The Southwest Regional Teen Summit brought together 26 youth members and 15 staff from seven different Clubhouse and Teen Tech Centers in the Southwest region. The summit lasted three days and we were thrilled to serve as a host site at our Best Buy Teen Tech Center at the Gold Crown Field House.
This year’s summit theme focused on making the world a better place, trying new things, and seeing from different perspectives. Teens explored innovative labs, participated in creative workshops, and discussed fairness and equality. They learned how their ideas and talents can help create a more just world. The summit was also a great chance to connect with others, share stories, collaborate, and make new friends. Let’s dive into some memorable summit moments!
We kicked off the summit at the ATLAS Lab at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The lab offers the development of techniques and open-source resources that support collaboration and innovation across the fiber arts and engineering communities. The teens loved the interactive textile projects on display at the Unstable Design Lab and the ACME Lab. The day ended with a fun dinner at Sherpa’s Adventure Restaurant & Bar, where everyone enjoyed Nepalese food and got to know each other. We were also able to show off our great state but hiking the beautiful Boulder Flatirons.
The next day began at the BBTTC with introductions and a creative icebreaker activity where members designed their own logos and created stamps for their passport book. They attended a workshop on equity led by CU Boulder, where they worked in the “what equity means to me” zine about fairness and equality in technology. They created projects to trade with others for the project exchange. The afternoon was packed with creative workshops like graffiti, circuit paintings, and silk screening, followed by a trip to hike Red Rocks and an evening of dinner and fun at the Edgewater Clubhouse.
Our last day included finishing the passport stamp collecting and getting to know someone new. Participants finished up their projects for the Project Exchange, where they showcased their hard work. They then went on an exciting trip to Meow Wolf, an immersive art experience, and spent a peaceful afternoon at Waterton Canyon.
The summit ended with a dinner, a reflection session, and a closing ceremony that included a fun silent disco! Youth shared their experiences about stepping outside of their comfort zone, new experiences, and the challenges they faced learning new technology. The Closing ceremony was a replica of The Clubhouse Network’s Immersion Week, where participants share what they’ll remember (past), how they feel right now (present), and what they will do tomorrow (future).
The Southwest Regional Teen Summit was a fantastic experience, full of creativity, teamwork, and learning about equity in technology. By the end, everyone had a better understanding of equity and felt inspired to bring positive changes back to their communities. Our hope is to continue the Teen Summit spirit through virtual collective projects using a new learned software, Artivive.