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Preparing youth to thrive as positive changemakers in a complex future
We believe that everyone one of us makes an impact every day, big and small. However, very few people are intentional about this impact. This new decade's complex challenges have shown us that we need a collective effort if we hope to build a better world. It is why we created You(th) Explore.
You(th) Explore (YE) is a 30-hour-long social innovation program that empowers youth between the ages of 12 to 18 to explore the impact they want to make in the world. The YE program is a blended, in-class experience that combines digital touch-points with hands-on, tactile activities that limit screen time. Our program is designed to have students interact with their immediate environment, peers, and the larger world around them.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By participating in the You(th) Explore program, students will:
1
Develop self-awareness and social-emotional intelligence...
in order to thrive as responsible citizens and as co-creators and collaborators.
2
Situate themselves in a complex, rapidly-changing world...
and understand their ability and responsibility in making a positive social impact.
3
Think critically and creatively about the role of digital technology...
in making a social impact and building a better future for humanity.
4
Develop problem-solving skills and mindsets...
needed to solve complex social problems at the community, country and world scale.
LEARNING COMPONENTS
Journey workbooks
A tactile experience that activates students' creativity, critical thinking and sense of empathy
Video lessons
Self-paced learning through video lessons delivered by UpstartED's team
Materials
Analog tools (pens, post-its and other materials) to document, ideate and create
Online workshops
Group-based, interactive sessions to apply key learnings and connect with peers
Self-paced learning with the UpstartED leadership team
Students get to engage on a deeper level with the You(th) Explore program by watching our video lessons asynchronously, during class time or after school. The video lessons are delivered by UpstartED's leadership team and they guide students through the process of completing all the activities in the workbook.
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Program materials delivered directly into students' hands
Throughout the course of the You(th) Explore program, students will receive three Explore boxes. Each box contains the relevant workbook and all the tactile materials that the student needs in order to engage with the activities for that module.
Empowering educators
to deliver You(th) Explore inside the classroom
When COVID-19 hit, the world was reminded of the immense responsibility that educators have towards ensuring students' physical and mental wellbeing during the pandemic while also preparing them to thrive in a complex world. You(th) Explore was designed to seamlessly integrate into the existing curriculum with minimal work on the part of the teacher. It is why all program materials and activities are pre-packaged, and why we offer lesson plans to help teachers structure their class time. All of our You(th) Explore teachers work with a dedicated Program Success Advisor who provides support throughout the duration of the program.
TEACHER RESOURCES
Curriculum outline
Program overview with an outline of activities, video content and overall learning objectives
Lesson plans & assessment
Lesson plans for hands-on, group-based activities and ideas for summative assessment
Program orientation
Training on the You(th) Explore curriculum and guidance on how it fits into a teacher's course
Success advisor
Dedicated advisor to help support program implementation over 9 weeks
EDUCATION PARTNERS
Made possible thanks to our community
Designed to serve under-resourced teachers and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, the You(th) Explore program is made possible thanks to the immense support shown by Blue Cross Québec, Google for Nonprofits, Shopify and SAP Canada. These organizations contribute a variety of resources to ensure that UpstartED's programs reach the youth and educators who need us most during these unprecedented times.
Do you want to bring You(th) Explore to your school?
We run three cohorts during the year. Get in touch to learn how you can offer You(th) Explore to your students.