About Bigfoot Adventurer Academy
Bigfoot Adventurer Academy was born in Maple Valley from a simple belief: kids learn best when they slow down, look closely, and get their hands into the real world. We offer STEAM enrichment courses and Observology day camps that trade screens and speed for patient observation, creative thinking, and outdoor immersion. Our programs are small by design, led by dedicated instructors who know these trails, these rivers, and this community inside and out.
Our Philosophy
We practice Observology, the study of looking. A concept we first encountered in The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson. It sounds simple, but in a world that moves fast, teaching a child to sit still, watch closely, and ask better questions is quietly radical. Every program we run, whether at Lake Wilderness Lodge or on the Green River, is built around this core: STEM concepts introduced through art and abstract thinking, small groups where every kid is seen, and patient instructors who believe discovery beats busywork.
Who We Are
We’re Rory and Erin. We met in 2008, married in 2011, and welcomed our two daughters in 2013 and 2017. In 2014, we left Wyoming and put down roots in Maple Valley, where we’ve called home ever since.
Rory brings 25-plus years of carpentry experience. Erin has spent nearly as many years in administration/tax. Along the way, we became a homeschool family, teaching our own kids creatively, hands-on, and at their pace. That experience shaped how we think about learning: small moments, real curiosity, and plenty of room to explore.
In 2023, our youngest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a moment that reshaped our priorities and pointed us toward work that could hold both our love of teaching and the realities of a medically complex family.
Between 2024 and 2026, we retrained: Rory in Early Childhood Education, Erin in small business and entrepreneurship. We began teaching STEAM enrichment courses through Maple Valley Parks & Recreation in September 2024, and Bigfoot Adventurers grew from there—a way to keep using the skills we’d built as homeschool parents, now shared with kids across our community.
We show up ready to meet your child exactly where they are with patience, preparation, and the same attention we’d want for our own kids.
Why Families Choose Us
- Informed Care: As a medically complex family ourselves, we understand T1D, ADHD, autism, and more. Your child will be met at their level and cared for according to their individualized plan. Caregivers welcome at no extra charge.
- STEAM With an Art-First Twist: STEM concepts introduced through creativity and abstract thinking.
- Slow Observation, Real Discovery: Observology grounds everything we do.
- Small Groups by Design: Low ratios mean every kid is seen, heard, and safe.
- Locally Led, Locally Loved: Based in Maple Valley and other SoCo locations. We know this place.
Get in Touch
Have questions about which program fits your child? Want to discuss medical or behavioral needs before registering? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you.