The freedom to
learn
live
design
fail
dream
inspire
learn

Turning the tables on learning experiences

We believe learning isn’t something that happens to youth. Instead, they make it happen.

GripTape’s Learning Challenge empowers youth to take ownership of their learning and pursue their passions, unlocking their full potential. When they take the lead, they don’t just grow–they thrive.

How do we know? We’ve done our research.

Our Framework  

In our mission to empower youth to take charge of their learning, we set out to identify the key tools that would best support self-directed learning. We engaged young people directly in conversation to better understand their needs. Their insights helped us outline six essential conditions for fostering  self-driven learning:

Passion

Decision-Making Authority 

Funding 

Meaningfulness 

A Supportive Adult – a “Champion” 

Self-Directed Time 

With this in mind, we’ve carried out over 25 Learning Challenge cycles, directly supporting thousands of young people​, ​and we ​​are continuously learning and refining our approaches to meet their evolving needs across the country. 

Curious to dive deeper into our Framework and our outcomes? 

The science behind the Learning Challenge  

To better understand the impact of our program, we conducted a three-year research study with Cornell University, resulting in nearly a dozen published papers. We have engaged over 700 young people and assessed each on more than 70 psychological constructs. In addition, we have collected upwards of 11,000 daily surveys from over 300 Challengers, providing a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the impact of the Learning Challenge. Our findings provide compelling evidence that when teens are given respect, authority, and support, they become more personally connected to their learning, build self-confidence, and gain a stronger sense of purpose.

With this in mind, we’ve identified four dimensions that capture the core psychological needs GripTape helps fulfill: Competence, Well-being, Connection, and Autonomy. These dimensions convey the lasting impact that the Challenge has on youth, both during and beyond. We invite you to dive into the highlights in each dimension and discover how implementing self-driven learning models can empower youth to reach their full potential.

Competence

Well-being

Connection

Autonomy

WELL-BEING

Empowering young people to pursue their passions within a community of their peers enhances happiness and confidence. Discover how GripTape’s model can make a lasting impact on well-being.

AUTONOMY

When young people are able to exercise their agency—by choosing projects, setting personal goals, and directing their learning—they develop   self-motivation and resilience. Explore how GripTape fosters young people’s autonomy.

COMPETENCE

Building confidence in young people’s abilities encourages their sense of motivation to pursue their passions and strengthen their skills. Learn more about the impact of empowering young people to reach their full potential.

CONNECTION

Positive relationships with adults in programs like GripTape improve young people’s sense of purpose, self-esteem, and self-concept clarity. Explore how words of belief and encouragement can effectively build their sense of motivation and competence.

Help us empower the next generation!

Whether you’re an advocate, educator, or simply someone who cares, let’s work together to make it happen.