by Heather McMahon | Dec 19, 2025 | Acton
One of the most overlooked, and sometimes most transformational, aspects of an Acton journey is the practice of conflict resolution. At its core, conflict resolution is the ability to recover when two people misalign, through misunderstanding, frustration, or...
by Heather McMahon | Nov 17, 2025 | Acton
“During recess, a learner races outside, football in hand, ready to join a game. Just before running off, they notice a peer still inside, head bent over a math problem that just doesn’t make sense. Without hesitation, he sets the football down and sits beside...
by Heather McMahon | Nov 14, 2025 | Community and Culture
What Is Executive Functioning, Really? By Dr. Nichole Hardy Swann, Psychologist and Vail Valley Unbound Board Member If you’ve ever watched your child decide what to pack for a hike, organize materials for a group project, or find a new way to solve a problem when...
by Heather McMahon | Sep 5, 2025 | Acton
As we begin a new year at Vail Valley Unbound, it’s easy to get swept up in the “what” of our days, lip dubs, quests, studio contracts, core skills, and so much more. These are important and worth celebrating, but they’re not the whole story. At VVU, our why runs...
by Heather McMahon | Aug 26, 2025 | Acton
One of the most important traditions at VVU during our first days together is writing contracts. While it may look like learners are simply drafting a document, this process carries deep meaning for our community and sets the tone for the entire year. What Are...
