Welcome to Madison Valley Adventure Academy, where learning comes alive!
Madison Valley Adventure Academy is an alternative PreK-5th grade private school that serves children in a mixed age indoor/outdoor classroom. We're thrilled to share our unique approach to education with you.
Our mission is to provide a hands-on, immersive learning experience that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. At Madison Valley Adventure Academy, we believe in nurturing the whole child - academically, socially, and emotionally. We strive to cultivate independent thinkers who are equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Our curriculum is both rigorous and fun, focusing on math, language arts, social studies, and STEM subject areas meeting all of the required Montana State educational standards. It's centered around experiential learning, outdoor education, and hands-on projects that bring learning to life. Our small class sizes ensure that each child receives personalized attention from our experienced and dedicated teachers. Our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship is woven into every aspect of our school, from our organic garden to our green building practices.
Madison Valley Adventure Academy is an alternative PreK-5th grade private school that serves children in a mixed age indoor/outdoor classroom. We're thrilled to share our unique approach to education with you.
Our mission is to provide a hands-on, immersive learning experience that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. At Madison Valley Adventure Academy, we believe in nurturing the whole child - academically, socially, and emotionally. We strive to cultivate independent thinkers who are equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Our curriculum is both rigorous and fun, focusing on math, language arts, social studies, and STEM subject areas meeting all of the required Montana State educational standards. It's centered around experiential learning, outdoor education, and hands-on projects that bring learning to life. Our small class sizes ensure that each child receives personalized attention from our experienced and dedicated teachers. Our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship is woven into every aspect of our school, from our organic garden to our green building practices.
Schedule a tour today to experience our unique approach to education firsthand.
Only 4 spots left and 2 scholarship positions available for Fall 2023
Ready to join the Madison Valley Adventure Academy family? Apply now
Contact us to learn more about our admissions process and how to enroll your child.
Only 4 spots left and 2 scholarship positions available for Fall 2023
Ready to join the Madison Valley Adventure Academy family? Apply now
Contact us to learn more about our admissions process and how to enroll your child.
Madison Valley Adventure Academy offers these unique features to our students:
- Multi-age classrooms: MVAA has a multi-age classroom approach where children of different ages learn and work together. This promotes collaboration, mentorship, and a sense of community.
- Outdoor education: MVAA has a strong commitment to outdoor education. This could include regular nature walks, gardening, and other outdoor activities that help students connect with nature and develop a sense of adventure.
- STEM education: MVAA puts a heavy focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. We work with each learner to explore and problem solve with hands-on projects that reverse the traditional school focus. No more "textbook first" followed by an occasional step-by-step experiment. At MVAA, we shoot the rockets, make the robots, and build the rollercoasters FIRST and then let our students explore "The Why" with our mentoring teachers. Let the creative exploration begin and the re-engineering develop naturally through trial and error. Miss Wendy loves STEM adventures and will offer Science Fridays starting in Fall 2023. These will be deep dives into projects our adventurers will love. Science Fridays are open to all local learners. Topics and dates to be posted soon. Stay tuned. Per class pre-registration will be required for non-MVAA students.
- Math instruction is tailored to each student with access to accelerated problem-solving math which meets and exceeds the rapidly changing math standards across the nation. Additionally, we offer individualized, encouraging catch-up math work as well as creative math instruction for grade level learners who aren't quite ready for the accelerated work. (Yet!) In Fall 2023, we will begin offering additional advanced math instruction, using the exciting Beast Academy advanced math program from the highly regarded company Art of Problem Solving. Students from Grade 2-5 are eligible to enter this program with Miss Wendy as their daily mentor, guide and fellow problem solver. Pre-K -Grade 1 students will be coached and guided through preparation work in number sense, mental math and early problem solving skills. This will get their math adventures off to a great start, with an eye towards moving them into early Beast Academy work when they are excited and ready.
- Character education: MVAA also emphasizes a focus on character education, which includes teaching values such as respect, responsibility, empathy, and perseverance. This helps students develop into well-rounded individuals who are equipped to handle challenges and contribute positively to society.
- Arts and music: MVAA has a strong commitment to the arts and music, with a range of classes and activities that foster creativity and self-expression. This includes visual arts, music lessons, drama classes, and more.
- Spanish Every Day: Spanish classes are a unique feature of MVAA. Our students will gain early exposure to Spanish in fun, playful, age-appropriate lessons, including frequent use of the language in natural opportunities throughout the day. Miss Wendy has taught English to hundreds of Spanish-speaking children in South America over the years, living in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia for extended periods of time. She now brings those Spanish language and cultural experiences to our students in this unique language adventure. She holds a second language teaching certificate from Maximo Nivel Language Institute in Antigua, Guatemala.
- Service learning: MVAA also has a commitment to service learning, where students engage in community service projects that benefit others. This helps students develop a sense of social responsibility and empathy, while also making a positive impact on the community.
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Nature Matters!Benefits of outdoor learning:
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TESTIMONIALS
Madison Valley Adventure Academy is a gem! The founders have created not only a beautiful, enriching space but also a nurturing learning environment filled with AMAZING teachers who pour their hearts into their students. Our son is now thriving since joining the caring village that is MVAA. Its not too good to be true — it just really is that good!
-M.C., Parent
-M.C., Parent
“My two girls (7 and 5) absolutely loved summer camp at MVAA! They looked forward to going everyday and were tuckered out at pickup! I loved that the themes were outdoor based, taught real life skills, and were fun! The teachers are loving and innovative. The location is safe, well supplied and organized. We love MVAA!”
-J.R., Parent
“My two girls (7 and 5) absolutely loved summer camp at MVAA! They looked forward to going everyday and were tuckered out at pickup! I loved that the themes were outdoor based, taught real life skills, and were fun! The teachers are loving and innovative. The location is safe, well supplied and organized. We love MVAA!”
-J.R., Parent
"I believe Melissa loved my kids as much as I do and for that, I always knew they were safe and in good hands. I honestly don't know how she made it all happen, but they always brought home amazing projects and were well fed and happy."
-L.M., Parent
In Summer Camp, the children of Madison Valley Adventure Academy have “adventured” under the watchful and loving eyes of their teachers. Here’s what I witnessed: Whenever I encountered the children they were happy - excited, eager, interested. Why? The kids were being nourished by the quiet wisdom that their teachers imparted on a daily basis. Not flashy. Not vacuous. Always steady, joyful, and deeply present with each child. I saw an exchange between the children and their teachers. Each child was appreciated for their unique qualities, their unique and rare contribution to the world. The simple fact is, the children were joyful. An environment was established where teachers and children gave joy to each other through an appreciation of each individual. Through exploring and creating the children were flourishing. I have raised two daughters who are now adults and to find people who make a classroom a hallmark of happiness is rare. Madison Valley Adventure Academy was blessed to have these women, with such rich life experience and gentle temperament, to establish the Academy in the Madison Valley.
—Rev. Jaime Leonard, Pastor, Trinity Episcopal Church
—Rev. Jaime Leonard, Pastor, Trinity Episcopal Church
“Truth be told, love grows in quiet wisdom and her bright colors
glow before our eyes.”
— Hilda, founding abbess of Whitby Abbey, 657AD
glow before our eyes.”
— Hilda, founding abbess of Whitby Abbey, 657AD