Learning Adventures

At HeartWise, we believe the world is our classroom and every adventure is an invitation for families to learn and grow together. Our Learning Adventures bring the same group of families together each week to explore themed field trips and workshops that inspire curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connections. Each session is built around a central theme—linking art, science, history, and hands-on exploration—to help students see how learning connects across disciplines. Students document their discoveries in personalized Learning Passports, collecting stickers for each field trip and recording what they learned and remember. At our end-of-session Showcase, students present their completed passports and each earn the themed badge for that session, celebrating their journey and achievements together as a HeartWise family. HeartWise isn't just a program—it's a community that turns learning into shared adventures and family memories that last a lifetime.

We the People: Celebrating America's Past 250 Years!

Don’t just read about America’s story this fall — live it. Heartwise Learning Adventures takes homeschool families on 12 fully planned Friday field trips through 250 years of American history — from the First Peoples of California to a Revolutionary War battle reenactment at Riley’s Farm, a WWII battleship, the golden age of chrome and drive-ins and the arcade era your parents grew up in. Every adventure is experienced together in a warm consistent Friday community of like-minded families where friendships are forged through shared discovery, joyful memories and the kind of learning that stays with your children long after the season ends. Each child receives a Heartwise Learning Passport — collect a stamp or sticker at every adventure and turn it in at our end-of-season showcase celebration to earn your very own “We the People” badge. Because learning this good doesn’t just fill a notebook — it makes a life.

*Families volunteer three times per semester helping with check-in, event setup or teardown — a small and meaningful way to invest in the community we build together.

Ms. Valerie hosts HeartWise field trips to incredible locations across LA County and brings our community together for special events. This 16-week, hands-on program is designed to spark curiosity and leave the entire family with a thirst for more adventures!

A Kitoodle instructor and homeschooling mother to 4, Valerie has decades of experience mentoring children. She holds a BA in Business and completed a graduate certificate in Art & Theology at Regent College. She recently journeyed from the Pacific Northwest back home to SoCal. Her passion is to bring literature to life through creative writing and memory-making, and spend lots of time exploring nature with her children.