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

February 2024

New Hanover County Schools funded sixteen homeless students to participate in the first two ever Education Without Walls trips. They've contributed every year since then.

new hanover county schools

2013

2011

2010

2009

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

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

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

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!

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

Development Director

Lona has 15 years of experience with outdoor educational programs and fundraising. Lona holds an MA in Museum Studies from NYU with a specialization in outdoor education. Lona enjoys everything more when she is outside.

Lead Advocate

Emily received her BSW from UNCW in 2016 and her MSW from UNC in 2017. She has 8 years' experience working with adolescents in several settings, including a community based and outpatient therapy practice. Emily is currently a nature-based outpatient therapist in Wilmington and is passionate about the positive connection between humans and the outdoors.

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. 

Board Chair

Brooke Hazelwood is Academy Director/Instructional Coach for New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, N.C.

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. 

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.

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

Cameron Francisco is the Director of Student & Academic Life at Friends School of Wilmington

Development Director 

Lona Popovic, Director of Development, has 15 years of experience with outdoor educational programs and fundraising. Lona holds an MA in Museum Studies from NYU with a specialization in outdoor education. Lona enjoys everything more when she is outside.

Lead Advocate

Emily received her BSW from UNCW in 2016 and her MSW from UNC in 2017. She has 8 years' experience working with adolescents in several settings, including a community based and outpatient therapy practice. Emily is currently a nature-based outpatient therapist in Wilmington and is passionate about the positive connection between humans and the outdoors.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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