Make Month · Unschool Adventures

II. We call it "make month" for a reason

Make something useful to someone.

The goal of Make Month is to create a real project that clearly helps at least one person outside your bubble — and might help many more.

Write the thing. Record the thing. Make the prototype. Kill the precious part, revive the weird part. Act more, overthink less.

What kinds of creative projects count?

At Make Month, most "projects" will be digital - because a laptop, camera, or microphone travels better than a pottery wheel. But the real question is: are you making something that a stranger can benefit from, respond to, and help you improve? And does it have the potential to benefit more than just one person? If so, your project is welcome.

an Etsy store for your hand-knit squirrel costumes
a photography project that helps older people in Dolores tell their life stories
a landing page for an event that you're organizing for other teenagers
a website, video series, or guidebook that addresses a specific problem
a podcast or newsletter that explores a topic dear to your heart
an app or digital tool that people need - and no one else is building
something else entirely - as long as it can be made, tested, revised, and launched from a hostel in Colorado

You don't need to show up (or apply) with a concrete idea in mind! In the first week we'll be leading workshops (inspired by the Stanford d.school) that help you discover other people's needs, invite feedback into your creative process, and expand your vision of what's possible.

Whatever your project ends up being, it should be something you can feasibly finish in just a few weeks, allowing plenty of time for brainstorming, feedback, revision, and polishing. And if you finish early? Then keep making it better! The idea is to focus on one big project, not many small ones.

III. Contact With Reality

Feedback is not the monster. Avoidance is.

Most of us aren't stopped by failure. We're stopped by never finding out.

This is the center of Make Month: learning to let strangers, peers, mentors, and reality itself touch your idea — without collapsing, performing, or vanishing into perfectionism. With our help, you'll practice the art of the getting out of your head, looking into people's hearts, and gracefully welcoming feedback.

I would use this if...

This part confused me...

What if you did this instead?

IV. Creative Community

A month with people who make you braver.

We're forming a small band of kind, ambitious, and nonconforming young people, all building different things beside the Dolores River.

The true power of Make Month comes from cross-pollination: a filmmaker inspires a coder, a writer learns from a visual artist, and a shy interviewer borrows courage from an extraverted one. Shared meals, river walks, feedback circles, and late-night conversations breed a motivation that rarely appears when you're home alone.

V. Dolores, Colorado

A mountain town, not a classroom.

Rocks, rivers, cottonwoods, cacti, an entire youth hostel, and enough space for an idea to stop being imaginary.

The tiny town of Dolores, Colorado (population: ~940) is an essential part of the experience: a beautiful basecamp for concentrated creativity, contemplative walks, peer collaboration, and actual conversations with people outside your bubble. A library, grocery store, river, park, and trails await you, all within easy roaming distance.

You've been toiling in the shadows.

Now meet the world.

VI. The Return

Go home changed.

Not famous, not finished - but bolder, more confident, and far less afraid of letting real people react to your work.

After four weeks, the teens return home with more than a project. They've confronted their perfectionism. They've asked strangers for help. They've watched an idea change shape. And they've learned that criticism isn't a verdict — it's raw material.

I can revise this.

I know who to ask next.

VII. Practical Details

A 4-week retreat for 16 self-directed teenagers

Make Month is for 15– to 19-year-old self-directed learners, facilitated by Blake Boles & two other staff.

WhenMar 9 - Apr 6, 2027

Length4 weeks

Cost$3900

Apply byAug 31, 2026

What's included?

Food, lodging, and group workshops are included in the program cost. Fancy snacks and extracurricular activities, not included. Just get yourself here, and you're good to go!

Do I need to be an unschooler? Are the ages flexible?

Unschool Adventures enrolls independent young people who take charge of their learning and don't require much "motivation" from adults. If this describes you — even if you're 14 or 20 — please apply!

Who are the staff, and what are their roles?

The staff will include UA director Blake Boles and two other adults (at least one of whom is female). Our mission is to nurture and challenge you, run meetings and prepare meals, keep the hostel in order, and tackle our own creative projects at the same time!

How do I get there?

You can get dropped off at the hostel or fly independently into Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), from which we'll coordinate a shared transfer service (extra cost).

So we're living in a hostel?

Yes indeed! Our homebase is the Dolores Bike Hostel, which we've rented out entirely. Visit their webpage for pretty pictures. You'll stay in dorms with 4-6 beds and use shared bathrooms. Laundry happens once a week.

How does cooking and cleaning work?

Everyone will help prepare meals, clean dishes, and tidy up the common areas. You won't need to clean bathrooms. Expect to contribute ~3hr/week.

What's required, and what's optional?

We ask everyone to join dinners, evening "check-ins," all-group meetings, and a few important workshops. Otherwise, your time is yours!

Are discounts available?

As a very small company, we have no funding sources beyond tuition. We price our programs as competitively as possible, at an equal cost for all applicants. Discounts are available for returning participants and their siblings.

Have another question?

Wonderful. Send it straight to Blake (blake@unschooladventures.com), or ask in the interview.

VIII. How to Join

Apply by August 31st

Yes, we do interviews. No, they're not painful.

To join Make Month, here's how the process works:

Apply with the form below by August 31st - we love early applications!
Pay the $40 application fee (refunded if we don't offer you a spot)
On September 1st, we'll begin scheduling interviews: 20-minute, 1-on-1 videocalls between you & a Make Month staff (no parents allowed!)
In mid-September, we'll start sending invitations. You'll have two weeks to decide if you'd like to join.
Complete your paperwork, send the $2000 security deposit, and you're good to go!
If space remains, we continue accepting applications and conducting interviews after September 1.
As the retreat approaches you'll receive a packing list and guidance for arranging your travels. We'll organize a group videocall and begin brainstorming our projects. You may start to feel quite excited.

At Unschool Adventures, we always do interviews to make sure we're bringing together a group of motivated, prepared, and independent young people. The interviews are friendly and relaxed - nothing to worry about, even if it's your first time! Here's what we'll ask:

What makes you want to join Make Month? Why does this feel like the right fit for you, at this specific moment in life?
Do you have any ideas for a project? Even if you "have no idea," we'd love to hear about your hobbies, interests, and any previous projects.
What experiences have prepared you to live away from home for 4 weeks, with a bunch of strangers, in a dormitory with minimal private space? Why does this sound fun rather than horrible?
What questions do you have for us about Make Month? We want to make sure you know what you're signing up for. Bring 2-3 questions based upon careful reading of this trip webpage.

Make
Month

You have been making things in the dark.