What is the Aspen Challenge?

The Aspen Challenge provides inspiration, tools, and a platform for young people to design solutions to some of the most critical problems humanity faces.

Young people are moments away from being tomorrow's decision-makers and this program offers them a chance to practice their critical thinking, tap into their creativity, and offer their fresh perspective on issues within our society.

Aspen Challenge Forum 2026

Understanding the Challenge: How it Works

Before giving your support, you'll want to get an understanding of what you're supporting.

Each year, the Aspen Challenge partners with urban school districts in select cities. Twenty schools are invited to participate, and each high school develops a team of 8 students and 2 educators who serve as coaches. The teams then take the following steps to complete the Aspen Challenge:

1. Build Empathy

Preparing the participants for teamwork and for the design of experience. This enables teams to learn more about their communities, their peers, and what it means to be a team player.

2. Get Inspired

Teams will meet at the Challenge Forum to hear from leading thinkers, as they share out the challenges for the year. These leaders take on the toughest real-world problems. These leaders will challenge teams, ask them questions, and inspire them to create innovative solutions to the problems in their communities.

3. Design A Solution

Teams receive one week to pick a challenge of their choice, draft their vision, and set goals. Teams are guided to pick challenges on what speaks to them, relevancy in the community, and most importantly: something that will challenge them to think critically.

4. Give the Solution a Voice

Teams are supported as the put their plans into action. They are encouraged to create a brand identity and pitch their solution to stakeholders

5. Outreach and Community Engagement

Teams put their work into detailed steps that allow community engagement via events, surveys, and media outreach.

6. Present and Compete

Finally, teams present their solution to a panel of judges who select top teams based on creativity, feasibility, sustainability, and work ethic. The tops teams go on to compete with the teams from the other city!

7. Reflection Time

Post Solution Showcase, teams participate in a reflection meeting with Aspen staff that serves a point of reflection on individual and group development, leadership, and creativity.

So, how can you support us?

Now that you are familiar with the aspen challenge here are some things you can do to support us:

• Follow our socials:

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• Tell us what you want to see:

  • If you have any ideas, suggestions, or anything else don't be afraid to reach out! We're always open to new ideas and if we can make it work, we'll be there!

• Stay Updated:

  • Stay on the lookout for weekly blog updates, Insta posts, and anything from The Grove. We'll always update for events, meetings, surveys and anything else.