Rocky Mountain Learning Collective

One thing I hear from parents again and again is that there are some pretty big gaps in what kids are learning before they head out into the real world.

Financial literacy and business skills are two that come up often.

How do you create a budget? What does it actually cost to run a business? What’s the difference between revenue and profit? How do you price something you’ve made? How do you manage money, make smart financial decisions, or even take an idea and turn it into something real?

These are skills kids will eventually need when they “fly the nest” and start navigating life on their own — and I believe we can start teaching them long before then.

For the past four years, RMLC has been running Young Entrepreneur Camps, where kids get to experience business firsthand. They come up with an idea, create a product, work through costs and pricing, build a business plan, market what they’ve made, and ultimately sell their products to real customers.

These camps have become some of our most popular programs. I have kids who return year after year, and I continually hear from parents how surprised they are by just how much their child learned. The kids are pretty proud of themselves too — especially when they realize that *they* built something from an idea and actually made money doing it!

This is a big part of what we try to do at Rocky Mountain Learning Collective. We want kids to learn the academics, of course, but we also want to help fill some of the gaps and give them practical skills they can carry with them into adulthood.

We still have a few seats available for the upcoming 2026/27 learning year. If you’ve been curious about RMLC and whether it might be a good fit for your child, reach out. I’m always happy to chat and answer questions.

Come support these Young Entrepreneurs! They worked so hard on their products, today at Fernie Mountain Market!

We have a last-minute opening at next week's Young Entrepreneur Camp. This is first come, first serve. Please contact [email protected] to register.

When most people think about education, they tend to think there are two options: traditional school or homeschool.

But there is a lot of space in between.

That is where a Learning Centre like Rocky Mountain Learning Collective fits.

At RMLC, students can have the flexibility and autonomy often associated with homeschooling, while still being part of a consistent learning community. They have peers to learn alongside, adults who know them well, opportunities to collaborate, and a place where they belong.

They also have something that can be difficult to achieve in a larger, more traditional setting: learning that can be personalized to the individual child.

Students don't all have to learn the same thing, in the same way, at the same pace.

Some need more time. Some are ready to move ahead. Some learn best by reading and writing, while others need to build something, experience it, talk about it, get outside, work with their hands, or connect what they're learning to something that actually matters to them.

And learning doesn't have to stop at academics.

It can happen while starting a business, cooking a meal, exploring the outdoors, working on a passion project, learning from someone in our community, solving a real problem, or simply following a question far enough to see where it leads.

For some families, traditional school is the right fit. For others, homeschooling works beautifully.

And for some kids, the best fit might be somewhere in between.

That's the space RMLC is trying to create.

A place with structure, but also flexibility.
Independence, but also support.
Personalized learning, but also community.
Academics, but also the opportunity to learn from the world around us.

Because education doesn't have to look the same for every child.

If you've been wondering whether there might be another option for your child, reach out. I'd be happy to chat, answer your questions, and tell you more about what learning at Rocky Mountain Learning Collective can look like.

A conversation I had with a parent recently got me thinking.

They were genuinely interested in Rocky Mountain Learning Collective, but eventually they asked the question I probably hear more than any other:

"What will my child miss out on if they don't go to public school?"

It's a fair question.

Parents wonder about team sports, shop classes, school dances, graduation, bigger peer groups, and all of the experiences that come with a traditional school.

My answer is always the same.

"Your child isn't just giving something up... they're choosing something different."

Having taught in both the public school system and now in an alternative learning environment, I've come to realize that every educational option comes with trade-offs. Public school has many strengths. Alternative education has many strengths too. The question isn't which one is "better." It's which environment will allow *your* child to thrive.

At RMLC, what many students gain is:

✨ A learning coach who truly knows them—not just their name, but their strengths, challenges, interests, and goals.

✨ A close-knit learning community where kids who have struggled to "fit in" often discover that they finally belong.

✨ The freedom to work at their own pace, dive deeper into topics they love, and have a genuine voice in their learning.

✨ More time for creativity, curiosity, life skills, outdoor learning, and real-world experiences—not just racing from one assignment to the next.

✨ A calm, welcoming environment where learning doesn't have to feel stressful.

And here's something else I've learned over the years...

There are very few opportunities that exist *only* because a child attends public school.

Sports exist outside of school.
Trades can be learned through apprenticeships and community programs.
Volunteer opportunities are everywhere.
Friendships are built in countless places.
Music, theatre, youth groups, clubs, and leadership opportunities all exist beyond the walls of a school.

They're not missing out.

They're simply making a different trade.

So maybe the question isn't:

"What will my child miss?"

Maybe it's:

"What kind of environment will best help my child become the person they're capable of becoming?"

If that's a question you've been asking yourself, I'd love to have a conversation. Even if RMLC isn't the right fit for your family, I'm always happy to talk education and help parents explore their options.

📚 **We're now enrolling for the 2026/27 school year and still have a few spaces available for both full-time and part-time learners.** If you'd like to learn more, send me a message. I'd love to tell you more about what we're building at Rocky Mountain Learning Collective.

Or learn more at

Rocky Mountain Learning Collective We are an in-person, multi-aged, learning pod in Fernie, BC, offering self-directed and self-paced learning in a creative, small-group learning environment.

Here is a screen shot on the section about education from the article posted below in case you don't have access or just don't want to read the whole thing.

Take a look at this article! https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/why-canadas-middle-class-is-falling-behind-6065181

I thought this was a really well written piece, in particular, the author's point on education.

Why Canada’s Middle Class Is Falling Behind This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The Epoch Times Reprints.

We had such a great week at Entrepreneur camp! Hikes to falls, beach volleyball, business, creating and everything in between.

It's not over yet! These young entrepreneurs will be at the Fernie Mountain Market tomorrow selling their products that they have worked so hard on. We will have a tent selling:

✅️ soft pretzels
✅️ popsicles 🥭 🍉
✅️ dinosaur cupcakes 🧁
✅️ cookies 🍪
✅️ lemonade 🍋
✅️ dog treats & cat toys 🐕 🐈
✅️ Lego keychains

Please come to the Fernie Mountain Market tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and support your local young entrepreneurs.

See you at the market 😀

What a great group of girls I had the pleasure of hanging out with this past week at RMLC's Music Adventure Camp!

Music has always been a passion of mine from a very young age. When I get to introduce kids to guitar, and ukulele it really lights a fire inside for me. I always believe in telling kids to at least give things and experiences a try, even if they find it hard - and these girls were amazing music students learning how to read chord charts, guitar tabs, basic strumming patterns, and basic chord structure on both ukulele and guitar. Way to push through the finger pain girls!

It is my hope that interest gets sparked and a new passion ignites - and if not, well at least they got exposure and gave it a try.

Thanks for the fun week. I look forward to teaching more kids music in the future.

Now onto Entrepreneur Camp next week, let's get down to business!