2026 Teen Action Team Recap

This summer, our Teen Action Team, made up of middle and high school students from across the Treasure Valley, worked to support youth mental health and well-being in their communities. 

The team kicked things off by exploring what social connection really means and digging into local youth data to see how stress, sleep, self-awareness, and social isolation shape teen mental health.

From there, they put that learning into action, working to advance Communities for Youth Boise's Youth Friendly Business program by visiting and recruiting local businesses across Boise, partnering with Valley Regional Transit to test out bus routes and identify barriers to transit for teens, and promoting Get Out There, a resource for Treasure Valley teens looking for places and spaces to hang with friends, explore new interests, and connect with others.

Along the way, the team heard from a variety of community guests and partners, including Idaho Public Television, Boise Parks and Rec, Central District Health's youth vaping prevention program, Boise Fire Department, and Valley Regional Transit staff. They also spent a full day at Boise City Hall giving feedback on the city's Youth Roadmap, toured the James Castle House and Erma Hayman House, and showed up for community events like Dairy Days and Alive After Five.

Between all of the outings and events, the team leveled up their media skills, learning how to conduct interviews and capture photo and video content to help amplify Get Out There and YouthWell. I.D., a platform where Idaho teens can get mental health and well-being information and hear real youth perspectives.

The summer wrapped up with a celebration at the end of July, where interns shared presentations on a topic they're passionate about, reflected on how their idea of community building had grown since June, and wrote down commitments to carry this work forward in their own communities.

We are so proud of everything our interns accomplished this summer. Their voices and perspectives play an integral role in our work at Communities for Youth and help us better support teen mental health and well-being across Idaho.

If you are a teen or know someone who would like to get involved in school-year or summer Teen Action Team activities, please sign up for our youth newsletter or contact our Youth Engagement Coordinator, Heidi Jaerger, at heidijaerger@boisestate.edu.