Guided Explorations

We’re in our Explorer era!

What happens when curiosity meets collaboration?
Different perspectives spark creative solutions and reveal new ways to see and experience the world.

There’s a plan, but we’re flexible!

Guided Explorations are project-based classes where our Navigators guide the day’s activity, project, or challenge while still leaving room for kids to follow their own curiosity and wonder. Explorers might conduct a science experiment, build a clever invention, bring a story to life, craft something original from everyday materials, or solve a fun puzzle. Each session sparks imagination, inspires creative problem-solving, and gives kids the chance to work together.

Meet

Drop in and join grade-level peers in one of our themed learning centers.

Wonder

Explore big questions through guided experiences led by our Navigators.

Grow

Build skills and confidence through engaging experiences.

Words don’t like to sit still here. They tiptoe, skip, and sometimes wander off on little adventures of their own. Curious words travel through stories, revealing sounds, patterns, and meanings along the way. Characters change, ideas grow, and simple sentences begin to sparkle with imagination. Reading, phonics, sight words, retelling tales, and early writing blend together, showing that language isn’t just something on a page. It’s something fun to explore, play with, and bring to life.
Mix, shake, and watch what happens! Some things sink, some float, some fizz, and some wobble. You’ll test ideas, ask questions, and try again when experiments surprise you. Magnifying glasses, measuring cups, and curious eyes help you see the world in new ways. Every bubble, splash, or tumble leads to a discovery and a giggle. Science is hands-on, full of surprises, and ready for your curiosity to run wild.
Feelings love to show up here in the form of giggles, frowns, excitement, or even a little bit of frustration. You’ll notice them, name them, and find ways to calm down when they feel too big. Through silly games, moving around, and short stories, you practice being brave, sharing, and helping friends. Mistakes are just chances to try again, and every win, small or big, makes you stronger. By the end, you’ll feel ready to take on anything that comes your way.
Grab crayons, paints, and anything you can get messy with. Lines wiggle, colors splash, and textures invite your fingers to explore. Every scribble, stamp, or splash has a story. There are no mistakes here, only surprises. Paint drips, stamps squish, and every mark is part of the adventure. By the end, your doodles come alive, and you’ll see that being an artist can be messy, silly, and totally fun.
Blocks, beams, and bridges are ready for your ideas. Towers wobble, walls lean, and bridges stretch as you figure out how shapes, numbers, and balance come together. Measuring isn’t just counting. It’s seeing if something will fit, stand, or hold up when you put it to the test. Hands stay busy while your mind asks “What happens if…?” and “Can I make it stronger?” Building becomes a way to play, explore, and discover that math and creativity work best when they come alive under your fingers.
Puzzles pop up everywhere. Patterns hide in plain sight, games invite a second try, and mistakes are clues pointing the way. You test ideas, notice what works, and try again with growing confidence. Memory games, sequencing, and playful challenges keep your brain moving and your focus sharp. Bit by bit, frustration turns into curiosity, and problem-solving starts to feel like an adventure worth chasing.

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

Stories are made from threads of characters, settings, plot twists, and events, all woven together to create something new. A small tug can change an ending, open a new path, or reveal a hidden connection. Stories are pulled apart, rearranged, and woven back together in new ways. By the end, storytelling feels less like following rules and more like crafting something original, where every piece has a purpose and every story can grow.
Questions are the starting line for big discoveries. What happens if you change one thing? What stays the same? You’ll design experiments, test ideas, watch what happens, and take notes like a detective on the case. Some results surprise you, some make sense, and some spark brand-new questions. Along the way, you’ll see that investigating, wondering, and trying again is what makes science exciting.
Take a deep breath and check in with your head and heart. Thoughts, feelings, and actions all connect, and here’s where you get to play with them. You’ll move your body, play clever games, and try mini-experiments to see what helps you calm down, focus, and think clearly. You’ll practice teamwork, notice how little choices make a big difference, and discover strategies to feel more in control. By the end, you’ll feel sharper, steadier, and ready for whatever the day throws at you.
Time to bring creatures, characters, and tiny worlds to life. You’ll squish clay, swirl paints, cut, glue, and build, discovering how small choices change everything. Every project is part puzzle, part story, and part adventure. Art becomes a way to show your imagination, solve creative problems, and make ideas that are all your own. By the end, your creations are full of personality, surprises, and clever touches only you could imagine.
Every project starts with a pile of possibilities and a challenge to conquer. Sketch it, test it, rebuild it, or scrap it for a better idea. Using recycled materials and hands-on tools, you’ll experiment with fractions, geometry, and measurements to create something that works. Teams matter, plans change, and mistakes turn into breakthroughs. Along the way, forging ideas and building with your hands makes math and design feel like magic you can actually touch.
Every move counts here. Games twist, puzzles sneak surprises, and your choices shape what happens next. You’ll plan ahead, adjust your ideas, and explain why you made each move. Board games, riddles, and brain teasers invite teamwork, clever thinking, and problem-solving. Along the way, you’ll learn to see patterns, spot clues, and discover that strategy isn’t just smart—it’s fun. By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle any challenge like a true scout.

3rd Grade - 5th Grade

Pull up a chair and let’s talk about a book that makes you laugh, gasp, or roll your eyes. This is where every chapter sparks theories, jokes, and debates that bounce around the group. Predict what might happen next, argue over your favorite characters, share the wildest “wait, what?!” moments, and see how the story grows when it’s laughed over and dissected together. Banter is part of the fun, and by the end, everyone sees the story in a new way.
Experiments here are hands-on and full of “what ifs.” You plan, test, adjust, and test again, watching what changes and what stays the same. Some things work, some things surprise you, and some spark a whole new idea. Observations turn into questions, questions turn into experiments, and experiments lead to discoveries. Science is active, playful, and full of “aha” moments, showing how curiosity and careful thinking can bring big ideas to life.
Life can get loud, but here you get to hit pause. You’ll try breathing exercises, journaling, stretching, and other ways to notice your thoughts, feelings, and body. You’ll experiment to see what works for you, figure out how to reset when things feel tricky, and discover techniques to stay balanced when life throws you the unexpected. Zen is about finding your groove, noticing what matters, and knowing you can return to calm anytime you need.
Your ideas get bigger here. You’ll experiment with colors, textures, and techniques, testing new ways to make your art look and feel like you. Projects twist, turn, and sometimes surprise you, and every choice matters. You’ll plan, tinker, and take creative risks, discovering how imagination and skill grow together. By the end, your art is something you can point to and say, “This is me, my style, my choices.”
Grab some tools and get ready to tinker. Materials get measured, cut, joined, and adjusted as designs take shape. Towers lean, bridges wobble, and every small fix makes the next version stronger. You test, rebuild, and experiment until things hold just right. Angles, proportions, and measurements matter because every choice affects the whole structure. Tinkering is hands-on, playful, and full of surprises, turning ideas into creations you can see, touch, and call your own.
Thinking gets sharp here. Puzzles, strategy challenges, and riddles invite you to plan, predict, and adjust as you go. Moves succeed, fail, and improve in the next round. You explain your thinking, question assumptions, and explore different approaches. Logic is more than a skill here. It’s a tool you practice, refine, and use to solve challenging problems with confidence.

6th Grade - 8th Grade

Grab a seat, get comfortable, and open a book worth talking about. Chapters spark reactions, laughs, gasps, bookmarked lines, and a few “I cannot believe that happened” moments. Characters get judged, plot twists get side-eyed, and big ideas show up along the way. Books hit differently when they’re shared, and by the end, the stories we read live far beyond the last page turned.
Big ideas take center stage here. Experiments are designed, tested, and sometimes completely reimagined when surprises appear. You observe closely, ask questions, compare results, and think through what it all means. Some ideas spark instantly, some take a few tries, and every investigation builds your confidence to explore. Science becomes something you can touch, test, and carry into the world.
Slow down and tune in to what’s happening inside and around you. You’ll try movement, mindful exercises, and guided conversations that help you notice emotions, think through choices, and manage the unexpected. You’ll explore different perspectives, practice decision-making, and experiment with techniques for focus, balance, and resilience. By the end, harmony isn’t just a word. It’s something you have the power to create.
Art lives in your hands and your heart. Every piece starts with an idea, a feeling, or a story you want to share. You plan, experiment, and shape your work with care, making choices that feel totally yours. Projects grow, shift, and sometimes surprise you along the way. Reflection and exploration help your ideas become bolder, sharper, and stronger. By the end, your art isn’t just something you made—it’s a piece of you that shows your heart, soul, and imagination.
Ideas start as sketches and plans, then become real builds under your hands. Big challenges push you to measure carefully, choose materials wisely, and adjust designs as you go. Structures are tested for balance and strength, broken apart, and rebuilt better than before. Every choice matters, from layout to materials, and every revision makes the creation stronger. By the end, building isn’t just making something. It’s thinking, problem-solving, and seeing your ideas come alive in the real world.
Big challenges unfold with twists and turns. Multi-step puzzles, strategy games, and layered scenarios ask you to plan, adjust, and think ahead. Every decision changes what happens next, and the best solutions often come from trying, rethinking, and collaborating. You explore different angles, spot hidden traps, and test your reasoning against surprises. By the end, logic feels powerful, flexible, and ready for whatever challenge comes next.