JACKSON, Wyo. – The Mountain Academy Jackson Campus is excited to announce a new partnership with The Wonder Institute that will give students access to one of the organization’s existing makerspaces during the 2026–2027 school year.
Through the partnership, Mountain Academy students will have opportunities to learn in a dedicated space for building, STEM and engineering projects, art, and creative design. Students will be encouraged to experiment, create, solve problems, and bring solutions for real-world challenges into existence.
The partnership builds on Mountain Academy’s place-based approach to education by expanding where and how students can learn. Access to the makerspace will give students opportunities to design, build, experiment, and solve problems across disciplines while developing creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Students in Grades three to four will build foundational skills using manual tools while creating projects such as chickadee and wren houses, solitary bee hotels, and toad hibernacula. In Grades five to six, students will advance to power tools and more complex builds, including bat houses, flying squirrel nesting boxes, and butterfly overwintering structures. Grades seven to eight will take on larger engineering and precision-building projects, including owl and kestrel nesting boxes and honeybee hives.
“Some of the most meaningful learning happens when students have the opportunity to take an idea, test it, and figure out where to go next,” said Chris Bessonette, Head of School at the Mountain Academy Jackson Campus. “This partnership gives our students a space to experiment, create, collaborate, and learn through the process.”
Students across Mountain Academy will have opportunities to use The Wonder Institute’s makerspace each week throughout the school year, incorporating making and design into their broader learning experiences. Students will also be able to build on these ideas in Mountain Academy’s own on-campus makerspace, extending projects and exploration beyond their time at The Wonder Institute.
“We’re excited to partner with Mountain Academy and welcome students into a space built for exploration and creativity,” said Gary Duquette, Director of The Wonder Institute. “Our goal is that students feel empowered to try new things, work through challenges, and discover what they’re capable of creating.”
The partnership reflects a shared belief in the value of curiosity, creativity, and learning through experience, while connecting students with new resources and opportunities within the Jackson community.
Mountain Academy looks forward to introducing students to the makerspace during the 2026–2027 school year and continuing to expand opportunities for meaningful learning beyond the classroom.
What is Mountain Academy
Mountain Academy provides an exceptional, holistic approach to education that challenges students to think critically. Serving students from early childhood through 8th grade, with campuses in Jackson, Wyoming, and Victor, Idaho, Mountain Academy uses place-based education to expand opportunities for all students. Through dynamic on-campus experiences and immersive journeys, the school nurtures curiosity, fosters lifelong learning, and prepares students to make a positive impact on their communities.
The Jackson Campus enrolls children from 18 months through 8th grade; the Teton Valley Campus enrolls children from preschool (age three) through 8th grade. www.mountainacademy.org
What is the Wonder Institute
Wonder Institute is a Jackson Hole–based nonprofit building community through the power of making and learning. Through shared makerspaces, hands-on educational programs, and partnerships with schools, colleges, and local businesses, Wonder Institute provides people of all ages with opportunities to explore their curiosity, develop practical skills, and pursue pathways to credentials, careers, and creative fulfillment. https://www.wonderinstitute.org/
