Anyone aged 16, 17, or 18 is eligible to apply for the fellowship. Applicants can come from any nationality or background, provided that they are keenly and enthusiastically interested in spending their time and attention towards building a better world. The program is fairly intellectually rigorous, and so we encourage applications from students who aren’t afraid to challenge themselves academically.

The Explore Fellowship centers around one core question: how can we do the most good on this planet with our limited time and resources? Given the vast number of challenges we face as a collective, how might we prioritize our attention, our energy, and our capital in ways that create the most positive impact we can have?

The pursuit of the answer to this question is a fundamental component of a philosophy called effective altruism, which aims to determine the biggest problems in the world that are neglected, tractable, and affect huge amounts of the creatures on this earth. People in the effective altruism community tend to search for interventions and solutions that will address those problems in ways that maximize their unique strengths and help the most people possible.

The Explore Fellowship is organized by a dedicated team of educators, technologists, designers, researchers, and optimists who have a combined 30+ years of experience leading programs for young people. Our pedagogical approach is one that prioritizes individual freedom and self-discovery above all else, and we believe that a spirit of playful curiosity is the most meaningful motivator that drives young people to learn and grow. We also recognize the power of communal exploration, where a group of peers learning in concert can challenge each other and unlock new avenues of understanding that simply aren't accessible when learning on our own. We foster a communitarian ethos in which we can all hold each other to the highest standards as we work to become the best versions of ourselves that we can be.

The staff-to-fellow ratio is 1:6

The fellowship takes place at the beautiful Kenmont Kenwood campground in Kent, Connecticut. The camp sits on a pristine freshwater lake and is fully equipped with insulated cabins, state of the art recreational facilities, and fast wifi. All meals are provided by the KMKW chef on staff, and they are fully plant-based and made with locally sourced ingredients. The campground is only a 2-hour drive from New York City, and free shuttles will be provided for fellows coming from (and returning to) NYC. Financial aid is available for fellows who need assistance with other travel expenses.

The Explore Fellowship is designed to be accessible for everyone who deserves to attend. As such, the program is entirely free to attend, and all accepted fellows will have their meals and lodging covered for the duration of the fellowship, as well as transportation to CT from NYC. If additional financial assistance is needed to cover flights to New York City, financial aid is available on a need basis.

The Explore Fellowship is able to host this program free of charge thanks to the generous support of the teams at Effective Ventures and Impact Labs. Both organizations recognize the power and potential of young, ambitious people who hope to change the world, and we are proud to receive their support.

If your child is interested in participating in the program, we encourage them to apply. We will send emails to all accepted fellows inviting them and their parents to participate in an informational session over Zoom in advance of the start of the program that can cover any and all questions. If you have additional questions at any time, you can reach out to info@explorefellowship.com

The 2023 Explore Fellowship has concluded and we will unfortunately not be hosting a fellowship in 2 24. Subscribe to our mailing list to get notified when applications for the 2025 fellowship will open and to stay up to date on future initiatives.