FIND YOUR 

PATH

Our students possess the talent and inner strength to carve their place in the world.

OUR MISSION

At Summer Search, our mission is to unleash students’ potential through mentoring and transformative experiences.



We envision a world in which young people, regardless of circumstances, have the opportunity to fulfill their potential and lead their families and communities to thrive.

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

a 33 year journey

Starting in 1990 with one summer and 14 students, Linda built a movement.

Today, we have 8,500+ unstoppable Summer Searchers.

READ OUR FOUNDING STORY

Linda Mornell

Founder

Dr. Marc Spencer

Former CEO

Meet Summer Search

We are a community that models the same commitment our students show every day.

MEET Our Students
MEET Our Staff
MEET Our Board
READ OUR COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS
STUDENTS: APPLY TO SUMMER SEARCH

What We Stand For

We believe our world is better off when everyone can discover their purpose.

We believe when young people can cultivate the power and courage already inside them, they are unstoppable.

Young people need allies who recognize their lived experiences as strengths—who celebrate their communities.

When we stand up and reject society’s unjust barriers, young people can see the brightness of their future.

Meaningful, long-term mentorships make a life-changing difference.

Experiencing new adventures that push them outside of their comfort zones, students discover their strength.

join us

About Our Name

Summer Search was originally founded by Linda Mornell to provide experiential opportunities for students from underrepresented communities, offering young people a supportive environment to get out of their comfort zones and experience confidence-boosting adventures. They'd reflect on their experiences and emerge with a greater understanding of their goals and purpose. These were summer searches into their hearts. 

Today, summer experiences are still an essential part of the program, with our students traveling to locations all over the world. The program has grown to include in-depth mentorship, post-high school advising, and career support. As our students advance through the program, they find that their summer experiences have transformed into life searches - a continuous, enriching approach to discovering their life's purpose.