What's The Beanstalk Project All About?
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The Beanstalk Project is all about helping students build their own paths to meaningful careers. More than that, we’re on a mission to reform education!
Everyone knows that too many students are disengaged (that's obvious), but we also see huge numbers of students who are hardworking but misguided. Too many people are on the wrong path for them. For both the disengaged and the misguided, the problem is the same: People have become disconnected from their own talents, goals, and desires; they have lost their sense of agency. The Beanstalk Project helps students regain their sense of agency, build their skills, and put themselves on a path to success that's meaningful for them! |
There's a lot we could tell you. If you don't want to read, just watch the videos, and you'll get the idea!
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How Can We Help?In a (kind of long) single sentence, here's our approach to making a difference:
We create unforgettable experiences by partnering with inspiring role models who deliver surprisingly engaging presentations that are impactful for participants and rewarding for organizers. We do:
Fun facts:
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Our 5 Promises To YouInspiring Role Models We work with facilitators and partner organizations who embody authenticity, generosity, and wisdom. Unforgettable Experiences We create events that are engaging, interactive, and rewarding for participants and organizers alike. Belief in Students We trust that everyone cares about something and wants to be successful in their own way. Simple to Organize We know educators are busy, so we make things easy to organize and ensure everyone looks good. Affordable for Education We understand that budgets are limited, and we find creative ways to make our programs accessible. |
Meet The Team!
We are a team of performers, edutainers, entrepreneurs, and generally inspiring people.
But, we all have a few things in common:
1. We care deeply about education and helping students.
2. We have all found our own unique paths to meaningful careers.
Beyond that, we're rather unique folks. Go ahead and read about us, watch the video, or better yet, get in touch!
But, we all have a few things in common:
1. We care deeply about education and helping students.
2. We have all found our own unique paths to meaningful careers.
Beyond that, we're rather unique folks. Go ahead and read about us, watch the video, or better yet, get in touch!
Joel Hilchey FOunder & Director Joel teaches at McMaster University, and he speaks and writes about leadership, success, and creating a better world. A true renaissance man, he is a juggler, barbershop quartet singer, occasional yogi, and father of 3 kids - two of whom were born on the same day. |
Kelly DeBono-Fried Program Coordinator Kelly spent a lot of years in school (even after high school) before she found what she loved. She wants to encourage youth to follow their own creative paths to career fulfillment and personal happiness. Occasionally, she laughs at Joel and Brandon's jokes. |
Brandon Love Senior Facilitator & Content Coordinator Brandon is a magician, speaker, and coach, and he helps people learn to achieve the impossible. He's also a certified teacher, hypnotist, and member of The Magic Castle. He wrote a book about creativity with Joel, and is a fan of corny jokes. |
Andrew Giordano Facilitator Andrew is a professionally trained circus artist. He fast-tracked a university degree to go join the circus. In fact, he used performance to conquer an anxiety disorder. He is the founder of the Youth Circus Project and has performed for audiences around the world. 
Luis Serrano Facilitator He is also a life coach, facilitator & motivational speaker. Luis is obsessed with maximizing human potential through the power of play! He has studied positive psychology, practiced & performed improv for over 8 years & facilitated hundreds of public and corporate workshops. |
Lacey Williams Facilitator Lacey juggles, but specializes in the mesmerizing art of rolling a crystal ball around her body. She once earned a degree in business management, actively performed around the world, and worked for CRA all at the same time. Now, she's a coordinator at Cirque du Soleil. Cool, eh? 
Eric Ibey Facilitator Eric is a leadership and career coach, writer, and fierce advocate for bald men everywhere. He has a mechanical engineering degree, once sold everything he owned to travel around the world, and walked over 400 kilometres from Montreal to Quebec City, just for fun. |
Calder Hutchinson Facilitator Calder spends most of his time teaching math and chess, and occasionally writing spooky tales. He used to mess around with DNA, but found the microbes and fish he was working with to be poor conversationalists. He is currently editing an anthology about ham sandwiches. |
Imagine a world where every student was building their own path...
Too many students think they can't. We think that's a problem.
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The Beanstalk Project PhilosophyThe problem with most leadership development programs is that they only work for about 20% of students.
Too many students can't see the application for the skills they're learning, and without an application, they just don't retain it. Unfortunately, too much of school is focused on "getting to the next thing" or being useful at some distant point in time - "in the real world" - as if students' present lives aren't real! Sure - some students will be engaged no matter what, but the feelings of irrelevance are especially high amongst the other 80% - the ones who often need it most! We've run hundreds of programs, and we've seen even the most disengaged student turn into a star contributor. How? The secret is in helping people buy in. By using project-based learning, the skill-development is immediately valuable. By connecting ideas with stuff the students care about, they connect with intrinsic motivation. By making the workshops interactive and relevant, students can't help but be engaged. Here's what we believe:
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