Q: When will the Lab open?
The Summer 2013 Session opens in Chatham, NY on June 17th and runs till August 8th. See more details.
We're already hearing from other groups that may also start opening other locations using our starter kit. See our Location Directory for more information.
Q: How and When Can I Apply?
Applications are open for the Summer session: Apply to Participate! The deadline for application for the Summer session is May 24th.
Q: What happens during the eight week session?
Lots of good invention and creation. See the Summer 2013 Overview for most of this information.
Q: What competencies can I expect to develop?
Our focus is on very practical skills for:
- Identifitying needs in your community and world and ways that you can make a difference
- Communicating your ideas and visions
- Translating ideas into actionable projects with measurable results
- Processes for working well together with people on projects
- Creative approaches to measure impact, results, and value (the "current-sees" of the next economy)
Q: Who can apply to participate?
The Labs are for self-motivated people who are looking for a place to rock 'n roll to make things happen. If this sounds like it's for you, it's probably worth a shot. The Spring cohort is limited to 20 participants, so don't delay.
Who should not apply: Slackers, Freeloaders, Wannabes, Control Freaks, and Greedy Bastards. Labs are not a place to hang out, look cool, or get rich quick. If you're not going to produce positive impact, you won't last long in a Lab. Also, we can't currently accept (non-emancipated) minors since we are not organized to provide adequate supervision.
Q: What is expected of participants?
There are no specific number of hours you're supposed to work, just the results you've promised to produce.
Expectations:
- Regular participation in activites in the workspace, including things like: your projects, other people's projects, preparing food, creating an inspiring and functional work space, cleaning, etc.
- Regular communication with your coach. (You'll sort out how often and how long together.)
- Keep your agreements and meetings you've scheduled (with project collaborators, coaches, etc.)
- Communicate with the source team about any changes in your well-being, participation or status in the program.
Likely time commitments:
- Daily short meetings for staying connected to each others projects and making requests of each other (see A Typical Day)
- Weekly All-Team Meeting for all participants where the decisions for running the Labs are made
- Once or twice a week workshops or practicums on for establishing shared language and frames of reference for working together effectively. (See A Typical Day. Also, probably less often after the Seed Project is complete.)
Q: Is this a school? Will I get credits or a degree?
No. Although the labs are certainly active learning environments, we charge no tuition and provide no traditional educational credits or degrees. Instead the labs provide real world, on-the-ground, entrepreneurial experience in working with teams and producing results. In today’s world, these skills may prove more valuable for most people.
The various workshops, practicums, and certifications within the labs are designed to help you achieve your goals on your projects or make the labs run smoothly.
Q: How do you measure value and impact for projects?
There are many ways to measure impact and value. You will work with a coach to help you figure out the critical path measures of impact which will determine the success of your projects. These may vary hugely, ranging from number of particpants, re-tweets, gallons of water purified, meals provided to homeless, trees saved, etc., depending on the impact your project is designed to have.
This is one of the core skills that you'll learn in the Labs.
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