ATX
FLYING
SQUAD

Flying Squads are a youth liberation and anti-oppression collective, with squads taking flight all over the world! We believe in the abolition of divided spaces between young people and the rest of their community. This means that young people step out of the classroom, away from academics and into public space as a form of youth activism.

pay for squad

1 flight (single)
4 flights (monthly)

  • Young people’s rights are respected here. Click here for more info.

    Flying Squads are consent-based. If you’re signing up for your child make sure to get their consent and agreement before doing so.

    We believe in community, mutual aid, and taking care of one another. These values are reflected in how we work through what we want to do each day, how we address conflict, and how we interact with one another, both within individual Flying Squads, and within our network of facilitators and groups.

  • Meghan Suniga-Davies is a born & raised Austinite with adult and teen unschoolers, a longtime youth rights advocate, community builder & facilitator of alternative programming to conventional school. She is passionate about youth liberation, promoting autonomy, self-directed education and anti-oppression through collaborative exploration of the city.

    Meghan supports adults moving away from control & toward partnership in both education & relationships. She believes that empowering youth in collaborative decision-making within the community paves the way for a future where the personhood of all youth are not reduced to adults in training, but recognized as fully capable of contributing meaningfully to society.

    Questions about Flying Squad? Email Meghan.

  • Based in the values of Self-Directed Education, we provide young people in Austin with time to practice making their own decisions in a nurturing community, while taking up public space on what are considered conventional school days.

    We provide teens and tweens with time in a nurturing community of practice through which they can develop relationships and work on self-confidence with genuine feedback from peers and society.

    Our days are designed to build confidence and foster camaraderie among young people and the local community.

  • We meet most Thursdays. Drop off is at 10am & pickup is at 3pm.

  • Unlike school field trips, we don’t have a predetermined destination. Instead we practice the skills involved with community decision-making as we plan where to go and how to spend our time.

    Each day starts at a meeting place before we begin. It is often (but not always) in downtown Austin.

    The exact location is intentionally private for the safety of our families, and only active squad families will have access to this information.

  • $130 (monthly)
    Receive a Squad punch card that lasts 4 flights.

    $35 (single)
    Come fly with us for a day! Parents are welcome to shadow on trials, but we ask that you hang back a bit and allow your young person to immerse in the squad without interference.

    Austin Flying Squad aims to accommodate affordability. Email Meghan if you need help making an alternate arrangement.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

ATX Flying Squad is intentionally building a brave, inclusive group where every participant — especially Black, Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, disabled, immigrant, and neurodivergent youth — can thrive. We recognize that people hold multiple, intersecting identities, and we honor the lived experiences and wisdom each person brings to our community. We actively divest from shame-based thinking and encourage all of our community to show up as their full selves.

  • Treat everyone with dignity, empathy, and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, ability, age, religion, or immigration status.

    Use people’s chosen names and pronouns. If you make a mistake, correct yourself and move forward respectfully.

    No teasing, name-calling, bullying, or exclusion will be tolerated — online or in person.

  • Practice active listening — give your full attention, honor others’ voices, and be open to perspectives that are different from your own.

    Share your story, not someone else’s. Only speak on your own experiences unless given permission.

    Call people in, not out: If harm is caused, we respond with accountability, not shame.

  • Respect physical, emotional, and personal boundaries. Consent always comes first.

    If someone sets a boundary or says “no,” honor it — every time.

    Violence, harassment, or threats of any kind — verbal, physical, or digital — are strictly prohibited.

  • Show up for yourself and others. This is a program of collective responsibility and mutual support.

    Practice community care — offer help, check in on peers, and contribute to a positive environment.

    Take responsibility for your actions. If harm is done, you are expected to listen, reflect, and make amends.

  • Embrace and support different ways of learning, expressing, and moving through the world.

    Don’t assume what someone can or cannot do. Ask, don’t guess. Include, don’t isolate.

    Accessibility is everyone’s job — speak clearly, slow down when needed, and offer help respectfully.

  • This is a confidential and consent-centered group. What is shared here stays here unless someone is at risk of serious harm.

    We do not allow hate speech, discriminatory language, or microaggressions.

    We challenge systems of harm — racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and all forms of marginalization — at every level.

  • Growth is ongoing. Be willing to unlearn harmful ideas, ask questions, and take feedback.

    Mistakes are part of learning. Own them, apologize when necessary, and stay committed to doing better.

    Be curious, be courageous, and stay rooted in compassion.

  • Celebrate everyone’s wins, efforts, and progress — big or small.

    Uplift joy, creativity, culture, and liberation. This is a space where you get to be your full self.