When Youth Voice Becomes an Invitation

Time to Thrive: When Youth Voice Becomes an Invitation

The Wyoming Enrichment Network and other organizations hosted the Time to Thrive Conversation Series to inspire and connect adults who work with or engage young people to grow in after school, on weekends, during the summer, and in every space where learning happens.   

The Conversations were the beginning of WYEN’s new approach. 

When young people say, “I wish I could learn photography” or “I want to explore,” those aren’t just nice ideas—they’re invitations. Invitations that, when answered, show how ready young people are to grow—if someone meets them there. 

Aria Heyneman partnered with WYEN to help capture insights from the Time to Thrive Conversations, bringing both a reporter’s eye, knowledge of youth development, and experience growing up in Wyoming. A Sheridan local, Aria recently graduated from Wake Forest University and joined the Sheridan Press newsroom as an intern this fall. Her October column, “Home Through a New Lens,” offers a thoughtful reflection on returning to Wyoming and can be read in the Sheridan Press. Find it online: click here.

Aria’s work with young people stretches across roles. She has supported youth in outdoor and enrichment settings as the Outdoor Recreation Coordinator for the Sheridan Recreation District, where she led summer camps and programming for students ages 8–13. Before that, she spent her high school summers as a YMCA camp counselor and youth soccer coach. She also worked with Apogee Adventures, a Maine-based outdoor leadership program. Together, these experiences helped shape the perspective she brings to WYEN.  

“Working with children at the Rec District in Sheridan and in Alaska and Costa Rica with Apogee Adventures have been highlights of my personal and professional life,” Aria stated. She continued, “Whether it’s hiking, playing games, surfing, cooking, or just general problem-solving, my time engaging with Youth always leaves me feeling inspired and rejuvenated by their creativity, humor and ability to adapt to new circumstances. Leading young people through challenges — whether physical, emotional or social — is very rewarding, as you can watch them gain confidence, learn new things about themselves and develop new passions they were not previously aware of. I have loved elevating Youth Voice through outdoor recreation specifically and plan to return to Apogee Adventures this summer to lead hiking trips in the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain.

Aria helped WYEN embrace the opportunity of engaging Youth Voice. 

Youth Voice builds stronger programs and communities by empowering young people to participate and contribute. The Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), a project of the Afterschool Alliance, notes, “Many young people have smart ideas for solving the challenges they see around them. Some have the tools and opportunities to make a difference—but most do not.” 

Do you want to learn how to incorporate Youth Voice? The Afterschool Alliance outlines a four-step process:  

1. Meet youth where they are 
2. Train adults to exist in youth spaces, as well as youth to exist in adult spaces 
3. Listen more 
4. Let youth take the lead 

Learn more.

For an easy way to get started, consider using the Wyoming Enrichment Network Destination Postcard Toolkit. With 25 minutes and three simple questions, young people can make meaningful contributions by sharing what they hope for and need. Find instructions at wyoenrichmentnetwork.org/destination-postcard.  

The Time to Thrive Conversation Series is for anyone working with young people or who wants to grow more opportunities for youth success. Together, we’re exploring how organizations and adults can deepen developmental relationships, build adult capacity to mentor and inspire youth, and create connected, career-relevant pathways. Find Aria’s series linked on this page and learn more at wyoenrichmentnetwork.org/time-to-thrive-conversations.