Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat

08/02/2026

That’s a wrap on an absolutely incredible week at the 19th annual Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat

While checkout is always a little bittersweet, we are leaving with full hearts!

Our participants brought so much energy, creativity, and dedication to every activity this week. We are so excited to see where their college and entrepreneurial journeys take them next.

Thank you to all the mentors and participants who made this week so special.

A special thank you to Bryant at bryantshootsphotography.com for capturing all of our amazing moments throughout the week!

08/01/2026

This morning, our students truly shined as they delivered their final project presentations! After a week of hard work and dedicated project time, it was incredibly inspiring to see both tracks show off everything they’ve learned.

After celebrating their hard work with a great lunch, we hit the road for an off-campus trip around Raleigh! We spent the afternoon and evening soaking in the culture at the North Carolina Museum of Art, hanging out and grabbing some goodies at Crabtree Valley Mall, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors at Pullen Park!

It was the perfect way to celebrate such a successful week. We are so proud of these amazing students!

07/31/2026

Day 5 took us on the road to NC State University!

We hit the ground running with our two tracks taking on different parts of campus this morning! Our Entrepreneurship Track got right to work at the Fox Teaching Lab for an inspiring and engaging Leadership Presentation. The College Track got a crucial behind-the-scenes look at university support systems by visiting both Disability Services and Student Legal Services!

After meeting up for a great lunch at Clark Dining Hall, the College Track took their turn tackling the Leadership Lab in the afternoon. It was an amazing opportunity for everyone to explore the beautiful NCSU campus and get a real feel for university life.

07/30/2026

Day 4 started with some hard work and ended with a ton of fun!

Our Entrepreneurship Track kicked things off by looking to the future! Students learned how to stay ahead of the curve by exploring AI and automation options, and tackled the fine print in our Navigating Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship course.

Our College Track focused on crucial campus life skills! They got great, practical advice on interacting with your professor and locked down their funding knowledge during our financial aid crash course.

We spent the afternoon cheering each other on at the incredible Camp Talent Show, and wrapped up an absolutely unforgettable night tearing up the dance floor in the gym!

The week is flying by!

07/29/2026

Day 3 kept the momentum going!

Our Entrepreneurship Track got down to business today! The students learned how to sell and pitch their big ideas, and got a crucial crash course in protecting their creations through intellectual property.

Meanwhile, our College Track focused on how to thrive on campus! They got essential information on navigating Disability Services and had an awesome, engaging session on building a great social life on campus.

In the afternoon, everyone reunited for a much-needed, real-talk panel on balancing school, work, and life. We wrapped up the afternoon with some focused Project Time so the students could put everything they’ve been learning into action!

07/28/2026

Day 2 was packed with purpose as our tracks split off for the first time!

Our College Track participants got a massive head start on their futures today. They explored some amazing Assistive Technology Options and learned the ins and outs of Taking College Courses Online.

Meanwhile, our Entrepreneurship Track was all about mastering Time Management for Entrepreneurs and diving deep into Adaptive Business Strategies.

In the afternoon, both groups brought all that great energy back together! We had an incredible and insightful combined session on Healthy Relationships, and then wrapped up the afternoon by blowing off some steam in the Gym!

Another amazing day in the books!

07/27/2026

We had an incredible time officially kicking off the 19th annual Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat today! After getting everyone checked in and fueled up, we dove right into getting to know each other with some interactive icebreakers!

The afternoon was all about tackling life skills like independent living and dealing with the public as a person with a disability, followed by an amazing team-building session.

After settling into the dorms and grabbing dinner, we wrapped up the night with an absolute blast at Lifetime Archery! We are already having so much fun and can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

12/17/2025

We’re back! Planning for the 19th annual EYE Retreat is underway. Mentors with visual impairments we are calling on you! Join us July 24th to August 1 to teach about college life and entrepreneurship skills. Apply online at www.eyeretreat.org!

The Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat was born after passage of the North Carolina Disability History and Awareness Month Act. This legislation mandated that public schools teach disability history, famous people with disabilities, and disability characteristics. Specifically, the legislatio.....

09/06/2025

We're excited to help cross-promote a fantastic new program! Own Your Light is all about building a more inclusive community for youths with low vision through mentorship. They're looking for mentors and mentees!

Check out their website to learn more!

https://sites.google.com/view/own-your-light/own-your-light?authuser=0

08/02/2025

The 2025 EYE Retreat has come to a close! We had a great group of participants and staff who created a great environment of learning and fun. From pitching business ideas to learning to navigate a college campus we packed a lot into one week. EYE Retreat 2026 can't come soon enough!