VAIL VALLEY UNBOUND

We’re a K-5 school designed for the curious.

We believe if we can arm kids with a lifelong love of learning, a curiosity, the ability to ask hard questions and engage in meaningful conversations, an openness to receive opinions that differ from their own, a resiliency to have a different opinion while accepting others, the confidence to view failure as a step in the process of learning, the knowledge that they aren’t experts in everything but they can lean on peers for knowledge… all of those things we believe will set them up to change the world. 

An entrepreneurial approach to education, opening Fall 2023!

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What is Vail Valley Unbound?

Vail Valley Unbound is a modern schoolhouse for the K-5 learners of Vail Valley.

We focus on characteristics of entrepreneuers such as growth mindset, critical thinking, curiosity, persistance, and team building. From our structured experiments, to Socratic discussions, to our furniture – we provide an engaging and collaborative space for the builders and creators of Vail Valley.

We believe the characteristics of entrepreneurs prepare children for the world and their future. We believe the process of learning is even more important than “learning to know”.

Our builders and creators are independent learners who have a passion for lifelong learning, our guides ensure we are meeting children where they are in their journey to maintain that spark and drive to learn, and our parents recognize kids learn best when they are in control of their own education.

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Growth Mindset

It’s estimated that nearly 75 percent of new startups fail. We thrive on challenges and use our failures to grow and improve.

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Critical Thinking

By developing critical thinking skills, our learners are well-equipped to spot innovative opportunities, think about the big picture and long-term vision. We use Socratic questioning to flex our critical thinking muscles and build skills.

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Curiosity

Rather than settling for what they think they know, our learners ask challenging questions and explore different avenues. We create structured experiments to determine if an idea is worth pursuing. We stay curious.

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Adaptability

The nature of business and life is ever-changing. Entrepreneurship is an iterative process, and new challenges and opportunities present themselves at every turn. We are adaptable.

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Persistance

While many successful entrepreneurs are comfortable with the possibility of failing, it doesn’t mean they give up easily. Part of what makes an entrepreneur successful is their willingness to learn from mistakes, continue to ask questions, and persist until they reach their goal.

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Team Building

A great entrepreneur is aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Rather than letting shortcomings hold them back. We build well-rounded teams based on strengths and weaknesses in ourselves that we embrace.

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Risk Tolerance

Entrepreneurs are comfortable with encountering some level of risk to reap the rewards of their efforts; however, their risk tolerance is tightly related to their efforts to mitigate it. We take calculated risks.

We Believe

The characteristics of entrepreneurs prepare children for the world.  Children are capable of constructing their own learning when given opportunities and clear guardrails. Learning to BE and Learning to DO are far more important than lectures and tests. Each of us is on a unique journey and no one is ever behind, but where they need to be or choose to be. 

Promises

We promise, through Socratic guiding and experiential learning, you and your child will:

    1. Begin a Hero’s Journey
    2. Learn to be curious, become an independent learner and love life-long learning
    3. Discover your most precious gifts, along with the dedication it takes to develop real talent
    4. Understand the importance of a strong character
    5. Cherish the arts, the wonders of the physical world and the mystery of life
    6. Treasure economic, political and religious freedom.

Mission

Vail Valley Unbound’s mission is to inspire each child who enters our doors to find a calling that will change the world.

Vision

Vail Valley Unbound cultivates the innate potential of each learner, enabling them to live a worldly life of purpose, confidence, and integrity; impacting the world with authenticity and compassion

A Day in The Life…

At Vail Valley Unbound, we work in eight “sprints” just like the Agile Methodology. A sprint is a rigorous work period measured in weeks, not months, resulting in the highest possible value output. During each Sprint, learners embark on a “Quest” with a specific academic focus.

Vail Valley Unbound is one of 150+ Acton Academies around the world, but the first in the Vail Valley.

This proven model allows our students to develop the skills they really need: critical thinking, group collaboration, conflict resolution, decision-making, and problem-solving. These, along with “soft skills” like self-discipline, emotion regulation, self-awareness, and grit, position our children to tackle anything.

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Who We Are

We are parents! Just like you, we want the best for our children. As two entrepreneurs, we didn’t feel like there was a non-traditional home for K-5 learners in the valley.

Why We Started Unbound

We want children to love to learn, to learn to learn, to lean into their curiosities, to discover their gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems. Our children are builders and creators. 

Why Vail Valley Unbound

We want children who attend Vail Valley Unbound to feel empowered and capable of solving difficult problems that exist in the world and their communities, to feel a part of something bigger while still knowing where they fit.

What About Grades?

No grades, no tests, no homework, no mandatory attendance… We don’t rely on or believe in using tests to measure a learner’s level of understanding. Our learners earn badges by “doing” to prove they’ve mastered new skills.

While it all sounds radical and different, the idea of a school based on these principles is how children have traditionally been educated. Free to move, free to explore, and to discuss. Core to our belief is that children thrive best in an environment where we aren’t imposing authority at every step. Much like Maria Montessori’s method, we want children to explore, and to be curious, and often authority can shut down those characteristics.

Who is A Good Fit for Vail Valley Unbound?

We are unique. We know that we aren’t a fit for every learner or family and that’s ok! We want children and parents to find their community. At Vail Valley Unbound, it’s not just the kids that need to be a good fit, it’s the entire family. The entire family has to believe in the unique power of a learner-driven community. If you’re not sure, we would encourage you to read “Courage to Grow” by Laura Sandefer (we promise, it’s a quick read, we know you’re busy).

This means we are looking for:

  • Self-sufficient, outside-the-box thinkers! Our tribe is a creative risk-taking team, that dreams big, and is not afraid of failure!
  • Parents that are willing to let their children prove their skills/knowledge by doing rather than test taking and scoring

Question the Approach, Learn More!

Application Process

CONTACT US OR SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

READ “COURAGE TO GROW”

FILL OUT & RETURN APPLICATION

SCHEDULE A TOUR

FAMILY INTERVIEW

ACCEPTANCE/WAITLIST

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FAQ

What's Your Background?

Our founders are serial entrepreneurs who come from different backgrounds.

Cassie’s entrepreneurial journey officially began in 2013 when she started an internet marketing firm. At 16, she started working at a local dry cleaner which led to managing multiple locations, then later a dog daycare; she’s always had a passion for start-ups and running the day-to-day. After working for some of the largest agencies in Chicago to gain skills across marketing tactics, she felt prepared to go out on her own with karma digital to help the start-ups with their digital marketing efforts. After having two children, protecting their passion for learning became her top priority – so came Vail Valley Unbound. 

Zak has been an entrepreneur his entire life, has started and sold businesses valued at over $200M. Zak was a horrible student, because he had trouble concentrating in a setting where he was talked at. He needs to fidget, try things, learn things that matter to him (like so many kids). As Zak will say, a big inspiration for starting the school is that he didn’t want our kids to experience anxiety associated with standardized testing, feeling behind academically while comparing to other classmates, and just not being prepared for the real-world, where he very much believes that having entrepreneurial qualities will be massively important. Zak is a lifelong learner and hopes to pass that passion to the kids of Vail Valley. He is interested in everything; keeping up the technology, his latest startup – AltExchange, commercial real estate, education reform, and lots of random things that spark his interest. 

What ages are you accepting in the Fall 2023?

We are opening our doors to our first two studios in the fall of 2023. Our Y.E.S. studio is for our early kindergarten learners (age 5 by April 2024 vs. October 2023 compared to public schools). Our Spark Studio is for our learners aged 6-7. While learners have a “home studio”, much of the day is spent collaborating and is very fluid. We plan to add older learners each year until we hit our full enrollment of K-5. We will assess the need for grades 6-8 once we have full enrollment of our elementary school. 

Are you a Montessori School?

No, we are not a Montessori school. We respect and implement many Montessori methods, along with others like Waldorf, Socratic Method and Project-Based Learning. We utilize innovative digital learning platforms for concrete core skills as learners mature (not used in Y.E.S. or Spark). Young learners that come from a Montessori environment often transition into our school the most seamlessly because they are more accustomed to the freedom of choices vs. traditional teacher-led.

What does “learner-driven” mean?

To us, this means that we give learners control over how they learn. This is one of the scariest points for many parents, or the best part depending on how you look at it. Learners are more engaged when allowed an appropriate amount of autonomy. The same as us adults, if we want to learn something we will… if we don’t, it’s much harder to keep us interested. This often translates to votes among the learners (where the guide may facilitate but doesn’t ultimately get to say what the outcome will be).

What does it mean that Vail Valley Unbound is an Acton Academy Affiliate?

When launching Vail Valley Unbound, we wanted to pull from the many inspirational methods of education – while still adding what is unique to us. Becoming an Acton Academy Affiliate allows us to pull from their materials and curriculums that they have honed over the last 15 years. Becoming an Acton Academy affiliate also allows us to gain an immediate community of global like-minded learners for fun challenges, social gatherings, inspiration and collaboration.

Are you accredited?
Yes, we are accredited through the International Association of Learner Driven Schools.
If they don’t have grades/tests, how does the badge system work?

We believe in doing! For our upper elementary studio, badges track academic progress in core skills, as well as, character development. Learners celebrate the mastery of tools, skills and character by earning badges, assembling portfolios, and taking part in public exhibitions. Public exhibitions at the end of most quests allow learners to present their work to families, experts, customers, of the public for a real-world test of their work output.