Youth250 and the Power of Teen Partnership in Cultural Spaces - Live Webinar

Webinar Description 

Teenagers arrive at our sites carrying big questions and dreams. When museums and historic sites open their doors not simply to educate young people, but to learn from them, something transformative happens. Teens become collaborators in shaping stories, designing space, and imagining futures that stretch beyond what adults alone can see.

This webinar invites cultural professionals into that partnership. We will introduce the Youth250 Teen Toolkit, a practical resource born from learning science and direct co-creation with young people. The Toolkit, co-created by Made by Us and History Co:Lab, helps organizations move away from a transactional model of teen outreach and toward relationships built on trust, shared problem-solving, and the joy of making meaning together.

You will hear from practitioners who are already doing this work in inspiring ways at the Missoula Art Museum and EmpowerMT. Their examples illuminate how teens help institutions become more relevant, more courageous, and more deeply rooted in the communities they serve. 

The Youth250 initiative is grounded in a simple belief: the strength of our future depends on whether we listen to our young people today. As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, museums and historic sites have an extraordinary opportunity to help teenagers find belonging, connection, and civic agency.

Whether you are curious, cautious, or already experimenting, this session welcomes you. Together, we will explore how to co-design experiences that uplift teens’ genius and expand the civic imagination of your institution and your community.

Details

DATE: December 11, 2025

TIME: 3:00 - 4:15 pm EASTERN (Remember to adjust for your time zone)

COST: $10 members/$15 nonmembers

ACCESS: You will be provided with instructions on how to access the live event upon registration.

Learning Outcomes

During this webinar, participants will:

• Experience the core principles of the Youth250 Teen Toolkit: how to design environments where teens belong, are seen, and can help shape the work alongside adults. 
• Understand key insights from adolescent learning science, including how identity, agency, and relationships fuel engagement, risk-taking, and creativity in the teenage years.
• Learn concrete practices for co-creating with youth: from role definition and expectations to decision-making structures, feedback loops, and shared leadership moments.
• Hear success stories from practitioners in the field showing how museums and cultural sites can invite teens into community conversations, exhibition design, and civic leadership.
• Identify the mindset shifts that open institutional doors: moving from “What can teens learn from us?” to “What might we accomplish together?”
• Recognize common barriers and how to move through them.

Included Resource

Participants will receive a digital copy of the Youth250 Teen Toolkit, including youth-tested activities, co-design templates, reflection prompts, and models you can adapt to your site or community.

Recording and Captioning

We will record this event. Captioning is provided for the live event.

Connecting the Content

This webinar will especially help organizations enrolled in STEPS address multiple standards under the Audience section of the STEPS program.

The Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS) from AASLH is a self-study, self-paced assessment tool designed specifically for small- to mid-sized history organizations, including volunteer-run institutions. Through a workbook, online resources, and an online community, organizations enrolled in STEPS review their policies and practices and benchmark themselves against national standards.

Having issues registering? Please contact learn@aaslh.org

Please note AASLH's Notetaking Tools Policy: During webinars and online courses, the use of any AI notetaking tools such as meeting assistants is prohibited to ensure the confidentiality and security of the discussion. Our sessions are automatically recorded and transcribed for participants. AI tools will be removed from events by AASLH staff if they appear. Please contact us at learn@aaslh.org if you need to use AI tools for accessibility reasons.

How to Register for this Event

Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.

Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.

If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.