Our Call to Adventure

Listening to the audiobook while working on the farms, something clicked.

By the end of the day, I had smoked my last cigarette. This small but profound victory ignited a curiosity within me - a realisation that learning had the power to transform lives in an instant.

With that, I dove headfirst into a world of audiobooks and podcasts, devouring knowledge on everything from leadership to personal discipline and copywriting to cellular neuroscience. Each new insight built upon the last, crafting a better version of myself.

Years later, my children's experiences in traditional schooling began to concern me. Our daughter Ellie wasn't practicing her spelling, and our son Caleb was resisting his assignments, being bored and uninspired. Seeing their natural curiosity and love for learning disappear, I knew something had to change. The day Caleb lit up with excitement over a school project on motorbikes, I saw firsthand the power of passion-driven learning. But I also saw the limitations of a system that didn't nurture this curiosity.

This was my crossing of the threshold-the moment I knew our journey had to take a different path. My self-education led me to a podcast where Jeff Sandefer spoke with Jordan Peterson about the Acton Academies and the hero's journey in education. His words resonated deeply with my growing concerns and aspirations for my children.

The call to adventure was clear: I had to create an environment where my children and others could retain their creativity and love for learning. Yet, the closest Acton Academy was across the ocean in the USA. Inspired by the belief that with great responsibility comes great fulfilment, I decided to take on the challenge of opening the first Acton Academy right here, in New Zealand.

This journey isn't just about building a school-it is about forging a place where children could embark on their own hero's journey. A place where their innate creativity could flourish, where they could explore their passions, and where they could learn to master skills that would serve them throughout life. It was about creating a meritocracy where effort and mastery were rewarded, and where every child could become the hero of their own story.

And so, Acton Academy North Shore was born-not just as a school, but as a beacon of hope for the next generation of heroes. Here, children are encouraged to challenge themselves, engage in Socratic discussions, and most importantly, discover their unique calling in life.

This is not the end of the journey, but the beginning. Every day at Acton Academy is the hero's journey as every child's own story of adventure, growth, and self-discovery. We invite you to join us on this journey and to help your child become the hero they were always meant to be.

Shaun Gainford

Founder of Acton Academy North Shore