The Luminary

Volo is excited to accept enrollment in The Luminary, our full-time program for 2025-2026

The Luminary is Volo’s signature full-time program for curious kids and families who believe learning should feel alive. The Luminary offers a inspiring learning where children ages 7–12 grow in confidence, creativity, and connection. If you’ve been looking for an education that honors your child’s spark, you’ve just found it.

The Luminary Key Details

Limit 15 Participants
Ages 7-12
Prerequisites: reading and basic numeracy
August 25, 2025 – May 28, 2026
4 Days/week – Monday through Thursdays
Fridays – The Quest – are available for reduced tuition for Luminary participants.
Drop off — 8:30 – 9:00 AM @ Home Base
Pick up — 2:00-3:00 PM @ Home Base — We will be done with the main Volo day at 2:00 pm. From 2:00-3:00 is enrichment time.
Older Youth – programs for ages 13-18 are slated for the future
Tuition – $15,000 with 10% reduction for enrollment before March 15, 2025, and 15% reduction for siblings.
Scholarships & Financial Aid – Thanks to generous donations, we may be able to offer limited scholarship opportunities. Please contact us to discuss the application process if you would like to apply for a scholarship or tuition reduction.

Learning for Holistic Development

The Luminary brings together young people in a multi-aged community – the natural way for humans to thrive. The program centers on helping young people discover learning, life skills, and sense of self on a foundation of place — their place in the world, in history, and in culture (among people). Young people build on that foundation through social innovation, inspired projects, and leadership.

World-Class, Locally-Grown

The Luminary provides world-class learning opportunities for uniquely qualified young people who will grow and develop with curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

Here we connect top facilitators – teachers and mentors — with bright young people in fascinating learning environments.

Details

Pacing & Rhythm

We focus on deep learning, not seat time.

The daily schedule draws inspiration from happy, productive schools in Finland, Norway, and Sweden; and decades of experience.

Blocks

Blocks focus on themes, which are big ideas. Typically each block incorporates movement, math, reading, writing, speaking, art, history, science, and music. Elements and topics from blocks will also appear in other areas of the schedule. For example, math throughout the year will include numeracy and a focal numeracy block.

Morning Math

We integrate math every day. Most mornings include focusing on math; this will include activities, instruction, and practice. A focal purpose is to engage young people in math in ways that build practical skills and a joy for learning.

Morning Math may include –

Numerical relationships, patterns, and tools
Numeracy – concept, history, patterns
Measurement – volume, length, weight; units; application (play, cooking, building)
Basic operations – concept, application, memorize
Ratios – fractions, rates, applications (cooking, building)
Resources – We will use a variety of resources. One key resource may be Making Math Meaningful: A Source Book for Teaching Math in Grades One through Five. 2^nd N. Fabrie, W. Gottenbos, and J. York. Jamie York Press. ISBN: 9781938210013

Morning Language Arts

Language arts are also integrated in our daily activities. Most mornings include time to focus on language arts; this will include creative activities, reading, writing, and speaking. A focal purpose is to open doors of understanding, confidence, and joy with the English language.

Morning Language Arts may include —

Joy of communicating with written and spoken language
Alphabet – concept, history, uses; pictorial
Reading – begin with familiar texts then move to reading for instructions and a variety of books and materials. Integrated combinations of whole word, phonic, and contextual methods. Hearing and reading whole class, person to person, self.
Writing — practice composing and reproducing. For creative expression – poetry, stories, moods; for practical application — directions for a game, recipes, letters, description of an observation; for thought and inquiry – concept maps, pro and con lists
Speaking – qualities of spoken sounds and sentence melody. Drama (plays).

Projects

Projects may include the following and/or others. Final plans will be co-created with the participating children and volunteers.

Restoration tree and shrub planting
Building furniture
Building fences to protect priority natural areas
Leading another school group in an outdoor activity
Participating in community science such as bird counts or searches for sensitive plant species
Creating and donating materials for needy people
Creating and donating materials for wildlife rehabilitation
Growing and selling vegetables
Creating artwork for gifts