Registration for the summer session of THRIVE, a free, six-week virtual program available in both English and Spanish, closes Thursday at 7 p.m. The program helps local teens strengthen their mental wellness and emotional resilience.
The summer session will begin Sunday, June 16, following the registration deadline, and is open to students in grades 6 through 12 who live in Summit and Wasatch counties.
Created in partnership with the Utah-based organization WeBeWell, THRIVE offers a structured curriculum certified by the state and developed specifically for adolescents.
Each week, students meet via Zoom in small, age-based peer cohorts to explore a topic tied to emotional health — such as managing stress, developing healthy habits, identifying personal values and practicing mindfulness. Participants are guided through a “learn, practice, reflect” cycle, where they apply new tools in their daily lives and return each week to share experiences and insights with the group.
Ron Jackenthal, founder and executive director of Live Like Sam, said the program is meant to equip youth with tools they can draw on long after the sessions end.
“It’s all about creating more resilient youth,” he said in an interview with The Park Record. “Giving them the tools and resources to be able to handle life as it comes at them.”
Thanks to community donations and grant funding, the program — valued at $500 per participant — is offered entirely free of charge. To further support participation, students who complete the six-week course receive a $60 research stipend. Jackenthal emphasized that THRIVE is not only research-backed, but deeply peer-driven, allowing students to connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges.
“A lot of the learning really comes from not only learning about their own experiences,” he said, “but hearing that they’re not the only ones dealing with the things that are on their mind.”
Research conducted by the University of Utah’s Institutional Review Board has shown that youth who complete the program typically report significant improvements in mental health, including reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, increased resilience, and an overall boost in quality of life.
THRIVE offers an opportunity for teens to build confidence, find connection, and establish lasting wellness habits.
“This is a great program to set youth up with tools to face those summer blues,” said Jessica Parker, Live Like Sam’s program director. “They get to learn about themselves and connect with peers in a way that’s meaningful and lasting.”
To learn more or enroll, visit livelikesam.org/thrive.
