ADVENTURE STUDIO

Adventure Studio · The Village School
The Village School  ·  Adventure Studio  ·  6th–8th Grade

Where middle schoolers don’t just survive —
they thrive.

Adventure learners are curious about themselves, their communities, and their world and are ready to think more deeply and develop strong character. These learners take responsibility for their own education, follow their curiosities, and root themselves in experiences beyond the studio that foster an exploration of their identity and values.

Middle school at TVS prioritizes collaboration, compassion, respect, and accountability. We trust young people to learn from their experiences.

Adventure learners brainstorming together at a whiteboard
01  —  What Makes Adventure Special
Learning to Live Together

Middle school at TVS prioritizes collaboration, compassion, respect, and accountability. We trust young people to learn from their experiences and believe reflection is one of life’s greatest teachers.

Three Adventure learners working on a hands-on science project
02  —  What Makes Adventure Special
Project Work

In Adventure Studio, Project Work connects to the real world. Learners take on ambitious challenges, engage with experts in the field, embrace meaningful failure, and develop the agency and resilience that define a TVS graduate. The aim is not a finished product — it’s a learner who knows how to learn.

Adventure learners playing outdoors on a sunny field
03  —  What Makes Adventure Special
Time Outdoors

Middle schoolers deserve free play, too. Learners spend 2 hours outside most days and one afternoon per week at the park. Extended blocks of unstructured play are a vital time when learners develop a sense of self and community.

Adventure learners navigating the DC Metro independently
04  —  What Makes Adventure Special
Freedom

Learners have earned many freedoms that come with being the oldest in the school — freedom to design learning experiences, plan camping trips, explore the local community, and pursue apprenticeships.

Adventure learner wearing a National Park Service volunteer badge
05  —  What Makes Adventure Special
Job Shadowing

Learners often pursue job shadow opportunities in the community that are aligned with their passions, ranging from the National Park Service to tech companies to local bakeries — the opportunities are endless.

How We Measure Success

How do we measure success in Adventure Studio?

By Adventure Studio, learners are stepping into who they’re becoming. Our Profile of a Learner — six traits built for real life, not just school — is the lens through which we measure their growth, their readiness, and their impact.

See the Profile of a TVS Learner →
The full Adventure Studio community