- Struggling to find mentors and connections to guide their students
- Finding resources that encourage creativity without overwhelming pressure to accomplish more than possible
- Knowing how to narrow the search to prioritize quality and eternal value
9th-11th Grade
The Skills Training & Christian Community Your Highschooler Needs
Give Your Student the Mentorship, Accountability,
and Skills Training They Need to Thrive
Academically, Relationally, and Professionally
9th-11th Grade
The Skills Training & Christian Community
Your Highschooler Needs
Give Your Student the Mentorship, Accountability,
and Skills Training They Need to Thrive
Academically, Relationally, and Professionally
Trying to Find the Right Resources for Your Highschooler is Overwhelming
Parents face challenges like…
And that leads to feeling overwhelmed, stressed about making the right choice, and fearful of the unknown.
We don’t want that for you.
Equip by Unbound gives high school students the skills training, hands-on experience, accountability, and community they need to thrive in the real world. Your student can have that too.
Equip Provides the Skills Training, Interest-Led Experience, and Community Your Highschooler Needs to Thrive Academically, Relationally, and Professionally
ACCOUNTABILITY, MENTORSHIP, & PEER COACHING
Equip Coaching
Each month in Equip, students complete four Coaching Modules and attend two Group Coaching Calls. Coaching Modules introduce students to a new coaching principle each month and require study, application, and reflection to complete. On Group Coaching Calls, students meet with 8-10 other students in their grade and a coach for mentorship and accountability, assignment and goal check-ins, and peer coaching.
CRITICAL LIFE, STUDY SKILLS, AND WORLDVIEW TRAINING
Equip Book Studies & Courses
Each year in Equip students complete two 8-week life and study skills courses and read two life skills books. Their courses include short, engaging video lectures or demonstrations and immediately applicable reflection assignments. In addition to their courses and books, students complete 8-weeks of Christian worldview training. Equip courses, reading assignments, and training are intentionally designed to help students build critical thinking skills, learn how to apply principles and concepts in their own lives, and to reflect on their experiences as they seek to determine their next right step.
STUDENT-INTEREST LED PROJECTS FOR HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Equip Projects
At the heart of the Equip program are the student projects. As a project-based training program, Equip is designed to teach students how to learn by doing. Through their projects, students take everything they are learning in their courses, book studies, coaching modules, and coaching calls and put it into action. Projects are 8-weeks long, completed once per semester, and are fully student-interest led. Students receive a project guide that helps them brainstorm ideas and make sure their ideas meet the requirements of being personal, meaningful, relevant, and challenging based on their unique interests, passions, season of life, and comfort zone.
Year-By-Year Breakdown
Each year stands alone and is designed so students can start the program in their 9th, 10th, or 11th grade year.
YEAR ONE
9th Grade
- Equip Coaching Group
- Bi-weekly live group coaching calls
- Course #1: Core Life Skills
- Course #2: Basic Study Skills
- Reading Assignments: Love Does by Bob Goff & Your New Playlist by Jon Acuff
- Project-Based Education: 2 hands-on projects in student-led areas of interest
- Worldview Training: Now We Live by Summit Ministries
YEAR TWO
10th Grade
- Equip Coaching Group
- Bi-weekly live group coaching calls
- Course #1: The Young Traveler's Gift
- Course #2: Ultralearning
- Reading Assignments: Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris & Everybody Always by Bob Goff
- Project-Based Education: 1-2 hands-on projects in student-led areas of interest
- Worldview Training: What Would You Say?
YEAR THREE
11th Grade
- Equip Team
- Bi-weekly live group coaching calls
- Course #1: Navigate
- Course #2: Advanced Study Skills
- Reading Assignments: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey & The Little Things by Andy Andrews
- Project-Based Education: 1-2 hands-on projects in student-led areas of interest
- Worldview Training: How to Think Like a Christian by Thinking Out Loud
Meet Unbound's High School Coaches
Hannah Quintero
HANNAH is a high school coach for Unbound. After graduating high school in 2019, she joined a Christian mission organization and has had a strong passion for mentoring young people ever since. She believes a thorough knowledge of Scripture and a constant desire to learn are the foundation for any successful life.
When she’s not working, you can find Hannah studying a new language, reading a book, drinking a cup of coffee, or hanging out with family. She loves any kind of conversation, no matter the topic! She currently lives in beautiful Colombia with her husband, Aníbal, and their young daughter.
Julia Gottfried
JULIA is a high school coach for Unbound. Julia is a homeschool graduate, Ascend program alumni, and describes her time in the Unbound community like a second family to her. She is an avid storyteller, real estate agent, and revival missions team alum.
While Julia is mainly surrounded by corn fields, she is always down for a good competition. Whether it is a fierce game of beach volleyball, acting out reverse charades, or baking the best family carrot cake, she loves to faithfully seek out laughter and connection. She daily strives to encourage people to be compassionate and courageous with the gifts God has given them. Her dream is that she might grow in knowing Christ crucified and always live conscious of His deep love for her. Julia abides in a northwestern Ohio farm town where she enjoys the community of godly friends and church family.
Kyle DeJarnatt
KYLE is a high school coach for Unbound. He is a homeschool and Unbound graduate who earned his BSBA from Liberty University in 2021 and is currently pursuing his MA in Christian Ministry from Liberty’s School of Divinity. He loves working with high school and college students and especially having discussions about biblical topics and how these can be applied to students’ lives.
When he’s not studying or working with students, Kyle can often be found attending theatre performances or mini-golfing with his wife, Heather, doing cheese tastings and playing Super Smash Bros. with his friends, or talking someone’s ear off about Tolkien’s writings.
Request More Information About Equip
Sign up for an email series that explains how Equip works and how your student can get started.
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How to Get Started
STEP 2
Coaching Group Assignment &
Access to Slack
In August, your student will receive their Coaching Group assignment, get access to our program platform, Pathwright, and receive an invite to our private student communication platform, Slack. Pathwright is where your student will find all of their program assignments and resources and Slack is where they will connect with the rest of the class and their Equip Coach.
STEP 3
(Optional) Register
for & Attend
APEX
All Equip students are invited to register for and attend Unbound’s annual student convention, APEX. APEX takes place in August in Michigan and serves as a program and community orientation for new students across all Unbound programs, a recognition event for returning students, and a reunion for Unbound alumni.
While every APEX is unique, you can expect to find world-class speakers, alumni speakers, extensive team challenges, recreational activities, deep discussions, and friends, old and new. Check out the most recent recap video here.
STEP 4
Complete Coaching Modules & Attend Group Coaching Calls
Each month students are introduced to a new coaching principle (examples: having an Attitude of Mastery, being Extraordinary at Ordinary) that they explore through 4 Coaching Module assignments over 4 weeks: introduction, study, application, and reflection. Every two weeks, students will attend group coaching calls for mentorship and accountability with their assigned group and coach. During these calls they will discuss the coaching principle of the month and check in on assignments and goals.
STEP 5
Complete Courses &
Reading Assignments
Each semester in Equip students complete a life or study skills course followed by a book study. In the spring semester, they will also work through 8-weeks of Christian worldview training. Courses and worldview training are 8-weeks long and intentionally designed to be engaging, immediately applicable, and relevant to student’s seasons of life. Assignments are given for reflection and application, not busy work. Book studies are also 8-weeks long and material is assigned to engage student’s on a specific topic (i.e. habit-building, resilience, decision-making) and have them practice observation, application, and reflection of the topic in their own lives.
STEP 6
Complete Two Student-Interest Led Projects
During both the fall and spring semesters, Equip students complete an 8-week project. Projects are student-interest led and required to personally relevant and challenging. Students receive a project guide that provides structure for brainstorming, planning, and executing their project. Throughout each semester they will complete their projects in steps, submitting progress to their coach along the way for feedback and review.
The Results
The goal of Unbound’s high school programs is to teach students to ask wise questions in a culture of assumptions, take action to create value, understand the context of their lives in God’s story, learn to live in the real world, and not just exist but rather thrive.
After finishing the Equip program, students will have an understanding of their core foundation and purpose. They will have cultivated the ability to reflect, ask good questions, and pursue wisdom. They will be growing in their ability to manage their time, tasks, and resources. They will be actively cultivating the ability to endure and live resiliently with hope, and take ownership of their life, work, and education.
Hear from Parents
Register Today
Save when you register by December 31st!
Most people are dissatisfied with the lack of practical skills training and personal responsibility that result from traditional high school.
Equip helps high schoolers develop personal responsibility for their education and build practical, relevant skills by providing project-based learning in a coaching environment so they can learn to thrive in their academics and relationships.
At Unbound, we think there are five foundational things young adults need to learn in order to thrive in high school and beyond:
- To take full responsibility for your life
- To serve others by being extraordinary at ordinary
- To prioritize relationships
- To create value
- And to live resiliently, in light of eternity, and for the glory of God
Every aspect of Equip is designed to teach these skills. And it all happens in the context of coaching and community.
FAQs
How long is the program?
Equip is a 10-month program that runs August-May.
Can my student start if they're in 10th or 11th grade? Or do they need to start in 9th grade?
Your student can start Equip in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade! Equip is designed to build over three years if a student starts in 9th grade, but each year is also set up to stand alone so a student can start in any grade and not feel like they missed something.
Are the courses self-paced or live?
All your courses are self-paced, but your coach will help you work through the material with your fellow students at a pace that allows you to complete a course each semester.
When do the group coaching calls happen?
Group coaching calls will happen at the same time and on the same day every other week.
Get to Know Unbound
The Be Unbound Podcast teaches young adults and their parents how to ask the right questions, take action, and understand key truths that will enable them to live well, by showcasing conversations with guests who display what it looks like to be extraordinary at the ordinary.
Episode Highlights:
- Steve Demme: Learning to Wait on the Lord – Listen Now
- Stuart McAllister: Hope & Apologetics in a Post-Truth Culture – Listen Now
- Sarah Shaw: Illustrating the Invisible – Listen Now
The Be Unbound YouTube channel shares actionable tips for students and chronicles the adventures of Unbound students and alumni.
Video Highlights:
- What was your Favorite? | Ascend 22/23 Class Recap – Watch on YouTube
- Trebuchets + Tactics + Trials equals… | APEX 2023 Recap – Watch on YouTube
- The Rule 4 Gauntlet… | Basecamp 2024 Recap – Watch on YouTube
Read what’s happening in higher education and informed commentary on the topics of life preparation, education, and Christian leadership.