Family Agreement

Trailblazer Academy Family Agreement v1.0

Effective August 2026

Understanding the Trailblazer Experience 

Trailblazer Academy is unlike a traditional classroom or extracurricular program. The following expectations are specific to Trailblazer Academy and are intended to help families understand our approach to learning, community, and outdoor education.

This Family Agreement outlines the shared expectations that support a safe, enriching, and successful Trailblazer Academy experience. It outlines our approach to learning, our responsibilities to students and families, and the partnership we ask families to uphold as members of our year-long learning community. It supplements the Kolibri Education & Consulting Program & Participation Agreement and Policies.

Communication & Trust

Trailblazer Academy is built on a collaborative relationship between families and Kolibri Education & Consulting. Questions, concerns, or misunderstandings are a normal part of any educational partnership. We ask families to bring concerns directly to us so they can be addressed promptly and thoughtfully. We are committed to listening, communicating openly, and working together in good faith to support each child's success.

1. Our Learning Community

Trailblazer Academy is a year-long, faith-centered outdoor enrichment program designed to foster curiosity, resilience, stewardship, critical thinking, collaboration, and a lifelong love of learning. Through meaningful experiences in nature, students are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, solve problems, take appropriate responsibility, and develop increasing independence within a supportive community.

Because Trailblazer Academy is intentionally small, every child contributes to the experience of the cohort. Enrollment decisions and program expectations are established with both the individual child and the well-being of the entire learning community in mind.

I understand that Trailblazer Academy is designed as a full-year program rather than a drop-in class. While occasional absences are understandable, regular attendance allows students to benefit from the continuity of projects, relationships, and learning experiences throughout the year.

2. Learning Outdoors

I understand that Trailblazer Academy takes place primarily outdoors in a variety of natural settings. Outdoor learning intentionally includes experiences that cannot be recreated indoors, and students may encounter changing weather, uneven terrain, mud, water, insects, plants, wildlife, and other natural conditions.

Program days may continue in light rain or other manageable weather when it is safe to do so. Activities, locations, or schedules may be adjusted when necessary due to weather, environmental conditions, safety concerns, or other unforeseen circumstances.

I understand that my child may become wet, muddy, tired, or temporarily uncomfortable during normal outdoor activities, and that these experiences are often valuable parts of outdoor learning.

I agree to send my child appropriately prepared each program day with suitable clothing, footwear, food, water, medications, and any required gear. If my child is not adequately prepared to participate safely, Kolibri Education & Consulting may modify my child's participation or request early pickup if necessary.

3. Activities, Challenge & Safety

Trailblazer Academy offers a wide variety of hands-on learning experiences. Depending on the curriculum, season, weather, and student readiness, activities may include hiking, stream exploration, ecological studies, gardening, fishing, archery, navigation, science investigations, dissections, cooking, tool use, supervised fire-related activities, field trips, and other outdoor experiences.

Students are introduced to activities progressively according to their age, maturity, demonstrated responsibility, and safety readiness. Participation in certain activities may be limited or modified when appropriate.

I understand that learning sometimes involves manageable challenges. Instructors may encourage students to work through age-appropriate frustration, solve problems independently, and develop confidence before offering direct assistance, while always maintaining appropriate supervision and prioritizing safety.

Although reasonable precautions are taken, I understand that outdoor education involves inherent risks that cannot be completely eliminated.

4. Parent Partnership & Student Expectations

A successful Trailblazer experience depends upon a respectful partnership between families and Kolibri Education & Consulting.

I agree to:

• Communicate any changes to my child's medical needs, allergies, medications, behavioral concerns, learning needs, or other information that may affect participation.

• Send my child only when they are healthy enough to safely participate in an active outdoor program.

• Review program communications and respond promptly when needed.

• Follow arrival and dismissal procedures and ensure an authorized adult remains reachable during program hours.

Students are expected to contribute positively to the learning environment by:

• Following safety instructions.

• Treating people, wildlife, and property with respect.

• Remaining with the group unless instructed otherwise.

• Using equipment responsibly.

• Participating in a manner that supports the safety and learning of the entire cohort.

If a student's behavior repeatedly creates safety concerns or substantially disrupts the program, Kolibri Education & Consulting will work collaboratively with the family whenever possible to address concerns. However, participation may be modified, suspended, or discontinued when necessary to protect the safety and well-being of the child, other participants, or the learning community.

I also understand that photographs or updates may occasionally be shared privately with enrolled families, and I agree not to share images or identifying information about another child without that family's permission.

5. 45-Day Enrollment & Fit Period

Trailblazer Academy is designed as a full-year September–May commitment. However, families have an initial 45-calendar-day withdrawal period beginning with the student's first scheduled program day.

During this period, families may evaluate whether Trailblazer Academy is the right fit for their child. Kolibri Education & Consulting will likewise consider the student's ability to participate safely, follow essential directions, engage appropriately with peers and instructors, manage the program's outdoor and academic expectations, participate within the available level of supervision, and function successfully within the cohort.

If concerns arise, Kolibri Education & Consulting may communicate with the family, recommend strategies or reasonable supports, establish additional participation or safety expectations, or determine that Trailblazer Academy is not an appropriate placement.

If a family chooses to withdraw, or if Kolibri Education & Consulting determines that Trailblazer Academy is not an appropriate placement, within the initial 45-calendar-day period, the enrollment deposit and tuition already paid or currently due are non-refundable; however, the family will not be responsible for future tuition payments after enrollment ends.

Once enrollment ends, whether through family withdrawal or a program-initiated decision, the student may not re-enroll during the current program year. The family may apply for placement when registration opens for the following program year; future enrollment is subject to availability and is not guaranteed.

After the initial 45-calendar-day period, the full-year enrollment and withdrawal terms contained in the Kolibri Education & Consulting Policies and enrollment agreement apply.