Don't wait for
your future.
Design it.
The Flourishing Youth Academy is a youth-centered design studio for visionaries ages 11–26 — equipping young people with the strengths, skills, and confidence to build meaningful lives and launch ventures that matter.
School
School
Years
Career
FYA combines positive psychology, human-centered design, and entrepreneurship into one experience — so young people don't just learn about the future, they build it.
One academy.
Three ways in.
FYA is built for the young person — and the adults who support them. Select your perspective below.
Discover what makes you you
You'll take a strengths assessment, learn what lights you up, and start to see yourself as someone with real GEMs — gifts worth building on. No prior experience needed.
Build real things that matter
FYA isn't about worksheets. You'll prototype ideas, test them in the real world, and create ventures that actually help people — from your school to your community to the globe.
Go places — literally
Advanced fellows travel internationally for immersive design experiences. Our F3 cohort has journeyed to Spain, one of the world's most creative countries, to fuel their ideas.
Programs sized for your student
FYA offers entry points from ages 11 through 26 — from 4-session seasonal sprints ($340) to a year-long fellowship. Every program is designed to meet your student exactly where they are.
Skills colleges and employers actually want
Critical thinking, entrepreneurship, global citizenship, emotional intelligence. FYA students graduate with a portfolio of real projects — not just a list of activities on an application.
Clear pricing. Clear next steps.
Seasonal sprints start at $340. The F3 Fellowship is a year-round commitment — contact us for full pricing and scholarship availability. Every program ends with a tangible outcome.
Bring FYA into your classroom
The THRIVE Lab is designed for educators who want to integrate flourishing-centered design into their teaching. We offer on-site, off-site, and virtual formats — full-day and half-day.
We work with your organization
School districts, after-school programs, summer camps, faith-based programs, homeschool collectives — if young people are in your orbit, we can design something together.
Assessable. Accountable. Real.
Every FYA engagement produces observable student outputs — prototypes, pitches, reflections. You'll have authentic evidence of learning, not just participation trophies.
Three programs.
One journey.
Start where you are. Grow into what's next. Each program stands alone — and connects to the one beyond it.
For Youth
Seasonal life design sprints (4 sessions each) that help students discover their character strengths, build confidence, and develop self-awareness. Each sprint stands alone — join one or all four across the year.
- Winter: Life Design Foundations — Illumination
- Spring: Life Design for Creativity — Ideation
- Summer: Life Design in Action — Prototyping (In-Person)
- Fall: Life Design Mastery — Integration
Lab For Youth
Youth apply Flourishing-Centered Design to real-world challenges — learning entrepreneurship, problem-solving, and purpose-driven innovation while tackling issues connected to global development and community needs.
- Hands-on design challenges with real stakes
- FYA FutureMakers Lab — build, prototype, showcase
- Community Challenge open to all — virtual and in-person
- Educator partnerships available
Fellowship (F3)
A year-round experiential journey structured around four design seasons. Fellows launch a real youth-run tourism venture, travel to Spain, and present to community stakeholders. Applications open now for 2026–27.
- Spring: Illuminate — strengths + market research
- Summer: Ideate — travel to Spain 🇪🇸
- Fall: Innovate — prototype + community pitch
- Winter: Integrate — beta test + launch prep
The F3 Summer Experience: Spain
F3 Fellows travel to Spain — one of the world's most creative countries — for an immersive summer design experience. Fellows explore Barcelona's thriving tourism culture, gather bold ideas, and bring fresh perspectives back to fuel their ventures. Travel logistics, costs, and scholarship options shared with accepted families.
Four kinds of
leaders.
Every FYA student graduates as more than a learner. They leave as someone who creates, leads, and contributes.
Design-Thinkers
Youth learn to observe deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and generate creative solutions — then prototype and test ideas in the real world, building creative confidence through iteration.
Global Leaders-In-Training
FYA students explore centers of excellence worldwide, learning to appreciate diverse cultural strengths and become bridge-builders — connecting ideas across cultures and translating inspiration into local impact.
Entrepreneurs For Good
Youth develop the ability to turn meaningful ideas into real ventures that serve people and communities — seeing themselves as capable creators who shape opportunities rather than simply wait for them.
Life Designers
Students learn to understand themselves through the lens of character strengths and personal energy — exploring how their strengths can guide choices about learning, relationships, and future paths.
Learning That Sticks
Every FYA experience is built on four non-negotiable design principles.
Strengths-Based
We start with what's already great about each person — and build from there. Every student begins with a character strengths assessment.
Project-Based
Real challenges. Real creation. Real stakes. Every program produces something tangible — a prototype, a pitch, a venture, a plan.
Science-Informed
Rooted in positive psychology and the science of human flourishing — not trendy wellness buzzwords, but evidence-based practices that work.
Globally Minded
We cultivate young people who think beyond themselves — caring, curious, and connected to challenges and opportunities around the world.
What we're
building toward
Per Year
Per Sprint
Served
Clear Pathway
"I didn't know what I was good at before FYA. Now I can name my strengths and I actually believe they're real. That changes everything about how I show up at school and with my friends."
"My daughter came home from the sprint talking about her 'design challenge' like it was the most important thing she'd ever worked on. She stayed up until midnight — voluntarily. I've never seen that before."
"We brought FYA into our after-school program and the impact on student engagement was immediate. Kids who rarely participated were leading their design teams by week two."
* Testimonials are representative of program outcomes. Names withheld at participants' request.
Bring FYA into
your community
The THRIVE Lab is designed specifically for educators who want to move beyond traditional academic methods. We work with organizations of every size — from individual classrooms to entire school districts.
Flourishing-Centered Design Methods
Grounded in human-centered design and positive psychology — immediately applicable in any classroom or program.
Authentic Assessment Tools
Observe and assess student learning through real design challenges — not tests. Every program produces evidence of growth.
Future-Ready Skills Framework
Creativity, collaboration, systems thinking, reflection — the skills colleges and employers actually want, built in every session.
Open to Students & Educators Worldwide
Virtual and in-person formats available. Full-day, half-day, on-site or off-site — designed around your schedule.
Get the FYA Program Guide
Everything you need to find the right program, understand the pathway, and take action — in one downloadable guide.
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Life Design Foundations — Illumination
A 4-week experience in self-awareness, strengths, and meaningful reflection.
The Winter Sprint is a stand-alone introduction to Life Design—perfect for any young person who wants to understand themselves better, strengthen emotional intelligence, and learn the foundations of flourishing.
Who it’s for:
Youth ages 11–14 who want to build confidence, deepen self-awareness, and develop emotional and social intelligence.
Program Dates & Schedule:
Four 2-hour sessions: Feb. 21 & 28; March 7 & 14 2026
8 hours of live learning via Zoom
Sessions take place on Saturdays from 10:00am-12:00pm ET
Program Cost: $340.00
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Life Design for Creativity — Ideation & Possibility
A 1-week creativity accelerator for students ready to explore possibilities for their life and future.
The Spring Sprint stands alone as an energizing, creativity-boosting program for youth who want to expand their imagination and explore the many “possible selves” they could grow into.
Who it’s for:
Youth ages 11–14 who are curious, creative, stuck, or simply ready to try something new.
Program Dates & Schedule:
Four 2-hour sessions: March. 30-April. 2, 2026
8 hours of live learning via Zoom
Sessions take place: Monday-Thursday from 10:00am-12:00pm ET
Program Costs: $340.00
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Life Design in Action — Prototyping & Innovation
A 1-week hands-on program for testing ideas, trying new things, and learning by doing.
The Summer Sprint is a stand-alone experience designed for students who love to build, experiment, try new activities, or explore hobbies and interests before committing to them.
Who it’s for:
Youth ages 11–14 who learn best by doing, and those seeking clarity about their interests through real-world experimentation.
Program Dates & Schedule:
Four 2-hour sessions: Aug. 17-20, 2026
8 hours of live learning (this is an In-person sprint)
Sessions take place: Monday-Thursday from 10:00am-12:00pm ET
Program Costs: $340.00
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Life Design Mastery — Integration & Next Steps
A 4-week capstone for students seeking clarity and direction for the months ahead.
The Fall Sprint is designed for students who have already attended one or more seasonal sprints and now want to organize their ideas, clarify their direction, and intentionally plan their next steps.
Who it’s for:
Youth ages 11–14 who want clarity, structure, and confidence as they make decisions about school, goals, or life choices.
Program Dates & Schedule:
Four 2-hour sessions: Oct. 3, 19, 17, 24, 2026
8 hours of live learning via Zoom
Sessions take place Saturdays from 10:00am-12:00pm ET
Program Costs: $340.00
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