Youth to Youth 2025 Summer Conference

July 9-12, 2025

Ohio Wesleyan University

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

WHEN: July 9-12, 2025

WHERE: Ohio Wesleyan University

61 S Sandusky St, Delaware, OH 43015

WHO: Students going into 9-12th grade (2025-2026 school year) and their adult allies

COST: $550 for Non-Ohio participants, $50 for Ohio Participants

An opportunity for an unrivaled youth-led training experience awaits.

Join us for an exciting and idea packed conference, full of creative new ways for youth and adults to work and grow together in their communities. Based on the four components of effective prevention: Information, Personal Growth, Environmental Change and Drug-Free Alternatives, this unique training opportunity allows youth to take the lead. Participants leave with new skills, a deeper personal commitment to positive decision-making, and a strengthened ability to create change within their own schools and communities.

STEPS TO REGISTER

STEP 1: GROUP APPLICATION

Participants must attend with a group comprised of at least one adult that will be attending the entirety of the conference. By completing the Group Application, your group’s name and point of contact’s information will be added to the group dropdown on the Participant Registration From within 1 business day. This ensures participants are registered with their group and allows the group’s point of contact to be notified each time one of their participants registers. Completing the application does not guarantee or hold spots for your group. All participants, including the attending adult(s), must still complete the registration form.

STEP 2: PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FORM

Once the Group Application is completed, the group’s point of contact will receive an email containing a fillable pdf for them to input their group’s information and then share with parents to assist them in registering their student. The pdf includes links to information about the conference and the registration form. Please have your attending adult register first and confirm their group’s information has been added to the Registration Form.

Spaces are limited and registration is on a first come, first servce basis. Registration will close June 20th OR once the registration limit has been reached.

STEP 3: PAYMENT

The conference participant rate is $550 for non-Ohio participants. For Ohio participants, thanks to funding from OhioMHAS, the conference rate is reduced to $50. This fee includes programming, food, overnight accommodations, basic linens, and a 2025 conference t-shirt. At the end of the registration form, participants may choose to pay now or pay later. The pay later option allows for a single invoice for multiple registrants to be sent to the group or individual paying. Payment or Purchase Orders confirming payment, must be received by June 13, 2025.

Featuring expert speakers, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities focused on prevention strategies for youth, this 4-day, 3-night conference will be packed full of creative new ways for youth and adults to work together in their communities.

Question about registration?

Contact Julia Hall jhall@compdrug.org

Youth to Youth conferences address issues that are relevant to teens.

This conference is designed for youth and their supporting adults to participate together in all aspects of the conference for a uniquely shared experience. Working side by side, they will have the opportunity to construct and/or revitalize a plan of action to implement back home. Adults will also have opportunities to network with other like-minded adults and to learn effective strategies to guide their teens to success. 

Evaluations conducted by The Ohio State University show that youth attending the Youth to Youth Conference experience positive changes in their self-perceptions; specifically, in key areas such as knowledge about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, self-efficacy and leadership. These outcomes are met through uplifting small discussion groups, workshops conducted by youth and experts in the field, creative teambuilding, dynamic speakers, and of course, FUN. 

Youth to Youth conferences are designed for drug-free community coalitions, school clubs, youth serving organizations, peer educators, faith-based groups, character and asset builders and any and every type of young person! 

Conference Volunteer Opportunities

Adults that have graduated high school in or before 2023 (must be at least 20 years old)

Every year we offer the opportunity for adults to be a part of the Youth to Youth Conference volunteer staff. The staff role is one of the most critical and influential parts of a Youth to Youth Conference. Youth to Youth conferences are very active, participatory conferences. It is an excellent opportunity to receive training in many areas of youth leadership/drug prevention programming. We value the commitment of these adults who are willing to assist in helping teens make positive choices and we promise to make the conference a learning, rewarding and fun experience for adult staff.

Adult Staff Volunteer

Students graduating high school in 2025 - 2027

Every year we offer the opportunity for youth to be a part of the Youth to Youth Conference volunteer staff. The staff role is one of the most critical and influential parts of a Youth to Youth Conference. Youth to Youth conferences are very active, participatory conferences. It is an excellent opportunity to receive training in many areas of youth leadership/drug prevention programming. We value the commitment of these youth who are willing to assist in helping their peers make positive choices and we promise to make the conference a learning, rewarding and fun experience for youth staff. Applications due by April 18th

If selected, youth staff rate is $275 for Non-Ohio Youth Staff, and $50 for Ohio Youth Staff.

Youth Staff Volunteer

Graduated High School in or before 2024

Every year we offer the opportunity for Y2Y alumni to be a part of the Youth to Youth administrative team. The A-Team volunteers play a critical role behind the scenes at conference. From event set up to tear down and everything in between the A-Team volunteers help to make conference a memorable experience for all attendees.

A-Team Volunteers

Youth to Youth strives to provide teens and their adult advisors with up-to-date, accurate information on topics that will assist them in their peer prevention programming efforts. We are looking for youth and adults who are promoting a drug-free lifestyle and want to empower others.

We are asking that you present unique, creative ideas and provide skill-building opportunities for others at the conference.  We encourage workshops to be interactive and not solely based on lecturing and question and answer.  Conference participants prefer presentations which focus on “how to” information, which will assist them in accomplishing goals in their own schools and communities.  Topic areas include but are not limited to:  Bullying, Healthy Relationships, Stress and Anxiety, Dating Violence, Media Influences, Suicide, Distracted Driving, Depression, Youth Obesity, Underage Drinking, Tobacco, Hookah, E-Cigarettes, Marijuana, Prescription Drug Misuse, etc.

Workshop Presenters

Graduated High School in or before 2024

See the conference in action from behind the scenes!

Unable to attend conference or serve as adult staff? Don’t worry, we still have plenty of opportunities for you to provide invaluable support. Pick a day, event, or time that works for your schedule.

Volunteers are the heart of this conference, with whom it wouldn’t be possible. Just a few hours of your time can make an impact that lasts a lifetime.

Event Volunteers

The Y2Y Conference Experience

  • Development

    Development is a continuous and never-ending process, where one will experience growth and become empowered to advance. Youth to Youth continually provides young people from all over the world a chance to make positive change in themselves, their schools, communities and beyond. Y2Y is a youth development program with an emphasis on tobacco, alcohol and other drug prevention. The development of youth is the prevention, and our conferences are the model for youth-led prevention in action. Development also means "to start to exist". Many youth-led programs began at a Youth to Youth conference and use them as a starting point or battery charger for the upcoming year.

  • Empowerment

    An opportunity for an unrivaled youth-led training experience awaits. Y2Y conferences address issues that are relevant to teens such as underage drinking, prescription drug misuse, opiates, marijuana, tobacco use, distracted driving, healthy relationships, stress and anxiety, suicide, body image, media influences, bullying, gender roles, mindfulness and more.

    Youth to Youth conferences are designed for youth and their supporting adults to participate together in all aspects of the conference for a uniquely shared experience. Working side by side, they will have the opportunity to construct and/or revitalize a plan of action to implement back home. Adults will also have special “Adult Forums” to network with other like-minded adults and to learn effective strategies to guide their teens to success.

  • Impact

    The original process of a Youth to Youth conference has proven year after year to meet all six of its’ key desired outcomes. Evaluations concluded by The Ohio State University show that youth attending the conferences experience positive changes in their self-perceptions; specifically, in key areas such as knowledge about ATOD, self-efficacy and leadership. But the ability to also revise content to be fresh and innovative is what brings people back year after year to Y2Y summer conferences.

    These outcomes are met through uplifting small discussion groups, workshops conducted by youth and experts in the field, creative teambuilding, dynamic speakers, refreshing youth-created and delivered presentations, and of course FUN.

AGENDA COMING SOON!

  • Speakers

  • Family Groups

  • Fun Events

  • Team Building

  • Stage Presentations

  • Workshops

Our Partners