about
Our Mission
To inspire curious, confident students who make a positive difference.
We use hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity, build critical thinking skills, and help kids and teens grow in independence and purpose.
our approach
Learning, the Wondershop way.
Hands-on
Learning happens through doing—building, creating, experimenting, and exploring with real materials and real ideas.
Curiosity-Led
Questions are welcome here. We follow student curiosity, encourage exploration, and leave room for discovery and creativity.
Analytical
Students are challenged to think critically (deeply), ask good questions, and evaluate possible solutions.
Purposeful
Each class centers around meaningful projects that students can see, touch, and feel proud of when they’re finished.
Collaborative
Students learn together—sharing ideas, problem-solving as a team, and building social confidence in a supportive group.
Service-Oriented
Students connect their learning to real needs, making a positive impact in their families and communities.
Our story starts in 6th grade.
I loved 6th grade.
And I loved 6th grade because my teacher, Mrs. Powers, made it fun.
We didn’t just read out of a textbook about the Greeks. No, we pulled old sheets out of our linen closet and used safety pins to make togas.
We didn’t just practice math with a pen and paper. We had an estimate jar in our classroom. Using the math skills she taught us, we would try to guess how many items were in the jar. Periodically, the contents would get divided among the students in the class, with the remainder going to the person who guessed the closest.
Mrs. Powers made learning fun.
It’s no secret that engaged students learn and retain more.
30 years later, I found myself teaching. I didn’t plan to become a teacher, and I’ve never received a credential, but I inadvertently became a teacher when I decided to homeschool my youngest child.
I wanted my daughter, and other students, to experience the joy of learning in a creative environment. So, I decided to launch Wondershop.
Wondershop is the classroom that I always wanted. It’s the classroom where we get to ask questions, experiment, learn by doing, be creative, and design projects that have meaning and purpose.
Hi, I’m Melanie.
owner + founder of wondershop
I’ve always believed that the best learning happens when kids get to make, build, question, and try things for themselves.
Wondershop grew out of a love for hands-on projects, lively discussions, and creating spaces where teens and kids feel curious, capable, and confident.
My goal is simple: to offer classes that are engaging, welcoming, and rooted in real-world skills, so that learning feels purposeful and fun.
What I love most:
- Designing and building things
- Spending time outside (in the sunshine)
- Cleaning my house
- Planning vacations
- Cooking
Most Likely to Ask
Why?
Inspired By
Spending time in God’s beautiful creation and people who choose kindness and joy in difficult circumstances.
Favorite Saying
“Everything’s easy when you know how!”
Why Families Choose Wondershop
Teens & kids will love us because they will…
- Have fun
- Get to be creative
- Develop new friendships
- Build projects that they can take home
- Make a meaningful difference in their families and communities
Parents can trust us because we…
- Provide a safe, respectful environment where teens & kids are known, heard, and encouraged to think for themselves
- Build projects using practical skills
- Create classes that are thoughtfully designed to be hands-on, engaging, and rooted in real learning, not busywork