Our Approach
Our beliefs are informed by our work with young people and the insights of thinkers who have deeply influenced our ethos. Among them, four stand out: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ken Ginsburg, Paulo Freire, and Cal Newport. Their ideas on flow, strengths-based practice, praxis, and focus provide the foundation for how we design our programs and engage with students.
The Power of Flow¹
Swell mentors support students in approaching projects of complexity, aiming for just manageable difficulty—a framework that research asserts will generate an individual’s greatest sense of reward and fulfillment. Flow is driven by intrinsic motivation—the joy of the task itself, rather than external rewards, fuels engagement and perseverance. When young people experience this state, they become deeply invested in their work, fostering a sense of purpose, creativity, and self-discipline.
Resilience Through Healthy Risk-Taking²
When adolescents are empowered with autonomy and agency, they demonstrate responsibility and trustworthiness. When we expect the best from them, we help counteract the undermining messages they may receive elsewhere. They are super-learners, naturally drawn to new experiences, deep friendships, and challenges that promote growth. Our role as mentors is to provide safe, well-boundaried opportunities for teens to create lasting friendships, establish their identity, take healthy risks, overcome challenges, and learn to recover from failure. These experiences forge neural pathways that not only strengthen their capacity for growth but also set the foundation for a more fulfilling and self-directed life.
Learning Through Praxis³
Craft work demands a cycle of action, reflection, and application. As students transition into adulthood, they must develop the ability to structure inquiry, recognize patterns and systems, and manage ambiguity. Boatbuilding, in particular, embodies this challenge—its complex hull forms, combined with the non-uniform nature of wood, demand a hands-on, iterative approach. At each step, students test ideas, adapt to constraints, and refine their understanding through hands-on experience.
The Discipline of Deep Focus⁴
Flow—the state of deep engagement—does not happen by chance; it is built through practice. Attention, focus, and persistence are not switches to be flipped on demand but muscles that grow stronger through consistent effort. We are intentional in crafting our community agreements to encourage metacognitive reflection on flow and deep, sustained work. Students actively consider and practice working without distraction, and we expect that they will discover enjoyment as a natural outcome. This ability to engage deeply not only refines their craftsmanship but also prepares them for a world that values patience, skill, and meaningful work.
Sources
¹ Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper & Row, 1990.
² Ginsburg, Kenneth. Reaching Teens: Strength-Based Communication Strategies to Build Resilience and Support Healthy Adolescent Development. American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014.
³ Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum, 1970.
⁴ Newport, Cal. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing, 2016.