Welcome to the UP™ Program
“Empowering Kids to Create their Own Futures the UP™ Way”
“Our Mission is to Ensure that Every Young Person in Howard County has the Education,
Work-ethic and Life Skills needed to Transition Successfully into a Self-reliant Adult.”
UP: Unleashing Potential, Passion and Purpose
At the UP™ Program, we help local youth build the real-world habits they need to become successful, self-reliant adults. Instead of just talking about life skills, our after-school and weekly programs give kids hands-on experience to solve problems and grow on their own.
Here is what our programming looks like every week:
Wednesday Huddles: Youth gather in a safe, supportive environment for meals, mentorship, and life-skills character building.
Hands-On Work Initiatives: Kids and teens learn practical trade skills—like assembling workshop tools, learning robotics, managing outdoor landscaping for community members for a donation to our program, and running creative projects and selling items at UP™ Creations—to develop a strong, real-world work ethic.
The Four Pillars: Through every single project, kids actively practice being Respectful, Responsible, Reliable, and Ready for the future.
Through daily structure, real work, and clear expectations, kids practice responsibility and life skills alongside caring adults.
