We understand that schedules change, things come up and life happens. We also depend on your financial commitment to guarantee our instructor’s income, rental contracts, liability insurance, etc. Therefore, our registration and supply fee is a non-refundable fee that is paid at the time of registration. We have limited spots to keep our class sizes small. Please consider your schedule and level of commitment before grabbing one of those spots. We will refund tuition (less the processing fees) if you change your mind 30 days prior to the first day of class. If it is within 30 days of the first day of class, tuition is non-refundable. Please keep this in mind before you register.
Trailblazers is a year long commitment. You pay for half of the year’s tuition at registration and will be invoiced for the other half of your tuition total in October. If for any reason, your child is unable to finish out the year, you are still financially responsible for the full year’s tuition.
Yes, our Head Coaches and Coordinators are trained to recognize the signs of anaphylaxis and administer epinephrine.
Masks are not required but you are more than welcome to wear a mask if you prefer. We like to let each family make their own decisions when it comes to masking.
Please denote any food allergies on your registration form.
Accommodations for allergies will try to be accommodated for in The Drawing Board event planning class. Note, while we plan to use mostly whole foods in the event menu, there is the possibility that an ingredient may not be from an allergen-free facility (olive oils, vinegars, etc).
As for lunchtime, we have a no-sharing food standard.
If you still have concerns about your child’s potential exposure to allergens, please reach out to the director so we can put a plan in place.
Yes, there are flush toilets on-site.
The short answer is “it’s unlikely” but it depends on the severity of the weather. Please check our private Facebook page for updates related to weather.
Yes and no. Some are and some are not. We believe that you don’t have to have a degree to be a village expert in any given field. Therefore, we do not require a teaching license. In fact, some of the best teachers we know have never stepped foot in a traditional classroom as a teacher! All staff are required to pass a background check.
We are always looking for village experts to add to our team! For more info, please reach out directly to Our Village School Director, Maria Stalsberg, at ovstrailblazers@gmail.com.
If your child already has a business idea, that’s great! But if not, no worries — that’s part of what they’ll learn in this class. We’ll guide them through the process of turning their passions into business ideas and identifying real needs in the market.
They do not need to come to class with an idea ready — just an open mind and a willingness to explore!
They may not be interested right now — and that’s okay! The goal of this program is to equip them with the skills and know-how so that later, when they do want or need to start a business, they feel confident and capable.
That said, please don’t push it. If your child isn’t motivated to hustle and take ownership, this program might not be the right fit for them yet. Perhaps they would be more aligned with our Adventurers program.
Many businesses require little to no initial investment to get started. However, participants in the Business INCubator class will receive $50 in start-up money to help launch their business idea.
Students will have the opportunity to sell locally! They’ll market their products or services to friends, family, and our wider community through special events and pop-up markets. If ready, we will also guide them into online marketing through social media business pages.
No — we’re not the only ones leading! In the Business INCubator, students will learn directly from industry experts who will host workshops in their areas of specialty. Our head coaches will be there in person to support, coach, and guide students during their work time, but the learning is truly powered by real-world professionals and hands-on experience.
That’s completely okay — and honestly, that’s part of the learning process! Not all businesses are smashing successes right out of the gate.
We are here to coach and guide students on how to pivot, adjust, and find new ways to capture sales. Learning how to respond to challenges is one of the most valuable parts of the entrepreneurial journey!
The kids do! They’ll research different options, weigh interest and budget considerations, and make the final decision with guidance from their Travel Coach.
The trip is a mandatory component of our program. Most of our classes tie directly back to the trip.
Budget $1,500 per person (including chaperones) for the 3-night, 4-day trip. This budget covers airfare, transportation, food, and experience entrance fees. While we hope to come in under that amount, it gives us the right amount of wiggle room. The trip cost is funded by the family, ideally supplemented by the funds the student earns through their Business INCubator venture and The Drawing Board fundraiser.
Absolutely! We will maintain a 4-to-1 student-to-chaperone ratio at all times.
Chaperones will be gender-specific for lodging purposes — female chaperones will stay with female students, and male chaperones will stay with male students.
Businesses in the Business INCubator will be formed as sole proprietorships to keep finances simple and easily manageable. However, this is the beauty of working inside an incubator — students will get plenty of feedback from peers and coaches, just like being part of a team! While each student will be responsible for their own product or service, they’ll have the opportunity to collaborate, bounce ideas off others, and even explore creative ways to bundle or cross-market their products.
If a student earns over $600 from their business, they are required to file taxes as a sole proprietor. But don’t worry — it’s not as scary as it sounds!
We’ll walk students through the basics in class so they understand what’s involved, and we’ll provide guidance to families if filing is needed.
This is a great real-life learning opportunity — understanding taxes and financial responsibility at a young age builds confidence for the future!
Quick breakdown:
Earn $600 or less? No tax filing required — just keep moving forward!
Earn over $600? Time for a simple tax form — a real-world skill they’ll be proud to master (with a little parent/guardian support)!
Your child must be 13 on the first day of the fall semester. If your child turns 13 mid school year, they will be eligible for our Trailblazers program the following September.
Sure is! Just like real life, this prepares our learners for a world where not everyone is their exact same age!
We have every intention of running the program as published. However, at times, insufficient enrollment, personnel availability, and budget requirements may require us to modify the daily schedule and/or cancel a section. If we need to cancel an entire section, of course, we will provide a full refund.
We do not have an attendance requirement and we do not prorate or discount for missed classes. Your financial commitment is for the entire year at the time of registration, regardless of how many days your child is able to physically attend.
We sure do! Let’s do our part to limit the spread of germs. Please keep your child home if they have 1 or more of the following:
A. A temperature of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication).
B. Vomiting 2 or more times in the past 24 hours.
C. Diarrhea, an increased number of stools compared to normal, or have stools that are loose, and need to use the bathroom frequently.
D. Any rash for which the cause is unknown, check with your doctor before coming to school.
E. Symptoms (fatigue, cough, pain, etc.) that prevent them from fulfilling school/work requirements.
F. There may be instances where other symptoms preclude one from being in school (ie: COVID19 symptoms). Administration will direct if/when additional guidelines are temporarily put into effect.
We thank you in advance for helping to keep our community healthy.
Our program is designed for two-day enrollment to give students the fullest experience. We do not allow single day enrollments.
Yes! Please send a complete and nutritious meal (including a water bottle) that will fuel them for the remainder of the day. Please do not send candy, soda, or juice. Lunches will be stored inside and out of the elements but not in a refrigerator.
Lunch in a labeled lunch carrier of some form.
Labeled water bottle–please only send water!
A change of clothes they can comfortably participate in WellFit in and tennis shoes (can bring in a separate bag to change into/out of!)
Tuesdays only: Students should bring a personal device (laptops are best!) with internet access for use each day.
Our Village School is absolutely committed to meeting each child’s social, emotional and intellectual needs. However, as a private enrichment program and not a traditional “school”, we do have some limitations in what we can offer for accommodations. We are happy to meet with families to assess whether we are able to meet the needs of a child with special needs. Please email the director to set-up a time to talk.
Here’s how the Trailblazers program is structured:
Fall: 10 weeks beginning in September
Winter I (January): 2 virtual coaching check-ins to track progress on their business.
Winter II (February-March):
All enrollees have the option of attending 5 weeks of in-person sessions between the hours of 8:45-12:45. Day of the week TBD.
Spring: 10 weeks from late March through late May/early June
Tuition includes 10 Adventure Days—5 in the fall and 5 in the spring. We’ll also occasionally offer 1–2 optional winter Adventure Days, which are not included in tuition and can be registered for separately if interested.
No, and that’s by design! Part of the experience is encouraging kids to embrace the unknown and be ready for anything.
The 10 Adventure Days that are included in the price of tuition will take place within an hour of the Twin Cities and will focus on outdoor experiences. Most will begin around 10:00 AM and last about two hours, though timing may vary by activity. We’ll also help coordinate carpooling to make participation easier.
If your child can’t make it to particular Adventure Day, for whatever the reason, that’s totally fine. That said, we highly encourage attendance! Each Adventure Day is thoughtfully planned to be an epic, unforgettable experience that builds connection, confidence, and a sense of adventure. We do not offer any reimbursement for missed Adventure Days.
The goal of the WellFit class isn’t just about “working out” — it’s about getting kids moving and helping them discover that movement can be fun and good for their bodies. We’ll expose them to a wide range of group fitness styles, from yoga to high-intensity interval training and so much in between. By trying different types of movement, students can find what they enjoy and build a healthy, positive relationship with fitness early on.
The funds will be equally split amongst all participants going on the trip.
The event is scheduled for early May.
Please check the Classes page for the specific dates.
Of course, families are invited — and encouraged — to attend and support their children’s planning and business endeavors! We’ll also be opening the event to the public to broaden our reach and connect with members of our wider community who are passionate about supporting the next generation’s future.
We believe in creating a space where students can be fully present — with each other and with the experiences in front of them. To support this, all cell phones will be collected upon arrival at our program, both during onsite classes and Adventure Days. Phones will be placed in a secure container that participants do not have access to during the day. We ask that devices are switched into Do Not Disturb mode to avoid disruptions.
Phones will be safely returned at the end of the day, allowing students to reconnect with their families and reflect on everything they accomplished.
Fully present, fully engaged — that’s our goal.