32_IxI2BaNcOCqPHqIaLD4omvsS3lXaaxRAFDyUI%26x-client-SKU%3DID_NET6_0%26x-client-ver%3D6.35.0.0) - [Student Reading Lists](https://www.lorienwood.org/student-reading-page) - [Parental Service](https://www.lorienwood.org/parents) [![Lorien Wood School\_Reverse Emblem](https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Lorien%20Wood%20School_Reverse%20Emblem.svg)](https://www.lorienwood.org) - 8200 Bell Lane Vienna, VA 22182 - Main Office: 703-854-1640 - Email: office@lorienwood.org © 2026 Lorien Wood School All Rights Reserved [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lorienwoodschool)[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lorienwoodschool/) Return to top ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Theresa Willen", "url" : "https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/author/theresa-willen" }, "dateModified" : "2026-11-02T17:13:21.281Z", "datePublished" : "2026-11-02T17:13:21.000Z", "headline" : "Beyond the Classroom: Introducing the Lorien Wood Guilds", "image" : [ "https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Fall%20learning%202026.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.lorienwood.org/hubfs/Lorien%20Wood%20School_Green%20Horizontal.svg" } } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Theresa Willen", "url" : "https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/author/theresa-willen" } ], "dateModified" : "2026-11-02T17:13:21Z", "datePublished" : "2026-11-02T17:13:21Z", "description" : "Introducing Guilds at Lorien Wood School, a k-12 private school in Vienna VA.", "headline" : "Beyond the Classroom: Introducing the Lorien Wood Guilds", "image" : [ "https://44614567.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/44614567/Fall%20learning%202026.jpeg" ], "inLanguage" : "en-us", "keywords" : "Charlotte Mason, Integral Learning, experiential learning, Biblical Worldview", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.lorienwood.org/the-fellowship-of-learning-adventures-in-education-at-lorien-wood/beyond-the-classroom-introducing-the-lorien-wood-guilds", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Lorien Wood" } } ```