We are fueled by teens overcoming unfair disadvantages, engaging in important fireside conversations, obtaining high school diplomas, summiting mountaintops and attaining personal goals.
About Education Without Walls
Education Without Walls is a year round program designed to help motivated teens achieve academic and personal goals. Our mission-driven program targets academic and personal development in order to equip our students with new skills to help them achieve their goals.
VISION: A world in which motivated teens overcome unfair barriers associated with poverty and develop their talents to achieve academic and personal goals.
MISSION: Through the application of meaningful outdoor expeditions and ongoing mentorship, provide academic and personal support to motivated teens with financial needs.
mission & vision
Founded by Zac & Celine Adair, Education Without Walls began in 2009.
the beginning of education without walls
2011
2010
2009
April 2023
Eshelman Foundation provided Education Without Walls with $11,410. They've contributed every year since then.
Eshelman Foundation donation
january 2015
2013
2011
2010
2011
Landfall Foundation contributed $4,185 to Education Without Walls.
Landfall Foundation contribution
january 2015
January 2015
2013
2011
2013
United Way of Cape Fear commits to $5,000 in funding over each of the next three years for Education Without Walls scholarships.
The United way donation
january 2016
January 2015
january 2015
2013
JANUARY 2015
Education Without Walls receives the first of two $15,000 grants for scholarships from Vertex Outreach Services.
vertex donation
March 2016
January 2016
january 2015
january 2015
JANUARY 2015
Education Without Walls receives the second $15,000 grant for scholarship funding from Vertex Outreach Services.
vertex donation no. 2
December 2016
March 2016
january 2016
january 2015
JANUARY 2016
Whole Foods Market in Wilmington, N.C., chooses Education Without Walls as its featured Community Giving Day partner.
whole foods community giving day
June 12, 2017
December 2016
march 2016
january 2016
MARCH 2016
The National Park Service awards a $25,000 Challenge Cost Share Program Grant to Education Without Walls, allowing select students to participate on a Summer 2017 trip of a lifetime to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
$25,000 national park service grant
June 28-July 19. 2017
June 12, 2017
December 2016
march 2016
DECEMBER 2016
Panera Bread sponsors a Fundraising Night at its marque store in Wilmington, N.C., for students chosen to participate in Education Without Walls’ June 2017 trip to Alaska.
panera bread helps raise funds for education without walls
june 12, 2017
June 28-July 19. 2017
december 2016
August 2017
JUNE 2017
Nine (9) Education Without Walls students and three (3) NCOAE field instructors travel to Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska to work alongside a National Park Service archaeologist to clear brush and woody debris within the Chititu Historic Mining Landscape, where structures and features had been degraded by the encroaching forest and harsh weather, and have not received sufficient maintenance in years.
education without walls visits alaska
june 28-july 19, 2017
August 2017
june 12, 2017
February 2018
JUNE 28-JULY 19, 2017
National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate WHQR Public Radio produces a story about an Education Without Walls 21-day backcountry excursion in Alaska. Listen to Communique: "Education Without Walls" Develops Academic & Leadership Skills In The Wilderness here.
npr covers education without walls
august 2017
February 2018
JUNE 28-JULY 19, 2017
april 2018
AUGUST 2017
Joaly Canseco, who participated in Education Without Walls from 2013 to 2016 — and is a current student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte — is featured in this profile and Q&A about her journey in life so far, including the role that Education Without Walls played in her youth from high school to college.
a student's story
August 2018
APRIL 2018
february 2018
august 2017
FEBRUARY 2018
EducationNC — an independent source of news, data, and analysis about education for the people of North Carolina — profiles Education Without Walls in a seven-minute feature video. Watch “Beyond the Classroom” here.
education without walls featured in video from education nc
September 2018
August 2018
april 2018
FEBruary 2018
APRIL 2018
Island Women, Inc. — a not-for-profit organization that’s on a mission to enhance the quality of life on Pleasure Island, N.C. — donates $8,874 to Education Without Walls scholarship fund for motived teens with financial needs.
donation from island women, inc.
JANUARY 2019
september 2018
august 2018
april 2018
AUGUST 2018
Education Without Walls launches its own website — EducationWithoutWalls.net
education without walls launches first website
march 2019
march 2019
january 2019
august 2018
JANUARY 2019
Education Without Walls started as a program offered by The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE). In 2018, after eight years of incubation and support, we created an organization of our own. Today, Education Without Walls is recognized by the IRS as a self-sustaining 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, complete with its own administration staff and board of directors. Students enrolled in Education Without Walls continue to participate in backcountry adventures, which are guided on Education Without Walls’ behalf by NCOAE’s field instructors.
our history
Raise funds to offer 44 motivated youth a full scholarship to participate in Education Without Walls in 2019.
Our Chief Objective
Through the application of outdoor and experientially based adventure education, provide academic and life skill guidance and support to motivated teens with financial needs.
Our No. 1 Priority
Enroll, support, and graduate as many qualifying students as possible.
Our Primary Goal
Just as we encourage our students to do, Education Without Walls as an organization, is guided by goals, priorities, and objectives. Here’s a small taste of what we’re up to in 2019:
Goals, Priorities, and Objectives
Make a Tax-Deductible Donation
Are you ready to support deserving yet underserved teens who simply want to improve their position in life?
88% of our students increased levels of self-actualization
65% improved their decision making
76% enhanced communication skills
82% experienced increased self-esteem
86% improved leadership skills
92% were successfully promoted to the next grade
78% increased or maintained classes passed
Education Without Walls fills a critical need. That’s because data concerning participating students’ academic performance and personal growth and development markers are difficult if not impossible to ignore and support:
THE WORK WE DO MATTERS!
Communique: "Education Without Walls" Develops Academic & Leadership Skills In The Wilderness
National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate WHQR Public Radio produced this story.
By Gina Gambony | WQHR
4,500 Miles From Home here
The Harvard Crimson wrote about our students’ trip to Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska to work alongside a National Park Service archaeologist to clear brush and woody debris within the Chititu Historic Mining Landscape.
By Mikal E. Belicove | The Harvard Crimson
Watch “Beyond the Classroom” here
EducationNC — an independent source of news, data, and analysis about education for the people of North Carolina — profiles Education Without Walls in a seven-minute feature video.
By Robert Kinlaw and Alex Granados | EducationNC
Don’t take our word for it. Check out our news coverage:
EDUCATION WITHOUT WALLS — IN THE NEWS
Board Member
Cameron Francisco is the Director of Student & Academic Life at Friends School of Wilmington
Board Member
Mr. William Hunter Holland is a Lecturer in the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Recreation, Sport Leadership & Tourism Management Department, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management from Clemson University.
Board Member
Amy L. Feath received her BA in Speech Communications in 1991 from Penn State University, and received her Victim Services Practitioner (VSP) Certificate in 2016. Amy is currently the executive Director at the Carousel Center which is an accredited Child Advocacy Center.
Treasurer
A Wealth Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. John graduated from UNCW’s Cameron School of Business in 2009 and has been in the financial planning industry for over 12 years. In his free time, you’ll find John surfing, mountain biking, backpacking, and climbing, including his wife, Allie, and their two children, Piper age 5 and Banks age 2, whenever he can.
Board Chair
Brooke is the Academy Director and Instructional Coach at the Career Readiness Academy of Finance. She has been an educator for over 16 years who got her start in the Peace Corps-Burkina Faso '99-'01. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching History from UNCWilmington. Innovation, experiential and interdisciplinary education and project-based learning have been her focus for the last 12 years.
Executive Director
Education Without Walls
After years of working closely with youth and their estranged caregivers as the Clinical Supervisor for a homeless-youth shelter, Celine became passionate about providing motived teens with financial needs opportunities to break negative life cycles. We’re proud to have her as our founding executive director in charge of our daily operations.
Meet the board & staff
Student Advocate
Originally from Wilmington, NC, Emily chose Education Without Walls because of how the program uses the mentorship and the outdoors to help students meet their academic and personal goals and she loves working with teens! Her favorite outdoor memory is packing up sandwiches and spending all day at the beach with her family as a child.
Student Advocate
Originally from Sandy Ridge, NC, Haley chose Education Without Walls because education, adventure, and nature are all passions in her life, and she saw it as a great opportunity to make positive impacts on students. One of her favorite outdoor memories was being witnessing a meteor shower while camping at a conservation center for wild animals.
Student Advocate
From Hampstead, NC, Nathalie chose Education Without Walls because she hopes to be able to work with high school students in her social work career. She also loves the idea of being able to advocate for students who are not yet aware of their strengths and what they are capable of doing! Her favorite outdoor memory is when her family would go on camping trips together in Virginia.
Student Advocate
Originally from Morganton, NC, Josh chose Education Without Walls because he felt drawn to the therapeutic benefit of the outdoors. His favorite outdoor memory is a 50-mile backpacking trip completed with the Boy Scouts.
Student Advocate
Originally from Greensboro, NC, Olivia chose Education Without Walls because she is passionate about working with teens and adolescents. Her favorite outdoor memory is spending her Julys in Guatemala with her dad.
Treasurer
John Zachary is a Wealth Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. John graduated from UNCW’s Cameron School of Business in 2009 and has been in the financial planning industry for over 12 years. In his free time, you’ll find John surfing, mountain biking, backpacking, and climbing, including his wife, Allie, and their two children, Piper age 5 and Banks age 2, whenever he can.
Student Advocate
Kacie's experience as a camp counselor for three Summers taught her how impactful and fun mentoring students in the outdoors can be. Her vision for empowering students to take a step in discovering and becoming who they want to be came right alongside the mission of Education Without Walls. In her spare time she is probably swing dancing, exploring the woods, or reading.
Student Advocate
Morgan is currently a 2nd year student in the Master of Social Work program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She graduated from Gettysburg College in 2013 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Morgan is excited to help promote the mission of Education Without Walls and help the students through the position of Student Advocate.
Student Advocate
Colleen is originally from New Jersey and is currently studying to get her Bachelors degree in Social Work, as well as a minor in Psychology, at UNCW. After graduating she hopes to join the Peace Corps as an English education teacher for teens. Colleen enjoys spending her free time at the beach and volunteering in the community. Her favorite outdoor memory is when she got to see the Giant Sequoias trees in Yosemite.
Student Advocate
Nita is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida. Nita is currently in her senior year, studying at UNCW to earn her bachelor’s in Social Work. After graduation, she plans to do an additional year at UNCW to earn her master’s in Clinical Social Work so she may work as a therapist for youth. Nita enjoys spending her free time at the skate park and being at the beach. Her favorite outdoor memory is staying deep in the valleys of Chichicastenango, Guatemala, while visiting her family.
Student Advocate
Allison is from Eastern North Carolina and is currently in the advanced-standing Master of Social Work program at UNCW. She enjoys her free time being around water, whether it’s the beach, a lake, or a river and she loves being around animals. Her favorite outdoor memory is white water rafting on the French Broad River and being the only one to not fall off the raft!
Student Advocate
Originally from Lake Placid, New York, Alexa loves to play sports and spend time outdoors. As a child she fondly remembers spending time on the lake and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. After high school Alexa joined AmeriCorps and also received her associate’s degree in health sciences. Alexa is perusing her bachelor’s degree in social work focusing on youth mental health. Helping people has always been her passion and she is excited to be an advocate for students.
Student Advocate
Courtney has always enjoyed helping others achieve their goals. She is from Ridgefield, Connecticut and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work with plans to complete her master’s next year. Courtney enjoys playing basketball, hanging with friends and being in the sun as much as possible. Her favorite outdoor activity is riding a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with her family and camping at the bottom for four nights!
Student Advocate
Originally from Wilmington, NC, Emily chose Education Without Walls because of how the program uses the mentorship and the outdoors to help students meet their academic and personal goals and she loves working with teens! Her favorite outdoor memory is packing up sandwiches and spending all day at the beach with her family as a child.
Student Advocate
Originally from Sandy Ridge, NC, Haley chose Education Without Walls because education, adventure, and nature are all passions in her life, and she saw it as a great opportunity to make positive impacts on students. One of her favorite outdoor memories was being witnessing a meteor shower while camping at a conservation center for wild animals.
Student Advocate
Originally from Hampstead, NC, Nathalie chose Education Without Walls because she hopes to be able to work with high school students in her social work career. She also loves the idea of being able to advocate for students who are not yet aware of their strengths and what they are capable of doing! Her favorite outdoor memory is when her family would go on camping trips together in Virginia.
info@EducationWithoutWalls.net
Contact Form
(910)515-9157
Give us a shout. Hover your mouse or finger over “Contact Form” below to drop us a note. Or send us an e-mail message using the address below. Old-fashioned phone calls work too!
contact us
info@EducationWithoutWalls.net
Contact Form
(910)515-9157
Give us a shout. Hover your mouse or finger over “Contact Form” below to drop us a note. Or send us an e-mail message using the address below. Old-fashioned phone calls work too!
contact us
*Asterisk fields are required.
*Asterisk fields are required.
