For Students in Kindergarten- 6th Grade
The Adventure Judaism Congregation has been providing innovative ways to engage Jews with Judaism since 2001. Our youth education program lives up to our reputation.
This is not the religious school you dreaded as a child!
- Outdoor Components
- Conveniently scheduled classes
- Excellent and carefully designed curriculum
- Opening Day at a nearby outdoor camp includes kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
- Teachers include Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein and Rebecca Shavit-Lonstein.
- Innovative and engaging teaching techniques
- High-quality instruction
- Security is provided by off-duty police officers and HCCI Professional Protective Services and paid for by a grant from JEWISHcolorado.
We can’t wait to welcome your family into our community!
What to Expect of Ark in 2025-2026
- Each class will begin with a 15-minute all-group session, which will include singing, teaching by our rabbi, skits presented by our interns, and other fun activities. Parents and siblings are welcome and encouraged to join us.
- We will offer three all-school programs celebrating Shabbat, Chanukah, and Purim. Parents and siblings are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Curriculum
In 2025-2026, we will learn from our Stories from Genesis curriculum. We will use outdoor activities, craft projects, storytelling, drama, and discussions to learn about Jewish values that can bring meaning to our lives.
In our first class, we have a song session (parents and siblings are welcome to join for this part) and then break into our classes to kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and play community-building games. Our goal for this session is to create class cohesion. Parents are welcome to enjoy the campgrounds, walk, or relax by the lake. PLEASE leave your dogs at home.
It’s our version of “back to school night!” ARK families join the Adventure Judaism congregation for a 1-hour, song-filled, outdoor service at the Sunrise Amphitheater on Flagstaff Summit overlooking Boulder, followed by a BYO picnic dinner. This is a great chance to meet other families and make connections. Services are free for ARK families. If it is raining, we will be in the Wood Shelter, which is covered. If it rains, please bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Warning: It can be cold up there! Bring layers!!! See More Info Here >>
Parents and siblings are invited to join us for our all-school Hanukah celebration. We will light menorahs, sing songs, and play games.
The Purim Carnival is a highlight of the year. Parents and siblings are welcome to join us in the Bear Creek gym, which will be transformed into our carnival space. There will be games, prizes, and even treats! Parents and kids come in costume, and you might like to bring some hamantashen to enter in the hamantashen contest.
We use a four-year rotating curriculum so that students can re-meet the lessons and learn them through a different lens as they move through the program.
- Year 1: Judaism through Time: The Study of Important Jewish Figures 2023-2024 (2012-2013 & 2015-2016 & 2019-2020)
- Year 2: Values (2024-2025, 2013-2014, 2016-2017, 2020-2021)
- Year 3: Tour of the Torah: Stories from Genesis 2025-2026 (2014-2015, 2017-2018, 2021-2022)
- Year 4: Jewish Holidays (2018-2019, 2022-2023 )
The curriculum has three core components: Values, Tradition, & Community.
1. Values:
Think of it as mensch training! We learn about Jewish people from history and contemporary Jewish role models. We talk about their choices and values. When do we agree? When do we disagree? In what ways do we want to be like them? In what ways do we want to be different? Building relationships with characters from our Jewish People’s past will firmly ground our students in their past while preparing them for a healthy, strong, and vibrant Jewish future.
2. Tradition:
Students will explore new and traditional ways to celebrate Jewish rituals. We will discover meaningful Jewish practices and rituals appropriate for our busy and technologically active lives.
3. Community:
Adventure Judaism is known for our ability to build a community quickly. Being part of a Jewish community is one of the most essential elements of the Adventure Rabbi Kids (ARK) experience. To that end, our experiential education techniques allow children to make friends quickly and easily. Please let us know if your child needs extra coaxing to feel comfortable participating or making friends. We try to be incredibly diligent about looking for students who need more help engaging socially.
Some of our meetings will involve the whole school and parents so that students can experience being part of a larger community. Although there is no obligation, we hope your entire family will enjoy participating in Adventure Judaism’s additional events, such as our High Holiday and Passover Retreats, and meet our fabulous multi-age community.
Time and Dates
-1st* Sunday of the month from 2-3:30 pm Aug-April
-Each class begins with a 15-minute all-group program. Parents and siblings are welcome.
*Exceptions to 1st Sunday are Aug (we start after the BVSD school year begins), Sept (to avoid Labor Day), Jan (to avoid Winter Break), and April (to avoid Passover Retreat). Opening Day is longer than the regular classes.
2025-2026
August 17: Camp Day! from 9-12 noon. PLEASE leave your dogs at home.
August 22: Back to School Shabbat Service and Picnic on Flagstaff Mtn
September 7, 2-3:30
October 5, 2-3:30
November 2, 2-3:30
December 7, 2-3:30
December 14 Hanukkah Party 4:30-6
Jan 11, 2-3:30
February 1, 2-3:30
March 1, 2-3:30: Purim Carnival
April 12, 2-3:30
Location
Our South Boulder location will be shared with you upon registration.
The Opening Program location is at a camp, a 35-minute drive from South Boulder. We will be offering stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and other fun group-building activities.
Teaching Style
We combine outdoor and indoor settings, innovative and traditional teaching techniques, and a variety of teaching styles to engage students. We are aware that not all students learn the same way.
Our students will engage in experiential and traditional learning experiences to provide them with tools to explore the richness of our Jewish heritage. We will learn about Jewish values, Jewish personalities, and Jewish culture. We will build meaningful and genuine relationships with our traditions and each other. All this and more will firmly ground their Jewish identity while helping them become people with whom we all want to share the planet.
| Grades | Teacher | Max # of Students | Time | Intern | Is there room? |
| K-2 | Rebecca Shavit-Lonstein | 15 | 2-3:30 pm | Asher, Martina | Yes |
| 3-5 (inquire about 6th grade) | Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein | 20 | 2-3:30 pm | Mazzy, Edie | Yes |
Early Bird Tuition
Members: $676
Non-members: $780
Starting August 1, 2026
+$50
Scholarships are available for those in need.
We offer a monthly payment plan, which will spread your payments over three months for $35/student. If you need the payment divided into more months, please let the bookkeeper know, and we will accommodate you. Today, you will be charged $235. The remainder will be divided into three payments. Payments begin the month after you register. If you register before the 20th of any month, payments begin the month after you register. If you register after the 20th of any month, your 1st monthly payment will occur on the 1st after a 30-day billing cycle has passed (e.g., if you register on May 21st, your first payment will occur on June 1st).
Refunds are not available unless you purchase $35 tuition insurance per student. If you purchase tuition insurance, we will refund the remainder of the classes. The $50 registration fee, the late fee (if applicable), the payment plan fee (if applicable), and $35 tuition insurance are not refundable.
Note: Cell phones and other similar electronic devices are not permitted at Adventure Rabbi Kids classes. If your student needs to bring a phone to contact a parent at the end of class, they can keep it out of sight in their backpack or bag. If they use it during class, it will be taken away and returned after class.
Discounts and Additions:
Bypass the 3.5% credit card fee by using ACH
The monthly payment plan is $35/student
Tuition Insurance is $35/student
Please consider a membership for you and your child to our congregation.
Membership Benefits:
- Discount tuition
- Discounted attendance to our Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur retreat
- Free attendance to Fridays on Flagstaff
- Help sustain our congregation
- Attend member-only events
- Convert unused portions of membership payments into an end-of-year tax deduction of up to $250 for your child and $499 for yourself.
We can’t wait to welcome your family into our community!
Our Staff
Rebecca Shavit-Lonstein
Rebecca is Adventure Rabbi’s main educator. She teaches private and small group lessons in Hebrew and other Jewish subjects to over 35 of our students. Kids describe Rebecca as fun, patient, and encouraging. They actually look forward to Hebrew lessons with her!
She is thrilled to be able to work with students in a group setting for ARK. Her priority is to create a fun, safe environment in which kids can make deep and lasting friends, even if they come in knowing no one.
Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein:
Rabbi Alan is thrilled to be leading the 4-6th grade class. He is looking forward to creating a welcoming and fun environment for students to enjoy the outdoors while also learning about Judaism.
