KOLA Academy

06/04/2026

Over a few sessions the children calculated growing degree days and noticed what changed week to week. Before and after sketches, what they saw, what they'd prune and why. Now taking applications for next year. Learn more at www.learnwithkola.ca

PS. Like and share this post for your chance to win one of three orchids or flower pots at The Summit tomorrow at Sandhill Winery! Stop by and visit our table, get to know us, and what we're doing in the community. Draws will be made at the close of the summit on Friday evening.

06/01/2026

We had such a good time participating in the Expo of Awesome this year! An event to help children connect with the world and take action.
Our learners shared the project they have been pouring their hearts into. Watching them explain their work to the community and judges, with that mix of nerves and pride, was heartwarming.
Thank you to and Vernon Curling & Athletic Club for hosting a day that put children at the centre and for the opportunity to be a part of something so special.
Curiosity, ownership, and real connection to place.
🌿 KOLA Academy is enrolling for September 2026. Link in bio.

05/17/2026

Measuring, building, problem-solving. This is what a day at KOLA Academy looks like. Hands busy, minds engaged.
Well thought out projects. Open materials. Questions to figure out together.

05/12/2026

A note worth sharing.

This spring, KOLA Academy hosted Sasha-Gaye Amos through Okanagan College. She completed her placement, finished the course, and sent this reflection:

"The opportunity you gave me played a huge role in my successful completion of Service and Leadership course at the college, and it also contributed to my growth as an individual."

Post-secondary practicum partnerships are one of the quieter ways KOLA Academy is building something durable in this community. Students get hands-on experience supporting neurodivergent and gifted learners in a nature-based setting. The children get more caring adults in their day. The program gets fresh perspective.

Grateful to Okanagan College and Kyla Ashman for the partnership, and to Sasha-Gaye for the care she brought to our students.

Practicing gratitude is part of our daily practice, our kids wanted to share that visually.

05/11/2026

Just in case you don’t have a family doctor in Kelowna. These are all clinics currently accepting new patients in the Okanagan. Family doctors can diagnose ADHD. You can access up to $8500 in supports each year for your child with ADHD.

05/10/2026

New summer camp at KOLA Academy: Build Your Own Kalimba.

Five days by the river. Children ages 9+ build a wooden thumb piano from scratch. They sand the box, glue it together, install the steel tines, tune it to a scale, and decorate it however they want. By Friday they're playing songs together as a group, and they take their instrument home.

Along the way, they're learning the science of sound (vibration, frequency, resonance), the math of rhythm and tine length, and the history of an instrument that's been played in Africa for over 3000 years.

Mostly though, they're outside. Hiking, building, listening, playing.

July 6-10
10am to 3pm daily
Ages 9 and up
$425 (includes everything: kit, tools, supplies, instruction)
16 children max
Kelowna, BC

Email [email protected] to register. $100 deposit holds your child's spot.

05/08/2026

It wasn't planned for the day, but when you're out and about and someone says come meet the chicks that just hatched, you check them out! Of course, they all loved it!

05/08/2026

Accepting funding isn't quite the same as being an approved service provider.

KOLA Academy is now an officially approved Support Provider with SelfDesign Learning Foundation.

If your child is with SelfDesign, talk to your Learning Consultant about using your learning funds toward KOLA Academy programming.

www.learnwithkola.ca

05/06/2026

Spotted the KOLA Academy banner up at the gym this morning. Felt good.
When we sponsored this space, the dollars went straight to supporting local gymnasts. Kids who show up, work hard, and chase something they love.
That's the kind of community we want to be part of.
KOLA Academy. Ages 6-18. Nature-based education for neurodivergent, gifted, and sensitive learners.
www.learnwithkola.ca

05/05/2026

Most parents have less than 7 minutes of two-way conversation with their kids each day.
If yours isn't talking, you don't need more questions. You need better ones.
Skip "how was school." Try "what made you laugh today."
Read the article to understand why this matters.
Thank you to Thirdspace Charity and jeffhay.com for hosting a parent night.
https://learnwithkola.ca/blog/less-than-seven-minutes-why-better-questionsbuild-better-relationships/

I went to a Parenting event on Friday night, hosted by Thirdspace Charity at OKGN. The whole evening was built around Slido, an audience interaction platform that lets a room of people join from their phones and respond to live polls, multiple choice questions, and open Q&A anonymously. No app downl...