Hollow Mountain Workshops, a new nonprofit, is launching in Carson City with academic, skills-based, and social-emotional wellness workshops for children and teens.
Designed with accessibility for working families in mind, the organization will roll out a five-week pilot program beginning April 27 at the Brewery Arts Center and running through the end of May. Sessions will take place on weekday evenings and Saturdays.
The workshops will cover a wide range of topics, including game design, apocalypse survival, potion making, creative writing, new car ownership, zine and collage, small business marketing for children and teens, gardening for toddlers, starting a first band, family-friendly Friday yoga, and anatomy for children.
Organizers say the program was developed by educators, mental health professionals, and parents aiming to address concerns about declining academic performance, rising isolation, screen addiction, and a lack of community connection among young people.
“Hollow Mountain isn’t just about building up individual children academically; it’s about building a supportive and connected community that values curiosity and learning outside traditional classrooms,” said Hollow Mountain Founder Kelsey Penrose, a Western Nevada College English Professor.
Drawing on her background in anthropology, she researched youth apathy and anxiety along with gaps in foundational education seen in college freshmen, including students from AP and honors tracks who struggle with basic learning skills.
“Learning has to be hands-on, and it has to be social,” she said. “That’s built into the very fabric of humanity. After seeing research showing that kids and teens are increasingly describing their lives as ‘not useful,’ we knew we had to do something — Hollow Mountain is our something.”
Workshops are scheduled outside traditional 9-5 work hours to improve access for working families.
Regular one-hour sessions are priced at $40, while 30-minute Kit Club sessions for toddlers are $20. A scholarship fund is also in development, and organizers are seeking donations and sponsorships from local businesses and community members.
Workshop ticket sales will go live on Friday, April 10, and more information is available at hollowmountainworkshops.org.
