Discover Your Future at the Grit to Grow Summit

The What:

Teens are constantly faced with questions and concerns about what's next. From career to college to simply living on their own the opportunities are endless but often daunting. Leaders of education, community and industry have recognized the challenges and ever-changing needs of the future workforce and have come together to form the New Hampshire Grit to Grow Collaborative, a group dedicated to creating resources and experiences to help inform and support youths forming their pathway to what’s next. 

Supported by the Collaborative, the UNH Extension Grit to Grow Summit is a multi-day experience designed to expose teen participants to a broad range of academic and career pathways. Participants engage directly with representatives from entrepreneurs, skilled trades, higher education institutions, and non-profit organizations from across New Hampshire. These interactions provide practical insight into workforce needs, educational options, and the skills required for success.

Why Attend:

Teens are faced with MORE career options than ever before- with a number of ways to prepare themselves. From educational pathways of 2 yr, 4 yr, trade schools to various early-work opportunities (internships, apprenticeships, job shadows), many teens don’t know where to start. Traditional ‘job fairs’ don’t always help determine a starting point or are aware of the MANY resources to help them. Designed as an immersive, high- touch experience, the Grit to Grow Summit youth experience will:

• Connect teens with professionals and leaders from educational institutions and industry to make REAL connections
• Engage in action-oriented sessions that will not only help teens identify and solidify their sparks, but help them build their work/life toolkit to better them prepare them for what’s next
• Develop new social networks with teens from across New Hampshire who  are asking similar questions about their future 

What will I do/what is offered:

In an effort to support different types of ‘future exploration’ needs of youth, there are 2 ways to participant in the youth component of the Grit to Grow Summit; a two-day option that includes an overnight and increased social networking times for peers, and a one-day option that offers youth a day of engaging with industry, education, and community leaders for learning about future opportunities. 

Day 1: Build Your Future Self- Monday, June 22 

Location: Lakes Region Community College (LRCC), Laconia 
The first day of the G2G Youth Summit is reserved for those who register for the “Engaged Future Leader” experience and will begin at LRCC. Participants will get to experience workshops that help them build their ‘future me’ toolkits through interactive workshops focused on self-discovery, career exploration, and leadership development.  Sample workshops include:

• Paying my bills and my Starbucks habit: How to effectively plan for future paths”- Participants will work with financial investment advisors to understand options for how to financially support themselves in the NOW will preparing for future financial needs.
• “Telling my story: Sharing my passion to figure out what’s next”- Sometimes the best way to figure out what you want to do next is to reflect on where you have been and what excites you for what’s next. UNH Alum and Granite Goodness Podcast Creator Andy DeMeo will work with teens on how to tell their story to help them uncover where their future paths might take them.
• “Entrepreneur in the making: Being my own boss sounds good”- New Hampshire is known for having a strong ‘small business’ culture- and the resources to support them are growing. Participants will hear the realities of the different ways to grow their own business- as well as the resources available to support them.  From business plans to financing plans, teens will hear from several NH grown small businesses how to start, build, and sustain their own business.

After a full day of learning and collaboration, the experience continues with an overnight at the Inn at Mill Falls, Meredith, NH. Teens will enjoy an overnight stay filled with fun and connection with peers. Starting with a lakeside cookout, teens will have an opportunity to explore downtown Meredith before a dance party at the Inn.

Day 2: Build Your Career -Tuesday, June 23 

Location: Inn at Mill Falls 
After breakfast, ‘Engaged Future Leader’ participants will be joined by ‘Exploring My Future’ 1-day Summit participants. Following a welcome from Community and Industry leaders from the Collaborative, Summit teens will engage in sessions alongside professionals from across New Hampshire who are eager to help them succeed. The joint sessions are designed to create an opportunity for future workforce members to engage with leaders of industry as well as education, enabling young people to see potential career and academic pathways while industry members learn about the needs of their future workforce. Morning session tracks will be industry specific, giving participants the opportunity to dig deeper into future possibilities, the resources to get them there, and the connections to make them become a reality. Sample industry tracks will be:

• Bringing Back the Trades- Automotive, Plumbing, Welding, Electric and More
• Careers in Helping Professions- Mental & Social Health Careers
• Civic Engagement with a Paycheck- Careers in Government, Public Policy & Law
• Hospitality
• Agriculture &
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing & Engineering

Afternoon sessions will continue with industry exploration but will also include sessions designed to help summit participants participate in giving feedback to the Industry and Community Leaders. Facilitated by NH Listens and Collaborative Partners ‘NH Work, Stay Play, these interactive sessions will further the connection between current and future workforce, identifying the barriers as well as supports for engaging in the NH workforce. 

Following the interactive sessions, the youth summit experience will conclude with a “Future Pathways Expo”. Co-led by the Community College System of New Hampshire, NH Business and Industry Association and Bring Back the Trades, teens will be able to meet with a multitude of New Hampshire community, education, and industry organizations. Parents are welcome to join the Expo to learn about how they can support their teens becoming “Beyond Ready” for what’s next.

Where and When:

There are two options for experiencing the Grit to Grow Summit 

Grit to Grow Summit: Overnight Experience

Day 1: Build Your Future Self Monday, June 22
Location: Lakes Region Community College, Laconia
Time: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Lunch included)

 Teens will be bussed to the Inn at Mill Falls in Meredith, NH 

Day 2: Build Your Career (Parent/caregiver Invited) Tuesday, June 23
Location: Inn at Mill Falls
Time: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Breakfast and Lunch included for teens, Lunch included for parent/caregiver)

Grit to Grow: Summit: One Day Experience

Build Your Career (Parent/caregiver Invited) Tuesday, June 23
Location: Inn at Mill Falls
Time: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Lunch included for teen and parent/caregiver)

Overview:

Industry and community leaders face ongoing challenges in understanding the evolving needs, interests, and concerns of the next-generation workforce. The Grit to Grow Summit offers these leaders a powerful opportunity to engage directly with teens who are actively exploring their future pathways, providing firsthand insight into what motivates and guides young people today. By participating in this collaborative, supported, multiday experience, leaders connect with emerging talent while also gaining a deeper understanding of the academic and career questions that shape youths’ decisions. Through workshop sessions with participants and exposure to their perspectives, industry and community partners strengthen their ability to anticipate workforce needs, support education to career pipelines, and contribute meaningfully to building New Hampshire’s future workforce.

The What, When, & Where:

Tuesday, June 23rd Inn at Mill Falls 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

This day strengthens connections between youth and the professional workforce through interactive panels, skill-based workshops, and employer led sessions designed to highlight the traits and competencies of a “Beyond Ready” employee. Industry and education partners receive practical, firsthand insight into the emerging workforce—what motivates them, how they make career decisions, and what support they need to enter and thrive in New Hampshire’s industries.

The Career and Education Expo opens at 3:00 p.m., providing an additional structured opportunity for professionals to engage with teens exploring “future pathways.” Exhibitors from industry and education sectors can directly showcase career trajectories, early work experiences, and resource networks that help young people understand and prepare for workforce entry.

Evening Networking Event for Industry and Community Partners 6:30–7:30 p.m.: A dedicated networking session for Grit to Grow Collaborative members and leaders from industry, education, and government. This event provides an open forum for professionals

to learn about the Collaborative’s mission, build cross sector partnerships, and strengthen connections with New Hampshire businesses and potential community partners working to support the state’s talent pipeline.

Wednesday, June 24 Inn at Mill Falls 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

The 3rd day of the Summit is structured as a traditional job fair enhanced with targeted professional development opportunities for business, education, and community leaders. In addition to a career fair open to the public, the day features workshops and expert panels focused on workforce development strategies, youth employability policies, and evidence-based approaches to strengthening alignment between education and industry. The day will specifically include:

· A dedicated forum for leaders in industry, education, and government to examine the challenges of recruiting and retaining a skilled, work ready talent pipeline

· Focused learning sessions for industry professionals on effectively engaging young people within their organizations—including practical strategies for onboarding, early exposure, and meaningful access points for teen talent.

· A Career & Education Expo for community members (18+) featuring current job openings, education and training pathways, and opportunities for deeper community and employer engagement.

The How:

Industry, Education, and Civic Leaders have multiple ways to participate at the Summit:

· Facilitate and Share- Professionals have the opportunity to facilitate sessions, creating high-touch learning experiences with teens that highlight opportunities within their organizations that will help them develop their path and the resources available to them. In addition, facilitators will have the option of sharing their organizations' opportunities during the 2-day Career and Education Expo.

Registration Cost- $100 per person for 2-days without vendor space, includes evening Collaborative Cocktail reception; vendor space packages released early February. *Vendor spaces are discounted with full 2-day registration.

· Engage & Share- Not up for facilitating but want to have an opportunity to connect with future workforce members more intentionally? The Summit will include sessions where professionals will have the opportunity to engage and

learn alongside teens as workshops are designed to help align the needs of today's workplaces with the needs of future workforce members. In addition, these participants will have the option of sharing their organizations' opportunities during the 2-day Career and Education Expo.

Registration Cost- $150 per person for 2-days without vendor space, includes evening Collaborative Cocktail reception; vendor space packages released early February. *Vendor spaces are discounted with full 2-day registration.

· Table Share- The Summit will include a 2-day Career and Education Expo giving teens, parents, and community members at large an opportunity to learn about career opportunities, educational pathways, and community resources. The 2nd day (June 23) will be open to Summit Teen participants and their parents while the 3rd day (June 24) will be open to the public, providing employers and community organizations have an opportunity to share current employment needs as well as education and community institutions as a space to share resources and paths to future careers.

Registration- Vendor space packages/options will be released in early February and will be prioritized by vendors looking to be a vendor on both days of the Expo experience.