About Kids Headquarters

Dave is re-writing many pages, including this one. This page will have a different look once everything is updated. Please be patient with us.

Here is a link to our staff biographies: Planet Staff

WHAT IS KIDS' HEADQUARTERS?

Kids Headquarters is a non-profit 501(c)(3) child-advocacy organization. Located in Mill Valley, California, Kids’ Headquarters has been serving Marin since 1995, providing wholesome activities and meticulous supervision, and also maintaining a unique, ongoing community discussion of every issue that pertains to what is best for children.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The Planet is operated as an ongoing development of applied advocacy; this raises our “child-advocacy” above any other we have found, as the necessary power-imbalance of adults over minors makes it easy for adults to see anything they do to children as “advocacy.” Real advocacy is a conscientious effort to honor the expressed interests of the subject group, denying those interests only when truly necessary – NOT dismissing them every time they fail to suit bureaucratic or income priorities.

Thus our shops began as experiments in “interest-based” learning. Our success brought no inquiries from the educational bureaucracies, but we soon found our work mimicked as “hand-on” or “project-based.” The essence of the system – the carefully guided interest of the child – was overlooked, and untold millions of dollars in funding went to waste (while we, sitting a bit outside “the system,” could get none of it.)

Our advocacy approach also makes it inconceivable tell a child or family “We love you, but you’re not scheduled now, so you can’t come in.” So we spent years learning how to run a cost-effective system like an unscheduled neighborhood or park. Convenience is just one result, but now we find everyone talking about “drop-in,” the concept reduced to a Quik-Stop “camp.” Ironically, the competing programs, guided entirely by profit, with no mention of quality or socialization, leave us starving for business. When they thoughtlessly close two weeks before school starts, the meticulously sensitive and homey little Planet has to serve as the end-of-summer “drop-in” overflow tank.

We are not complaining. The pioneers in any field always see these clear signs at the roots of the problems we seek to help resolve and commenting on them is a tangible way to explain our philosophy.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (ID: # 94-2436148), emphasizing quality even when it conflicts with profitability, Kids’ Headquarters relies on your appreciation in order to exist. We are always grateful to accept your TAX-DEDUCTIBLE* donations.

Kids' Headquarters / The Planet
220 Redwood Highway
Mill Valley, CA 94941

*Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by California State law.