Mentor-driven education: a new (old) story of learning

Blue Fractal is a one-of-kind educational powerhouse that redefines what higher education can be. We team up with renowned adventurers, entrepreneurs, artists, and creatives to lead high-impact courses for students ready to make a pivotal, powerful launch into the rest of their lives. We are a real, authentic, once-in-a-lifetime learning adventure that will position you to innovate any field for the rest of your life. You will learn to create and shape the systems that will carry humanity into the future.  

We believe that dramatic learning happens through dramatic action.  We believe that doing is better than talking. We believe that authentic experience is more effective than contrived programming and curricula.  We believe that reaching your full potential means learning to thrive as a whole person.  We believe that life moves forward in big leaps rather than slow step-wise progressions.  And we believe in you.  This is your leap. 

We think big, and we want to teach you how.  You’ll achieve the following at Blue Fractal:      

1.   Transform the World: Gain intensive experience creating real action in the world.  You’ll gain a deep toolbox of the skills, mindsets, and habits needed to bring new ideas into the world and create systemic change.  

2.    Transform Yourself: Gain insight into your unique gifts and strengths, and learn skills needed to bring those strengths into the world.       

Backed by decades of excellence

Course mentors have been selected because they have reached a global pinnacle of excellence in their respective field.  However, they also have a proven track record as world-class teachers and mentors.  Additionally, the founder of Blue Fractal brings 15 years of experience as educator, artist, and adventurer, and has guided thousands of students of all ages.  Learn more about Ben HERE.  

We’re Different: The Blue Fractal Formula

It’s simple.  Each course with up to twelve students is based in beautiful locations around the world.  Day trips and multi-day excursions are interspersed throughout.  The Core Project is led by the mentor, while staff lead brief regular skill sessions in Emotional Intelligence and Innovation Thinking. Plenty of time is set aside for outdoor recreation and exploration.  Look here to learn more and see itineraries for each individual course.  Every course shares the following values and objectives:

 World class experts and action-makers as your mentors.  Shaping the world around you isn’t an innate skill. You learn it.  And the best way to learn is from people who are REALLY good at shaping the world around them.  They see the world differently, they solve problems differently, they approach goals differently.   People like Cirina Catania shaped the world in big ways and they’ll show you how.  .  

Authentic purpose, real projects.  Every human needs to feel part of something bigger than themselves.   Fluency at navigating the real world requires real-world practice.  Nothing in our program feels contrived, nothing that you'll do is "because that’s just how it is."  You'll intuitively and immediately recognize the purpose of every moment of every day. 

Emotional Intelligence Training. It’s now widely accepted that emotional skills are the single biggest predictor of success in every domain of life.  And yet few, if any, colleges or universities focus on building these skills. We aim to change that.  Learn more about our evidence-based emotional intelligence curriculum HERE. 

Innovation Thinking.  Innovators see the world and solve problems differently than most people.  However, this process isn’t magic. It’s learned skills and habits.  We’ll teach you the basics of systems thinking, first principles thinking, design theory, laser-sharp communication, and other skills that innovators master.  Learn more HERE.      

Perspective-shifting locations.  Places like Duluth, MN and the surrounding wild landscape are not just fun to visit, but essential for personal growth.  We can’t see ourselves and our world clearly when we’re still surrounded by our usual world and all the stuff we think is important.  This "therapeutic disorientation" is highly stimulating on many cognitive levels, and serves to help "wake up" ways of thinking that have been too quiet for too long.   

Heal the World.  At Blue Fractal, every course centers on creating tangible action that solves a systemic problem and creates more connection, stability, and beauty in the world.  But more importantly, you’ll gain the tools to create connection, stability, and beauty for the rest of your life in any domain you choose.  

An Education Revolution . . . with credit: We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but we’re basically trying to create a whole new way of thinking about higher education. The world is rapidly decentralizing, the value of traditional academic institutions is tumbling, and we need a new generation of highly creative, adaptive, integrative, systems-thinking innovators to craft the future. That’s you. However, if you’re enrolled in college, we’ll also work with your college or university to award internship or independent study credits for your time at Blue Fractal. Efforts are also currently underway to partner with a university to attach transferable college credits to our program.