Reach out and let us know! At PFO, we are solution-oriented and do our best to remove barriers that would keep a teen from participating in the program. So, we will work with you to find another time for your interview, or have a virtual interview.

Teen and their parent(s)/legal guardian are required to attend the interview. If you have a significant other or other family member who will likely be involved in supporting the teen with transportation, communication, etc, we encourage you to include them as well.

Yes! The PFO annual retreat is one of the few mandatory events/activities your teen is required to attend. The annual retreat is one of the most important times in the PFO season. Here is where the group bonds, and the culture is set. We learn together, play together, and have the shared experience of the retreat. Missing the annual retreat has an adverse effect on a teen and makes it more difficult to connect and bond with the group. Therefore, the retreat is mandatory to set every teen in PFO up to have a great year.

The annual retreat is typically scheduled from Wednesday – Sunday during August. Due to our teens being in a variety of school districts, we schedule the weekday start time for after-school hours.

Absolutely! Many of our teens are involved in school, church, and community activities, have part-time jobs, and participate in PFO. In the interview, we will discuss the season menu options and tailor your menu around your schedule/availability for the PFO season.

PFO is a need-blind organization, which means that when teens are accepted into the program, they are accepted without any knowledge of the family’s financial status. As a result, much of our fundraising efforts are focused on funding that ensures all teens have access to PFO regardless of their economic status. Money is NEVER a barrier to being accepted as a teen in PFO.

We work with families to identify potential transportation solutions – whether that is sharing in carpooling during the year, seeing who lives in your area, or helping facilitate family communication for pick up/drop off. We also have trusted adults, advisors, and even some board members who are willing to help transport teens with parents’ permission. We do our best to help identify and work out any transportation needs in advance, as no one likes the stress of trying to find a last-minute ride.

We love when our parents are involved in attending events, volunteering, etc., so we offer a variety of ways to engage that are feasible for your family and your interest in being involved in PFO. Parents are expected to support their teen arriving and leaving on time to/from retreats, events, rehearsals, deep dive dinners, activities, etc. 

In PFO, we believe that it takes a village to support the teens. We love being a part of your village and find that teens excel even more when we work together in the best interest of your child. The PFO village will surround your teen with loving, supportive, and accepting adults and teens to create a safe space for all to grow, learn, and reach their highest potential. We ask parents to support the work we do through open, honest, clear, and kind communication so that we can support your teen in being the best version of themselves and give them lifelong tools and learning that will carry them into adulthood and beyond.

In lots of different ways! According to the incredible college counselors we work with, they say that colleges are no longer looking for teens who have been in tons of groups and activities. They are looking for teens who have fully committed to one or two things and have ideally served in leadership positions in those activities. These same college prep counselors tell us that PFO offers everything colleges are looking for, specifically, a variety of experiences (workshops, outings, the buddy program, etc) and ways to be more deeply involved in the organization. Whether it’s learning how to be a leader in PFO without a titled position, or serving in a leadership position such as a small group leader, junior development associate, or teen exec member. 

In addition, rising seniors in PFO who have been in the organization for at least a year, also have the opportunity to participate in the “App pack retreat” the summer between their junior and senior year. This two-day retreat is led by 3 of the best college counselors who support the rising seniors in completing their main college essay, supplemental essays, resume, and the Common App. Valued at over $2,000, the app pack retreat is offered at no cost to families.

Attending the app pack retreat means that before they even start their senior year, they are ready to apply to college. The teen and family can then focus on senior year and enjoying one another vs a year filled with pressure and continual nagging from parents to ensure teens are working on their applications. Parents who have had seniors attend the app pack retreat can’t say enough good things about this incredible opportunity.