Building Awareness, Focus, and Calm — One Class at a Time

Mindful, screen-free experiences that help children pause, notice, and connect — the foundation for lifelong calm in a busy world. 

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Winter–Spring Season: January – May 2026

Monthly subscription | Auto-renewal | Cancel within 7 days of registration 

At Basecamp for Life, every class gives your child the tools to pause, notice, and connect — building focus, confidence, and calm from the inside out.

aWARENESS LAB PROGRAMS

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Toddler Program (Ages 2–3) — With a Grownup

45-Minute Class | $80/month | Max 10 children

  • Gently introduces mindfulness through sensory play, rhythm, and movement.
  • Builds early awareness and bonding through shared experience
Enroll – $80/month
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Mindful Robot Program (Ages 4–5) — Drop-Off

60-Minute Class | $100/month | Max 12 children

  • Story-based play that helps kids “power up” and “power down” their bodies and minds.
  • Builds early self-regulation and focus through creative activities.
Enroll – $100/month
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Digital Explorer Program (Ages 6–8) — Drop-Off

60-Minute Class | $100/month | Max 15 children

  • Teaches kids to “stay awake” while using technology through story, imagination, and movement.
  • Builds emotional balance and healthy screen awareness.
Enroll – $100/month
  • Programs begin first week of January 2026
  • Each family receives an 8-week preview upon registration
  • Subscriptions auto-renew monthly through May 31, 2026
  • Cancel within 7 days of registration

THE AWARENESS LAB

Powered by Basecamp for Life

Mindfulness for the modern child — built for the world they’re growing up in.

The Awareness Lab is Basecamp for Life’s in-person mindfulness studio for children ages 2–8. Here, kids learn the skills they now need most — attention, emotional regulation, and mindful tech-awareness — all through hands-on, screen-free play.

Instead of fighting technology, we use it as a metaphor. Children explore concepts like power switches, algorithms, signals, and recharge modes to understand their own minds and bodies. They learn offline what they’ll later need online: awareness, choice, and self-regulation.

What Happens Inside:

Kids learn to:

  • Notice thoughts, feelings, and body signals
  • Pause before reacting or becoming overstimulated
  • Reconnect through sensory play, movement, and imagination
  • Explore focus and calm like little scientists
  • Understand how tech concepts apply to their inner world
  • Practice offline skills that support healthy tech interactions at home

Toddlers (2–3) — With a Grownup

45 Minutes | $80/month | Max 10 A playful, sensory-rich introduction to awareness. Focus: connection, early emotional language, sensory grounding.

The Mindful Robot (4–5) — Drop-Off

60 Minutes | $100/month | Max 12 Story-based mindfulness where kids learn to “power up” for focus and “power down” for calm. Focus: self-regulation, focus, imagination, awareness.

The Digital Explorer (6–8) — Drop-Off

60 Minutes | $100/month | Max 15 Offline exploration for a tech era. Kids learn how screens affect their emotions, how to know when they need a break, and how to stay aware rather than go on autopilot. Focus: emotional intelligence, attention, healthy digital awareness.

Why Parents Love It

  • Fewer meltdowns and emotional spikes
  • Better transitions and smoother days
  • More mindful screen interactions
  • Stronger emotional vocabulary
  • Greater independence, confidence, and self-understanding
  • A calmer rhythm at home

Programs begin January 2026 and run through May 31, 2026 Monthly subscription ($80–$100 per child) with auto-renew Cancel within 7 days of registration Includes an 8-week program preview for parents upon sign-up 

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A Note from the Founder

I’m Katie Mathews

A wife, mom of two, certified mindfulness practitioner, and certified educator in Tech Addiction & Digital Health for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. I founded Basecamp for Life to make mindfulness accessible, impactful, and part of everyday life—for children and the adults who guide them.

 My journey began early—practicing visualization at 2.5 and meditating by age 8 after facing significant health challenges. These experiences taught me that mindfulness isn’t just for adults in crisis—it’s a lifelong gift we can give our children from the start.

Through customized programs for early childhood centers, workshops for educators and athletic coaches, parent trainings, and direct-to-kid programs, we empower every person we work with to integrate mindfulness into real life—not as another task on the list, but as part of the way they live, lead, and connect.

Because when the infrastructure of wellness is in place, both kids and the adults who guide them can thrive—no matter what mountain lies ahead.

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." – Wayne Dyer

Digital Mindfulness Workshops

Equip your classroom with mindful strategies that integrate seamlessly into daily routines, reduce burnout, and support both teacher and student well-being.

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what our clients are saying about us

Discover how educators are transforming their classrooms with simple, mindful practices that boost focus, ease stress, and nurture lasting well-being.

Katie made a huge impact on our Wolves team last season. She gave our athletes practical tools to reset after mistakes, build confidence, and stay resilient when adversity hit. Her ability to connect with young athletes and teach them how to create a positive mindset both on and off the court was powerful. As a coach, I saw immediate growth in how my players handled challenges and supported each other. I would highly recommend Katie to any program that wants to help their athletes, and parents, develop the mental side of the game

Jon Medina,
AAU Wolves Basketball (New Jersey)

We have absolutely loved Miss Katie’s Little Minds Winter Enrichment! My daughter looks forward to each session and has learned so many valuable tools for breathing, visualization, and staying calm in such practical, easy-to-understand ways. It’s been amazing to see her come home from class and teach us how to incorporate mindfulness into our own daily routines. I can't say enough wonderful things about this class and how it has positively impacted my 4-year-old. Miss Katie’s gentle and thoughtful approach has made such a difference, and we are so grateful!

Dani Kawa Elson

Katie joined us virtually for part of our professional development centered on mindfulness for preschoolers and the adults that teach them.  From the moment Katie signed in her positive energy was contagious.  The staff was engaged for the entire presentation.  She made a lasting impact with her suggestions, tips, and tricks.  Staff members were so moved by one suggestion that they even ordered materials to support the idea.  I highly recommend bringing Katie in for training, you will not be disappointed. 

Tara Harrison Martinetti

TJ didn't want to leave his time with Katie! He was super comfortable with her. A welcoming environment. He has a lot of feelings and he told me he loved all the activities that were unassumingly helpful about awareness. I really loved seeing his understanding of how he sees himself with snacks! So creative!

Yvonne Casuso

I had a session with Katie as my older son (4 y/o) had some tantrums when things were out of his control. I learned that sharing mindfulness moments with kids does not need to be some big chunk of time, but we can incorporate some exercises throughout the day. I think it was a relief to me to have reassurance from Katie that kids' tantrum is just momentary and parents can handle with right mindset, skills and understanding. She also gave me an advice on bedtime routine and co-partnering with my husband, which was so helpful. After the session, my husband started doing bedtime routine with our sons, and now they both enjoy the routine with their dad, which is also another huge relief for me!!! I am so happy that I had a chance to talk with Katie who gave me such an valuable advice on mindfulness and basic parenting guide. Thank you Katie!!

Shoko Nakamura

My son loved it and keeps talking he wants to go back two weeks after the class. Katie is very engaging, has great ideas and makes it fun for all kids, regardless of age differences. Very professional too. She makes sure she has all the important information about the child’s health record, allergies etc (including snack preferences). upfront. Will definitely sign up for more of her classes in the future.

Magdalena Erskine