Photo courtesy of Noelle Ward
Life Labs, which was created in 2015 and aims at teaching kids skills they may not learn in the classroom, plans to expand nationwide this year.
Since its creation in 2015, Life Labs has served Vestavia Hills children by teaching skills not taught in traditional classrooms.
Noelle Ward, founder of Life Labs, explained, “The purpose is to teach kids the skills they need for success. It is many of the interpersonal skills as well as professional skills they need … Things such as manners, communication styles, how to be a good student, how to be a good friend.”
This year, the program plans to expand nationwide.
“I will be offering Life Labs’ curriculum online to other organizations who wish to replicate our local workshops in their communities so that we may serve children throughout the U.S.,” Ward said.
Last summer, the first lessons of Life Labs were made available nationwide. Life Labs will offer their online curriculum to organizations nationwide such as summer camps, churches and school programs.
Along with the growth of Life Labs this year, last fall the program launched its online arm of business called Life Skills 4 College.
“I currently offer two e-courses (The Communication Smackdown 4 Teens and Dollars and Sense). These are for high school juniors and seniors who are college bound as the videos and resources are specifically designed to help teens navigate their first year of independent living at college,” Ward said in emails.
On the expansion to come, Ward said, “We have done this for three years in Birmingham and figured it all out and fine-tuned it and practiced it and honed the skills. Now we want to be able to offer it to anybody.”
