The Real Magic Begins: Discovery Days Start Monday!!

I’ve been holding my breath a little this past month. Our academic pod launched in early August, and we’ve spent these first weeks building routines, learning how to move together as a group, and settling into the rhythm of a brand-new school year. That alone is something to celebrate. But for me, the moment that really feels like our year begins is almost here: Discovery Days start on Monday!

It’s hard to explain what makes Mondays so special until you’ve seen them unfold. By ten o’clock the yard will be filled with kids running, climbing, talking a mile a minute, or quietly finding their own favorite spot under the trees. Some of them have been with us for years, and others will be stepping onto campus for the very first time. By mid-morning, we’ll gather together for our science lab, and I’ll get to watch the spark in their eyes as they dig into questions about the natural world. Over the course of the year we’ll explore everything from climatology and geology to anthropology and ecology, and every time the same thing happens: nature becomes the teacher, and curiosity takes the lead.

After lunch, the shape of the day softens. Some children will be in the kitchen, aprons on, learning to slice or stir or knead. Others will be painting in the sunshine, or stretching into yoga poses under the trees. A group might head to the field for a game that’s equal parts soccer, laughter, and grass-stained knees. It’s structured enough that skills are being built, but loose enough that joy has plenty of room to breathe. By the end of the afternoon, when we gather our things and head home, the kids are tired in that good way. The kind of tired that comes from discovery, connection, and play.

What excites me most is not just the classes or the lessons, though those are wonderful. It’s the community that forms here, week after week. A child who walked in shy and uncertain in September will be leading a group project by December. Friendships will be tested and strengthened over lunch tables and playground games. And in those small but important ways, each learner grows, not only in knowledge, but in confidence, creativity, and belonging.

This year we’ll have roughly thirty kids filling our campus on Mondays. Thirty voices singing out questions, thirty pairs of hands digging into the soil, thirty imaginations weaving stories and ideas together. It’s a big group, but it still feels deeply personal. Every one of them brings something unique to the mix, and together they make Mondays feel alive in a way that’s hard to put into words.

I can’t wait to step into this new season. Monday will come quickly, and with it, the sound of laughter spilling across the playground, the hum of concentration and conversation in the science lab, and the quiet satisfaction of seeing a child try something new, and realize they can do it. That’s the magic I’ve been waiting for.

Here’s to Discovery Days 2025–26. I’m ready.

💚