Game On Nation’s Level Up U Program Expands Impact Across Manatee County

A message from Katie...

With the new school year underway, students across Manatee County are back in the classroom, and so is Game On Nation’s Level Up U curriculum.

What started back in 2022 as a pilot program during lunch at Electa Arcotte Lee Middle School has grown to reach students across the community. Today, Level Up U is implemented in seven local middle schools: Palm View K-8, Lincoln Memorial Middle School, Horizon Academy, W.D. Sugg Middle School, Braden River Middle School, Electa Arcotte Lee Middle School, and Martha B. King Middle School. 

While growing from one school to seven is a milestone worth celebrating, for Game On Nation, the real impact is found in the students reached along the way.

Level Up U is designed to equip students with practical tools and experiences that support their development both inside and outside of the classroom. The curriculum covers topics including, but not limited to, character, personal responsibility, mentorship and citizenship, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

But students aren't simply talking about these concepts.

Improvisation-based games and activities serve as a vehicle to bring out behaviors that can also show up in real-world situations. Students have the opportunity to experience a scenario, recognize how they respond, interact with their peers, and then connect those experiences to situations they may encounter in their own lives.

Preparing educators to bring those lessons to life is also an important part of Level Up U. 

In preparation for the new school year, participating teachers met with the Game On Nation team over the summer for training on how to facilitate the curriculum in their classrooms. Together, they walked through the Level Up U workbook, experienced the activities firsthand, and explored how each lesson can be used to create meaningful conversations and learning experiences with their students.

Based in Bradenton, Game On Nation partners with organizations, teams, and leaders locally and across the country to strengthen communication, leadership, connection, and team culture through interactive training and development experiences. From leadership development and team training to customized programs designed around an organization’s specific needs, Game On creates experiences that help participants turn what they learn into action. Level Up U brings that same commitment to development into local schools, allowing Game On to intentionally invest in young people right here at home.

Middle school is an important season of growth. Students are beginning to navigate greater independence, relationships, decisions, challenges, and personal responsibility. Level Up U is designed to meet students in that season and help them build skills they can carry with them into the future. 

Josh Nunez, Student Support Specialist at Braden River Middle School and one of our LevelUp U facilitators said, “Game On has changed the mindset of our students from what I can't be to what I will be."

As a company rooted in Manatee County, Game On Nation is grateful for the educators and schools who have embraced Level Up U and for the opportunity to serve the community it calls home.

Four years after those first sessions around the lunch table at Electa Arcotte Lee Middle School, Level Up U continues to grow, and with it, so does Game On Nation’s ability to invest in the next generation of Manatee County.

If you’re interested in learning more about Game On Nation, we’d love to connect with you. Whether you’re looking to develop your leaders, strengthen your team, build a more connected culture, or create a customized experience for your organization, reach out to office@gameonnation.com to learn more about how Game On can support your team.