Wonder

As the name implies, Wonder is designed to work with children where they’re at, in that open space of possibility and creativity. That space of wonder. We believe that wonder is the defining characteristic of early childhood, and something all of us modern humans would benefit from developing. We begin with the premise that questions are more important than answers, that creativity emerges when given space, and nature is our greatest teacher. Wonder programs work to connect participants to themselves, their peers and family groups, and the more than human world through play, nature observation, ecological literacy, crafting, team-building, social/emotional learning, ceremony, and outdoor activities.

We believe Wonder programs can be a good fit for just about anyone. They are not unreasonably physically challenging, nor do they require specific skills. But participants should come expecting a different kind of a program. Programs come alive when participants are truly interested in cultivating a love for the earth, have a curiosity about all life (including insects and spiders), are excited about the possibility of being up to their knees in mud, are willing to share and work through conflict, and are able to sit for a few minutes without being bored. You may also know that Wonder is right for your child if they, like us, get exhausted by traffic lights, strip malls, concrete, all kinds of screens, and stuffy indoor air.

Wonder land is in high up in Lefthand Canyon, and is a place for community gatherings and collective earth tending. We have frequent gatherings, forest parties, camp-outs, and ceremonies on the land. We also invite spontaneous visits for the entire community. During Wonder programs, we are eager to allow parent visits and participation, as long as we have a bit of time to prepare and plan.

With the exception of Wonder Vertical, and two days of Wonder Trails, all Wonder programs take place at 8500 feet in upper Lefthand Canyon, on privately stewarded land. The land is a mix of meadows, upper montane pine forests, regenerating aspen groves, and other micro-ecosystems. Having burned significantly in the Lefthand Canyon fire of 2020, the region is a small case study in post-fire ecology. We have basic off-the-grid infrastructure, with a tipi, simple mobile living units, a kitchen, and two ecological toilets. There is no reliable cell service, but emergency communication is available.

From the drop-off in North Boulder, the drive takes around 25 minutes, winding up Lee Hill and then Lefthand Canyon. The drive is a part of the program, as we leave the city behind and journey into increasingly wild land, with lively conversations and storytelling.

The drive can be challenging for participants prone to carsickness and we do everything to accommodate with seating arrangements. We also encourage the use of motion sickness bracelets (which can be incredibly effective), ginger supplements, or medicine such as Dramamine as necessary.

Registration opens on January 15th and our registration form can be found here.

Please see our payment policy. To guarantee a spot on all summer programs, payment is due by April 20th. For those on payment plans, full payment is due by the start of your child’s program.

We strive to make our programs affordable, aiming for the lowest end rates of Boulder’s youth programming. We never want cost to be a barrier to participation, and allow for payment plans to support this. Plans are made case-by-case, and we simply require full payment to be made by the start of each program. Please reach out directly if you are interested in a payment plan.

Refund: 

• 95% refund if a participant withdraws more than a month from start date (5% retained as processing fee)
• If a participant withdraws for health reasons (COVID diagnosis or others) at any point up to the start date of the program, we’ll refund 70% (the above refund timeline applies if withdrawal occurs earlier)
• Participants may cancel or withdraw up to two weeks in advance of program for a partial refund (50%)
• There is no refund if participant withdraws within two weeks of start, (except for in cases of COVID diagnosis or other health reasons, see above)

Cancellation

• If we are unable to run a program due to low enrollment, we will make the decision at least 6 weeks prior to start date and offer a full refund
• If health issues require facilitators to remain home we will work to find a suitable substitute. If we are unable to, and are required to cancel the program, we will refund prorated daily program costs for lost days
• If local mandates or other health circumstances out of our control prevent us from being able to run a program, we’ll refund 100%

Programs have been filling up fast in recent years. When the program reaches its maximum participants, we will add new registrations to a waitlist. This will be determined by the timestamp on the registration. In recent years, spaces have frequently opened up for participants on waitlists.