Elevate
SW Washington Youth SummitFriday April 25, 2025
Overview
Prevent Coalition and our partners will host the annual Elevate Youth Summit on Friday, April 25, 2025. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided.
We welcome youth prevention clubs, youth groups, teens, and schools to join us in this gathering about youth leadership, empowerment, resilience, substance use prevention and more!
Save the Date
Friday, April 25, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location
Water Resource Center
4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Objectives
By the end of this day-long event, youth participants will have tools to:
- Create meaningful connections with peers and school community
- Build confidence and resilience
- Engage in a variety of activities and content relevant to prevention, wellness, and youth leadership.
Registration
Registration is open through Friday, April 18, 2025.
Click the button below and complete the online form.
Agenda
Friday, April 25, 2025
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Welcome & Get Settled
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- Participants check in
- Late registration open
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM | Icebreaker & Connection Activity
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- Mingle, Mingle, Mingle Activity
- Why am I here? Reflection
10:15 AM – 10:50 AM | Building Confidence & Overcoming Failure
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- Green Glass Door Activity
- Discussion: Being brave in the face of failure & social acceptance
10:50 AM – 11:30 AM | The Outsider: Inclusion & Reflection
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- Empty Chair Activity (Led by Youth Facilitators)
- Discussion: Inclusion & Human Nature
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Building Resilience: Team Challenge
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- Paper Tower Activity
- Discussion: Strength, adaptability, & coping skills
- Identifying protective vs. weakening factors (e.g., social media, isolation)
2:00 PM – 2:20 PM | Reflection & Personal Growth Plan
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- Create a personal resilience plan
- Share insights with peers
2:20 PM – 2:30 PM | Closing & Next Steps
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- Small actions lead to big change
- Connection fosters well-being
- You have the power to create change in yourself, relationships, schools, and communities
Sessions
Session Approach:
- This is an in-person training event designed for Middle School-aged youth. High school students are welcomed to join and can support younger participants through mentorship and leading breakout activities
- Training sessions will be facilitated by the keynote and youth leaders from the local area.
- Sessions will be interactive and engaging, combining large group work with breakout activities.
- Lunch is provided and catered on-site during the break
- Certificates provided upon request
Core Topics:
- Youth Leadership Development
- What is “community” and how can it be created by youth?
- Substance Use Disorder 101
- Inclusion
- Communication Skills & Building Connections
Speakers
Xander Cook
Youth Engagement Coordinator, Unite! Washougal Coalition
Xander is a passionate youth leadership specialist with a proven track record of engaging youth for 15 years. He is a recipient of CADCA’s Outstanding Youth Award and believes in doing things that evidence says works. He specializes in leadership, youth engagement, prevention science, public speaking and loves to apply his dynamic training and speaking style to create customized training to meet the needs of his participants.
Our Partners
We couldn’t do this without support from our key partners and a team of talented planners! A special thanks to Prevent Coalition members and volunteers, Unite! Washougal Coalition, Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance, Teens for Tomorrow, and more!
Thank you to our fiscal agent Educational Service District 112, and grant funders who sponsor this event, the Washington State Department of Health Youth Cannabis and Commercial Tobacco Prevention Program (YCCTPP).
