We help young people connect with their purpose so they develop a new love for learning.

 
 

We help young people connect with their purpose so they become motivated to live their best life.

 

We help young people connect with their purpose so they think deeply about their future.

 

We help young people connect with their purpose so they feel great about themselves and their potential.

 

We help young people connect with their purpose so they become motivated to live their best life.

Who am I?

What am I interested in?

How do I learn best?

What do I need?

How do I like to learn?

What am I good at?

What excites me?

Am I creative?

Can I do this?

Should I go to college?

Why does this matter?

Do I matter?

Who am I? What am I interested in? How do I learn best? What do I need? How do I like to learn? What am I good at? What excites me? Am I creative? Can I do this? Should I go to college? Why does this matter? Do I matter?

Youth Success Conference

May 31, 2024

Oceanside High School will be hosting their first CAYS Youth Success Conference on May 31, 2024. Join us for a day of students Discovering Their Purpose.

Our extensive speaker list already includes many noteworthy speakers. Submit your proposal by April 15th to join them.

We believe the key to unlocking student potential is to give them support and guidance to discover who they really are and what matters most.

The CAYS Discover Your Purpose program was created by educational pioneers Bobbi DePorter and Stedman Graham with the curriculum designed by counselor, teacher, and school administrator Candice Fee.

The program is a collection of interactive lessons that can be used as seamless add-ons to what teachers are already doing in the classroom.

CAYS is devoted to helping students discover their purpose through self-reflective and inspiring activities. Students, educators, and parents enjoy proven and positive outcomes that ripple out to create healthier communities:

  • increased attendance

  • better classroom engagement

  • decreased stress for students and teachers

  • higher graduation rates

  • future generations of happier, more resilient adults

Many of today’s youth experience debilitating levels of depression, anxiety, and peer pressure.

Parents often feel unequipped to connect with their kids and provide guidance while navigating their own complications and struggles.

And educators are expected to be superhumans who fill in the gaps of adolescent developmental support even though they’re challenged with:

  • Packed classrooms

  • Budget cuts

  • Standardized testing

  • Outdated curriculum

  • Increased social issues 

CAYS organizes communities into action to support its young people.

We help bridge the gap between school systems and community support through our innovative:

Curriculum & Educator Training

Workshops & Youth Success Days

Community Events

We’re tireless about supporting educators and excited about helping young people Discover Their Purpose — so they grow into adults who feel good about who they are and what they can offer the world.

Bring ‘Discover Your Purpose’ (DYP) to your school:

  • Workshops For Students

    A workshop is a great way for school systems and youth organizations to experience the Discover Your Purpose program in a short, interactive, and fun half-hour to a full-day event.

    Are you with an organization that wants to sponsor a workshop in your community?

    Get in touch and let’s make it happen!

    Bring DYP To Your School

  • The DYP Curriculum For Educators

    For organizations and school systems that want to integrate Discover Your Purpose into its ethos. Includes a Teacher Training Guide, Curriculum Map Template, Teacher Workbook, and Digital Resource Library.

    Why not try a free lesson plan in your classroom?

    Learn about curriculum

  • Full Day Youth Success Conference

    A full-day event where kids can choose breakout sessions designed to help them explore career and life resources they’re interested in. DYP presenters come from all backgrounds and careers within the community. Kids walk away feeling uplifted, excited, and supported about taking their next steps toward a brighter future.

    View A Past Event

Community is everything.

A powerful component of the DYP Program is the involvement of community members. They send a powerful message of support to students. Community members can serve as Mentors or present at a Youth Success Conference.

Community members also support our fundraising efforts and are encouraged to attend the CAYS monthly online meetings.

 
“Uncover a sense of purpose in life and you can survive nearly anything.”
— Viktor Frankel

  • Data doesn’t lie. Students are more motivated to lean in and learn when the subject matter is interesting and actually means something to them.

    The Discover Your Purpose lessons build a bridge between standardized curriculum and each student’s unique identity. It empowers young people to reframe learning as a pathway to a meaningful personal life and fulfilling career direction.

  • The lessons are for educators, school systems, and youth empowerment organizations that feel the weight of young people struggling to find their way. Today’s youth are bombarded by a reality that prioritizes comparison, perfection, and achievement over authenticity, courage, and purpose.

    The Discover Your Purpose lessons include easy-to-implement self-discovery exercises that are fun and can be adapted to the learning needs of students from 10 to 19 years old. Discover Your Purpose can be taught in and out of the classroom. It can also be integrated into youth empowerment organizations and after-school programs.

  • We understand the long hours and stress that teachers take on each day in service to our youth. The CAYS program was designed for educators by educators. The modules are flexible—meaning, teachers can continue what they’re doing and simply incorporate a few tweaks that will improve connection, trust, and engagement with their students.

    Lessons don’t need to be taught in sequential order. Think of the modules as different ‘grab and go’ tools in your teacher toolkit. The Discover Your Purpose resources can be infused into existing coursework effortlessly. Along the way, you’ll learn proven methods that build your skills and nurture connection, confidence, and motivation in your students from the inside out.

  • The CAYS curriculum was designed for educators by educators. It meets Core Content ELA Standards and Standards for Career Readiness. School systems that adopt the curriculum report improved attendance and higher test scores. Students who went through the CAYS curriculum doubled their college-going rates and went to college more motivated with a plan for their future!

  • Students often act out because they’re frustrated, bored, or feel unsupported, left out, or lost. The resources in the Discover Your Purpose materials give students new ways of putting language around what they’re feeling and help them navigate relationships with teachers, parents, and peers more easily.

    The Discover Your Purpose program helps improve classroom culture—empowering students to feel more secure in their identity and their dreams for the future.

 

Purpose is the drive that gives meaning to our lives. Surprisingly, many young people are never asked to explore what matters to them.

When youth know what matters to them, their purpose and potential come into focus and ignite a new understanding of what they need so they can thrive in school and life.

CAYS is a non-profit organization created by educators and community leaders who believe that a healthy society depends upon the success of its youth. 

We specialize in providing educators, school systems, and youth empowerment organizations with proven methods to nurture connection, confidence, and motivation in the young people they serve.

 We bridge the gap between communities and schools. You’re invited to join us!

Attend a CAYS Community monthly virtual meeting and learn how you can get involved.

CAYS was founded by Bobbi DePorter and Stedman Graham, passionate educational advocates who have dedicated their lives to helping young people create and shape bright futures even when faced with challenges and obstacles.

  • Stedman Graham

    Educator, entrepreneur, public speaker, and best-selling author who has helped millions of people utilize their gifts and life experiences as a springboard for meaningful change in the world.

  • Bobbi DePorter

    Founder of the Quantum Learning Network and the SuperCamp programs—accelerated learning experiences designed to introduce teenagers to cutting-edge academic and life-balance training.

Together, we can make a big difference for the young people in your community.

The CAYS Community is a like-hearted group of parents, educators, and community leaders who care about supporting our youth for success in and out of school.

 

For educators…

Try the Discover Your Purpose curriculum in your classroom for FREE!

Sign up below and we’ll send you an 18-page digital kit (pdf) that includes:

  • 6 Done-For-You Lesson Plans

  • Materials list

  • Curriculum Breakdown & Standards Alignment 

  • Rubrics & Resources

  • Student Workbook & Student Reflection Documents

Become a CAYS sponsor and help us help more young people.

Purchase mentor training for your staff or adopt a school district.