Join the Collective Old — The Purpose Lab's Youth Collective

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Our Story & Vision

Join the Collective

Explore the Program

Our Story & Vision

Join the Collective

Explore the Program

Our Story & Vision

Join the Collective

Apply for the Founding Cohort

Research That Inspires the Work

Learning shaped by evidence

Education, psychology, health, and environmental research point toward the same possibility: meaningful learning can strengthen knowledge, well-being, connection, and agency.

Open a finding to explore the research.

01 Humane education Compassion-centered themes have been linked with stronger engagement and informational-reading performance.

What the research found

In a randomized study of 192 students ages 12–13, students who read standards-aligned passages with humane education themes performed better overall and on several specific informational-reading standards.

O’Connor & Samuels, 2021 · Social Sciences

Read the study ↗

02 Project-based learning Rigorous projects can support academic achievement, collaboration, reflection, and deeper understanding.

What the research found

A cluster-randomized trial involving 2,371 students across 46 schools found stronger science performance, along with gains in collaboration and self-reflection.

Krajcik et al., 2023 · American Educational Research Journal

Read the study ↗

03 Nature & environmental learning Learning in and about nature can support attention, engagement, academic growth, and connection to the living world.

What the research found

A review of 119 peer-reviewed studies found predominantly positive K–12 outcomes extending beyond environmental knowledge to academic achievement, critical thinking, personal development, and civic engagement. A separate matched-lesson study found stronger classroom engagement after lessons in nature.

Ardoin et al., 2018; Kuo, Browning & Penner, 2018

Read the review ↗ Read the nature study ↗

04 Meaningful schoolwork Middle school students describe meaningful learning as real-world, personally relevant, hands-on, social, and future-oriented.

What the research found

A study of 258 students across nine middle schools found that students in EL Education schools reported more meaningful school experiences. Student interviews emphasized real-world problems, personal relevance, hands-on and social learning, and skills connected to the future.

Ward-Seidel, Rimm-Kaufman & Sandilos, 2026 · Journal of Adolescent Research

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05 Purpose & contribution Adolescence brings a growing capacity and developmental need to make contributions that matter.

What the research found

Opportunities to contribute can support autonomy, identity, connection, and a sense of competence. Across four additional studies, a purpose for learning connected to helping others supported academic self-regulation, deeper learning, and persistence through less interesting tasks.

Fuligni, 2019; Yeager et al., 2014

Read about contribution ↗ Read the purpose study ↗

06 Belonging & well-being Feeling accepted, respected, included, and supported is closely connected to academic, social-emotional, and psychological outcomes.

What the research found

A systematic review of 86 studies found that belonging is shaped by factors across a young person’s environment. Positive relationships with teachers, peers, and families, along with a supportive classroom climate, are especially important.

Štremfel et al., 2024 · Systematic literature review

Read the review ↗

Projects that matter invite students to matter.

Academic growth • Purpose • Connection • Agency

Six young people crossing a shallow creek together beneath oak trees in warm evening light.

A Collective That Can Grow

The first cohort is a beginning.

Over time, each project can add knowledge, relationships, and possibilities for the young people who follow.

01

Community Care Map

A growing record of local places, organizations, needs, and stories of care.

02

Mentor Network

Community experts who share knowledge, feedback, and possible pathways.

03

Youth Publication

Field notes, interviews, photographs, maps, and project stories created by young people.

04

Future Cohorts

New sessions and partnerships that allow more young people to participate.

“Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up.” David W. Orr

The next chapter begins with six young people.

Applications for the Fall 2026 founding cohort close August 21. Decisions will be emailed by August 28.

Join the Youth Collective Explore the Program

Know yourself. Care deeply. Build the future.

North San Luis Obispo County, California

Know yourself. Care deeply. Build the future.

Explore the Program

Join the Collective

Our Story & Vision

North San Luis Obispo County, California

bridgetwann@purposelabcollective.org