Austin Montessori School’s Center for Work and Study at Gaines Creek is a unique educational environment for young adolescents following Dr. Maria Montessori's vision. The program provides a broad range of experiences to meet a young person's needs for intellectual stimulation, creative expression, independence, responsibility, social development, preparation for adult life, and personal growth. As a place-based learning environment, Gaines Creek focuses on human interdependency with the natural world as well as on the experience of social organization and personal contribution to one's community, both of which are highlights of adolescent development. In cooperation with the land and its related activities, and through participation in the life and commerce of the local community, young adolescents experience firsthand the practical integration of knowledge and community contribution, building a greater connection to society and the world.