2023 Teen Convening

About the Event

The first ever Teen Convening was held on March 1-2, 2023, at The Riverside in Boise. This two-day event brought together public and school library staff who serve teens. After participating in this training, attendees will:

• Develop skills to help tweens and teens plan and engage in futures thinking activities
• Understand key teen mental health concepts and resources
• Learn how to use gaming to help tweens and teens build social-emotional skills

Access the 2023 Teen Convening Agenda here.

Day 1 Resources

Morning Workshop: Futures Thinking For and With Teens

Speaker: Peter Bishop, Teach the Future

• Presentation Slides
• Teach the Future Resources
• The Futures Thinking Playbook
• Shaping Our Future Guidebook (a companion to the Playbook)
• Futures Thinking Toolkit

Afternoon Sessions

Suicide Prevention Workshop – Idaho Lives Project

• Presentation  (Presenter contact info on last slide)
• Safety Plan – Suicide Ideation (Adults)
• Safety Plan – Suicide Ideation (Youth)
• Coping Card – Stress & Anxiety (Adults)
• Coping Card – Stress & Anxiety (Youth)
• Helping Your Student (ADA)
• Survivors Purple Booklet

Teen Mental Health Resources – Idaho Children’s Trust Fund

• Presentation

Middle School Brain Development – Idaho Out-of-School Network

• Presentation (Presenter contact info on last slide)

Serving Teens Panel

• Diana McAllister, Idaho Out-Of-School Network / Area of Focus: Youth Development
• Jenny Liebig, Meridian Library District / Area of Focus: Restorative Justice in Libraries & Teen Mental Health
• Lauren Silva, Ada Community Library – Hidden Springs Branch / Area of Focus: Teen Wellness Kits
  • Wellness Kits Overview
  • Kit Example – Depression
  • Kit Example – Mental Health
  • Kit Example – Relationships
  • Kit Example – Self Discovery A
  • Kit Example – Self Discovery B
  • Kit Example – Signage
  • Kit Example – Tote

Day 2 Resources

Morning Workshop: Gaming in the Library

Speaker: Josh Bound, Video Game Clubs of America

• SEL Curricula
• TED Talk: Making the Socially Awkward Socially Active

Afternoon Sessions

Gaming Resources – STEM Forged

• Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry
• STEM Forged Esports Whitepaper
• Esports Research
• Healthy Gaming
• Esports Example from Horseshoe Bend
• Saying Goodbye to Toxicity in Gaming
• The Impact of Game Design Courses
• Schedule a time to meet with Ashley from STEM Forged 

STEM Resources – Idaho STEM Action Center

• Presentation

Dr. Brett Shelton – BSU Esports

• Handout

Games

• Google Doc of game recommendations for library staff – add your own!
• Games Menu Handout – pdf
• Games Menu Handout – Canva version to copy and edit

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success! If you have ideas for the next Teen Convening in 2025, email Jennifer jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov.

Questions? Email Jennifer Redford: jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov