Established in 2021, the adventure academy sits on a 100-acre gated nature preserve, surrounded by the 15,000-acre Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Learners can be seen daily exploring miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, inspecting the ecology of many ponds, measuring the growth of old-growth hardwood trees, reading in the 1,500-square-foot outdoor learning pavilion, building forts in Rooster Ravine, observing calves being born, collecting chicken eggs, or contemplating under the 1,000-square-foot covered porch around the academy center.

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The academy embraces a summer camp–style environment with daily running, extended time outdoors, and a commitment to the 1,000 Hours Outside movement—including a minimum of three hours outside each day.

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Each day begins with a one-mile team trail run, followed by outdoor exploration. Core academics take place prior to lunch, and the afternoons are filled with QUEST, our proprietary hands-on, inquiry- and project-based STEM integration curriculum. Here, curiosity takes the lead as children engage in projects, trail-based exploration, and meaningful challenges that build confidence, curiosity, courage, and resilience.

The learning model and curriculum are grounded in learning science and a history of child development principles from Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, Charlotte Mason, and many others.

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Additionally, the location and on-site curriculum were developed by our full-time resident educational psychologist. He specializes in supporting young learners with diverse cognitive and executive functioning profiles, particularly those in the elementary years whose developing regulatory systems benefit from:

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Intentional scaffolding
Attention control
Working memory
Planning
Impulse management

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Drawing on cognitive science and self-determination theory, the curriculum and work focus on strengthening executive capacity during critical stages of brain development—when self-regulation, emotional control, and task persistence are still maturing.

 

Through the cultivation of Six Habits of Heroic Thinking—curiosity, courage, creativity, critical thinking, confidence, and compassion—he helps learners build focus, resilience, and authentic ownership of their growth.

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For additional information about the academy, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page

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