About the
Local Learning Network
The Local Learning Network connects families, microschools, and cultural institutions through place-based learning experiences that make every community a classroom. Designed for a new era of flexible education, LLN curates and organizes opportunities for meaningful, real-world learning, including museum visits, nature explorations, local art and history encounters, and more. This can be used by families and nontraditional schools to discover local cultural institutions who are prepared to welcome them, whether that means dedicated hours for exploratory trips, reserving classroom spaces, or engaging with curriculum materials on cultural institution we
LLN bridges two worlds that often operate in isolation: education and culture. Families and nontraditional schools are seeking access to high-quality, standards-aligned learning experiences that are grounded in local context. Luckily, cultural institutions are rich with this content and are in a position to strategically place their programs as essential parts of the local educational ecosystem. By aligning both sides, LLN helps communities reclaim the idea that learning doesn’t belong only to classrooms—it belongs to everyone, everywhere.
The Local Learning Network is a project of HB3 Consulting and Advisory, founded by Dr. Matt Borek, an educator and researcher whose career spans classrooms, higher education, cultural programming, and state education systems. HB3 helps schools, agencies, museums, and organizations design learning experiences that are relational, reflective, and grounded in context. Dr. Borek has extensive experience reviewing curricular content and will serve as the main curator of educational materials and offerings that appear on the LLN. Families and nontraditional schools can be certain they are seeing only those institutions who are prepared to welcome them and have designed offerings that reflect the unique needs of homeschool and microschool populations.
HB3 works at the intersection of education policy, program design, and organizational learning. Its mission is to help leaders and learners build systems that move with curiosity and adaptability rather than rigid control. Through projects like the Local Learning Network, HB3 transforms philosophical commitments to connection, curiosity, and cultural relevance into practical frameworks that expand how, where, and why students learn.
For Families and Nontraditional Schools:
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Learning that sticks: Students retain more when learning is experiential and place-based (see Sobel, 2004; Smith, 2013).
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Personalized adventures: Families and microschools can design flexible, interest-driven itineraries aligned to curriculum goals.
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Community connection: Builds civic awareness and belonging through real encounters with local history, culture, and ecology.
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Accessible enrichment: Many experiences are free or low-cost, creating equity of access beyond traditional classrooms.
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Reflection-ready design: Each experience encourages journaling, discussion, or creative output—turning travel into insight.
For Cultural Institutions:
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Deeper educational impact: LLN connects site visits with pre- and post-learning activities, reinforcing retention and relevance.
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Expanded audiences: Reach families, microschools, and lifelong learners who are actively seeking educational content.
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Streamlined partnerships: LLN provides an easy entry point for collaboration without adding administrative burden.
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Authentic storytelling: Institutions showcase local heritage as part of a national learning framework, highlighting unique strengths.
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Data-informed engagement: Participation metrics and feedback loops help refine programming and demonstrate community impact.