Wayfinder

📍 Road trip stop 8: Lake Valhalla, WA

Like many ants, Helpful Harlow is no stranger to long distances, which is why she stopped at Lake Valhalla—a popular stop for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail.

The trail spans 2650 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington, so it requires plenty of skills we teach in our elementary school curriculum, like resilience, cooperation, independence, and leadership. ⛰️

^ Which of those skills do your students practice most?

📍 Road trip stop 7: The San Juan Islands, WA

The San Juan Islands are one of the best places in the world to spot orcas in the wild—and Super Sea Star found some! Orcas travel in tight family groups called pods and teach their young everything from hunting techniques to their own unique calls. 🐋

Orca pods lead with empathy, share resources, and pass knowledge down through generations. Super Sea Star does the same—just with a sparkly ocean-blue backpack. 🎒

Wayfinder's K–2 curriculum helps kids build exactly these skills: teamwork, community, and caring for one another. Learn more at the link in our bio!

Belonging is the foundation to addressing chronic absenteeism.

👉 Get the guide: https://wfndr.co/4pPKE1I

According to a recent Walton Family + Gallup survey of Gen Z students, 25% of middle and high school students report having no teacher at school who makes them feel excited about the future, and 40% report that their teachers don’t make them feel that their schoolwork is important.

Chronic absenteeism is a self-perpetuating issue. Research shows that frequent absences can lead to heightened stress and feelings of alienation from peers, as well as school activities.

Ensuring that students experience belonging in school from day one helps lay the foundation for success. Solving chronic absenteeism means making school a place students and teachers want to be—where all educators have the tools to create genuine connections with their students.

Explore the latest research and district strategies driving measurable progress in student attendance in The State of Chronic Absenteeism 2026 Guide.

🎒 Read the guide here: https://wfndr.co/4pPKE1I

Tiona Madden, Principal at Stowe Elementary, dropped some realness recently: Wayfinder isn't about checking a box—it's about helping students build character that will support them well beyond the classroom.

We've learned a lot from working with Principal Madden and her talented team. Stay tuned for our new video showing how Stowe went from 33% of students chronically absent to only 16% (!) after implementing Wayfinder. ⭐

You can't control what students carry through the doors on day one. You can control what greets them on the other side.

Those first few weeks set the tone for the whole year.

It’s when students decide whether school is a place where they belong, and feel purposeful and empowered to learn.

It's when educators reconnect with the work and why it matters, and feel hopeful about the year ahead.

But the shared belief that anything is possible this year is not automatic—It's built through leadership, intentional planning, and spreads through the culture and climate you create.

We’ve put together Setting the Tone: Your Guide for Back-to-School, filled with resources, articles, and activities to help you build belonging and connection, get students ready for a year of development, and start with a winning attendance strategy.

🎒 Get the guide here: https://wfndr.co/3RQAfGn

“Elise Cranny hopes to help the next generation avoid many of the same struggles she experienced through her partnership with Wayfinder, a PreK-12 learning platform that helps build life skills such as resilience, collaboration, adaptability, and purpose. Cranny partnered with the organization to create The Resilient Athlete Collection, a series of resources designed to strengthen the mental side of sports for students in grades 6-12.

The collection helps student athletes strengthen the mental side of competition while building skills they can carry into the classroom and everyday life. 'I've seen how great sport can be,' Cranny said. 'I've met most of my closest friends through it, and there's so much power in sport. I love that Wayfinder is teaching lifelong skills.'

Cranny sees the partnership as an opportunity to help young athletes learn lessons she wishes she had understood earlier. 'It's okay to still strive and have those higher goals, but it's also important to recognize the progress you're making,' Cranny said. 'If nothing is ever good enough, you lose a lot of momentum that way.'"

Olympian Elise Cranny opens up about burnout and balance "It's crazy how quickly something that's a strength can become something that gets in the way." Looking back on her running career, Elise Cranny now sees the perfectionism that carried her from Niwot High School to two Olympic Games in a different light. After reaching the 2021 Olympic final in Toky...

📍 Road trip stop 5:
Resilient Riley got to Seattle just in time for a World Cup game! ⚽

He was super resilient, although next time he'll bring ear protection... Lumen Field is one of the loudest stadiums in the world, and fan noise there has registered as seismic activity multiple times.

Fun fact: Did you know there's a three-banded armadillo at Fort Worth Zoo who plays soccer? His name is Bocce, and Riley is hoping to become friends.