LIFE SKILLS COACHING &
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
FOR 9th-11th GRADE
Test your interests through projects, learn how to take ownership of your education, and gain the life and study skills you need to thrive in high school.
“The content is meaningful and challenging. The projects have been instrumental in getting her outside of her comfort zone – allowing her to try something new and the time to reflect on her experience. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough!” -Jennifer B, Equip Parent
LIFE & STUDY SKILLS COACHING FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Test your interests, take ownership of your education, and gain the skills you need to thrive.
“The content is meaningful and challenging. The projects have been instrumental in getting her outside of her comfort zone – allowing her to try something new and the time to reflect on her experience. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough!” -Jennifer B, Equip Parent
TURN HIGH SCHOOL
INTO A LAUNCHPAD FOR
THE FUTURE
Equip gives high school students the skills training, hands-on experience, accountability, and community they need to thrive in high school and beyond. Students develop essential skills through supportive group coaching, engaging online courses, and real world projects that allow them to build skill and test their interests.
WELCOME TO EQUIP
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.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Equip is a 10-month high school coaching program designed to work alongside any curriculum a student is already using. Each semester, students complete a book study, life or study skills course, an 8-week project focused on a specific interest, and Christian worldview training. Equip students also have the option to register for and attend Unbound’s young adult conference, APEX, in August, where they can kick off the year alongside their classmates.
SEMESTER AT A GLANCE
Attend Orientation Live (optional) and Online
All students have the option of starting the year at APEX, Unbound's young adult conference. APEX is held in August and is where students have the opportunity to meet their fellow Equip classmates in person, hear from world-class speakers, complete extensive team challenges, and engage in deep discussions.
Complete Your Life, Study, or Worldview Skills Mini-Course
Each year in Equip, students complete three 8-week courses: life skills, study skills, and worldview skills. These courses include short, engaging video lectures or demonstrations and immediately applicable reflection assignments.
Complete Coaching and Discipleship Assignments and Attend Bi-Weekly Coaching Calls
Each month in Equip, students attend two Group Coaching Calls and work through Coaching and Discipleship content focused on loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, body, finances, time, and relationships. On Group Coaching Calls, students meet with 8-10 other students in their grade and a dedicated coach for accountability, project support, assignment and goal check-ins, and peer coaching.
Choose Your Semester Project
At the heart of the Equip program are the student projects. As a project-based learning 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.
Complete Your First Book Study
Each year in Equip, students complete two 8-week book studies. 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 reflect on their experiences as they seek to determine their next right step.
Attend Orientation Live (optional) and Online
All students have the option of starting the year at APEX, Unbound's young adult conference. APEX is held in August and is where students have the opportunity to meet their fellow Equip classmates in person, hear from world-class speakers, complete extensive team challenges, and engage in deep discussions.
Complete Your Life, Study, or Worldview Skills Mini-Course
Each year in Equip students complete three 8-week courses: life skills, study skills, and worldview skills. These courses include short, engaging video lectures or demonstrations and immediately applicable reflection assignments.
Complete Coaching and Discipleship Assignments and Attend Bi-Weekly Coaching Calls
Each month in Equip, students attend two Group Coaching Calls and complete four Coaching Modules. 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 dedicated coach for accountability, project support, assignment and goal check-ins, and peer coaching.
Choose Your Semester Project
At the heart of the Equip program are the student projects. As a project-based learning 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.
Complete Your First Book Study
Each year in Equip, students complete two 8-week book studies. 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 reflect on their experiences as they seek to determine their next right step.
Attend Orientation Live (optional) and Online
All students have the option of starting the year at APEX, Unbound's young adult conference. APEX is held in August and is where students have the opportunity to meet their fellow Equip classmates in person, hear from world-class speakers, complete extensive team challenges, and engage in deep discussions.
Complete Your Life, Study, or Worldview Skills Mini-Course
Each year in Equip students complete three 8-week mini-courses: life skills, study skills, and worldview skills. These courses that include short, engaging video lectures or demonstrations and immediately applicable reflection assignments.
Complete Coaching and Discipleship Assignments and Attend Bi-Weekly Coaching Calls
Each month in Equip, students attend two Group Coaching Calls and complete four Coaching Modules. 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 dedicated coach for accountability, project support, assignment and goal check-ins, and peer coaching.
Choose Your Semester Project
At the heart of the Equip program are the student projects. As a project-based learning 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.
Complete Your First Book Study
Each year in Equip, students complete two 8-week book studies. 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 reflect on their experiences as they seek to determine their next right step.
GRADE-BY-GRADE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
LAYING THE FOUNDATION (9th GRADE)
- Course #1: Core Life Skills Course – Learn time management, task management, and relationship building
- Course #2: Basic Study Skills Course – Build strong academic habits
- Reading Assignments for Book Studies: Love Does by Bob Goff & Your New Playlist by Jon Acuff
- Project-Based Education: 2 student interest-led projects
- Christian Worldview Training: Now We Live by Summit Ministries
EXPANDING SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP (10th GRADE)
- Course #1: Life Skills Course – The Young Traveler’s Gift (Taking ownership of your life, stepping into responsibilities, and intentionally choosing your values)
- Course #2: Advanced Study & Learning Strategies: Ultralearning (Developing a lifestyle of learning)
- Reading Assignments for Book Studies: Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris & Everybody Always by Bob Goff
- Project-Based Education: 2 student interest-led projects.
- Christian Worldview Training: What Would You Say? by The Colson Center
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE (11th GRADE)
- Course #1: Navigate (Personal Development & Decision-Making)
- Course #2: Advanced Study Skills
- Reading Assignment for Book Studies: Atomic Habits by James Clear & The Little Things by Andy Andrews
- Project-Based Education: 2 student interest-led projects
- Christian Worldview Training: How to Think Like a Christian by Thinking Out Loud
GRADE-BY-GRADE BREAKDOWN
Equip is a 9th-11th grade program that runs for 10 months from August-May.
Each year stands alone and is designed so students can start the program in their 9th, 10th, or 11th grade year.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
(9th GRADE)
- Course #1: Core Life Skills Course – Learn time management, task management, and relationship building
- Course #2: Basic Study Skills Course – Build strong academic habits
- Reading Assignments for Book Studies: Love Does by Bob Goff & Your New Playlist by Jon Acuff
- Project-Based Education: 2 student interest-led projects
- Christian Worldview Training: Now We Live by Summit Ministries
EXPANDING SKILLS & LEADERSHIP
(10th GRADE)
- Course #1: Life Skills Course – The Young Traveler’s Gift (Taking ownership of your life, stepping into responsibilities, and intentionally choosing your values)
- Course #2: Advanced Study & Learning Strategies: Ultralearning (Developing a lifestyle of learning)
- Reading Assignments for Book Studies: Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris & Everybody Always by Bob Goff
- Project-Based Education: 2 student interest-led projects.
- Christian Worldview Training: What Would You Say? by The Colson Center
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
(11th GRADE)
- Course #1: Navigate (Personal Development & Decision-Making)
- Course #2: Advanced Study Skills
- Reading Assignment for Book Studies: Atomic Habits by James Clear & The Little Things by Andy Andrews
- Project-Based Education: 2 student interest-led projects
- Christian Worldview Training: How to Think Like a Christian by Thinking Out Loud
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 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.
ENROLL IN EQUIP TODAY
Both paid in full and installment plans available. Installment plans incur a 10% fee and begin with a $50 deposit.
Early Enrollment
$87.23/month over 12 months
- Price increases January 1, 2026
Regular Enrollment
$96.39/month over 12 months
- Price increases April 1, 2026
Late Enrollment
$105.56/month over 12 months
- Price increases July 1, 2026
MEET THE EQUIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND COACHES
RACHEL FACEMIRE
RACHEL is the Director of High School Programs for Unbound. Always passionate about helping leverage logistics to build relationships, her happy place is running the behind-the-scenes of Equip (9th-11th grades) and Explore (12th grade) to help the students, coaches, and families!
Rachel lives in the beautiful mountains of Lexington, Virginia with her husband Eli, and when she’s not working on Unbound projects, she’s probably spending time with family, reading a book, or trying a local coffee shop. Feel free to ask her about Jesus, hospitality, or flowers.
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.
LYDIA WHITE
LYDIA is a high school coach for Unbound. She is an Unbound graduate who has found that coaching encompasses her love of people and her natural bent toward asking questions. In addition to coaching high school students, she also works for a nonprofit where she has been able to utilize her coaching skills in a variety of ways to support pregnant moms in keeping their babies. When she’s not working with students or helping moms and babies, you may find her going for walks in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley where she lives, reading a good fiction book, or spending time with her people.
HEAR FROM PARENTS
FAQ
No, Equip is not a full-time curriculum. Equip students typically spend around 5-10 hours a week on the program working through life and study skills courses, worldview training courses, project assignments, and coaching. Everything students do in Equip is designed to work alongside and enhance whatever curriculum they are already using.
The Equip program is delivered fully online, however, all students are eligible to register for and attend Unbound’s annual young adult conference, APEX. APEX is held in Lake City, MI every August and includes live orientation for all Equip students who attend. It’s a great way to include an in-person experience as part of the Equip program and get to meet classmates and coaches live!
Students 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.
- 11:30 AM-1:00 PM ET
All Equip mini-courses are asynchronous, but they are not self-paced. Each mini-course has deadlines, due-dates, and late work penalties.
Yes! We recommend 1.25 elective credit hours for successful completion of the program.