Residents, parents and program staff urge Boulder to find path for longtime SAGE nature‑based program after code enforcement

Boulder — Dozens of residents, parents, former participants and staff spoke during public comment at the May 1 Boulder City Council meeting to urge city officials to find a path forward for SAGE programs, a nature‑based homeschool enrichment program that supporters say has operated on the same property for more than 30 years.

Supporters described the program as a small, community‑based nature program for homeschool families that does not operate like a conventional school. Speakers said the program’s founders and elders — including two who are in their 80s — are overwhelmed by the cost and complexity of the land use and permitting route staff say is required.

Why the issue surfaced

Nathan Knecht, an architect working on behalf of SAGE programs, told council the program and property have two outstanding enforcement issues: an enforcement action related to the program’s use and separate violations tied to buildings on the site. Knecht said the program’s leaders chose to pause programming after receiving the complaint about the program being operated as a school.

“We don’t really know how to classify it. We know it’s not a school. We know it’s a…