frequently asked questions

Q: What is Education Without Walls?

A: Education Without Walls is a year-round mentorship and outdoor education program that provides academic and life skills guidance for motivated teens with financial needs. By merging meaningful outdoor adventures with ongoing mentorship, we help aspiring students achieve their academic and personal goals.

Q: Does Education Without Walls offer scholarships?

A: Eligible students who express a sincere desire for academic success and life skills guidance — and who really want to explore the backcountry, make new friends, be active, challenge themselves, learn new things, and be part of something that’s larger than themselves — may qualify for a scholarship to participate in Education Without Walls. 

Q: How do I know if I qualify for an Education Without Walls scholarship?

A: Students who live at or below the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines Used to Determine Financial Eligibility for Certain Federal Programs, or students who are McKinney-Vento eligible, qualify for a full scholarship to participate in Education Without Walls. 

Q: How do you verify my eligibility for an Education Without Walls scholarship?

A: We check with students’ school to confirm qualification. 

Q: Does Education Without Walls offer partial scholarships?

A: Yes, we offer partial scholarships depending the prospective participant’s income profile. 

Q: Do I need to be a certain age to participate in Education Without Walls?

A: Yes —all students interested in enrolling in Education Without Walls must be 13 years of age or older to participate.

Q: What does a scholarship to participate in Education Without Walls cover?

A: The Education Without Walls scholarship package includes the cost of mentorship throughout the school year, participation in one 14-day summer expedition, participation in monthly outings, all of your outdoor recreation gear needed to participate in the expedition, transportation and meals for the expedition, and any and all fees associated with participating in our adventure-based programming. 

Q: If I am accepted to participate in Education Without Walls, do I have to participate in both the mentorship and the 14-day summer expedition?

A: Yes. Full participation is required of all participants. 

Q: How do I register?

A: You can register for Education Without Walls by calling our office at (910) 515-9175 and asking to speak with someone about registration, or you can inquire about registering by using the Contact Form on our website. Once we connect with you and verify that you qualify for participating, we quickly schedule a New Student Interview. Please Note: A legal guardian must sign your Education With Walls registration forms, and before you can participate in the Summer Expedition component of our program, you will need a school nurse or a doctor to complete a pre-participation physical. 

Q: What does the mentorship look like within the content of Education Without Walls?

A: Education Without Walls’ mentorship is focused on helping students identify and achieve academic and personal goals and objectives. Together — with the student and their family — we decide the details of the mentoring sessions. Some students are able to meet one a week, while others have limitations that are out of their control and can only meet once per month. The mentoring sessions themselves feature a rich and intentional mix of support and guidance for school homework assignments, as well as help with developing personal insight, communication, and decision-making skills.  

Q: Where do Education Without Walls mentoring sessions take place?

A: Mentoring occurs at students’ schools or if the opportunity presents itself, within students’ home environments, or in a public access space within the local community. 

Q: Do Education Without Walls mentors offer anything besides academic support?

A: Education Without Walls’ mentors organize monthly outings that may include beach sweeps, supervised overnight camp outs, day hikes, and freebee golf, for example.

Q: Who are Education Without Walls’ mentors?

A: Education Without Walls mentors are typically college and university students who are currently matriculated in a Social Work or Education degreed program. Sometime, members of the community — people with similar college degrees who are either working or retired professionals — will serve as mentors. Before being hired, all Education Without Walls mentors are fully screened — including being required to submit information for an independent criminal background check.

Q: What is Education Without Walls’ summer expedition like?

A: The Education Without Walls summer expedition is a multi-day wilderness-based adventure that includes elements of backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, or even surfing (depending on where the expedition starts and ends). While participating, students acquire technical outdoor skills, and continue to develop personal insight, communication, and decision-making skills.  

Q: Who leads Education Without Walls’ summer expedition?

A: Education Without Walls partners with The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) to guide backcountry expeditions that meet our organization’s exacting needs. NCOAE is a values-based outdoor adventure and education provider for teens and adults interested in personal growth and professional development. NCOAE is accredited by the Association of Experiential Education.

Q: Do students return to participate in Education Without Walls year after year?

A: Yes! More than half of our students go on return after their first year, with some having logged over 80 days and nights in the backcountry from participating in multiple summer expeditions.