Discovering Innovation: Our Boulder Journey Conference Experience
As two teachers from Tree Top Academy, we recently had the privilege of attending Boulder Journey School's transformative annual conference. These two days of deep dialogue, hands-on workshops, and meaningful connections offered fresh perspectives on early childhood education that we're excited to bring back to our community.
The Language of Children
One of the most striking features throughout the school was the authentic integration of children's voices. Rather than adult-created signage, the walls spoke through children's own words and ideas. This simple yet profound choice exemplifies Boulder Journey's commitment to viewing children as capable communicators and active participants in their learning environment.
Reimagining Outdoor Learning
The outdoor classrooms challenged our traditional notion of playground design. Creative use of recycled materials, particularly tires, demonstrated sustainable practices while creating engaging play spaces. Building areas, water tables, and innovative cement tunnels offered children diverse opportunities for exploration. These thoughtfully designed spaces showed how natural and repurposed materials can create rich learning environments.
An invitation to play
The Heart of Creativity: Studios and Art Spaces
The central art materials room left us truly inspired. Its open-ended organization and color-coded system made materials both accessible and inviting. Perhaps most impressive was how each classroom featured its own mini studio, democratizing access to creative expression. These spaces housed an expertly curated collection of:
- Natural and found materials
- Recycled items
- Traditional fine art supplies
"Main Street": Where Learning Comes Alive
The hallway, aptly named "Main Street," emerged as one of the most inspiring areas of our visit. This connective space did more than link classrooms—it told stories. Student projects exploring local town history lined the walls, making community connections visible and meaningful. Interactive elements, including transformed pegboards, invited playful discovery at every turn.
Bringing It Home
This conference reinforced that thoughtful educational environments don't require elaborate materials—rather, they need intentional design that respects children's capabilities and honors their natural curiosity. As we integrate these insights into our practice at Tree Top Academy, we're particularly excited to explore:
- Amplifying children's voices in our environment
- Expanding our use of natural and recycled materials
- Creating more interactive documentation spaces
- Developing our own version of connecting spaces that tell our community's story
The Boulder Journey School conference reminded us that innovative early childhood education is about creating spaces where children's ideas, theories, and discoveries can flourish. We return inspired and ready to implement these transformative ideas in our own unique context.