School Doesn't End at 3:00 PM. Neither Does Real Learning.​

During the school year, many middle school students spend their afternoons on devices, isolated from peers, or simply going through the motions. Whether your child is homeschooled or attends a traditional public or private school, the same question remains: Who is helping them build the confidence, communication skills, leadership, and real-world mindset they'll need to thrive?

​

At Plant Street Academy in Winter Garden, our Young Founders Junior 8-Week Enrichment Program was created to fill that gap. More than an after-school program, it's a hands-on entrepreneurship and life skills experience where students develop confidence, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership through engaging real-world projects.

​

The skills that matter most aren't measured on a report card, they're reflected in how your child walks into a room, works with others, solves problems, speaks with confidence, and begins discovering who they are and where they're headed.

 

Below, you'll find everything you need to know about our program: how it's structured, what your child will gain, and why families across West Orange County keep coming back.

​

More Than an Enrichment Program ...

A Journey That Lasts All Year

 

Most enrichment programs are designed as a one-time event. Sign up. Attend. Have fun. Move on.

We believe something is missing from that model.

 

Real growth ... the kind that changes how a child carries themselves in the right environment, with the right people around them.

​

Our 8-week enrichment program is built as a self-discovery journey, not a one-and-done experience. Each week builds on the last. Kids don't just repeat activities, they step into bigger challenges, take on more responsibility, and start to understand what leadership feels like from the inside.​​

​

How the Program Works - Three Phases, One Journey

Our 8-week enrichment program moves through three connected phases. Each one is designed to build on the last, so the growth is cumulative, not just experiential.

​

Phase 1: Discovery

This is where it starts. Kids dive into hands-on projects, teamwork challenges, and creative problem-solving. The goal isn't to teach them facts, it's to show them what they're capable of. Many kids arrive not quite sure what to expect. They leave the Discovery phase with something they didn't have before: a sense that their ideas matter.

​

Phase 2: Confidence Building

Students step into new territory. They take on roles, speak up in front of groups, and start making real decisions. The focus shifts from exploring skills to owning them. This phase is where we see some of the biggest shifts. Kids who were quiet start speaking up. Kids who held back start leading.

​

Phase 3: Leadership Development

In this phase, students who demonstrate leadership are invited to mentor other participants, reinforcing their confidence while helping others grow.They join our Coach-In-Training program, where they start to understand that leadership isn't about being in charge, it's about making the people around you better.

A 2025 study in the Journal of Leadership Education found that youth leadership programs that combine peer collaboration, adult mentorship, and community-focused projects are especially effective at developing lasting leadership competencies. That's exactly what this phase is built around. (Oyedare, Kaufman & Council, 2025)

​

​

What Your Child Will Gain at Our Winter Garden 8-Week Enrichment Program

Here's what we care about most: what does your child walk away with?

Not a lanyard. Not a certificate. Something they actually use.

​

​

Confidence and Self-Esteem

Confidence isn't taught. It's built through experience, through struggle, through being in an environment where it's safe to try and okay to fail. A 2024 study on youth camp program quality found that safe, supportive environments were the primary driver of growth in self-efficacy and prosocial behavior among kids ages 9-12. That's not a coincidence. That's the design. (Herring, 2025 — RANGE Undergraduate Research Journal)

​

​

Communication and Critical Thinking

Every activity is built around collaboration. Kids have to listen, disagree respectfully, present ideas, and persuade others. These aren't soft skills. They're the skills that determine how far someone goes.

​

​

Leadership and Responsibility

Kids don't learn leadership by being told what it is. They learn it by practicing it in low-stakes situations, with support around them, before the world expects it of them. The YMCA's research on youth leadership programs notes that teens who develop leadership skills in structured, supportive settings are significantly better prepared for both academic and professional challenges ahead.

​

​

Entrepreneurship and Real-World Projects

Students work in teams on real projects pitching ideas, solving problems, making decisions under pressure. They learn how to move from an idea to an action plan. That's a skill most adults are still figuring out.

​

​

Social Skills and Peer Connection

Small group sizes mean kids actually get to know each other. Not just as classmates, as teammates. The friendships that form here tend to stick.

​

​

Why Choose Plant Street Academy for Young Founder Junior Enrichment Program in Winter Garden, FL?

There are plenty of options in West Orange County. Here's what makes this one different.

​

A Program Built for Long-Term Growth, Not Just  Fun

We're not trying to keep kids busy. We're trying to change how they see themselves.

The three-phase progression model means that every summer builds on the one before it. Skills compound. Confidence deepens. And by the time a student reaches the Leadership phase, they've earned every bit of it.

​

Small Groups, Personalized Attention

We keep group sizes intentionally small. That means your child isn't just another attendee. They're seen, challenged, and supported by people who actually know them.

​

Conveniently Located Near Downtown Winter Garden

We're at 855 E. Plant St., Suite 900 - right in the heart of Winter Garden. Easy drop-off, easy pick-up, and close to everything that makes this community worth being part of.

​

A Proven Track Record

Parents report real changes. Not just "my kid had fun" — but "I didn't recognize hime!" "He couldn't wait to go back." "He coaches his peers now." That's the goal. And it's what keeps families coming back, year after year.

​​

Award Winning

Young Founders Junior was proudly voted 2026 Best of the Best – Best Kids Program by our local community and the families we serve. This recognition reflects the confidence, leadership, communication skills, and real-world growth parents have seen in their children and we're honored to be part of that transformation.

​

Summer Camp Program Details

Who Can Attend?

Our summer camp is designed for children ages 11-14

​

Session Dates

• Duration: 8-week enrichment program

• Schedule: Wednesdays, 3:00–5:00 PM

• Dates: September 9, 16, 23, 30 • October 7, 14, 21, 28

• Tuition: $495

• Payment Options: Direct Pay or Step Up Scholarship

• Location: 855 E Plant Street Academy, Suite 900, Winter Garden

• Limited seating available (only 25 students per semester)

​

How to Enroll

Direct Pay: you can register your child here.

Step Up Scholarship: Log in to your Step Up Portal and search for Plant Street Academy, Young Founder Junior Program, Catalogue item # 20123516

​

 

Frequently Asked Questions

​

Is the program open to families from outside Winter Garden?

Yes. We serve families from across West Orange County - Winter Garden, Clermont, Minneola, Windermere, Ocoee, Oakland and surrounding areas.

 

What age groups do you serve?

Young Founder Junior is designed for children ages 11-14.

 

When does it start?

September 9, 16, 23, 30 • October 7, 14, 21, 28

 

What are the hours?

3pm - 5pm​

​

How do I register?

Direct Pay: you can register your child here.

Step Up Scholarship: Log in to your Step Up Portal and search for Plant Street Academy, Young Founder Junior Program, Catalogue item # 20123516

 

What makes this different from other enrichment programs near Winter Garden?

Most enrichment programs have a start and end. Ours is built around continuous development. The three-phase model - Discovery, Confidence Building, Leadership Development - means every program moves your child forward, not just through it. We work with each student individually and create their own path to success. 

​

Can my child attend multiple programs?

That's actually the point. Our programs are designed as a multi-semester journey. Returning students take on bigger roles each semester, which is where the deepest growth happens. Returning students receive a 10% LEVEL UP discount.

​

​

Fall  2026 Spots Are Filling Fast

Young Founder Junior starts on September 9. If you're considering it, now is the time.

Questions? Reach us at team@plantstreetacademy.com