Beacons, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit
empowering adults with diverse intellectual abilities!
IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION:
SUMMER WORKSHOPS! - Click Here
"DiscARTed" Exhibit Catalog featuring artists and works
Upcoming Events:
4/26/25: Club (5:30 - 8:30 pm) - Theme Earth & Beyond Sci-Fi
5/2/25: Beacons Makers' Market (11 am - 1 pm)
5/3/25: Moms' Succulent Wreath-Making Night! (3 - 5 pm) Sign up!
6/6/25: "Color in Motion" Art Exhibit - Click here to sign up
2024-2025 Schedule
Spring Session: January 21 - June 13, 2025
SDRC Vendor #: PY1700, Code: 102, Subcode: Expl
To be added to Explorer's interest list, please click here.
Explorer is a 2-year vocational training opportunity consisting of a series of
four 5-month sessions for individuals interested in exploring community or self-employment.
Explorer is a post secondary vocational training option to help individuals with developmental disabilities learn workforce skills in a small setting in order to explore and obtain employment when the time is right for them. Explorer incorporates daily community integration and volunteer opportunities with local nonprofit organizations and businesses to build vocational skills and prepare trainees for work. Staff works with trainees in the classroom and in the community in order to help trainees learn and develop skills. Explorer teaches a wide variety of vocational skills for up to 80 weeks (four 5-month sessions over a 2-year period, or longer depending on the IPP team and workshop availability).
Headed by a credentialed special education teacher, Explorer blends hands-on learning with exciting subjects such as Creative Design, Customer Service, Restaurant, Retail, Entrepreneurial Skills, and Soft Skills. To build stamina and self-regulation capabilities, Explorer also integrates fitness to help prepare our trainees for the rigors of employment. Explorer also hosts Makers' Markets and other fun activities to help trainees build competency in working with actual customers, taking orders while learning how to use cash registers, and much more! (Check out our calendar for upcoming event dates to visit and learn more!)
Explorer focuses on building community connections to help trainees find fields of work that interest and motivate them to find employment. Our program will help trainees find a path of their choosing based on their interests and abilities.
Workshop hours: Skills are taught in 45 - 60 minute increments between 9 am to 2 pm over four 5-month sessions 2, 3 or 5 days a week depending on schedule and space availability. Mornings usually include community-based learning, and afternoons usually provide onsite instruction (e.g. creative design, entrepreneurial skills, etc.)
Ratio: Explorer has a ratio of 3:1.
Total Hours: 240 hours per 5-month session (with up to a total of 480 per IPP team agreement).
SDRC vendor number:
Vendor Info: PY1700, Code: 102, Subcode: Expl
Steps Needed
Please start by reviewing our entrance criteria to see if Explorer is a good fit for your applicant.
1. Interest List: . If you are interested in applying for Explorer please let us know by filling out our Interest Form. An Explorer staff member will contact you for an interest interview to discuss current availability and Explorer's program requirements.
2. Application/SDRC (or Independent Facilitators) follow-up: After the interest interview, if it determined that the applicant is a good fit for the program, you will be sent the Explorer application. You will also need to contact your service coordinator to have their IPP and CDER sent. Note: In order to meet the requirements for Explorer, it is necessary for the applicant to have a vocational goal in their IPP.
3. Screening/Intake Meeting: After the application, IPP, and CDER have been received by Beacons, our Explorer team will contact you to set up an intake meeting to meet the applicant and make sure the workshop supports the applicant's IPP goals, and that the applicant is interested in the vocational purpose of PathFinder Explorer.
4. Forms: If accepted into Explorer, the applicant will then need to complete and submit the following:
General Information
Training overview: The Explorer option offers approximately 80 weeks (four 5-month sessions) of vocational exploration and training over a two-year period using a schedule that introduces and teaches skills in a wide variety of areas (e.g. creative design, customer service, entrepreneurial skills, soft skills, job getting and keeping skills, and more!)
The curriculum and instructional model for Explorer uses pacing designed for individuals with developmental disabilities who need more time to learn and practice skills than what the original PathFinder program option offers. Each workshop session includes pre-and post assessments for each unit to measure progress, extra hours for additional instruction if needed or wanted to meet a level of proficiency, materials and/or licenses needed for a subject area, soft skills training, creation of person-centered plans for post-workshop transitioning, job application and employment placement support, and much more! One of the 5-month sessions will supplement vocational training with robust person-centered planning to support transitions from Explorer and equip the trainee and trainee's team with information on post-Explorer options.
Ratios & Enrollment: 3:1 ratio with no more than 15 trainees per workshop module.
Devices: Trainees may bring their own device, but Beacons also has available 15.6" yoga touchscreen Chromebooks with a mouse accessory, 12.9" iPads, an interactive 65" touchscreen monitor, and other devices as needed.
Materials: Each trainee will be provided with his/her own materials and desks and chairs are sanitized for safe learning onsite.
Contact Information: Explorer@BeaconsNorthCounty.com
Instructor Information
Questions? Email:
Pathfinder Explorer
Director: Bethany Britt, M.Ed.
Bethany was born and raised in Southern California and is a graduate of La Costa Canyon High School so she has endless contacts throughout our community to enrich activities for Explorer. She is also a trained self-determination facilitator and well-versed in the supports and options available in the community to help self-advocates learn more about their local area and service options.
Bethany has a BA in Special Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Counseling from National University. She holds credentials in Pupil Personnel Services, Educational Specialist of Instruction Level II and CrossCultural Language and Academic Development in the state of California.
Bethany taught special education in a Moderate/Severe program for the Chandler Unified School District and coached the girls JV soccer team for Hamilton High School for two years. After returning to San Diego, she taught in both Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe programs for the San Dieguito Union High School District for 13 years. During her time at SDUHSD, Bethany helped lead the TAP program at Torrey Pines High School and La Costa Canyon High School. In 2015, Bethany won the Collaborative Team Award for the North Coastal Consortium for Special Education.
Bethany is a valued member of the Beacons team and brings her years of experience to help optimize learning, increase confidence and facilitate social connections.
Kendall Miller is a San Diego native and supports Beacons as the Assistant Director for the Explorer vocational training program. Prior to joining the Beacons team, Kendall was a member of the San Diego Teach For America Corps, serving diverse and low income student populations. Kendall taught middle school Special Education for three years within the San Diego Unified School District, primarily focusing on English and Math. Kendall graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BS in Liberal Studies, and a double minor in Child Development and Women's and Gender Studies.
Outside of Beacons, she works as a caregiver for a family in Point Loma and spends time spoiling her cat at home. Kendall is very passionate about education and excited to share her expertise with the trainees and team at Beacons.
KAYLIN MOORE
Lead Instructor
Explorer Division
Kaylin Moore supports Beacons' Explorer vocational division where she uses her past sales and retail skills to help Beacons' trainees develop skills for community employment. Prior to joining Beacons, Kaylin worked as an Assistant Manager at Lazy Acres, where she helped to develop sales plans, generate sales production reports, goals and strategies to reach team goals and revenue objectives.
Prior to serving as an assistant manager, Kaylin worked in sales and uses her background in customer service to help shape and guide soft skills and customer service discussions to build workplace skills and confidence. Kaylin also has skills in culinary arts that supports Explorer's restaurant instruction and discussions. Kaylin also has an instructional background in water safety and is a certified water safety instruction though the American Red Cross. She served as a swim instructor for three years prior to entering the retail sector. Kaylin is committed to helping trainees develop vocational skills and confidence to enter the workforce.
PAYTON YARDLEY
Lead Instructor
Explorer Division
Payton Yardley recently moved to the West Coast from Columbus, Ohio and supports Beacons as a Lead Instructor for the Explorer vocational training program. Prior to being here, Payton was a middle school history teacher at a Title I school which focused on STEM education. With this experience, she has developed a great passion for teaching real-life concepts through dynamic and engaging ways.
Payton graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Social Studies Education and a minor in Economics. Outside of Beacons, she enjoys exploring nature and prioritizes spending time with her family and friends. Payton is incredibly excited to be a member of our team and looks forward to supporting our trainees as they gain valuable vocational skills in preparation for the workforce!
SANDRA GUAJARDO
Associate Instructor
Explorer Division
Sandra Guajardo is an Associate Instructor for Beacons and joined Beacons as an accomplished preschool owner, director, and teacher bringing 30 years of experience of early childhood education, staff management, operations planning, and financial management. Sandra has training in ASL, special-needs education, Child Family Community, and Early Childhood Education.
Sandra has spent the last 2 years working with special-needs children and young adults, and she has a life-long passion for this community. Sandra joined Beacons this winter as an instructor in our Explorer program on Tuesdays and Thursdays and helps as needed in both the Pathfinder and Explorer programs.
When Sandra is not working she enjoys surfing, yoga, playing piano, singing, and spending time with her adult children and husband Joe.
ASHLEY EDGAR
Associate Instructor
Explorer Division
Ashley Edgar first joined Beacons as one of the two Administrative Assistants, with an extensive background in management of teams at a major retail corporation. Ashely later was recruited to join the Explorer team given her retail background, which includes having worked as a visual merchandiser and style team member. Ashley has also previously worked as a camp counselor for the YMCA and in childcare for a leading nonprofit and private in-home caregiving. Ashley will provide general support to all Explorer trainees to help them reach their vocational goals and purse a pathway of their choosing.
As a current Social Work and Human Services student at Palomar College, she has a desire to work in a profession that enhances clients' well being and utilizes her experience from leadership roles. Her favorite part about working at Beacons is building social connections with the trainees and making sure she creates a welcoming and positive experience for all. Ashley enjoys time with her family and dogs, reading and hiking!