Foothills Blog

As we step into these slower, sun-filled weeks of summer, we hope this finds you soaking in all the small joys - barefoot mornings, summer camp adventures, trips to your favorite local spots, and time to just be.

At Foothills, we believe education happens through real-world experiences and authentic relationships. Downtown Boise gives us access to a living, breathing community that reflects the values we hold dear: creativity, inclusion, collaboration, and a sense of shared responsibility. Whether it’s a conversation with a vendor at the farmer’s market, a child-led exploration along the Greenbelt on the Boise River, or a joyful moment trying new foods at a restaurant on 8th Street, these local moments offer rich opportunities for children to feel connected - to their city, their families, and themselves.

This summer, we encourage you to see the city through your child’s eyes. Pause with them. Wonder with them. Let them lead. Because every street corner, public mural, or book off the shelf at Rediscovered Books offers a chance to nurture the same sense of agency and joy we cultivate all year long at Foothills.

Wonder in the Everyday

Here are a few open-ended prompts and activities to spark reflection, creativity, and conversation—whether at home or out exploring the world around them.

• What do you notice about how summer sounds in the city?
  • Listen together. Is it the buzz of bikes, the splash of the fountain at the Grove, or the rustle of pages turning at the library?
• How do you take care of yourself and others in the heat?
  • A simple opener to a dialogue about empathy, community care, and routines.
• Nature Hunt in the City:
  • How many kinds of leaves, birds, or bugs can you find in a single block?
• A Daily Photo Journal:
  • Take a photo a day of something that catches your eye like a bird you noticed perched on a bench or unique perspectives on the murals in Freak Alley. What patterns emerge in your photos?

All around Downtown Boise, there are exciting chances to come together and discover something new for our youngest to oldest learners:

• Boise Farmers Market
• Capital City Public Market
• First Thursday
• Free Family Days at the Art Museum
• JUMP Summer Concert Series
• Explore Boise Parks

At Foothills, we believe that learning lives in relationships, in questions, and in the meaningful moments we share with the world around us. This summer, we hope your time in the city nurtures the same spirit of inquiry, connection, and joy that shapes our days at Foothills—and that the wonder you discover sparks continued exploration, discovery, and delight in the heart of our vibrant downtown community.

Taira Guerrero
Director, Early Learner Program