Boulder Buds
Boulder Buds registration for the fall ‘26 will open on Saturday, Feb 28th, 2026 at 9:00am.
Overview
This weekly program is for the big kids, who despite what society tells us, need time to just play! Give your children time away from adult-led activities and the pressure of performing and towards time spent in child-led play with peers. Kids will be doing everything from building homes and forts to dressing up in costumes to running through the trees or enjoying some quality time in our forest kitchen. There will also be time to play group games and cook snacks over a campfire!
The Details
Ages 6-12 yrs
Thursdays from Sept thru May 9:00-3:00
Group size - 24 kids max, 3-4 staff
Structured as three semesters - Fall, Winter and Spring - or sign up for the Full Year Sept - May.
Full year - Sept-May - $1730
Fall semester - Sept-Dec - $840
Winter semester - Jan-Feb - $360
Spring semester - Mar-May - $720
The Experience
Kids arrive between 8:50-9:00
6-week theme with sub-themes, for example Hurricane Survival (building shelter, building a hospital, etc.),
Stone circle time - songs, name games, movement,– breaking the ice, getting kids warmed up and getting to know each other.
Go over the rules of Bedrock Play:
stay in the boundaries,
kindness/respect rule (to the plants and animals that live in the woods; to ourselves making sure we’re eating and drinking and using the bathroom; towards other kids – sharing, taking turns, sharing materials, using words, not pushing hitting kicking, make sure they know have adults if need help; respect for our supplies and materials.
Hours of child-led play - building forts, inventing games, imaginary play, creative/artistic play, cooking in the mud kitchen
An adult’s presence can influence play. Our staff endeavors to minimize adult influence as much as possible. If not interrupted by an adult presence, children will delve deeply into their play experience and are more likely to work things out on their own, which supports their skill development. Staff are there to step in if needed to offer conflict resolution tools and to act as mediators, working towards a time when kids can independently resolve issues.
Healthy play often involves risk-taking, as it is on this edge that children can make the biggest leaps in their development. Our site offers opportunities for taking reasonable risks, such as tree climbing, campfires, using real tools, and rough and tumble play. Our staff has years of experience in creating a space where kids feel physically and emotionally safe to find their own “just right” challenges and can practice taking the proper steps to create safe boundaries.
Campfire and cooking of afternoon snack
Cleanup time
Reflection on day
Pick up at 3:00
Follow up email - every day participants receive a follow up email that has a brief description of the theme of the day and what opportunities were offered. Beautiful action photos of your children are included!
The Outcome
Kids have a chance to move their bodies for hours at a time - strengthening muscles, increasing range of motion in joints, improving balance and reinforcing spatial awareness. This all contributes to greater resilience and immune health.
Kids will be outside for hours at a time, in all weather. This positively affects their sensory systems - touch, vestibular, proprioceptive, hearing, smell, vision, taste are all nourished and strengthened by time outdoors. They become more tolerant of “not perfect” weather and learn to appreciate all the seasons.
Outdoor play with other children is highly stimulating to the brain! Kids are exposed to tons of new ideas, enhancing creativity and the imagination. They get a chance to pull on their own problem solving skills, increasing their self-confidence and realizing their own potential. Executive functioning skills are challenged and enhanced during real-life situations.
Playing with a mixed-age group gives children a rich source of opportunities to build their social skills. They learn how to make friends and keep friends, see other’s perspectives, practice negotiation and cooperation, regulate their emotions and communicate more effectively.
“Bedrock Play is a true blessing for our homeschooling family! It gives my kids a year-round outdoor experience where they can explore, play, and thrive in nature. The program’s themes are so engaging that my boys often carry their excitement into our homeschool curriculum, sparking creative learning that makes Bedrock Play so much more than just a play-based program. It also fosters a wonderful sense of community, allowing my children to build lasting bonds with the same group of kids over the years. Beth, the owner, is truly exceptional—her calm, easygoing nature and genuine passion for the kids and programming shine through in every detail. Bedrock Play has made it so much easier for me to give my boys the outdoor adventures they crave while enriching our lives in countless ways. We’re so grateful to be part of this incredible community!” - Angela Rexroad (Program parent)