A Scholars' Studio with focused space & flexible hours to study, take an online class, collaborate, find community, and move forward.
WHY
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OUR MISSION
The U.S. Department of Education defines a nontraditional student as having one or more of the following criteria: an undergraduate who is 24 years of age or older at enrollment, enrolled part-time, working full-time while in school, financially independent, has children, is a single parent, or has received a GED.
Research shows that the more nontraditional criteria a student meets, the less likely they are to complete their program. The growth of distance learning can add another layer of difficulty.
Tenderfoot exists to remove the barriers modern learners face by providing affordable, focused learning space and flexible support. We believe success shouldn’t depend on your schedule, age, or parenting status but on your determination.
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Advancing educational access and equity for adult learners, including parents, working professionals, and historically underserved student populations.
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Providing subsidized or sponsored access to focused, quiet, and child-friendly co-working study spaces that are community-supported and designed for those balancing life and learning.
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Supporting educational pathways for healthcare professionals, social workers, teachers, veterans, firemen, policemen, and first responders, those who serve others while striving to grow themselves
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Promoting mental and spiritual well-being alongside academic success by offering environments and resources that foster balance, focus, and inner growth.
SERVICES & CORE VALUES
A SUPPORTED JOURNEY
1. Education as a Sacred Journey – Every step of learning, from the first spark of curiosity to the deepest levels of mastery, can uplift the human spirit, deepen our shared experience, and transform the world. Every step of this journey should be informative and supported with dignity and respect.
Tenderfoot offers Journey Planning where students connect with local and national institutions in person, alongside peers who share their goals, in a neutral space designed for honest, informative conversation about how to succeed and choose academic next steps.
What is usually a solo online process becomes a shared experience: real questions, real answers, and real next steps. Whether programs are online, hybrid, or on campus, Tenderfoot turns recruitment into connection that is communal, accessible, and personal.
Although priority is given to members of Tenderfoot. These Journey Planning Sessions are free to the public.
EQUITABLE, FOCUSED, FLEXIBLE SPACE
2. Equitable Learning Environments – All learners have the right to a space that empowers them to thrive, where focus is protected, productivity is encouraged, and limitations are removed.
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Private Seating – For deep work and quiet concentration. Perfect for neurodivergent learners, test prep, or anyone needing a calm, enclosed space to focus without interruption.
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Semi-Private Seating – A balance of structure and connection. These spaces allow for personal focus with light visibility, ideal for those who benefit from a sense of presence without distraction.
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Public Seating – For flexible learners who thrive in open environments. Great for quick sessions, peer support, or staying productive in between life’s many transitions.
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Private Collaboration Spaces – Reserved rooms designed for team projects, study groups, or quiet discussion without disrupting others.
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Two-Hour Child Watch – The YMCA gives parents a chance to work out while their children are cared for. Why not the same for parents who study? Our child watch provides up to three hours of dedicated support so student parents can focus, reset, and complete what they came to do.
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Affordable - Members can reserve space in-person, via kiosk or or directly through the Tenderfoot App for an affordable price.
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A Hero's Journey - Tenderfoot is sustained by and for the community, doctors, nurses, teachers, first responders, and the students who become them have priority for sponsored membership. Supporting the education of these community members is investing in the health, safety, and strength of our entire community.
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TOOLS
3. Equitable Access to Essential Educational Tools– A lack of resources should limit no student’s success. Every learner must have reliable access to the technology, learning materials, and support systems necessary to engage in and succeed on their educational journey fully.
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Reliable High-Speed Internet – Our strong and stable Wi-Fi supports streaming lectures, submitting assignments, and participating in real-time virtual classrooms without delay.
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Charging Stations and Device-Friendly Spaces – Every seat is designed to power your progress without the need to hunt for outlets or managing dying batteries during crucial study sessions.
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Loaner Laptops and Headsets – For students between devices or managing tight budgets, we offer access to essential tech so no one is left behind in a digital learning environment.
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Print and Study Supplies – From whiteboards to note paper to exam-friendly calculators, we offer a stocked resource bar so students can show up prepared every time.
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Academic and Peer Support Networks – Whether you need help navigating an assignment or want to connect with fellow learners in your program, Tenderfoot fosters a culture of shared success and mutual support.
COMMUNITY
4. Access to an In-Person Learning Community – Every student deserves the opportunity to engage meaningfully with an in-person learning community, regardless of learning modality. Students should be supported in connecting with others in ways that honor their individual needs and learning styles, fostering a sense of belonging, collaboration, and shared growth.
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Free Lecture Series – Tenderfoot creates inclusive, in-person learning experiences where students can engage with relevant topics and connect with others beyond the classroom. Once a month Tenderfoot transforms into a "University of One" where
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Peer Meetups – Monthly meetups encourages informal gathering, accountability, and collaboration among students with shared cohorts, goals, schedules, or challenges.
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Tenderfoot Talks – Weekly Small-group gatherings that offer space for reflection, encouragement, and mutual support in collaboration through the journey.
ACCESSIBLE & INCLUSIVE VOLUNTEERING
5. Accessible & Inclusive Volunteering – Volunteering options should be available to all students. When students have the chance to serve others, they often discover greater purpose, resilience, and drive in their academic and personal lives.
Tenderfoot aligns with longstanding volunteer organizations to create meaningful, accessible pathways for members to serve their communities. Through partnerships with trusted local and national nonprofits, we offer a curated selection of volunteer opportunities that align with students’ interests, values, and academic goals. From mentoring youth to supporting food security initiatives, these partnerships allow Tenderfoot members to contribute to causes they care about without navigating the process alone.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
6. Compassionate Access to Care – Every person has the right to compassionate, varied mental health support, whether immediate or ongoing, in person or online. Access to care should never depend on social identity, socioeconomic status, background, or circumstance.
Tenderfoot creates access to supportive resources that nurture student well-being. Learners can connect with chaplain-led conversations, peer and group support, and curated online tools designed to promote balance, reflection, and community. These offerings provide affirming, accessible ways for students to care for their personal growth and resilience alongside their academic journey.
Tenderfoot Talks – Weekly Small-group gatherings that offer space for reflection, encouragement, and mutual support in collaboration through the journey.
SPONSOR PARTNERS
Every sponsorship at Tenderfoot is more than visibility; it’s the reason our doors can open and stay open for the students who need us most. From inspiring those who protect and serve, to leaving your mark in the spaces where learning happens, to fueling the daily rituals that keep students going, each opportunity connects your mission to the heart of the modern learners journey. You’ll be part of the moments that remove barriers, ignite ambition, and celebrate milestones while helping bring our Scholars' Studio to life in every community we serve.
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FOUNDERS
A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse and a Retired Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer faced a simple but urgent challenge while educating themselves through various academic programs: there was no dedicated place in Virginia Beach to study outside the home. Driven by a passion for education, they traveled to South Korea to study the phenomenon of “study cafes,” spaces open around the clock where students and professionals come to focus, learn, and move forward. They returned inspired to adapt this proven model to the American landscape.
Their research confirmed what millions of students already know: higher education is harder to complete not because of ability but because of access. Modern learners struggle with environmental distractions, the demands of part-time study with full-time work, raising children, feelings of isolation, and the absence of supportive community in an increasingly digital learning world.
Tenderfoot’s Scholars' Studios are the solution: purpose-built spaces with flexible hours that remove barriers, foster persistence, and democratize higher learning by making distance learning local for anyone enrolled in any program anywhere.
Tenderfoot. Brick and Mortar for the Modern Learner.
WORDS FROM
SCHOLARS
"Libraries rarely provide the kind of atmosphere as they once did. University campuses used to be more open than they are now. Coffee shops are hardly the place unless they start offering more dedicated quiet spaces. A co-working space model is a good idea..."
Reddit: pondercraft
"Co-working has the potential to improve well being and improve performance when working remotely and to democratize and improve education by reducing geographic, institutional and disciplinary barriers to collaborative scholarship."
"...Community spaces are hard to come by, and its so wonderful to hear when people are looking to create some."
Reddit: u/slimpickings
“Hybrid and flexible study environments that merge the strengths of coworking culture with academic needs represent a promising model for the future of learning.”
