Programs
Our programs harness the power of play to boost mental wellness. Each offering is conducted online and in-person, allowing students from anywhere to join a safe, moderated environment. Whether it’s a weekly chill gaming session or an intergenerational tournament, every program is designed to foster connection, reduce stress and loneliness, and build life skills.
WELLNESS CIRCLES
Small-group gaming meetups for stress relief and peer support. In these weekly circles, 20-30 students come together on a video call and multiplayer game. Guided by a trained youth facilitator, they play cooperative, stress-relieving games and engage in casual check-ins about their week. Wellness Circles combine the fun of gaming with the comfort of a support group – students log off feeling heard, happy, and recharged for the week ahead. Each session starts with a quick mindfulness exercise and ends with everyone sharing one positive thing from their day. Short pre/post micro‑surveys and a simple family play‑agreement template will be published with our Intergenerational Playbook (v1) so any school can adopt this within weeks.
leadership labs
Empowering teens to lead and design wellness gaming experiences. This program is for high school students who want to take their involvement to the next level. In Leadership Labs, youth move from players to program leaders. Over a few weeks, participants learn about mental health, teamwork, and event planning – then apply those skills by co-designing their own WellnessPlay gaming events. From honing communication and empathy to practicing problem-solving in games, teens develop real-world leadership skills. Graduates of Leadership Labs often become our circle facilitators or campus ambassadors.
CHILL & CONNECT Tournaments
Every couple weeks, Wellness Circles converge for a Chill & Connect Tournament—an invitational bracket where camaraderie trumps competition. Teams form between friends with playful names into joyful titles such as Brawl Stars or Clash Royale. A short Active Minds “feel-check” kicks off each event, and end-of-round reflection prompts reinforce social-emotional skills. Judges award bonus stars for inclusive call-outs, on-mic encouragement, and post-game shout-outs, ensuring the loudest cheer is for teamwork. Short pre/post micro‑surveys and a simple family play‑agreement template will be published with our Intergenerational Playbook (v1) so any school can adopt this within weeks.
GENERATIONs together events
UN‑aligned: Our Generations Together model—youth + parents/grandparents in moderated co‑op play—was the focus of our #YouthLead Dialogue. We’re now scaling via a 100‑day sprint: training youth facilitators and co‑hosting 30 hybrid events with libraries/senior centers.
Fun gaming tournaments that bridge generations. These annual events pair students with a parent, grandparent, or guardian as a team in a friendly competition. Our Generations Together Events turn video games into intergenerational bonding time. Teams learn from each other – kids teach gaming skills, parents/grandparents/guardians share encouragement – all while laughing and working together towards common goals. Research backs this approach: shared gaming breaks down communication barriers and cultivates intergenerational well-being. Each tournament includes a short kickoff talk on healthy gaming, multiple rounds of cooperative play, and a celebratory awards ceremony. Whether they win or lose, families and participants come away with positive memories and stronger connections.
