Pathmakers Lab™
Where students become creators.
A 6-week hands-on program in the Catskills where students take a real idea and turn it into something — from concept and branding to actually bringing it to life. Separate cohorts for middle school and high school students.
Middle School Students
Not school. A creative lab
A hands-on summer experience where students work together to take an idea from imagination to something real.
What they'll do:
Collaborate to create and shape a shared idea
Design, build, and express it creatively
Make decisions, solve problems, and work as a team
What they gain:
Confidence from bringing an idea to life
Strong communication and social skills
Creative thinking and real-world problem-solving
The outcome:
They leave with a completed project, new friendships, and the confidence to create again.
6 weeks • 6 sessions • Small cohorts
High School Students
Build it. Brand it. Sell it.
Start a real brand this summer—and take it to market.
Turn an idea into something real—built as a team, with the potential to generate income.
In this 6-week program, you will:
Collaborate to build a brand from scratch
Design the product, pricing, and identity together
Create marketing and reach real customers
Work as a team to test, refine, and improve your idea
You’ll leave with:
A team-built brand you can continue independently or together
Potential early revenue (including pre-orders)
Leadership and collaboration experience
A portfolio-ready project
A strong addition to resumes and college applications
No lectures. Just building something real.
6 weeks • 6 sessions • Small cohorts
The Day
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pathmakers Lab™ Hands-on entrepreneurship session led by Lily Smith. Students work on their project, develop their ideas, and build real skills.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Break for Lunch
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Outdoor Experience (optional add-on) - Active, outdoor activities led by Samir Abukhodair that connect back to the themes of the day. Movement, exploration, and learning outside the classroom.
Who Can Join
Two separate cohorts — one for middle school students, one for high school students.
Students who are curious, motivated, and ready to build something real alongside peers. No experience required — just an open mind and a willingness to try.
Program Details
This is not school. It’s a place to build, create, and see what’s possible.
6 weeks, every Thursday Starting July 9, 2026
Sullivan County, NY - Location TBD
Pathmakers Lab™ — $600 per student
Full day with outdoor add-on — $900 per student
Flexible payment options available.
Tuition assistance offered on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to discuss.
Samir Abukhodair
Program Director and Founder - Creatures Of
Samir Abukhodair is an educator, builder, and founder of Creatures of Learning — a program built around the belief that real learning happens through real relationships.
He studied mechanical engineering before spending years in tech, ultimately leaving corporate life to focus on work that actually mattered to him. Today he teaches math, science, and project-based learning at Homestead School at CCHS in Sullivan County, where he works closely with students of all backgrounds including neurodivergent learners.
Through Creatures of Learning, he brings that same hands-on, human-first approach to tutoring, mentorship, and programs like Pathmakers Lab — helping students build confidence, find direction, and discover what they're capable of.
Lily Smith
Founder / Creator - Pathmakers Lab™
Lily Smith is a strategist, entrepreneur and artist who has spent her career turning ideas into real, working outcomes.
She created Pathmakers Lab™ to give young people something she believes every student should have — the chance to see a path forward and learn how to make it real.
Her focus is on helping students build confidence through action — learning how to think, decide, and move ideas forward, regardless of where they’re starting from.
She is also the co-founder and former Executive Director of the West Oakland Alliance Foundation, where she led innovative programs serving middle and high school students in West Oakland, California. Under her leadership, the foundation was recognized with the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for philanthropy for its work in the community.
Let’s Build Together
This non-refundable $200 deposit secures your student's spot in Pathmakers Lab™, a 6-week hands-on summer program where middle and high school students take a real idea and turn it into something real — from concept and branding to actually bringing it to life. Sessions (6) run every Thursday starting July 9, 2026 in Sullivan County, NY. Groups are capped at 10 students. The remaining balance of $400 (Pathmakers) / $700 (Pathmakers + PE Add-on) is due by June 1, 2026. Enrollment closes May 25 or when full.