Designed as a Project-Based Learning Center, Wolverine Academy gives students the opportunity to connect academic standards to authentic experiences, community challenges and their own personal interests. It is a school choice option built for students who want hands-on learning, meaningful projects and education that extends beyond the classroom walls.
“This is a project-based learning center program that is a part of Bayfield High School,” said Abrah Masterson, Dean of Students at Wolverine Academy.
The program is built on purpose, personalization and real-world application.
Learning That Mirrors Real Life
At Wolverine Academy, students do not move through isolated subject blocks. Instead, they engage in quarter-long, standards-based projects that connect directly to real issues in their actual surroundings and their own lives.
“We do project-based learning by investigating practical and impactful topics in our community,” Masterson said. “All of our projects are centered on what is really going on in our community.”
Projects are designed through a meticulous development process to ensure they align with Colorado academic standards while remaining deeply relevant to students’ interests and experiences.
“We tie their passions and interests to the standards,” Masterson said. “When they learn that in class, it is connected to their real-world experience in a way that helps them retain what they are learning.”
Each 10-week unit allows students to dive deeply into a topic, becoming experts in standards-based content that has meaningful application.
“They can apply solutions to their community and their life,” Masterson said. “Students are ready to give back to their community and go to work. They have the skills.”
Four Pillars of the Wolverine Academy Model
Masterson describes the Wolverine Academy approach as intentionally built around four core pillars that prepare students for what comes next.
- Intentional Project Design
Every project is created through a standardized development process to ensure lessons are complete, relevant and aligned to Colorado academic standards. “We design projects through a standardized process to make sure the implementation and delivery is complete and relevant,” Masterson said. The result is rigorous academic work presented in a way that prepares students for life beyond high school. - Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls
Wolverine Academy offers one of the most robust off-campus programming models in the area. “Every elective is getting off campus at least once a week,” Masterson said. Each unit includes a highly relevant field experience connecting students to businesses and professionals who demonstrate how classroom learning applies in the real world — from trips to Mesa Verde to collaborations with local partners like Seasons Restaurant. - Direct Access to Industry and Community Experts
Community professionals and guest speakers are embedded into every project. Students interact with experts multiple times throughout each unit, gaining insight into career pathways and real-world processes. A former NASA engineer is scheduled to speak with students about his education and professional journey, offering a direct connection between academic preparation and career opportunity. - Unique, Skill-Building Electives and Community Contribution
Electives are a major draw for students and are intentionally designed to build both character and career-ready skills. Offerings include mountain biking, fly fishing, rock climbing and culinary arts — where students can earn industry-recognized certifications. The Academy maintains a full functioning garden, and students donate produce to families, including pumpkins grown and shared with the community this year. Students also volunteer weekly at Pine River Shares and support organizations like the Community Treehouse. Giving back is not an add-on — it is embedded in the culture.
What Makes Wolverine Academy a Great Place to Learn?
- Small class sizes
• Project-based learning
• Student-driven topics
• Real-life experiences
• Education that fits each student
The smaller setting allows staff to design instruction that meets students where they are academically and personally. Students are challenged at their level and provided multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery.
The Wolverine Academy Student Profile reflects the culture intentionally built within the program. Students strive to embody empathy, advocacy, growth mindset, creativity, compassion, adaptability, inclusivity, adventure and cooperation. These characteristics contribute to a supportive environment where students are encouraged to advocate for themselves, collaborate with peers and approach challenges with resilience.
Rigor With Relevance
Bayfield High School Principal Dr. Jason Wayman says the strength of Wolverine Academy lies in how it connects academic rigor to meaningful application.
“Ms. Masterson was teaching Algebra 2 to all students, but they were applying it to rocket paths,” Wayman said. “It’s not just math in isolation. It is tied directly to projects.”
He believes that relevance is often what students miss in traditional models.
“It’s a great way to tie everything together and bring relevance to some of the things we learn,” Wayman said.
At the end of each quarter, students publicly present their projects — an experience that mirrors workplace expectations and builds confidence.
“They have to be knowledgeable and able to stand on their own,” Wayman said. “I’ve watched them grow in their confidence as they do it. They get a lot of skills that they are going to need post-high school.”
An Opportunity for Today’s Learners
In an era of school choice, Wolverine Academy represents opportunity — not a label.
It prepares students for the workforce by developing communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills, while also supporting students who plan to pursue college.
The difference is not rigor. It is approach. Learning is hands-on. Standards are embedded in authentic work. Students are known personally and challenged intentionally. Wolverine Academy is defined by purpose — and by students who are learning to connect their education to the world around them.
For those families interested in exploring this option, Bayfield School District is now accepting enrollment paperwork for out-of-district students and all kindergarteners for the 2026-2027 school year. Families and students who reside within the boundaries of the Bayfield School District may also submit applications at this time. If your in-district child is currently enrolled, you do not need to enroll again each year.
