Youth Forum

SVI Youth Forum Update in time of COVID-19

Applications remain open for the Second Annual Sun Valley Youth Forum this June, hosted by the Sun Valley Institute. The Youth Forum creates unique opportunities for students to learn powerful design thinking techniques, hear from global sustainability leaders, and develop a network of youth empowered to use their voices now to help build a more resilient future. To be held on June 7-10, 2020, the concurrent Second Annual Sun Valley Youth Forum and the Sixth Annual Sun Valley Forum will convene young activists, global leaders, and innovative entrepreneurs in Ketchum, Idaho for three days of cross-sector collaboration.

Who we are…

We are a group of students from five different high schools around the country who wanted to have programming that mattered to us, and have our voices heard as we Claim Our Future.

We bring together like-minded students from around the nation to investigate complex problems over a three-day intensive retreat. The goal of the Youth Forum is twofold: first, to inspire the next generation (us!) of leaders to discuss radical new ideas around sustainability and second, to create a network of the next generation of empowered changemakers unafraid to use our voices for positive action now.

The 2020 Youth Forum program will be available soon. View the 2019 Youth Forum Program here.

The 2nd Annual Sun Valley Youth will convene on

June 7-10, 2020.

The Sun Valley Institute Youth Forum will continue forward with the 2020 Second Annual Youth Forum “Claiming Our Future: Youth Action for a Resilient World” June 7-10, 2020 with development of an option to fully host the forum virtually. Taking into account the daily evolution of COVID-19 expert recommendations and precautions, we are monitoring the situation closely and will be postponing any decisions on whether to host the youth forum 100% virtually or with both in-person and virtual participation options. In true resilience form, the Youth Council is engaged in ongoing work on virtual program prototyping and testing in order to ultimately create an engaging and life-changing experience from near or far.

The times we are in right now highlight the need to really lean in (virtually, not physically) to the work of resilience. If there is one thing that has been underscored in this crisis is the fragility of our various systems and that this is an opportunity to learn from this to build a better future. It is why we all came together in the first place, and it will continue to be our mission moving

Registration Information:

Registration is limited to 30 students. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis. Space and scholarships are limited!

We understand that our application assumes a fully in-person Forum. Despite the circumstances, please fill out all of the questions as if the Forum were to continue in that way. Thanks!

Apply Here!

Schedule Overview:

Sunday:

4:00 – 5:30pm Youth Forum Opening (Location TBD)
5:30 – 8:30pm Reception at Trail Creek Cabin

Monday:

10:00pm – 5:30pm Youth Forum Sessions
5:30 – 8:00 pm Dinner (Location TBD)

Tuesday:

8:30am – 5:30pm Youth Forum Sessions
5:30 – 7:00pm Reception at Limelight
7:00 – 8:30pm Dine Around Dinners

Wednesday:

8:30am – 5:30am Youth Forum Sessions
5:30 – 8:30pm Closing Reception

Program will be released as we get closer to event.

Chaperone Information:

For the well being of our attendees, each Youth Forum attendee will be required to have a parent- or guardian-approved chaperone for hours outside of the Forum. The Sun Valley Institute will not be responsible for Youth Forum attendees after program hours. More information on exact programming hours will be provided as we get closer to the event.

We are excited for your interest!

Please direct any questions to youthforum@sunvalleyinstitute.org

For kids younger than high school-age, we are very pleased to share with you the following links to information about local adventure and learning and nature camps: