frequently asked questions

Q: What ages are Education Without Walls students?
A: Our students are 13 to 18 years old. During outings, students are divided into two cohorts:
• Juniors (13 to 15 years old)
• Seniors (16 to 18 years old)

Q: How many students and staff are there per cohort?
A: Each cohort includes 12 students and 2 to 5 Education Without Walls staff members.

Q: What does Education Without Walls cost for the year?
A: The annual cost for a student to participate in Education Without Walls is $3,500.

Q: Does Education Without Walls offer scholarships?
A: Yes. Full scholarships are available for students who live below the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines or are in foster care. Partial scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale based on family income. Please see our scholarship FAQs for more information.

Q: What does the tuition cover?
A: Tuition includes:
• Mentorship throughout the school year
• Five outings, including multi-day backpacking trips
• All outdoor gear needed for outings
• Transportation (as needed)
• All meals during expeditions

Q: Do I have to participate in both the mentorship and the outings?
A: Yes, full participation is required of all students.

Q: How do I register?
A: Click here to register for Education Without Walls or use the registration link on our homepage. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with program forms to complete. After we receive your completed forms, our office will contact you to schedule your first meeting. If you have questions along the way, feel free to contact our office at (910) 515-9157.

Q: What does the mentorship look like at Education Without Walls?
A: Education Without Walls mentorship focuses on helping students identify and achieve academic and personal goals and objectives. Together with the student and their family, we outline the details of mentoring sessions. These sessions include a rich and intentional mix of support and guidance for school assignments and guidance in developing personal insight, communication, and decision-making skills.

Q: Where do Education Without Walls mentoring sessions take place?
A: Mentoring sessions take place at the Education Without Walls office (9809 River Road; Wilmington, North Carolina 28412), the student’s school, their home (when possible), or in a public community space.

Q: Do Education Without Walls mentors offer anything besides academic support?
A: Education Without Walls’ mentors also chaperone during the day-long outings.

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 summer expedition is a multi-day wilderness adventure that may include backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, or surfing. Students learn technical outdoor skills and continue to develop personal insight, communication, and decision-making skills.   

Q: Who leads Education Without Walls’ summer expedition?
A: We partner with The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE) to guide backcountry expeditions tailored to our program's needs. NCOAE is a values-based provider of outdoor adventures and education and 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 return after their first year, with some having logged over 80 days and nights in the backcountry from participating in outings. 

Q: Does Education Without Walls have an internship for older teens?
A: Yes, we hire LIT (Leaders In Training) to be second in command during the Juniors outings. LITs have participated in at least one full year of Education Without Walls, are at least 17 years old and submit an application online to be considered.