JOIN US IN MARCH FOR THE OEG RETREAT

Dear Families,

As middle schoolers prepare for high school and high schoolers prepare for college and life beyond it, many families are asking the same questions: How do students stand out in a meaningful way? How do they develop authentic leadership skills without burning out? And how do we help them grow into confident, grounded humans in a rapidly changing world?

Opportunity Education Global (OEG) was created in response to those questions.

OEG is an intergenerational, global learning community designed to help young people develop the qualities colleges and the world are actively seeking: curiosity, initiative, empathy, creativity, and the ability to turn ideas into action. Through immersive in-person gatherings designed in partnership with parents and near peer mentors, OEG supports students in building purpose, confidence, and real-world impact—while remaining grounded, joyful, and human.

Why OEG, and Why Now?

Today’s students are coming of age during one of the fastest cultural and technological shifts in history. Colleges increasingly look beyond grades and test scores to understand who students are and how they engage with the world. OEG exists to ensure that the qualities that make us human, like curiosity, courage, imagination, connection, and compassion, remain at the center of how young people grow and thrive. OEG is not a school, not a club, and not a camp. It is a learning retreat with a global community where students and families have a rare opportunity to level up leadership, impact and spend time together across generations in a beautiful setting at Paicines Ranch. 

What Students Gain

Students participate in Impact Circle Cohorts, small, supportive groups guided by near-peer mentors who are early-career professionals and graduate students who recently navigated college admissions, career exploration, and purpose-driven work themselves. They have attended some of the best colleges, thought deeply about what living a life of meaning and connection looks like and feels like and are eager to be in community with youth thinking about these very questions. Throughout the weekend, these mentors help students reflect, connect ideas to action, and shape authentic stories that strengthen college essays, interviews, and personal clarity.

But this learning doesn’t happen in a classroom or on Zoom. It unfolds through a carefully designed weekend that blends hands-on workshops, time in nature, creative expression, and meaningful conversation, allowing students to grow as leaders while feeling grounded, energized, and supported.

The OEG Impact Weekend Experience

Friday begins with arrival and ease. Students explore the ranch through lawn games, guided tours, and informal activities before gathering for a welcoming reception with live music. Dinner is shared under the stars, followed by the first Impact Circle meeting—where students begin building trust, setting intentions, and getting to know their mentors and peers. The evening closes with choice and joy: a night hike, line dancing, movies, games, and a bonfire with s’mores.

Saturday is immersive and expansive. The day opens gently with coffee, optional yoga, and outdoor movement. All meals are shared together at the Overlook, after which students gather in age-based circles for guided dialogue, reflection and conversation. Afternoons are hands-on and playful, with rotating workshops including horseback riding, natural tie-dyeing, soil and sustainability labs, and e-bike exploration, alongside time with the Ranch animals. Later, families collaborate during a Community Impact Hour, building tangible Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) impact kits before a shared ranch-to-table dinner under the stars. The evening features short, TED-style impact talks woven into the meal, followed by a joyful talent show and s’mores.

Sunday brings integration and closure. Morning circles and ranch activities—including time with lambs—offer space to reflect on learning and leadership. A long, celebratory brunch and closing community circle help students articulate what they’re taking forward. The afternoon offers optional adventures such as hiking or birding in Pinnacles National Park, hot springs, or kayaking before departure.

Why This Matters

By the end of the weekend, students don’t just leave with memories. They leave with:

• Clearer language for what they care about and why

• Authentic leadership experiences rooted in action and reflection

• Mentorship that helps translate experience into compelling college narratives

• A sense of belonging within a thoughtful, values-driven community

This is depth over résumé padding, leadership practiced in real time, and preparation for college and life that feels human, joyful, and real.

Leadership Beyond the Weekend: The OEG Youth Advisory Board

After the OEG Impact Weekend, all high school students are invited to apply to join the OEG Youth Advisory Board. Members participate in quarterly virtual Zoom meetings to help guide the future of OEG and co-plan the 2027 retreat, gaining meaningful experience in governance, collaboration, and youth-led decision-making.

The Experience at Paicines Ranch

The OEG Impact Weekend takes place at Paicines Ranch, an internationally recognized regenerative farm and retreat center near Pinnacles National Park. Surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards, and open sky, the ranch offers a setting that naturally invites reflection, creativity, and connection. Shared five-star ranch-to-table meals, featuring ingredients grown on-site and local wines, are served outdoors and designed to foster conversation and community. Time in nature—walking the land, gathering under the stars, and learning together in beautiful, grounded spaces—is an essential part of the OEG experience.

OEG Spring Retreat

March 6–8, 2026

Paicines Ranch, California

JOIN US IN MARCH! 

OEG is for families who are curious about the world and eager to lead with purpose, and who are ready to move beyond checking boxes toward meaningful growth, agency, and real impact. It is designed for parents seeking a thoughtful, values-aligned pathway that supports the full set of demands students face today, including college readiness, authentic leadership development, and demonstrated initiative and impact.

OEG also offers dedicated programming for younger students, giving them their own joyful, hands-on introduction to leadership and impact learning. The pre-teen and kids programming is grounded in creativity, play, and exploration and is intentionally less focused on college preparation while building strong foundations for future growth.

If your family or someone in your network would be excited about joining in this founding year, we would welcome a conversation and hope you will take the risk and say yes to this exciting opportunity! It is a transformative experience to be part of shaping something from the ground up. We hope to see your family this spring and look forward to what we might build together.

Warmly,

The OEG Team (Annie and Julia) 

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY AND REGISTER HERE! 

A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. Reach out to Annie to discuss options.