We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Steel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Need and Impact.

Need: We started GrassRoots Middle based on an unmet need in the market. Our oldest son was aging out of traditional homeschooling/microschooling programs, so after deep research we uncovered that there were, either none or very few, BIPOC centered, 100% outdoor, nature-based learning programs for homeschool middle schoolers across the nation….so we decided to create one!
Impact: Once we built the program, we uncovered that there were several families and children, like ours, that wanted to participate in a program like GrassRoots Middle, however there wasn’t any available to them/us. Since creating our program in 2024, we’ve seen the incredible impact that is being made in our respective community.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
GrassRoots Middle is truly a vibe! We inspire homeschooled middle schoolers through nature-based learning and outdoor movement. Our class offerings are dynamic, changing each semester to keep the learning experience fresh, vibrant, and exciting for our youth. GrassRoots Middle offers a unique educational experience beyond the traditional classroom setting for homeschool families and children aged 8-14. Our BIPOC-centered, nature-based program is held weekly and features bespoke learning experience during set times, with the remaining time dedicated to outdoor activities and collaborative learning.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is the mecca so there are endless spaces to visit across the city to be active and outdoors, amongst other things. Given our focus at GrassRoots Middle is outdoor education, we spend a lot of time in nature and learning from our environment. With this said, we’d suggest the following areas:
1. Nature Trails/Hiking: Belt-Line, Cascade Springs Nature, Clyde Shepherd, High Falls State Park.
2. Museums: Atlanta History Center, Fernbank .
3. Camping Grounds: Sweetwater,
4. Service: Atlanta Community Food Bank

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The founders of Gather Forest School has been the biggest inspiration for the creation of GrassRoots Middle! Ashley Causey-Golden and Shelby Stone-Steel co-founded Gather Forest School five years ago and their program is thriving across the city of Atlanta! They’ve established a framework and blueprint for what a successful outdoor, nature based program can be! At GrassRoots Middle we’ve benefited greatly from the roadmap that they’ve created.

Website: https://www.grassrootsmiddle.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grassrootsmiddle?igsh=MXhpa2M1ZndreXg0NA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grassroots-middle/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@grassrootsmiddle?si=7T3uJ-Oj3fvV6UL4

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