The Journey: World Builders

AGES: 5th-9th

DATES: September 1 - May 25, 2026, 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm

LOCATION: North Alliance Church, Burlington

PRICE: $845

Registration is open

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Journey: World Builders is an immersive program that merges role-playing elements (e.g. classic TTRPGs like D&D) and skill building (e.g. archery, orienteering, tracking), using the landscape as inspiration to collaboratively create and inhabit a story. We’ll use the caves, forests, and landscape features of Rock Point as our world, with our characters navigating an imperiled land populated by menacing ogres, secret societies, benevolent bards, powerful wizards, scheming politicians, treacherous storms, mythical beasts, and, of course, absurd NPCs who desperately need help. 

Our journey starts by building the world from the ground up, quite literally. We’ll use The Quiet Year as a framework for transforming the rocky terrain at Rock Point into a fully realized world. A knot at the base of a tree might be a portal to a magical realm, a trail may be a major highway riddled with bandits, a cave (yes we have caves!) is a dragon’s lair, a vernal pool becomes an expansive sea. 

With our world beginning to take shape, we’ll use the tabletop system of Dungeon World to create characters that then venture out to explore this world and uncover its hidden secrets. Our story spans the school year and so Vermont’s changing seasons will play a key role in shaping our story. 

This program also weaves in practical skills to play out character decisions and key beats in our story. So say our characters find themselves at the Festival of the Arrow. Kids in the program will actually get to participate in an archery tournament. Or a fresh snow might reveal tracks of the feared Teumessian fox on the prowl that we track to its lair. The boundary between our imaginary fictional world and the landscape is blurred, ultimately culminating in a shared story where everyone, including the land, has a hand in its fabrication.

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Activities include:

  • World Building
  • Character creation
  • Drawing maps

Activities

  • Storytelling
  • Rolling dice
  • Painting minis

Parent Testimonials

“When family and friends and neighbors ask about Crow’s Path and what goes on there, they usually want to know what concrete skills are being learned. And, of course, there are indeed things of that sort (wonderful things!) that we can tell them: pitching a tent and building a fire; identifying trees and animal tracks. But these things aren’t why we choose to send our daughter out into the woods one day per week, instead of to “regular” school. It is, rather, the more nebulous things about Crow’s Path – things like community and confidence and contemplation, for which there never seems to be enough time elsewhere – for which we are so grateful.”
Brian, father of Field School participant

“We’ve been part of the Crows Path family since our oldest son started in 2010.  As a family that believes strongly in the importance of immersing young people in nature, we are deeply grateful that Crows Path has provided a way for our boys to do that once a week.  Additionally, knowing that their time in the woods is spent with loving, trained nature mentors who allow the children to explore their curiosities and interests is a priceless gift.”

Mark, Father of Field School participant

“Crow’s Path invites kids to learn about the world around them, teaches kids respectful ways of moving through that world, encourages kids to be their true selves, and prepares kids to be engaged and thoughtful ecological citizens. I am a parent who has had the great fortune of traveling through the portal on many occasions for both camp and Field School. While out on the land, I have seen eyes grow wider with wonder and hearts grow lighter as children share their gratitude for that which they hold most dear. My son returns home from Crow’s Path each day covered with dirt, pockets filled with pine cones, mind filled with stories, and eyes twinkling with joyful wonder. To me, these are the signs of the best possible kind of learning.”

Christine, mother of Field School participant

“Crow’s Path has encouraged my daughter’s love of the natural world and given her a place to be herself and explore, while being active, curious, creative, silly and happy. Being a part of this group has given her a close knit and supportive community of friends and mentors. She wouldn’t miss a day- not even when the rain pours or the wind chill dips!”

Liz, mother of Field School participant

“Our daughter has been with Crows Path since second grade, and has such a strong sense of connection to Rock Point, the animals and plants there, the mentors, and to imaginative play that engages with place.  It isn’t always obvious that this is developing; kids keep some of this private in their hearts.  But as I listen to her non-stop explanation of every stage of the overnight, watch her plan ahead for becoming a Middle School Apprentice, and hear here decide what programs she loves and which aren’t her preference, I see the impact — in her growing sense of what she loves, and how she wants to be herself.”

Susan, mother of middle school apprentice
“Crow’s Path programs have been invaluable to our 2 elementary school aged daughters. Field school is a welcome mid-week break and compliment to more traditional education in the classroom. The forest, field and lake offer a perfect setting to spend a day reflecting, playing and connecting with nature. This time allows them the space and freedom to be themselves, follow their senses and move at their own pace for a day, among a group of nurturing and supportive adults and children that value each other as peers. This experience empowers our children, cultivates leadership skills, teaches a love and respect for nature and allows for a unique bonding time in a beautiful setting. I wish all children had the opportunity to participate in a program like this.”
Elise, mother of Field School participants

Crows Path consistently creates and holds a container that fuels learning, adventure and creativity. My kids have benefited from the rich sense of cooperative learning, shared purpose, reflection and play that fills their days at Field School. Being part of a purpose driven community that reminds us how to (re)connect to self, wild and each other has been key in my family’s joy and growth.

Trish, mother of Field School participants