Extreme Skills Workshops
Thursday, July 9
-
African Drum Circle
Roger Myers, Columbus Public Health | Stuyvesant Milligan Hub
Experience the power of rhythm through an interactive group drumming session designed to promote self-expression, emotional release, relaxation, and self-regulation. Using hand drums, buckets, and a variety of percussion instruments, participants will explore creativity, build connections with others, and experience the positive impact of making music together in a supportive and engaging environment.
-
Becoming the Person Younger You Needed
Cameron Justice, esq., Taft Law | Corns 209
We are all the product of those who came before us. But what makes the people whose shoulders we stand on so special? And more importantly, how do we become that for those who come after us?
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the traits and characteristics of the people they look up to. We learn from teachers, coaches, adult advisors, and more, and understanding what makes them amazing only helps you get where they are. Mentorship opens opportunities for yourself and others—let's explore how to get there.
-
Begin & End with Stillness
Art Sherman, Youth Education and Intervention Services | Campus Center Peale Chapel
Step away from the noise and into the peace of your happy place. The intention behind this workshop is to provide a space to escape the distractions or stressors of life and to foster a greater sense of self-acceptance and awareness; helping to create your own practice of mindfulness.
-
Dating and Safety in Your Teens
Caity Dorfmeyer, CompDrug | Campus Center Conf 304
This workshop will focus on understanding what dating violence among youth looks like, how to prevent it, and how to help/support youth who are experiencing dating violence.
-
From Hallways to Health Outcomes: Social Determinants of Health IRL
Robbin Kendall, Columbus Public Health | Campus Center Conf 311
Why does where you live, learn, and grow matter for your health? This interactive session explores how school-based health and mental health services can help students overcome barriers like limited healthcare access, transportation challenges, and other real-life obstacles. We'll discuss how schools can support student success both inside and outside the classroom, and what can happen when these resources aren't available. Join us to learn how health, education, and opportunity are connected—and how school-based supports can help create brighter futures for all students.
-
Love Yourself: A Ready-to-Use Self Compassion Program for Teens
Dorothy Hassan, Our Helpers | Corns 202
Want to build more confidence, handle stress in healthier ways, and be kinder to yourself? This interactive workshop is based on the Love Yourself program offered through Our Helpers. Using activities grounded in self-compassion research, participants will learn how to quiet self-criticism, strengthen resilience, and improve emotional well-being. Through hands-on experiences, discussion, and connection with peers, teens will gain practical tools for self-care, confidence, and navigating life's challenges with greater self-compassion.
-
Music Culture
Jeremy Walker, Our Voices Matter | Campus Center Crider Lounge
Music is the universal language that brings together people from different nations, languages, and ethnic backgrounds. What I have learned is that sometimes we don't understand the power of music and how it affects us from how we feel, the things we do, and how we think. Let's go on a journey that exposes how music can be used as coping skill, method of communication, and a form of expression.
-
Pivot Thy Neighborhood
Justin Duran, Cora Dunekacke, & Alex Letcher, NCCJ | Corns 312
Why do some neighborhoods have easy access to parks, healthy food, and community resources, while others face more challenges? In this interactive community-mapping workshop, you'll explore how the places we live, learn, and spend time can impact stress, mental health, and overall well-being. Together, we'll discuss how community environments can influence choices, including the risk of substance misuse, and examine the real-world effects of unequal access to resources. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, you'll identify ways young people can help create healthier, more supportive communities and become part of the solution.
-
Supporting Friends Through Mental Health Challenges
Brittney Dangler, Columbus Public Health | Chappelear 111
Imagine your best friend starts skipping school, stops replying to messages, and seems completely different. Would you know how to help them? This presentation explains the basics of teen mental health and how young people can support their friends during difficult times. It covers common mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, the difference between empathy and sympathy, and the risks of self-diagnosis. It also introduces healthy coping skills, self-care strategies, and the importance of trusted adults.
-
Thrift $hop (Turning Your Passion Into Profit)
Reese & Shanya, Columbus Public Health | Stuyvesant McCluggage Lounge
What if something you love doing could become a real business? Join entrepreneur and vintage reseller Retro Reese as he shares how his passion for sneakers, fashion, and thrifting grew into a successful business. Learn how social media, online selling, networking, and live events helped turn everyday interests into real opportunities and income. This interactive workshop isn’t just about hearing a success story—it’s about discovering how your own interests, talents, and creativity can become opportunities. Expect hands-on challenges, friendly competition, and practical tips you can start using right away. If you’ve ever dreamed about making money doing something you love, this workshop is for you.
-
Vape Rap Battle
Nate Meade, Marion Crawford Prevention Programs | Corns 203
In this workshop students will create anti-vaping raps with vape facts and then battle other groups! This rap battle combines music, teamwork, and education in a fun and engaging way. This workshop highlights how rap can be a powerful tool for positive messages, self-expression, and raising awareness about healthy choices.
-
You Don't Want This Smoke: Escape Room
Dee Price, Summit County Y2Y | Campus Center Conf 312
Participants will be presented with a narrative that describes a situation that they have to escape to avoid the smoke. Participants must work as a team to find clues in the marijuana facts and questions in order to solve the word puzzle on the board. If you go in order the letters will be in order. But if you find them out of order then you will need to descramble the letters.
-
Activity Planners Needed: Accept Quest?
Evi Roberts, MPA & Ben Miller, LPCC-S, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation | Corns 302
Be Present Ohio: The Online Experience (BPO:XP), is a web-based program that has been completed by more than 5,000 Ohio youth. Through videos, “In Real Life” activities (IRL Quests), and more, BPO:XP teaches the basics of suicide prevention and coping skills. Workshop participants will review and provide feedback on existing IRL Quests and work in groups to develop and pitch their own IRL Quests. Participant suggestions and ideas will be used to update BPO:XP during the 2026-2027 school year – we might even include your IRL Quest!
Youth Workshops
Friday, July 10
-
Back to the Playground
Jahzara Battle & Shawn Underwood, Youth to Youth International | Campus Center Benes C
Do you miss being a kid? Being care free? Join this workshop where you can leave your worries behind. In this workshop, we will be doing a relay race of old childhood gym games, we will also be talking about how time is precious and how having child-like spirit can change your everyday life.
-
Behind the Mask
Anaiah Westmoreland, BATS | Campus Center Conf 312
We all wear a mask sometimes, but what’s really underneath? In this interactive workshop, you’ll explore how we hide our feelings, how assumptions affect others, and how to better support the people around you. Expect real conversations, engaging activities, and a space to be honest.
-
Building Connections With Your Peers
Saraia Collins & Sebastian Butler, Youth to Youth International | Campus Center Benes A
This workshop is built around helping teens create genuine relationships and improve their social skills with their peers.
-
Case Closed
Abbie Benson & Abigail Mulford, Youth Staff | Corns 302
Is Marijuana responsible for endangering young people? In this interactive workshop, you will 1) role play as a team of detectives tasked with building a case and deciding if Marijuana is, in fact, endangering young people, 2) find clues and uncover evidence about the effects of marijuana use, and 3) debate with your peers using the evidence you find on why marijuana is guilty of endangering young people.
-
Drafting Our Future: A Youth Policy Workshop
Annia Ameur, Kevin Jones, & Aynsleigh Young, BATS | Corns 209
Ever wanted to make a real difference in your community? Join this workshop, where young voices like yours get the opportunity to create solutions for your community! You’ll learn how to advocate effectively while understanding the legislative process, as well as being able to collaborate with peers and getting the opportunity to draft your very own bill! This is your opportunity to learn how to shape your future, one bill at a time!
-
Keep Going, Keep Growing
Jayden Russell Youth to Youth International | Stuyvesant Carper Family Room Lounge
Through group and individual led activities you will express your goals and learn how to pursue them even when you are faced with setbacks and other inconveniences.
-
The Kindness Campaign
Jae Rhodes, Marion Crawford Prevention Programs | Campus Center Peale Chapel
Join our "Kindness Campaign" workshop to learn how to spread positivity! You'll create kindness cards and posters with uplifting messages, share them in public spaces, and even craft social media posts. We'll also discuss how kindness combats bullying, explore various ways to show kindness through words and actions, and reflect on the power of a positive attitude to inspire kindness in your future.
-
The Leadership Lab: Learn. Lead. Inspire.
Mia Garnett & Sophie Smith, Pawsitive Project | Corns 202
Welcome to the Leadership Lab, a place where we learn that leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest or the team captain, but goes much further than that. Whether you are the communicator, motivator, the quiet leader, or are unsure, in this workshop you will find out how YOU can be an outstanding leader! We will implement these new skills into engaging games and activities where decision-making, problem-solving, adaptability and integrity are crucial.
-
Lean on Me
Dionna Kendrick, Youth to Youth International | Stuyvesant McCluggage Lounge
Lean On Me is a workshop where we will explore how to achieve our goals through interactive and creative activities. We will do some crafty activities like vision boarding and a more competitive obstacle course activity. Each of the activities will dive into how to balance independence and dependence when trying to set and achieve our goals.
-
Reframing Your Mind
Olivia Rumley, Youth to Youth International | Chappelear Studio Theater
This workshop is all about perspective, as humans it comes naturally to think about the negative aspects of our life but it’s up to you to reframe your mindset and focus on the things that make you happy! In this workshop you will learn a few skills to improve your mindset and build healthier habits within yourself.
-
Road Rage: Through Hawai'i Lenses
Farrington High School | Campus Center Conf 311
Learn how to manage and prevent road rage by applying Hawaiʻi's values, local slang, and everyday island experiences to real driving situations. This engaging workshop offers practical tips for staying calm, communicating respectfully, and driving with aloha to create safer roads for everyone.
-
Seeds to Self Love
Ava Washington, Youth to Youth International | Campus Center Crider Lounge
In this workshop, participants will explore the importance of self-love, confidence, and recognizing their own worth through a creative hands-on activity: making pipe cleaner flowers! Together, we will reflect through meaningful conversation on what it means to “give yourself flowers” by celebrating your growth, strengths, and individuality. Participants will leave with a personalized flower creation as a reminder that they deserve kindness, appreciation, and love from themselves first.
-
Straight Edge: Anti-Substance Art and Culture
Au'Rea Jones, UPO Power High DC | Chappelear 111
Participants will learn about punk rock history and straight edge anti-substance culture while engaging in outward artistic expression hearing different types of music. Straight edge is a subculture of punks that refrain from using alcohol or other drugs as a form of counter culture to the excess of the times.
-
Unlock Your Presentation Powers
Mary Cunningham & Mylo Frazier, BATS | Corns 203
Think you have what it takes to be a great presenter? In this breakout, you'll learn the key skills of effective presenting and put them into action in a Shark Tank-style challenge. By the end, you’ll know how to connect with an audience, share your ideas clearly, and feel confident owning the room. Everyone can become a strong presenter—join us to see how it’s done!
-
Unlocking the Inner You
Camille Marbley, Youth to Youth International | Stuyvesant Milligan Hub
Everybody has insecurities — but sometimes the things we’re most unsure about are the exact things that make us unique. This workshop is all about building confidence, embracing individuality, and realizing you’re not alone in what you feel. Through interactive games, group activities, and reflection moments, we’ll create a space where you can connect with others, open up, laugh, and recognize your own strengths. Come ready to step out of your comfort zone, support one another, and leave feeling more confident in who you are.
-
Who You Were vs. Who You Are
Machyla Bush, Youth to Youth International | Campus Center Conf 304
In this workshop we will focus on growing and aging all while maintaining a relationship with our younger selves with activities, conversations, and crafts.
-
Growing Through What We Go Through
Trinity Collins, Youth to Youth International | Corns 312
Life can get heavy sometimes, but you don’t have to carry it alone. Join us for an interactive workshop focused on mental health, stress, trauma, and healthy coping skills through games, team activities, and honest conversations. From escape room challenges to myth-busting competitions, this workshop is all about learning how to grow through what we go through — together.